3RD PERSON POV

As Alex slept in her warm futon, she began to dream of a large meadow that had a large lake and it was filled with animals and wildflowers. Alex was surprised by this and then she noticed Shadow was sitting next to her near the lake. Alex smiled at Shadow and she gently stroked Shadow's black fur. Just then, someone approached them and when they turned to look a familiar figure and a while wolf approached them. Alex smiled at them and she knew who they were and so did Shadow.

"Dominic! Zeus!"

Shadow wagged her tail and then she and Zeus began to chase each other and nip at each other playfully. Alex ran over to Dominic and she flung her arms around him and they hugged each other.

"Dominic! I can't believe you're really here...I was so worried that you'd-"

"You can't get rid of me or Zeus that easily."

"What on earth happened and where's everyone else? why aren't they here in the Moon Goddess' paradise?" 

Dominic looked away from Alex and he told her.

"We tried our best to fight them but, it was no good. There were too many hunters for us to handle, a lot of us fell...Josh and I were the only ones who were able to escape."

Alex's eyes widen in shock and then Josh and Apollo came over to her.

"He speaks the truth, we don't know what happened to the others but, as far as we know, Alpha Dominic and I were the only ones who were able to escape from the fight."

"Right now, we're keeping our heads down but, one thing for certain..."

Dominic gently stroked Alex's cheek and he felt warm.

"I'm glad you're all right."

"I wish I was with you not here in the meadow but, in the real world but...something happened and I won't be able to see you guys in three months."

"What do you mean?"

Josh asked Alex and then she explained to him and Dominic about what happened. The two men were shocked after she told them what had happened at the temple and how she got sent back 500 years into the past.

"Unbelievable, I can't believe that really happened."

"At least that explains why I couldn't use my mind-link to track you down, Alex, I am so sorry."

"It's all right, I didn't know this was gonna happen to me besides, we were on the run from those wolf hunters and I needed to find a place to hide."

Alex told Josh and Dominic. He gently patted Alex's head and Dominic told her.

"If you're gonna be stuck 500 years into the past, that'll give us time to cool down and wait for the hunters to go away, besides, the hunting season is gonna end soon so, by the time you get back, it'll be all right."

"I hope so...I miss you."

Alex said as she buried her face in Dominic's chest and he gently stroked the back of her head. Elsewhere, Zeus and Shadow laid down on the soft grass while nuzzling each other. Shadow and Zeus pulled away from each other and then Zeus licked her face.

"It's great to see you again, Shadow, it's too bad we're only able to meet like this especially since you and Alex are stuck in the past."

"I know you don't need to rub it in."

Shadow said to Zeus as she nipped Zeus' ear playfully. Zeus shook his head and he chuckled a little.

"Even though this world is only a dream world, but, once you and Alex come back home. We'll be together again and maybe as mates."

Shadow's eyes widen in shock and so did Alex when Dominic also told Alex the same thing. 

"Mates?! but-"

"I know, but, you know what? screw the traditions, I don't care which mate the Moon Goddess had picked for us but, it doesn't matter. I love you, Alex."

Alex smiled at Dominic and she felt tears of happiness threating to spill out of her eyes.

"Dominic..."

"Alex..."

Dominic whispered to her before slowly leaning close to her lips. However, before their lips could touch, a storm appeared along with a strong gust of wind, which blew away some of the wildflowers. Dominic looked up and he frowned a little.

"Looks like our time is up, it's a shame, I was hoping to spend more time with you Alex but, in three months, we'll see each other again."

"I know, see you until then, Dominic..."

The world around her and Shadow turned white as Josh and Dominic disappear in the fog.

***

ALEX'S POV

I shot my eyes open and I noticed that it was still dark out but, it was early in the morning. I sat up and then Shadow spoke up.

"Looks like we were in Selene's wolf meadow, a place where packs get to meet their leader and their mates."

"I know but, why has Dominic decided until now to tell me how he feels? hasn't it occurred to you that it might be odd?"

"I agree, it is weird and when I was with Zeus, for a moment I thought I felt something but, after seeing him again, I felt nothing even after I confessed my love to him on that day when the night raid went wrong."

