PROLOGUE

It was after midnight when she entered the kitchen. She wanted water, she could not stay thirsty for long. Pouring water from a jug she felt a movement at her back. She stopped cold. Her parents were supposed to be sleeping at that time.

She turned around slowly, a little scared, her heart beating faster.

Then her lips broke into a bright smile, “Grandma!”

Grandma spread her arms and she lunged towards her to hug her tightly, “I knew you would come to meet me, Grandma. I was waiting for you.”

Her grandma had passed away last evening and she knew she would visit her. They all did!

For a final goodbye!

“What are you doing here in the kitchen?” 14 years old Hazel asked innocently. Her grandma was smiling. She was her only support system against her abusive parents.

“I am making Vanilla shampoo my dear.” She smiled while caressing her bald head. “This time in bulk. It would grow your hair like anything.”

Hazel raised her head with big green eyes on her grandmother, “Why Grandma? Nothing worked ever. Why go to such pain?”

“It would work my dear. My Hazel. It certainly would. Just have patience.” Hazel had this unknown disease that kept her bald since her birth except for some patches of red hair here and there.

Her mom had been taking her to doctors, specialists, and whatnot. But nothing worked.

She used to face bullying at school. Kids used to call her Egg-ball, witch, or Satan’s daughter. Sensing her sadness her grandma made her sit beside her on a couch.

“Hazel. I am here for making this shampoo and also for telling you an interesting story.”

Hazel giggled, “Story? But Grandma I am not a kid anymore.”

“No, you are not Hazel. But I need to tell you this one.” Hazel’s head was resting on her grandma’s chest. Her grandma started caressing her head again.

“Once upon a time there was a king. He loved his wife a lot.”

“Grandma. Are you talking about our king? King Lucas James of Kavoda kingdom?” Hazel interrupted.

“Shh Hazel. Don’t interrupt.” Then taking a deep breath grandma continued. “The king used to love his wife a lot. They had everything. Happiness, a peaceful kingdom, and love. But only one thing was missing. A child!”

“They both used to crave for children. Courtiers suggested king to re-marry. They even offered to bring a concubine for him. But the king declined the offer. He loved his queen a lot.

One fine day the queen was going somewhere in her carriage when it started pouring heavily. When they were passing through the forest a group of rogue werewolves attacked her. Her guards were dead within minutes.”

Hazel was horrified, “All the guards, grandma?”

Grandma nodded in answer. “All the guards Hazel. But suddenly out of nowhere, a tall and handsome alpha werewolf reached there to help the queen. He killed all the rogues. He was badly injured. He fell and then reached among dense forest trees with the help of the queen. Despite being hurt and in pain he could not deny the fact that she was extremely beautiful. He was betrayed by his own pack members thats why was attacked and injured. His Luna had died long ago and he was also childless just like the queen.”         

“Then what happened grandma?” Hazel was holding her breath. Grandma was looking into space.

“The Alpha werewolf told the queen that she was his mate.” Hazel gasped at that.

“Mate? …  really? A human mate? Second chance mate?”

“Hazel you talk a lot. Do you want to hear the story or should I leave?”

“Sorry, grandma.” Hazel held her tongue between her teeth.

“So this alpha did not mark her. The queen not only offered herself to him willingly but also gave him her heart. Later the alpha died then and there. Queen reached her palace safely with a heavy heart.

After few days she came to know that she is pregnant. King and queen were over the moon. They celebrated and danced and threw parties. But later everyone around them suspected that this was not a normal human pregnancy.

They suggested king to do something about the baby along with the queen because the child might belong to Satan.

In all this chaos, one day queen cried a lot and accepted her mistake before the king. She also requested the king to let her go with the child so that he can re-marry.

But the king did not listen to the crap. He not only forgave the queen but also welcomed the child with an open heart. The child was half-human and half-werewolf.”

After this grandma went quiet. Hazel was awed by the story.

She whispered still under its effect, “Then grandma? What happened after that?”

“Nothing happened Hazel. After two years the Royal couple had another son. This one had King's blood in his veins. But both brothers were loved equally by the king. And according to the kingdom laws, the elder one was the rightful heir to the throne.”

“Is there any special reason grandma? For telling me this story?”

“Yes, Hazel there is. If you see a werewolf ever giving up on his life. Just tell him. He has to wait. He has to wait till his eighteenth birthday and then his injuries would recover automatically.”

“Do you think I would meet a werewolf?” She asked a little suspiciously. Grandma chuckled at that.

“You would not only meet them Hazel but you would also become their Luna.”

Hazel started laughing at that. The dead ones always used to visit her in her dreams and used to say such peculiar things which one could not even imagine or believe in real life.

Grandma was still serious, when her laughter subsided she kissed her grandmother’s cheek. “But grandma, once I was talking to you about werewolves and you said … there are No werewolves.” Hazel tried to mimic her grandma.

Grandma smiled at that. Leaning forward she brought her lips to Hazel’s ear, her warm breath fanning her cheek causing the hair at her nape to stand. She whispered gently, “Guess what Hazel.” And then her smile broadened. “I lied!”