Lolita fixed her gaze on Kurah as if she was an alien. She knew her friend was special, but she never imagined that she was this special. The most confusing thing is that she has also turned into a werewolf, just like Kurah. She just can't explain how it happened, and as much as she hates to admit it, she is just like Alpha Gavin now. This is the highest height of shock that Lolita has ever encountered in her short life. Right now, she hates Alpha Gavin so much, only for her to become one of what he is. The similarity irks her to no end.
Lolita couldn't accept it, but the words of Monella, the werewolf royal kept ringing in her head "you need to hurry… combine your abilities quickly!... That is the key to your summoning!" Lolita shook her head many times, with her two hands covering her forehead. She didn't speak a single word to the over-enthusiastic Kurah who was just happy to see her wake up after her long slumber. She just acted like Kurah wasn't there.
Being ignored is a situation Kurah had never faced before, not even from Lolita. As a result, she looks everywhere but Lolita's face in sheer embarrassment and then hurries to the door. She was about to exit when Lolita requested in a weak and frustrated voice, "don't go, please!" Kurah was so surprised that she was momentarily glued to her spot without moving an inch. Lolita then reiterated, "Come… Kurah… we need to talk!" 
Kurah walked to the bed and sat down in silence with a forlorn look, much to Lolita's dismay. Before Lolita could find the right words to begin the conversation, Kurah beats her to it. "I understand if you are angry with me… I mean… not revealing my real identity to you… And I'll totally understand if… if… you want nothing to do with me anymore… a friend who hides things from you may not be the kind of friend you need after all"
Lolita was dumbfounded by her friend's declaration as she enquired jovially, "where are you from?... right now…you sound so ridiculous… I want my friend back… and yes! Your secret is yours to keep… why should you even tell me in the first place?" Kuzah jumped up from her seat and gave Lolita a tight yet short hug before releasing her. "I'm glad you are safe, Lolly!" Lolita grabs Kurah's hand after hearing what she just said. She squeezed it gently, as the two looked at each other in silence, each having her own thoughts. 
However, Lolita didn't forget to show appreciation. "Thank you so much… for… everything… you saved my life, Kurah…. Thank you… thank you" Kurah was confused once again but this time, she allowed her silence to speak for her as she looked on in anticipation for Lolita to continue speaking. It wouldn't be a good thing to interrupt her friend as she wished to know why Lolita was thanking her so much.
Lolita shifted for the first time yesterday, but she did it so effortlessly that Kurah was tempted to believe that her friend had guidance from an experienced werewolf trainer. However, it was clear that Lolita didn't know what was happening to her initially. Therefore, it rules out the conjecture of being guided by a master.
After shifting, she then slept for so long that Kurah was beginning to get worried. When she finally woke up, she was thanking her for saving her life, and Kurah couldn't recollect ever saving Lolita. Who wouldn't be confused with the turn of events?
"You saved me… Kurah… You may never know… but you did" Lolita inhales briefly and continues, "that lady with Professor Mason… she's not ordinary… I'll say… she's special… A special kind of evil… her heart is filled with nothing but evil" Kurah nodded vigorously and affirmed Lolita's statement "I agree… she pissed me off for no reason… and my instinct has never been wrong!... I agree she's pure evil" 
"Mmmm! That makes two of us" Lolita declares in affirmation. This caused the two girls to burst out in laughter. Lolita then continues in a grave tone "I have this nagging feeling she's here for me… Like she wants to hurt me." Lolita couldn't explain it, but she was convinced that Rubeetha meant her harm.
Kurah then probes further, "why do you think so?... I mean… I understand she's bad news… but… why would she wish to harm you?... Maybe… she's just a bloodsucking vampire who needs no reason to drain her victim… Besides… What makes you so sure that she's out to get you?" Lolita didn't know how to explain her observation to Kurah, but she heard her friend say once more, "you only met her yesterday… in an obvious state of confusion! … don't you think you are overthinking things?" 
Lolita didn't wait for her friend to complete her statement when she shook her head and retorted, "you are wrong…Kurah… I already met her once… yesterday was our second meeting… and… in all of our two encounters… she tried to touch me… Seems like… she just wanted to touch me… lay her hands on me… to confirm something… I don't know what… but I don't like this feeling of cluelessness!" 
Kurah was in deep thought for a while before she burst out with certainty, "You need to join a Pack… my pack to be specific" Lolita looked at her friend with a questioning gaze that read, "how is this connected to what I just said?" However, Kurah only smiled subtly and reiterated, "you need a Pack!... You need protection… you need to swear allegiance to an Alpha… It's the only way to keep you safe from both werewolves Packs and other dangers out there… Trust me, Lolita… you wouldn't wish to be marked as a rogue" 
Lolita was still confused, but Kurah couldn't blame her. She just shifted and became a werewolf, and she wouldn't know much about the world of a werewolf, much less the rules of their world. 
Kurah wanted to make the message sink in, so she continues in a mild tone "My friend… what if you are more special than you think?... What if the red-haired lady knew all along that you were a werewolf?... And she only needed to confirm your identity by touching you?" 
Kurah then held Lolita's hands and said, "I couldn't smell you, Lolita… I had no clue that you were a werewolf… and that's strange… because my sense of smell is one of the best… nothing gets past this nose" Kurah points to her nose as she says this. However, she was far from being done. 
"Now that you mention… I realized that you are special… your fur is one of a kind… Even my brother needs to give you that!... You just surpassed him… hmmm! All I'm trying to say is that… You are special… Let my brother keep you safe… Let my Pack protect you." 
Lolita found a lot of sense in her friend's comment, however, she has never been at anyone's mercy. She has always gone solo and has been treating wounded wolves and other dangerous animals in the Hardwood forest all on her own. She has always braced her storms squarely and never feared anything for that matter. Why then should she fear Rubeetha? 
Now that Lolita thinks about it, it made a lot of sense that she could hear their thoughts all these years. It turns out that she's actually one of them. She's a werewolf. It could be that they are also werewolves and not mere wolves after all. 
Lolita thought she could hear the thought of animals because she was a werewolf. However, it is rather due to her elven abilities. With their affinity to nature, elves are creatures that can connect with anything from nature. It is also the reason why they are great healers.
Coming back to the conversation at hand, Lolita decided to ask the million-dollar question, "Uh-huh… Kurah… what's your Pack called anyway?"
***