I sighed a little and I realised that I need to get those crazy thoughts out of my head so, I got out of the futon and I put on my haori. I quietly opened the sliding doors and I looked around making sure that no one was around and I then headed into the forest without anyone noticing me. Once I got to the forest, I looked around and the forest was quiet and peaceful, for the time being. I smiled a little and I looked around once more to make sure that no one was looking before taking off my kimono and my haori.

The cold early morning breeze didn't bother me since I was used to it. I closed my eyes and I shifted into my wolf form. I got on all fours and then my bones cracked, my hair got longer and my skin turned jet black as Shadow's fur took over. I shook myself after shifting and I hid my clothes so, no one could steal them and then I went for a run. It had been a while since I had shifted into my wolf form and it felt great.

The wind blew through my jet black fur as I ran and I heard some of the animals waking up as I ran through the forest. Shadow chuckled and then I came to a halt after seeing the view of Azuchi castle and the town. I wagged tail and then I spotted Mssamune along with his men doing the usual morning patrol. I decided to pay a little visit to him and I better make sure to be nice to him. I hid behind d some bushes and Masamune had made so e breakfast for his men. I sniffed the air and it smelt nice and then Shadow whined.

"Let's not stand here, time to get some grub."

"Be nice."

"I will."

Shadow quietly and  carefully stepped out of the bushes and then Masamune and his men spotted her. Masamune stoos up and he got his sword at the ready.

"A wolf? What are you doing here?"

I wasn't fazed by his fighting stance and I decided to play the good-dog-act. I wagged my tail and I barked at him before lieing down on the ground and rolling onto my back. Masamune and the others were surprised by this. He put away his sword before carefully approaching me. I rolled onto my belly and I wagged my tail happily. I sniffed Masamune's legs and then he gently patted my head. I nudged my head against his hand as he patted me.

MASAMUNE'S POV

I was surprised at first that this wolf was being friendly towards me as I petted her head. I chuckled a little as she rolled onto her belly again. She let me scratch her belly and I said to her.

"You're friendly for a wolf, did someone teach you to become an obedient dog or something?"

The wolf whimpered at me and then she got up from the grass. She shook herself and then she went over to Kojuro who had a grilled fish in his hand. The wolf looked at him before sitting down on the ground. She whimpered at him while giving him the puppy eye look.

"What does this wolf want?"

"I think I do."

I went over to the fire where the fish was being cooked and I grabbed one that was ready. I looked at the wolf and I walked over to her with the cooked fish and I showed it to her. She came over to me and then she sniffed at it.

"Don't worry, it's not poisoned, go on."

The wolf took the fish from my hand and she happily ate it.

"Wow, even animals like your cooming, Lord Masamune."

"So it would seem, but still, I wonder where this pretty wolf came from. She seems friendly towards humans."

"And she looks to large to be a wolf as well, we don't see a wolf that size around here or outside of Azuchi."

"That's true, maybe she's a rare breed or something."

The wolf finished eating the fish and she li is her lips. I smiled at her and then she let's me stroke her head again. As I petted her head, noticed that she has blue eyes.

"You've got beautiful blue eyes, they're almost as pretty as Alex's eyes."

The wolf wagged her tail and then she licks my face.

"*Chuckle* hey, that tickles!"

"I think that was her way of saying thank you," Kojuro commented with a smirk.

The wolf barked at me before turning around and running away from me.

"Hey, where are you going?"

The wolf stopped for a moment and then she howled loudly. It sounded beautiful and then she disappeared into the shadows of the morning sun.

"Well, that certainly was a first, I was not expecting that wolf to be so friendly."

"I'll say, but, where do you think she came from? If she was from a pack we would have spotted one."

"Poor girl must be alone."

I mumbled after staring at the spot where that black wolf disappeared and I also wondered when I might see it again.

MEANWHILE...

ALEX'S POV

I managed to get back tot he castle on time before anyone noticed that I had disappeared and I got changed into my favourite kimono. I tried my hair back into a plait and then one of my personal maids, Karou, came into my room and she told me.

"Lady Alexandra, breakfast ready in the audience hall."

"I'm on my way."

I told her before leaving the room. I got tot he audience hall and some of the warlords were already there. I sat next to Mitsunari and the Masamune showed up on time.

