A/N: Thanks for the reviews everyone! :):)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Wolf wakes up early in the morning. He stretches and rubs his sleepy eyes. He sits up as he hears a door knock.

"Come in." he says.

A young maid enters the room.

"Good morning Sir. I am hear to inform you that breakfast will be served at eight o'clock."

"What time is it now?" Wolf asks.

"It's seven o'clock."

"Alright, I'll be there."

The maid walks out of the room and closes the door after her.

Wolf wondered about what he would do today. He got up and went to the bathroom. He lay in the bathtub and thought about how to get himself and his sister out of this mess that Queen Riding Hood has put them in. Finally, he gets out of the bathtub and shakes himself. He gets dressed and walks out of the room.

The dining room was empty when Wolf got there. There were only a couple of servants who were preparing the table. Wolf took a seat and waited.

After a couple of minutes Queen Riding Hood III walked in, Tala following her closely.

"Good morning Wolf." The queen said cheerfully.

"Good morning Sir." Tala said in a low voice. She was acting like he was a complete stranger for her.

"Good morning ladies." Wolf said as he stood up.

The two women sat near the table and Wolf also sat down. Servants brought breakfast dishes and they started to eat. Every one was silent. Wolf didn't know what to talk about. He wanted to rip Red's throat out at that moment, but he managed to control himself.

Finally, the queen broke the silence.

"So, when do we expect the wedding?" she asked.

Wolf almost choked. "What wedding?" he asked, but when he saw the stern look on Red's face, he remembered that he was still supposed to marry Tala. "Oh, the wedding! Yeah, I almost forgot." He tried to act normal. "Well, I suppose at the end of the month."

"Good." The queen smiled. "After you get married, I will announce you as the heir of the throne."

Wolf managed to smile, and nodded. Tala looked nervous. She took a sip of her tea silently, without joining the conversation. She hoped that her brother would succeed in canceling their wedding. It was wrong. She can't marry her own brother! What was she thinking when she agreed on such thing? But then again, she remembered that she didn't know whom was she going to marry until she smelled him.

"Tala, my dear." The queen said. "You are silent today? Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes Your Majesty." Tala said.

"You look nervous my dear. Don't be, for this is your fiancé who is sitting with us now."

Tala looked at her and then to Wolf. He nodded to her. "Yes, I know Your Majesty. And I am thankful that you have found me such a noble man." Tala said.

"I'm glad that you like my choice." The queen said proudly. So far, her plan was working, she thought. But she didn't know that wolves would recognize their family members even if they have been separated for years.

"Red, I was thinking about taking Tala on a tour to the Fourth Kingdom." Wolf said.

Queen Red straightened in her seat. "The Fourth Kingdom? Why?"

"I want to get to know her better. I'm thinking about taking her to Kissingtown, and I also want her to meet Wendell."

The queen raised an eyebrow. "Why do you want her to meet Wendell?"

"Well, if he's going to be my best man, at least he should meet the bride before the wedding." Wolf said as a-matter-of-fact.

"Good point Wolf. You may take her with you. But on one condition."

Wolf could feel his heart beating faster. "And that would be…?"

"I don't want Virginia to be there when you go."

Wolf sighed. He still loved Virginia more than his own life. "She isn't there anymore. She left with her father and they went back to the Tenth Kingdom."

Queen Red's smile went wider. "Really? How nice!" she said.

"Who's Virginia?" Tala asked. Wolf felt himself blush.

"No one my dear. She's not important to think about." The queen said.

Wolf could feel anger rise in him. "Excuse me ladies, I think I'll go to my room now." He got up. "And I'd like to inform you that we are leaving now." He turned to Tala.

"Why the rush Wolf?" the queen asked.

"We don't have much time Red. It's about two weeks until the end of the month. And most of it will be spent on the roads for travelling from here to the palace and to Kissingtown." Wolf said.

"That's right!" the queen said. "Tala, you better go and get ready, I'll have the maids pack your clothes."

"Thank you Your Majesty." Tala said and got up. She walked out of the room with Wolf.

As soon as they got out of the dining room Wolf held her hand.

"Tala, get ready as fast as you can. I can't stand to see her anymore. I hardly hold myself from jumping at her and rip her throat out." Wolf said.

"Wolf, calm down please. I'll be ready in five minutes. I'll meet you at the entrance." Tala replied.

"Alright, see you in five minutes." Wolf said and rushed to his room. He packed his travelling bag and quickly went to the entrance. He saw Queen Riding Hood III waiting for them.

"Where's Tala?" Wolf asked her and handed his bag to a servant who put it in the carriage.

