Tulip garden

She didn't know what got into her head, but one day, Isabella felt she had that longing to go to that garden where she and Tatin used to go. Perhaps the pleasant ambience of nature could set her mood right and bring desirable emotions to her spirit. Off, she went, in her playful mood, switched as a wolf pretending she got lost in the middle of the night. She ran as fast as she could. There were the images of her parents in her head teaching her how to live—of Aunt Teresa—of their friends putting their lives at risk—and how to love. She couldn't give her heart to one like Benjamin. It belonged to someone else.

Then, there were rustles she heard while sitting on a bench—the shadow of some figure on that part, Isabella rushed to check. It was a cat. She chuckled.

Time flew fast. She was here, with the only man she loved, and loved still.

Then from out of the blue, he stood up, in front of her. She almost jumped out of fear—she thought he was a ghost. Isabella tried to regain her composure, then frowned and asked with raised eyebrows pretending to be disinterested but wondering. How to project such, she didn't know but for sure she was uneasy.

"Why are you here?"

He was smiling. "I don't know. This is my favorite spot in this town." He spoke in a low voice as was always.

She was looking at him and he was looking at her. Their eyes locked for a moment, then, they became aware that they were looking at each other. They were embarrassed and so they withdrew their look.

Silence.

"How are you?" Tatin asked.

"Good—and you?"

"Good."

That was all that they could say.

"I have to go," Isabella said. But Tatin held her back. Then, they locked eyes again for the second time. He kissed her… slowly, she kissed back, and they became one soul again.

Then, Isabella withdrew from his arms—she switched to her animal form and ran as fast as she could away from the woods. She was headed towards the town when a pack of wolves blocked her way. Their eyes were fiery, ready to devour her. Her eyes flashed as she tried to figure them out. For sure, one of them was her uncle she could feel and she was damn right. But there was another figure running behind her. Tom was incensed because of what he saw. He had to tell Azazel.

The wolves ran away for fear. They had seen them fight before. They feared the duo, the alpha male and the alphena.