"There you are Masamune, where were you?"

"Feeding my men as usual."

Masamune said with a smile on his face. I pretended to notice that grin on his face since I was the one who was there.

"You seem happy, did something good happen?"

"Yeah it did, you're not gonna believe this, I was giving breakfast to Kojuro and the others until this wolf appeared."

"A wolf?!" Hideyoshi shouted after he nearly spitting out his tea.

"How is that good?! Did it attack you?!"

"No it didn't, it came over to us and it was friendly towards us like your average dog. She even let me pet her and scratch her belly."

"Wow, that does sound weird and yet amazing at the same time," Mitusnari commented.

"It was but, the poor girl was hungry, she went up to Kojuro and she begged him with those puppy dog eyes."

"Aw, poor thing, but, she's a wolf isn't she? Why didn't she get angry and fought you guys over the food?" I asked him.

"I have no idea, it was weird to see a wolf that large to act like someone's pet."

Nobunaga looked impressed and curious so I decided to ask Masamune what it looked like so that way I wasn't being quiet during this conversation.

"If I may ask what did this wolf look like?"

"She had black fur, blue eyes, similar to yours Aled but they were lighter and the strangest thing was, she looked too big to be a wolf."

"How big was she?"

"Her height nearly reached my thighs."

"That big?! Was this wolf a rare breed or something?" Hideyoshi asked him.

I thought for a moment and I told Masamune.

"I think you might be right, Hideyoshi and I know exactly what kind of wolf you encountered."

"Oh? Then what is it?" Nobunaga asked me with curiosity in his eyes.

"Back where I'm from, we call them hybrids."

"Hybrids?" Mitsuhide asked me.

"It means wolfdog. Wolfdogs are bred by a certain colour of wolf and a certain breed of a domestic dog, meaning your regular pet dogs. Which kinda explains why the black wolf you mentioned was being friendly towards you, she might be a hybrid."

"That's an interesting breed, Alex, how come we've never heard of this breed before?" Nobunaga asked me.

"Simple, wolfdogs are an extremely rare breed and it's hard to breed them as well, as I said, you need to have a wolf with a specific colour to breed your domestic dog with, say like a grey wolf for example."

"I see..." Nobunaga spoke in a disappointed tone.

I giggled a little and then Nobunaga said to me.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Oh it's nothing."

"*Giggle* they're talking about me and from the looks on Nobunaga's face, he probably wanted a wolfdog of his own."

"Probably."

Masamune sighed a little and he then spoke.

"It's a shame though, I should have convinced that wolfdog to come back with me, she looked beautiful too."

"Well, if she's still around, you might be able to see her again."

"What makes you say that, lass?"

"If she lives in that forest where Kojuro and the others are then you might be able to see her again if you get lucky."

"I suppose that's true."

After breakfast, Nobunaga asked me to see him alone his room so, I brought the bag of sugar candy that bought in town yesterday and I headed towards his room. Once I got there, I opened the sliding doors and I said to him."

"I'm coming in, Lord Nobunaga."

"There you are, Alex."

I closed the sliding door behind me before sitting down across from Nobunaga.

"So what was it you wanted to see me about?"

"During that little conversation today you sounded like you know alot about these Hyribds and I'm beginning to think you might have encountered one yourself."

"You got me, yes, I did encounter a hybrid once and it wasn't like Masamune's experience. Mine's was worse."

"What happened?"

"Out of the crazy things that I've done in my life, I went to Kyoto with friends and then I decided tot ake a short cut home, big mistake. On the way home, this wolfdog appeared and it didn't look happy to see me. It  hased me through the forest until I finally got me and it bit me."

"It did? I thought you said wolfdogs were friendly since they were bred by a domestic dog."

"Ah, you see, that's where you're wrong, wolfdogs are not always friendly, they will always have that wild instinct within them."

"I see, if you don't mind me asking, where exactly did this wolf bit you?"

I sat next to Nobunaga before moving the skirt of my mind onto out of the way to show my leg to nobunaga where that rouge wolf bit me. Nobunaga was shocked when he saw the scar only leg.

"That looks painful."

"It was painful, I wouldn't be alive right now if Dominic hadn't jumped in and save me in time."