"She'll be here any moment now." The queen replied.

After a moment, Tala came down stairs and walked to them. A servant was carrying her bag and he took it to the carriage as well.

"I'm ready." She said and managed to get herself to blush a little.

"I'll be waiting for your return. Don't be late." The queen said.
"We'll be back in time." Wolf said. "Come on Tala."

Tala gave Red a hug and followed Wolf to the carriage.

"Have fun!" Queen Red said loudly as the carriage started to move. Tala waved at her from the little window and then she sat back inside.

"Huff-puff! I'm so glad that we got rid of her!" Wolf said as he embraced his sister.

"I hope that we'll be able to do something about this wedding." Tala said.

"Don't worry. I'm sure Wendell will think of something." Wolf replied.

Tala looked out of the window during their trip. She was amazed by everything she saw. Since the day Queen Red Riding Hood took care of her, she wasn't able to see the outside world. She was locked in the small castle for years, and she never questioned the queen about it.

"This is the Disenchanted Forest." Wolf said as they reached the forest. "It's supposed to be a dangerous place, but since the Huntsman is gone now, I think it's a lot more safer. But the gypsies still live here, and I don't like the idea of meeting them again."

"Again? You've met them before?" Tala asked.

"Yeah, and huff-puff, it wasn't a good thing to do."

"Why? What happened?"

"They put a curse on my Virginia just because she freed their birds!"

"Oh, so that means they were attached to their birds?"

"They were magical birds. They sell them to the rich folks and those fools think by eating a magic bird, its abilities will transfer into them."

Tala laughed. "How stupid!"

Wolf smiled. It was the first time he sees his sister laugh.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.

"You're so beautiful when you laugh. Promise me that you'll keep smiling all the time." He said.

"I promise you." Tala said. "And you promise me that you'll get us out of this mess."

"You bet I will!"

----------------------------------------------------------------

Mary went to Virginia's room. She knocked the door and entered.

"Virginia?"

"Come in Mary." Virginia said.

Virginia was sitting near the window and staring out at the forest.

"How are you?" Mary asked.

"I miss him."

"He only left two days ago."

"But I miss him already. I missed him since the moment he left." Virginia cried. "Mary, what will I do if he can't convince the girl? What will happen to my baby?"

Mary sat next to Virginia and took her in her arms and stroke her hair. "He will convince her to change her mind. Believe me, Wolf is not the type of men who would fall at the heels of any woman."

"I wish I went with him!"
"He wouldn't have wanted you to go. From what I heard that Queen Red Riding Hood seem to be an evil person. It would've been too dangerous for you and your baby if you went. Who knows what would she do?"

Virginia stopped crying as she heard a carriage approaching. "That's him!" she said and got up too look at the carriage. "Mary that's him! He's back!"

"Oh my God! Let's go down and meet him!" Mary said and they ran out of the room.

Wolf got out of the carriage and helped Tala out. As soon as she put a step on the ground, Virginia came out of the main entrance of the palace and threw herself on Wolf.

"Wolf! I missed you! I'm so happy that you're back!"

"I missed you too Virginia!" Wolf said and they kissed. Tala turned her attention elsewhere as she blushed. It was actually the first time that she saw a couple kissing.

"Virginia, I want you to meet someone." Wolf said as he broke the kiss.

Virginia looked at the girl and her smile faded. "Is she the one?" she asked Wolf in a low voice, and Wolf nodded happily. "Wolf, I thought that you were supposed to convince her not to marry you! And instead you brought her here?!" Virginia asked in an angry whisper.

"It's not what you think! Come, let me introduce you."

"Wolf! Welcome back!" Mary said as she came out of the palace.

"Hi Mary! Nice to see you too." Wolf said and gave Mary a hug. "Where are the men?"

"Somewhere inside." Mary said.

"Oh I see. Alright ladies. Let me introduce you to Tala, my 'future' wife." Wolf said with a wolfish grin and stood next to Tala and put his arm around her shoulder. Virginia's eyes narrowed at the sight. "And lucky for me, she happens to be my sister."

"What?" Mary exclaimed.

Virginia almost fainted, but Wolf ran to her and held her. "Virginia are you alright my love?"

"Get away from me! I can't believe you! You didn't want to marry the girl that Red chose for you, and now you bring her here, and she's your SISTER? Wolf, do you have any brain in your head? She's your SISTER! AND YOU WANT TO MARRY HER???" Virginia asked angrily.
"Of course I'm not going to marry her! Are you crazy?! She's my sister! Virginia, you got me wrong. I'm not going to marry her, no way! I'm not that… damaged up in the head!" Wolf said. "I brought her with me to save her and myself from Red's plans."

