Adrianna looked at him with concern, but he didn't say a word. He was still very angry and his anger wasn't calming down. Adrianna didn't say anything else.

In the back seat, Ookashi was laying down with her head on Nate's lap. She opened her eyes slowly, and when she looked up, she found him watching her with so much concern that it seemed as though he would burst out crying. She fluttered her eyes and extended her hand to touch his cheek. "I am fine. Don't worry," she whispered. Nate stroked her cheeks, feeling relieved. Ookashi got up from his lap and sat down properly.

​​

"Are you okay?" asked Adrianna, turning back upon hearing her friend's voice. Seeing Ookashi awake and safe and sound, some of Adrianna's stress was dissipated. "I am so sorry that you had to see all this Ookashi. I don't know what is wrong with Pryce."

"What happened to the gangsters back there?" asked Ookashi. "I believe you guys hurt them badly." As she said that, she became excited. "Nate, I didn't know you could single handedly take down people!" Ookashi was now all thrilled as she remembered how Nate had been punching and bashing them up.

"Well, it's nothing…" he answered with a shy smile.

"Ahem!" Dmitri coughed. "Yes, he did that all by himself. I didn't help him."

"I know! Nate is really brave. Aside from bashing two goons, Dmitri, you didn't do anything. Poor Nate," Ookashi said, sympathizing with Nate. She shifted towards Nate and stroked his muscular arms. She was in awe of him. Nate thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't contradict what she said. Dmitri stared at the two of them in the rear view mirror and shook his head. Adrianna laughed until her stomach hurt. The tension was quickly evaporated. Dmitri chided Nate mentally for not telling the truth about what had happened, but Nate didn't care; he was only looking at Ookashi like a fool.

"Why did you faint?" asked Adrianna.

"She is such a gentle soul. Any girl would have fainted if she saw that kind of fight. Poor one…" defended Nate, stroking Ookashi's hands.

Adrianna couldn't stop herself from making faces at the two hopeless lovebirds.

They reached Dmitri's house and, as the car entered the house, Ookashi's eyes became wide with surprise. "Oh. My. God! Adrianna you live in this house? Girl, did you win the lottery? Dmitri is so rich!" Ookashi held her hands on her head as she walked in.

"Umm… my house is nearby," said Nate sheepishly.

Ookashi didn't pay attention and ran to Adrianna to hold her hand. When she walked inside, she was just bewildered. The palace was the epitome of luxury and style. She looked around and then sat down on the sofa in the living room with a sigh. "Dmitri, what do you do for a living?" she asked.

The atmosphere had become lively as none of them could give her definitive answers and she kept asking them one question after the other. It was almost evening by the time they all realized that Ookashi had to go back home.

"Why don't you stay over tonight? Adrianna asked Ookashi.

"At your place?" asked Ookashi.

Adrianna wasn't sure where else Ookashi would be staying if not here. "What do you mean?"

Ookashi bit her lips and looked at Nate. Nate smiled at her and said, "Let me drop you back home Ookashi." He wanted to spend time with her, but was afraid of doing anything beyond that. He was afraid that, being a werewolf, he might injure Ookashi in some way or another. Besides, he wanted to know whether any human had ever married a werewolf. He hadn't even revealed his true identity to her.

Ookashi's face fell. She looked at Adrianna and then angrily said, "In that case, please drop me off now." Then, she looked at Adrianna and said, "Adri, see you tomorrow hun! Don't you miss your classes anymore."

Adrianna didn't know how to answer that.

"Adri will be visiting her father and siblings, so she won't attending college for a while," Dmitri interjected.

Ookashi was mad. "Are you insane Adri? Don't go anywhere and attend college properly! You have missed way too many classes!"

Adrianna went over and hugged Ookashi. "Stay over for the night and we can talk."

Ookashi again looked at Nate who seemed determined with his decision. "I should go."

They parted and Adrianna's mood fell as Ookashi went back.

Outside, Ookashi asked Nate, "What's your problem Nate? Do you like me or not? Because if you don't, why are you wasting my time?"

"I- I- I love you Ookashi…" he replied.

Ookashi moved closer to him and held his face. She stroked his cheeks and then tiptoed to reach his lips. She brushed them lightly and said, "If you love me, why don't you take me to your home?"

"I would love to," he said.

As soon as he had said that, he saw a pack of werewolves coming towards them. They were messengers who had been sent to various places and were now coming back to report to him. "Some timing," he muttered, but before he could say anything else, one of them shape shifted.