[CHAPTER 18: THE WOLF]
He pulled away from her just so he could stare into her eyes,
"I do not mean that I want you. It is simply that I feel like I have known you when I just met you yesterday. It is strange. Have we met before?"
His doe eyes were adorable and charming. Those silver irises of his were mesmerizing. She had seen those eyes before. She was sure of it.
Bella was already drunk and wasn't thinking straight. She grinned at Borius and her naughty fingers crawled up to his cheeks and pinched him hard,
"You... You never came back. I waited days for you. But you never came back."
Borius tilted his head in a questioning manner. He did not understand what she meant.
"I remember, you were that foreign boy in my neighborhood... You lent me your hankie. You said let's meet again tomorrow, but you didn't show up."
That foreign boy was her first love. She remembered him now. He looked just like Borius. Those silver eyes and hair, his snowy fair skin, and their facial features were identical.
Borius pursed his lips tight as he stared at the drunk female. His cheeks were hurting, but he kept quiet. Her face was flushed red, and being so close to his face, her unique scent overwhelmed him, trapping him like a spell.
"Bella, you are drunk." Borius leaned back, pulling his face away. But her fingers were still pinching his cheeks, not letting go.
He slightly regretted his decision of inviting her to drink with him. This female could not drink at all.
"No, I'm not drunk! I remember you now." She giggled as she leaned closer until the tips of their noses almost touched.
"You..."
Borius's breathing stopped briefly when Bella pressed her lips against his. Her sweet wine breath invaded his nostrils and he immediately felt lightheaded. It wasn't the wine. He was sure of that. He had a high tolerance for liquor.
It was her scent.
It made him drunk.
Bella giggled like a child after she had kissed him. There was a satisfaction in her sparkly black eyes. Those almond shaped eyes of hers appeared half opened.
"Heehee... I kissed you." She said, laughingly. She had kissed her first love. That was what she thought in her drunken mind.
"Kiss...?"
Borius's lips parted open, wanting to say something. He had a stern expression and his breathing was slightly faster. He watched as Bella loosened her fingers from his cheeks. Her face slowly lowered down with her eyelids shut close.
"Hhhh..." Borius let out a long heavy sigh when he realized Bella had fainted on him. Her face buried in his chest. Their goblets were knocked off the bench when Borius leaned backwards away from her a while ago. Fresh wine was splattered on the ground.
What a mess, Borius thought. He slowly pushed her up so that he could carry her back into the castle. This female is unbelievable, he thought again. He wondered what that lips touching was about. What was the purpose of that, was that something that humans in her world do? Was it something intimate? It did feel nice, though. It made his toes curl and his chest tingle.
He never had a female before, so he was clueless when it comes to those sorts of intimacy and special feeling. But he guessed it must be something similar to what them beastmen do to females they are fond of-- sniffing their skin.
Borius gazed down at her sleeping face as he carried her in his arms. He subconsciously let out a smile.
It was probably because of the liquor, or that he really was fond of her. And it seemed like she probably felt the same way about him. Or maybe just the liquor.
It's probably the liquor.
Borius shook his head slightly as he paced in the corridor, heading to her chamber. Liquor can really affect someone in so many ways.
I probably should stop drinking for a while.

*****
The next day, Bella woke up with a throbbing headache, having no recollection of the night before. She only remembered drinking with Borius at the garden and forgot everything after that. She groaned softly as she turned herself around.
"Jesus! Yaaaarghh!!"
Bella shrieked loudly when she found Borius's face right next to hers. He was sleeping in her bed!
He was still in his armor, so that means nothing happened between them. But what was he doing in her bed?!
Borius, who was awaken by her loud screaming, rubbed his half opened eyes.
"What the fuck are you doing in my bed?!" Bella yelled.
"You do not remember?" Borius mentally slapped himself. Of course she couldn't remember, she was dead drunk!
"You tugged on my armor and your hands grasping tightly around my neck so that I could not leave. And I fell asleep waiting for you to let go." He explained. His silver hair was ruffled and his front hair fell to the front covering his forehead, making him appear like a high schooler.
"I... I did?"
"Of course. What else did you think?"
Bella cleared her throat awkwardly. That damn wine! It was only one glass!

"Did I... Um, do something else?"
"Like what?" Borius made himself comfortable and covered himself with the blanket, wanting to continue his sleep.