Virginia looked at Wolf, embarrassed by her words to him. "Oh Wolf, I'm sorry. I just lost my temper. Please forgive me."

"Don't worry about it my love." Wolf said and kissed her cheek. "Now, back to the introductions." He turned to Tala, who stood there confused. "Tala, this is Virginia. The love of my life, my creamy dreamy girl, my soul mate and the mother of my cubs."

"Hi Tala. Sorry about…" Virginia started but Tala cut in.

"Don't worry about it. I was also shocked to know that I was supposed to marry my own brother. But thankfully, Red doesn't know that we recognized each other."

Virginia smiled. "It's nice to meet you." She hugged Tala.

"Nice to meet you too." Tala said.

"Tala, and this is Mary. She's our friend." Wolf said.

Tala turned to Mary. "Hello, you're a wolf too?"

"Yes." Mary said. "Nice to meet you Tala."

"Nice to meet you too." Tala replied and gave Mary a hug.

"Let's go inside." Virginia said. "I'm sure the guys would be happy to see you."

"And I'll be happy to eat now." Wolf said. "And I'm sure Tala is also hungry. Aren't you sis?"

"Well… yeah." Tala said shyly.

"Alright, to the dining room at once." Virginia said. "It is almost dinner time. An hour early won't make any difference." She smiled and wrapped her arms around Wolf's waist as they walked into the palace.

At that moment, Wendell and Tom were coming out of Wendell's office talking to each other. Tom noticed that Wolf was back.

"Wendell look, Wolf's back." Tom said.

Wendell looked at them. "Let's go and greet him."

They walked toward Wolf and the ladies.

"Hi Wolf!" Tom said as he shook Wolf's hand.

"Hi Tom, how are you?"

"I'm fine. Man, it's so good to see you back in one piece!"

"Thanks." Wolf smiled.

"Welcome back Wolf." Wendell said as he shook Wolf's hand.

"Thanks Wendell. By the way, let me introduce you to my sister." Wolf said. "This is Tala. She is the one whom I was supposed to marry."

Wendell's eyes got wide. "What?"

"You heard it clearly Wendie. Queen Red Riding Hood III wanted me to marry my own sister. Thankfully, I convinced her that I want to get to know my bride by taking her to Kissingtown, and she believed me."

"I'll make sure that she pays for it." Wendell said angrily.

"I hope so. By the way, Tala" Wolf turned to his sister. "This is King Wendell White, the ruler of the Fourth Kingdom."

"Nice to meet you Your Majesty." Tala said with a little bow.

"It's an honor to meet you Tala. I'm really sorry that we had to meet this way. I will inform the council about Red's plans. I'm sure they will do something about her."

"Tala, this is Tom." Wolf cut in. "He's Mary's fiancé."

"Nice to meet you." Tala said.

"Nice to meet you too Tala." Tom said with a smile and shook her hand.

"Now, can we go inside? I'm starving!" Wolf said.

"Yeah, come on!" Virginia said. "I'm eating for three you know!"

They all entered the dining room and soon Tony joined them.

"Wendell, whose carriage is that outside?" he asked and then he spotted Wolf. "Wolf! You're back! Did you make it?"

"Yeah Tone, she's here." Wolf said.

"Oh." Tony looked at Tala. "Listen young lady…"

"Tony, you don't have to…" Wolf said, but Tony ignored him.

"Wolf and my daughter love each other."

"Tony!"

"They will marry each other no matter what your queen thinks."

"Anthony!" Wendell called, but he was also ignored.

"So it would be better if you leave him alone."

"Dad!" Virginia said.

"Besides, my daughter is pregnant, and she won't raise her babies all alone."

"TONY!" everyone in the room shouted at him.

"What? Do you think I'm deaf or something? Why are you screaming?" Tony asked.

"Tony, Tala is my sister!" Wolf said.

Tony's face went deep red. "Your sister? Oh Jeez! I'm so sorry young lady. I'm really-really sorry. I'm Tony Lewis, Virginia's father."

"Nice to meet you Sir." Tala said finally. She was having a hard time trying to hide her giggles.

"Nice to meet you too." Tony said and sat next to Virginia. "Why didn't you tell me?!" he whispered to her.

"We all tried to tell you, but you didn't listen." Virginia replied.

Everyone was chatting happily except for Wolf and Wendell, who were whispering to each other, planning their next step. They wanted to inform the council as soon as possible, before Queen Red Riding Hood III could guess that Wolf and Tala have actually recognized each other as siblings.