FIRST MEETING

Natalie looked at Kael, speechless.

Was that a joke?

Or a mistake?

“That was a joke, right?” Natalie asked Kale the question that is troubling her mind.

“I’m sorry Miss Natalie. I know this might be too much for you to take in but it is the real truth. Werewolves really exist and we are one!” Kael dropped the bombshell that sounded like a taboo to her ears again.

When Kael had told her earlier that Ethan had taken a liking for her at their first meeting, she only thought he was joking around and merely wanted to waste her time. Maybe he mistook her for someone else again.

To be sure, she requested that she hear those words directly from Ethan himself. At least, the mysterious CEO shouldn't be so cold that he would not be able to profess his attraction to a woman he admires. Kael had informed her that Ethan was sick and would not be able to speak to her via phone call at that moment.

Then, she dismissed the whole idea of Ethan choosing her to be his woman but when Kael pressed her further to kindly come see his boss as that could improve his health condition, she decided to go but not before informing Victoria that her boss, Ethan demands to see her. Although she did not tell Victoria in detail what their discussion was about, Victoria could see that it was an issue which was a bit serious and would need immediate attention.

“Alright. Mr Kael, I am trusting that you will drive her back by tomorrow morning, safe and sound. If she loses even a strand of this beautiful blonde hair, I will fight you with everything I have.” Victoria threatened Kael who only reassured her again even though she knows she cannot win a case against Kael or Ethan.

Natalie is just like a sister to her and she knows how much the poor girl had suffered especially after her parent's death. She was not also oblivious of her numerous weird dreams. Although,Talie doesn't speak about it anymore, her face tells that she desperately seeks for an answer on what those dreams meant.

Even though she wanted to go with them to see Ethan since she still can't trust him considering how he behaved with her at the supermarket, Natalie assured her that she could go alone with Kale and would be fine.

“Miss Natalie, have you….” Kael speaks up first, a few minutes into their drive to Ethan's mansion. She was sitting just beside him and he could smell her fear even though she tried to mask it.

He understands her. Going with a stranger in their car by night is not something a responsible human would do. Especially a female human.

“I think Natalie will be fine, Mr Kael. Just call me Natalie. There's no need to be so formal”. Natalie cuts him off.

“Alright, Natalie. Now, to the question; have you heard about werewolves before?” Kael looked at her face intently so that he would not miss any expression that passes through it.

“Werewolves? Ain't those the scary wolves that change into humans which we see in the movies?” Now, things were getting more confusing to Natalie but she answered him anyway. First, it was love at first sight and now, a werewolf?

Is Mr Kael perhaps interested in fantasies? Or are those Ethan's preferences? He sure doesn't look like one who would see a movie talk more of something as horrifying as werewolves’.

“Do you think they really exist?”

“Mr Kael, do you always joke with everyone like this? I mean everyone knows such things are fantasies. Werewolves, vampires, witches, fairies, and even demons, they are just imaginations of some answer seeking human. Do you really believe a human can change into a wolf?”

Although she had watched a lot of cartoons and movies on these creatures, she was so convinced that all those were just put up together for the purpose of entertainment. Just some weird imaginations.

“How about I tell you a short story?” Kael concluded that this will be the easiest way to inform her about their existence and prepare her for what was ahead.

“Story? Okay” Natalie said anyways not that she was fully interested in what he had to say.

“About 6 thousand years ago, a man met a beautiful woman whose name is Serene. She was a beautiful, kind, yet fierce woman…”

******************

Aurora sat in her grandmother's garden, appreciating the work of nature and its proper maintenance. Although her grandmother is so strict, one thing she cares for apart from her family are those flowers in the garden and no one dares to tamper with them.

She grew up seeing her grandmother sitting on the bench in the garden just to cool off in the evenings. As time went on, she found herself attracted to those flowers, especially the fresh scent from their petals that was so refreshing and she even told her father to make a swing for her inside the garden where she can just sit like her grandmother does whenever she is free.

Of course, she knows better than anyone how precious those petals are to her grandmother and that destroying them will bring a great punishment. Her grandmother even forbade Drew, her brother from coming in there except when the whole family was present to monitor him.

Her mind drifted back to a few days ago when she met with that boy whose piercing blue eyes melt her heart everytime she sees them. Each time they meet, it seemed like the first.

She could remember well what their first meeting was like. It was on the day of her brother's fifth birthday, she was trying to avoid attending the party because even as a little girl, she found those parties tiring and annoying. And the ball dresses she had to put on? She hates them!

While sneaking out and thinking she had successfully dodged the crowd, especially her maid, Lady Zena, a hand a little bigger than hers suddenly held her.

“And where is our beautiful princess off to?” The boy with the most beautiful blue eyes she has ever seen asked her.

For a moment, she was left speechless and all she could see was a male whose beauty could surpass even hers, a princess.

Who exactly is he?

“Arthur, mother says it's time to leave” Another boy who looked just like him although with a smaller stature, called out to him. She assumed the other boy was his younger brother.

“I think I have to leave now. We'll meet again beautiful princess Aurora or should I say Auri?” saying this, he left her hands and disappeared like he was never there.

But his scent and touch lingered with her. And his name?

******************

“Arthur” Natalie let the name roll freely out of her mouth.

Kael, who is trying to wake the sleeping Natalie suddenly saw a flash of events when she said that name.