"Hey, wait. Aren't you supposed to get out of my room now that you're awake?" Bella squinted her eyes at him.
"Let me get some rest. Sleeping with you was a horrible experience." Borius nonchalantly pulled the blanket up covering his face and turned away.
"What... What the fuck does that mean? Hey!" Bella gasped loudly. What he'd just said somehow sounded inappropriately lewd.
"Shush...!" Borius sounded from under the covers.
Bella stared at the covers where Borius was in, she scoffed in disbelief. This wolf...!
*****
She wanted to slam the door behind her, but then she thought about Borius who was asleep. It's impolite to do so, moreover, it was her fault that he could not go back to his own room last night. Bella let out soft sigh before leaving her chamber.
In the covers, Borius waited until she was gone before he got out of the covers. As he sat there on the bed, he scratched his scalp in an annoying manner.
"When did I fall asleep?" He grunted alone.
He had carried her back to her chamber last night, and when he was putting her down to her own bed, Bella clung onto his neck.
"Don't leave. Let's play a little longer." She mumbled like a child.
Borius stared at her. Their faces were very close to each other. Her eyelids were shut but she was pouting her lips. Borius felt his own chest pounding hard as he stared down at her adorable sleeping face. Her hands were still clinging onto his neck.
This female cannot handle her liquor.

Borius would keep that in mind. He will not invite her to drink with him anymore. He tried to pull away from Bella just to find her staring back at him with eyes slightly opened. Borius felt his chest pounded faster and his voice got stuck in his throat. He felt his blood rushing up to his face when she stared at him like that.
"Bella..."
Her almond shaped eyes were half opened, her hands were still clinging to his neck and she pulled him towards herself.
"Wait..." He didn't get the chance to react when Bella pulled him down for a deep kiss.
When her warm tongue entered his mouth, he could feel the reaction from below his abdomen and he immediately pushed her away.
"I haven't got the chance to ask your name," she said, and her eyelids slowly shut close, "you never came back."
Borius scoffed. He was left speechless for a while. He stared at her for a long time and realized she was still under the influence of the liquor. He was still hovering above her and she was still clinging onto his neck. Borius let out a long heavy sigh,
"I will definitely not invite you to drink with me again."
Even after Bella had loosened her arms around him, Borius remained in that position for a long time and didn't realize when he fell asleep.
It was awkward, waking up next to a female. He did not know how to react. He had kept his cool in front of her, but his face was hot and flushing red. His chest was still pounding hard even after she had left the room.
Borius grunted softly, feeling extremely awkward. When he had calmed down, he got up and left her chamber immediately.
*****
Bella was wandering around but she couldn't find the servants. She then bumped into Garuda in the corridor.
"Are you lost again?" He teased.
"No, um... I was looking for the servants." She then explained that she wanted to take a bath since she hadn't showered for three days already.
"We normally clean ourselves at the waterfall." Garuda explained.
Seems like only the Moro tribe cares about hygiene and individual cleanliness. Other tribes beastmen only wash whenever they feel like it. In the river!
Garuda offered to bring her there, to the waterfall. So she agreed.
When Bella met with the servants, she requested some clean clothes for her to change into. Then prepared herself to go to the waterfall with Garuda.
*****
"Can you find me some fragrance flowers?" She asked when they had reached the waterfall. It was the same waterfall that Garuda had brought her previously.
"Sure."
Garuda went to look for flowers and came back in a few minutes, bringing a bouquet of blue flowers in his hand.
"Wow, are these vanilla?" Bella asked as soon as she received the flowers from him. The smell was so musky and sweet like vanilla.
"These flowers have no name. You can name them if you want to."
"Vanilla, then. Musky vanilla."
Bella requested for Garuda to leave her alone for a while so that she could take her bath.
"Alright. Call me when you are done." Garuda said before flapping his wings and flew away.
... Call? How? Yell out his name, or does he have a cellphone?

Bella scoffed as she watched his silhouette disappear from her sight. She couldn't see how far he went because the tall trees were blocking her sight, but she was certain that he might not go far.
She took her furry coat and lace dress off before sinking herself into the cold water.
Her mind recalled the time when Gaharu had taken her to bathe in the river on her first day in Ra. She wondered what could he possibly be doing right now.
She really wanted to know about the Ra and the Moro tribes now but she knew she couldn't ask. She worried these beastmen here would think of her as a spy. She wanted to see Gaharu again. And yes, Mihaje too.
