CHAPTER 18:

(Two Years later: Zella)

She reached home and placed her bag on the couch. She knew Ivy must be busy packing the shampoo bottles so she tiptoed towards the kitchen only to find her in Tyler’s arms. They both were kissing each other passionately.

With a chuckle, she cleared her throat. They both jumped up. Ivy started to put some distance while Tyler pulled her back to him.

Ivy was blushing not meeting her eyes. Tyler and Ivy became friends one year ago when she needed bottles in bulk. He offered himself for not only bringing bottles but also all the supplies for the shampoo at the lowest prices possible.

At first, they both did not want to trust him. But later not only trust but a friendship started building among them.

He was a widow with no children and once helped Ivy to take Chris to the hospital when he got himself injured. Tyler stayed there with her and assisted in handling the bills and technicalities.

Though Hazel had suspected that he liked Ivy. The way he used to look at her or went out of his way to bring her stuff.

But Ivy never believed her until Tyler invited her to a dinner date. Hazel encouraged her to go and not to worry about Chris.

The weekend dates turned into weekday dinners followed by stayovers. What Ivy liked about Tyler was he used to treat her with respect and Chris as a boy of his own.

And Hazel always found them cute. Most of the time Tyler preferred his dates along with Christian. It was his way of telling that the kid was equally important to him as his mom.

“Hey, you two! Spare the kitchen at least.” She joked while inspecting the bottles when Tyler came to hug her. She always found him graceful with his partially grey French beard.

“Where is Chris?” She looked around in the kitchen. The bottles were filled and labeled.

“Shaina took him. He wanted to play with her cousins.” Ivy was still blushing and Hazel wanted so bad to tease her but held back because of Tyler’s presence.

She went to her room to shower and change. The moment she opened her cupboard she found the jacket which was still there waiting for its owner.

Looking at Tyler and Ivy made her crave for him. She used to miss him daily. Especially when some guy used to approach her for dating purpose.

She was still waiting for him. Sometimes she used to be on the verge of losing control. She had to stop herself forcefully, from going to the palace and asking about him.

Hey Zeki. Your vanilla is waiting dude. What’s taking you so long? It’s been two years honey. You made me promise not to cry. But how long Zek! Don’t you understand, I can’t live without you?

She used to talk to his jacket daily. Sometimes she almost wanted to share it with someone. Dustin, Ivy, or even Noah.

Then she used to hold back.

Just a little more time Hazel. A little bit more patience. He will return to you. Deep inside your heart, you do know, that he would return eventually. Patience Hazel! Patience!

In these two years, Noah had become her dear friend. He used to insist on calling him by his first name only. She tried at first then gave up. Not in public at least.

The day he helped her in distributing away her shampoo samples, she knew that she had got an ally. After that day she had stopped talking to Lily too.

The way she tried to make fun of her that day, had become too much. Lily had got other friends now, almost her gang of minions. They both used to treat each other, cordially.

Sometimes she thought she detected a silent grudge in Lily’s eyes when she used to see her with Prince Noah.

Their Shampoo business started thriving last year. She worked on different ideas and combinations to meet everyone’s demands. Ivy used to handle the purchases.

On weekends they used to make them in big batches and pack them.

 They used to deal in Rosemary, honey, mint, coconut, and castor shampoos. But their most expensive hot selling item was Vanilla shampoo.

Even the Royals demanded it all the time. They were now respected more in the neighborhood.

“Hazel! You have got a visitor!” she heard Ivy while stepping out of the shower.

Frowning to herself she started dressing up hurriedly. When she came down she found Dustin standing there.

“Hey, it’s you. Let’s go to my room.” She was wearing a white top with denim shorts. Ivy gave her a naughty grin when they were going upstairs.

She chose to ignore it and closed the room once Dustin was inside.

“We just met at school Dustin. I hope you are here for good. Let me get something to drink for us.”   

She was about to leave her room when her phone started ringing.

“You might want to take this call.” He said while wiggling his brows with mischief. Not understanding a thing she saw the caller ID. It was Noah.

“Prince Noah! Again is it a Promcom discussion?” she said while shrugging looking at Dustin.

“Er … Hazel … We need to talk.” The Noah she knew was always confident under his skin. She had never heard him stammering like this.

 “I am listening, Noah.” She sat beside Dustin. Dustin at once put his arm around her, almost hugging her.

“Can I take you to the prom night?” Her mouth was hung open. Out of all the things, she never expected this from Noah.

“Me? But weren’t you going with …?”

“No, I was not. I wanted to ask you first but …” he stopped trying to think more suitable words.

She gave a quizzical look to Dustin, “But Prince Noah. Dustin already invited me and I said yes.” Just then Dustin facepalmed himself and started saying something without any sound, gesturing wildly.

“Hello, Hazel. Are you there?” Hazel who was trying to decipher Dustin’s wild gestures spoke again,

“Prince Noah. I will let you know by tomorrow.” After the call when she eyed Dustin curiously he stood and held her shoulders, “Go with him, Hazel.”

“What? But what about you?”

“Don’t think about me, Hazel. I was not even interested in attending the prom. Anyways. Don’t say no to him.” He said while pinching her nose.

…

All the pack members were sitting there waiting for their Alpha to start his speech. They just had a scrumptious meal and now seemed anxious to hear why he had called all the members in the meeting hall.

Kate was also there having an uneasy feeling. Though these kinds of meetings used to be held every month for the pack discussions and strategies. But this time it seemed different.

After the meal, Ezequiel stood from the head chair and looked at all the pack members.

“Thank you all for coming here. I wish I can express my enough gratitude for accepting my invitation on such short notice.” There was a small smile on his lips. His pack members had never seen him laughing or smiling broadly.

For them, he was a man of few words.

“I am here to announce that tomorrow I would leave for the Kingdom Kavoda.” That earned him surprised glances and sharp intakes of breaths.

“I need you all to carry on with your duties in my absence, just as you do it when I am around. Beta Joshua will look after the pack. In case of any problem please don’t hesitate to approach him.”

“But Alpha. Isn’t the Kavoda Kingdom a human kingdom? Your father’s kingdom?” One of his warriors rose up, “Are you going there to fight? Should we expect a war with the humans?”

He shook his head looking at him, “No. We won’t be at war with them. I have some unfinished business there.”

“My Alpha!” this was another warrior, “Don’t they want you to become their king?”

“Depends. I have my conditions. If they would agree to it then I have to accept the throne but I am more interested in passing it on to my younger brother.”

They all knew about his background of growing up with humans and they respected that.

All of them were nodding while looking at him when an Omega raised his hand to question. When he nodded, the man stood from his seat, “May I know my Alpha, the purpose of this visit?”

This time Ezequiel raised an eyebrow, “It’s high time, I bring back your Luna to the pack.” His voice turned to a whisper, “She must be waiting for me.”  It was not only what he said but also how he said it.

Kate who was sitting there among warriors clutched her napkin tightly. She felt betrayed, hurt. All this time when she was after his time and attention there was someone else all along.

“I will be taking with me, my special three warriors. I would get back soon. Now you all can enjoy your drinks.”