29 WOLVES II

Of course, she wanted to but, Serina was afraid that the wolves will be disturbed because of their presence. "Let's just watch them from here. I'm contented seeing them from here."

"Are you afraid?"

"Not really. I just hate the thought of us disturbing them."

"Don't worry. It will be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Hn. Trust me." Nicholas pulled her even closer by the waist and before Serina could prepare herself, Nicholas jumped off the cliff. The scream that she wanted to let out was stuck in her throat when she saw the wolves looking at them.

'Don't be wary of her. She's a friend. She loves our kind and she won't hurt us.' Kiro communicated through the shared link with the wolves.

'She's human.' One of the wolves retorted but not much of negative emotion was laced in his voice.

'Is she the next Luna of the pack?'

'I don't sense any werewolf blood in her.'

'Don't hurt her.' Kiro told everyone in warning.

Serina looked at the wolves who were looking back at her. She felt something's wrong with them but she couldn't pinpoint what it was. There's no way for her to know it either unless Nicholas would tell her the truth.

In fact, Serina would be able to speak to the animals through mind link but she was afraid to expose herself and her dragon. "Hi." Serina muttered, keeping her excitement at bay to make sure that the wolves won't run away from her or attack her.

"Do you want to pet them?" Nicholas asked as he walked towards the gray wolf with her little cubs. 'She won't hurt anyone.' Nicholas told the mother of the little cubs. "Come here." He beckoned Serina to come closer and gestured for her to sit on the space beside him. "We haven't named them yet. Do you want to give these three little cubs their names?"

"Can I? Really?" Serina's smile couldn't be contain anymore. Serina looked at the mother wolf and smiled at her. "Can I really name your cubs?" To her surprise, the wolf seemed to nod at her. Serina's eyes lit up and she was shaking Nicholas in excitement. "Did you see that? She nodded at me, right? She agreed, right? Oh my! I can have my own little cubs."

"So, what will you name them?"

"Hmm. This cute little guy baring its fangs at me will be named Kylo. This brown-eyed little cub will be named Hunter. And this little lady will be named Sierra."

"Good names."

"Thank you. I hope they like them."

To show their appreciation, the little cubs walked slowly towards Serina and licked her fingers. Serina was overjoyed with this turn of events and she even forgot the fact that she's far from home. She didn't even call her parents. Serina played with the little cubs happily and soon, the adult wolves started approaching her.

She hugged them, pet their head, combed their fur with her fingers and just cuddled with them under the thick shades of the tree surrounding them.

Three hours later, Nicholas poked her shoulder to get her attention. "I hate to tell you this but we have to go back now. Your parents must be worried, too."

"Can I go back here next time?"

"Sure." Nicholas stood up and reached out his hand to pull her up. "Let me know if you want to come here. I'll bring you over without any hesitation."

"Promise?"

"Yup. I promise." Nicholas smiled at her and gently squeezed her hand. If possible, he wanted to stop this moment and just be with her but that would be selfish of him.

Serina bid farewell to the little cubs and walked back to the mansion with Nicholas. Earlier, they got into the forest from the church but when they came out of the forest, Serina found themselves at the back of the Vallardi mansion. Some of the helpers were shock to see her come out of the forest with their young master but aside from that, they didn't say anything.

"Let's eat lunch first and go back to the city. Also, you don't have to worry about your class. Hillary asked for leave already."

"Thank you."

"No problem. I'll help as much as I could." Nicholas responded as he led her back inside the mansion. Damon was no longer there but Nicholas was still wary of the man.

Soon, lunch was served and Nicholas brought Serina to the dining room. When they arrived, everyone's eyes turned to look at them. Serina unconsciously hide behind Nicholas because of the pressure coming from the people. She thought that she'd be eating with his parents, at the very least. She didn't expect that she'd be eating with the elders of their family.

"How about we go back to the city right away and just eat lunch in my parents' house?" She told Nicholas but he didn't give her time to escape and just led her to sit next to him.

"I'm right here." He said.

Serina felt a sudden headache as if a pin was pricking her brain but after few seconds, it was gone.

On the other hand, Nicholas looked at the people around the dining table and glared. He didn't care if they were his elders. No one's allowed to pry over her mind without his permission.

"We haven't formally introduced ourselves yet. I'm Zalia Vallardi, Nicholas' mother and this is my husband," she turned to the man beside her and smiled. "Riordan Vallardi. We have a daughter but she's still studying right now."

"Hello. Nice to meet you. My name's Serina Wentworth."

"Wentworth? Are you Michael's daughter?" Riordan, the Alpha of the pack, asked Serina cheerfully. When she nodded to affirm his guess, the man smiled happily and you can no longer see the suspicion in his eyes. "Michael is a very amazing person. He's very good at his work. It's so nice meeting you."

"Thanks for appreciating my father's work."

"He deserves it. I heard that my son stayed in your house while he was still looking for a place to stay. Thank you for looking after him."

"Oh. My parents did take him in but I was staying in the dorm so, I didn't interact with him that much."

Serina slowly calmed herself as she spoke with Riordan and Zalia. The elders were still observing her but she no longer cared. At the very least, she has two people on her side now.

After lunch, Nicholas and Serina went back to the city. Her parents were waiting for her and Hillary was there, too. She looked aggrieved and wronged. She even glared at Nicholas when they met.

"Did you do something to anger my best friend?" Serina asked Nicholas as they went inside her house.

Remembering what he did to Hillary last night, Nicholas could only smile faintly and apologetically.