"Who's Dominic?" Nobunaga spoke with a frown.

"He's the man who took me in after my parents were murdered six years ago."

" I'm sorry to hear that."

"Hey don't start giving me the sympathy look, otherwise your vessels will think you're going soft."

Nobunaga looked at me with a frown at first but, he smiled afterwards. He looked at my scar again and then he gently ran his fingers o er the bit mark. I felt a shiver through my spine and then Shadow said to me.

"Did you feel that?!"

"I did...that was odd."

I looked at Nobunaga and for some reason, I felt drawn towards him. Nobuaga looked at me and he asked me.

"Is something wrong? You don't want me touching your scar?"

"Oh no, it's fine, I've got sensitive legs."

"Oh really?" Nobunaga spoke with a teasing smirk on his face.

Nobunaga ran his fingers over my leg again making me squirm and trying to hold back my laughs.

"Hehe, Stop! Hehehe! Nobunaga! That tickles! Hehehe!"

"Looks like I found my lucky charm's weakness."

"Hehehe! You jerk! If you don't stop it right now, hehehe! I won't give you the sugar I bought in town yesterday!"

Nobunaga stop tickling my leg and he looked at me with a shock look and a hi t of desperation in his eyes.

"You got the sugar candy I asked for?"

"Yes I did."

I got the bag from my kimono and Nobunaga tried to take them from me but, I managed to keep it out of his reach.

"Nope, you don't deserve them."

"Why not?"

"Because you tickled me and teased me, so, consider it a punishment."

"Alex, give me the bag of sugar candy, NOW."

"Not with that attitude."

"You had your chance."

Nobunaga tried to catch me but, I dodge his grab in time.

"Hahaha! You missed me!"

"Come back here!"

Nobunaga said as he tried to catch me but, I dodged his grip in time.

"Too slow!"

"*sighs* I've got better things to do other than chasing kids."

"Aw come on, don't be like that, I'm only a little bit of fun with you, you're too serious all the time, you gotta loosen up sometimes."

I said as I patted him on the head. Nobunaga smirked at me again and he said to me.

"And you..."

Nobunaga grabs me in time an she pins me down.

"Just fell into my trap, now where did you hid that bag."

"Oda Nobunaga, don't you dare! Hahaha!"

I burst out laughing when Nobunaga started to tickle my sides and then he found the bag.

"Got it!"

"Ah dammit!"

"*Chuckle* it was a clever attempt to escape from me but, you fell for my trap."

"I'll get you back for this trust me!" I said as I sat up from the floor.

"Hmpf, we'll see about that, here," Nobunaga said as he puts one of the candy in my mouth.

"I'm not rewarding you for that bad behaviour but, I'm giving you some of this to silence that mouth of yours and for getting these for me."

I munched on the candy and it was good.

"It's good but, I don't think one is gonna be enough."

Nobunaga sighed when he saw me holding out my hand. He puts a handful of candy in my hand and I smiled at this.

"That'll do thank you."

"You're welcome," Nobunaga grumbled since he had to share some of the candy with me.

I giggled at his reaction as we ate the sugar candy together.

3RD PERSON POV

As the Alex and Nobunaga were talking and having sugar candy together, Hideyoshi and Mitsunari stood outside of his room and they watched them through the crack of the sliding doors.

"She's kinda playful isn't she?" Mitsunari said with a smile.

"She sure is, I guess I was wrong about her. She's not a spy at all, how else did she put a smile on our Lord's face."

"Even though she's giving him sugar candy? Which by the way, you kept taking away from Lord Nobunaga?"

Hideyoshi sweat dropped and he chuckled nervously.

"I'll let it go this time, besides, Lord Nobunaga looks like he's enjoying her company right now."

Hideyoshi said as he watched Nobunaga and Alex talk together and how she was able to make him smile.

"Come on, let's leave them be."

"Right."

Mitsunari said as he and Hideyoshi walked away and left the two of them alone.

Alex was able to put a smile on Nobunaga's face? Could this be a sign that Oda Nobunaga could be Alex's soul mate? If so, then does that mean there's going to be a time that Alex will have to choose the one who saved her and the one who is a Warlord?