Chapter 5

It had been four years since Toshiro and Karin came to live at the castle. Toshiro was now 20 years old and was about to be appointed king, while Karin was 18, still running with the pack of wolves that raised her. At this particular moment, the two were enjoying their time together studying in the castle's massive library. Karin held a leather book in her hand that was full of poems about the wild and wolves. Toshiro studied Karin from where he sat doing paperwork that his father gave him to make his transfer to king easier. That handprint that he had once left on her neck was healed long ago, and Karin, for the most part, had gone back to normal after their conversation that night, realizing he was still who she met in the forest. Though now and then, Toshiro caught her as she would flinch away from him, that was to be expected. She had known wolves her whole life, and when she finally met people, they abused her.

"Karin," he called, catching her attention. She laid the book down on her lap and looked up at him, studying his gaze. "Have you ever wondered what would be different if I was never taken?" he asked.

"I assume we probably would have never met, and the forest would be gone. I would probably be moving to another territory or dead."

"I'm glad I got taken then because I got the chances to meet you..." he voiced, watching her reaction. Karin turned bright red before raising her book to hide her blush.

"Shut up."

"Though you know what sucks?' he asked. Karin made the hmm sound telling her she was listening, "we won't always be friends like this," he started catching her attention.

"Why not?" she inquired.

"Because I'll be king, and I'll need a queen,"

"You're going to let another girl push me aside?" Karin gasped slightly.

"Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of you being queen, which means you would be my wife rather than my friend," he answered with a smirk—Karin through the book at him.

"You worried me, you idiot, but what about your parents? Don't princes usually marry princesses and form alliances?"

"My parents actually knew that I chose you from the beginning. Also, if you think about it, you are a princess. Since you came to live here, Princess of the wolves, haven't been any wolves attacking people. Instead, wolves have actually protected the crops of the kingdom," he pointed out. Karin rolled her eyes, "so can I take your answer before as a yes," he asked as he pulled a teal ring out of his pocket and approached her kneeling in front of her chair.

"Yes," she answered, not sure what else to say. Toshiro smirked as he saw her shy side showing ounces more. Toshiro gripped her left hand and slid the ring onto her ring finger. Toshiro stood up, pulling Karin out of her chair, wrapping his arms around her waist as she placed her arms around his neck. They stood silent for a moment before capturing the other's lips, sharing a chaste kiss.

Well, I'll probably add another Chapter as a side story since everyone who originally read the story when it first came out knows that there is actually a little girl that lived in the castle at the very end of the story.