She wondered if she would ever see them again.
Bella whimpered, the water was as cold as ice. It was freezing. She was washing herself with the cold water and rubbing the flower petals on her skin when suddenly she heard a rustle in the bushes nearby. Bella immediately sunk her whole body into the water with her arms crossed, covering her breasts.
"Who's there?!" She yelled.
She waited for a while and when there was no response, she proceeded to scrubbing her skin with the flower petals. Then the bush rustled again.
"Who the fuck is there?!" She yelled again, louder this time, "Garuda, is that you? If it's you, I swear to God I'll cut your dick off if you dare to peep!"
As soon as she called out his name, she felt a strong wind above her. She gazed up and saw Garuda levitating above her head, the strong wind from his flapping wings caused her to feel even colder.
"Were you peeping? You pervert!" Bella scolded. Her purple lips were trembling because of the cold.
Garuda looked at her with a questioning gaze,
"I came because you called my name."
That fast? He was probably nearby...

"Is there something wrong?" He asked again.
Bella pointed to the bush and said,
"Something's there."
Garuda flew in the direction she had pointed and wielded his sword,
"Come out, or I will cut you into half."
It was silent at first, but a few moments later, someone came out from the bush. It was a toddler, about four or five years old, Bella assumed. Short dark brown hair, slightly tan skinned, and brown irises that were so big, one couldn't see the whites in his eyes.
"It was just a bear cub." Garuda immediately sheathed back the sword in his hand.
"Oh..." Bella let out a sigh.
"Are you lost?" Garuda asked the cub, beckoning him to come forward, "Do you need me to bring you back to your village?"
The bear cub whimpered, shaking his head. There were traces of dried tears on his dirty cheeks.
"Father... Mother..." He started to cry.
Garuda went to get him instantly, patting him on his head gently before letting the cub into his arms,
"There, there..." Garuda comforted the sobbing cub. There was a hint of hurtful gaze in Garuda's eyes as he caressed the cub's back.
One of the bear villages in the Ang territories was attacked by the Moro recently. The Moro tribe had successfully overtaken the village, and there were casualties in that battle. Countless villagers were killed during the fight and some who had managed to escape came to seek refuge at the Ang's main. The Ang soldiers were too late.
This cub was probably from that village.
While Garuda and the cub were not looking, Bella hurriedly put on some clean clothes before she too, walked over to the cub.
"What's your name, little one?" She asked him.
"Paas," he answered, sobbingly, "it is Paas."
"We should take him back to the castle," Bella said to Garuda, "you can carry him back first, I can wait here."
"Why? I can carry both of you together."
"You... Can?"
"Why, of course. What, did you not know how light you are? You are as light as a feather." Garuda teased.
"Hm. I'm sure I am." Bella rolled her eyes when her gaze met with Garuda's naughty stare.
Garuda told Bella to pick the young cub up, and he would carry her the usual way. But when Paas was clinging too close to Bella's chest, Garuda squinted his eyes at the young bear cub,
"Young cub... keep your paws to yourself." He said, coldly.
"Garuda, this isn't the time to be mean. He's just a kid!" Bella tsked, "Paas, don't mind him. Just hold on tight, or you'll fall."
Paas quivered at the sight of Garuda's striking yellow irises glaring at him, he began to sob.
"Look what you did!" Bella scolded the eagle.
Garuda pursed his lips tight, clenching his jaw. He then flapped his wings and departed back to the castle with Bella holding the cub in his arms.
Bella could feel Garuda's glare from time to time. Probably because the trembling Paas was burying his face into her bosoms.
She chuckled quietly. Is he seriously jealous of a small kid?

*****
Paas was then brought to the shelter where the survivors from the attacked bear village were placed temporarily.
In the castle, Garuda told Bella that they could not find his father or mother anywhere. They could be deceased already. Bella felt sympathized with the young cub.
"What will happen to him now?"
"He will have to live on his own." Garuda replied to Bella. Due to the battle between the tribes, a lot of beastmen had lost their homes. And most of them grew up without father and mother to look after them. Garuda knew very well how hard Paas's life was going to be in the future, but there was nothing more he could do. Paas would have to face everything by himself now.
Bella let out a heavy sigh, as her mind recalled the sorrowful look in Paas eyes. He was only a kid, she repeated those words in her head. She hoped there was something she could do to help.
Garuda pursed his lips as he gazed down at Bella who was lost in her thoughts.
"What were you thinking, wearing like that," he leaned down to her ear as he whispered, "are you trying to torture me?"
Bella gasped when Garuda suddenly bit her earlobe. It wasn't painful, but it made her hair stand on end.
"What? The servants gave me this to wear. What else can I wear, an armor?" She looked down and realized the neck of the wheat colored dress she was given was too wide, any beastman could see half of her breasts from up close. She instantly crossed her arms, covering the wide neckline.
"Look away, then! Why are you still staring?!" She scolded.
Garuda laughed at the sight of her puffy reddened cheeks. He noticed that whenever she got angry, her cheeks would puff up and turn red.
"I have seen them before." He teased her again, referring to their first encounter when he had saved her from the river during the battle with Ra. She was butt naked. "I was the first male to have seen you fully naked when you first came to this world, was I not?"
"Gosh, you are so shameless!"
Bella rolled her eyes annoyingly. After knowing him for three days, she realized Garuda was quite shameless, just like Gaharu. Bella glared briefly at Garuda who was still chuckling.
Were they blood related or what? Even the way they talk sometimes sounded ridiculously similar.
*****
Later that evening, Bella stated that she wanted to go visit Paas, so Garuda offered to take her to the shelter camp just outside the castle.
Because it was just outside the castle, there was no need to fly. Bella preferred walking. Bella was putting on the belt holster for her sword around her waist when there was a knock on her door. She was about to answer it when the door flung open.
Garuda chuckled when he entered and saw Bella struggling to put on the belt.
"You are the first ever to bring a sword wearing a dress."
"That's so sexist." Bella groaned. Garuda raised an eyebrow when he did not understand what she meant.
"Sex... What?"
"Never mind."
"Come on, do tell me."
"Sexist means discrimination on the basis of sex. Like, male's chauvinistic belief in the inferiority of females."
"What? I would never do that. I was only commenting on your attire, it does not fit the sword."
"Hm." Bella hummed softly, still struggling to put on the belt. It wasn't like an ordinary belt in her world. It was with strings and holes on it, she didn't know which string goes to which hole.
Garuda chuckled before he walked over to her and knelt down on one knee,
"Here, let me."
As his hands carefully did the belt for her, his eyes would glance at her from time to time. Her waist is so small... He thought as he tightened the belt around her tiny waist.
"Not too tight?" He asked. Bella only shook her head. When he was done, he gazed up at her. Her cheeks seemed reddish again. Was she upset? Garuda stood up and pulled her body close to his. Both of his big hands were clasping her waist.
"Are all humans this small?"
Bella was caught off guard, she felt her breasts flattened against his firm abdomen and she looked up. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was half opened in surprise. Her nipples felt the warmth of his body. Why the fuck undergarments doesn't exist in this world?!
"My height was considered normal for Asians. Short, but normal."
Garuda smirked. He suddenly had a naughty thought. He raised a hand and flicked a finger on her forehead.
"What the fuck did you do that for?!" She yelled when Garuda laughed out loud. Her face was red in anger and her cheeks puffed up again. She looked so adorable when she was angry. It made him want to anger her even more.
Bella kicked him hard on his shin bone. Garuda's face wrinkled slightly but the kick didn't seem to affect him.
"Did you just kick me? You brazen wench." Garuda chased after the laughing Bella when she tried to run away. He was faster and he grabbed Bella by her wrist and pulled her back into his arms.
"Now, how should I punish you?" He jokingly said as he clenched both her hands behind her back.
"Stop messing around, Garuda! We still need to go to the camp to see Paas." Bella twisted and jolted to get away from his arms. Garuda didn't grab her hands tightly so she managed to set herself free from his grasp. Bella ran away again laughingly.
Garuda chased after her again when she ran for the door. Bella pulled the door open and immediately crashed her face into someone's chest. She was busy looking back that she didn't realize there was someone by the door.
Garuda's laughter stopped and he instantly bowed his head. Bella rubbed her nose before looking up at the beastman she had bumped into.
"Lord Borius." Garuda called out nervously.
"Borius..."
There was a flash of coldness in Borius's silver eyes as he cleared his throat awkwardly,
"I came to tell you that we are going back to Wolf Palace soon."
*****