Hazel couldn’t take her eyes away from the wolf.
It was huge.
Much bigger than any wolf she had ever seen.
Its body was covered in beautiful white fur that almost seemed to shine under the moonlight.
Hazel had heard stories about white wolves.
They were said to be the most beautiful wolves in the world.
They were also said to be some of the most dangerous.
But this one didn’t look dangerous.
It was just staring at her.
Almost like a lonely puppy waiting for someone to notice it.
Hazel almost said, Awwwn.
She even had the strange urge to walk outside and touch its huge head.
Then she noticed something strange.
The wolf was transparent.
She could see the dark trees and bushes right through its body, as if it was made of thin glass or smoke.
It looked like a ghost.
Hazel frowned.
Why did it look like that?
She was still staring when something hard and thin struck her back without warning.
“Bitch! Why did you stop?!”
Pain exploded across her skin.
Hazel screamed and fell to her knees on the cold kitchen floor.
She had never been hit like this in her life.
Even during hard training, no one had ever beaten her this way.
The pain burned deep into her back.
Her scream was full of both pain and sudden anger.
The two guards stopped talking and stared at her in surprise.
The head maid rushed into the kitchen.
Right behind her came another maid — Iris.
Iris’s eyes went wide when she saw Hazel on the floor, groaning in pain.
She ran straight to her and wrapped her arms around her carefully.
“Lady Hazel?” Iris whispered.
She looked at the long red mark across Hazel’s back and sighed with worry.
“My gosh…”
Iris stood up and turned to the guard named John.
Her teeth were clenched.
“John, you went too far.”
John walked closer with a cold face.
“None of your business. Step aside and let her finish her job.”
“No,” Iris said firmly.
“She’s resting now.”
Her eyes suddenly flashed pure gold. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
The air around her felt heavier.
She bent down and gently helped Hazel to her feet.
John frowned.
“You shouldn’t be interfering…”
Then he stopped talking.
His eyes locked on Hazel’s face.
Her eyes were golden too.
John stood frozen.
He looked at the other guard in confusion.
“Shouldn’t it be purple or….?” he asked in a low voice.
The second guard rolled his eyes.
“Which power can’t work while the Chain of Shame is on her neck?”
Iris ignored them both.
She supported Hazel and slowly led her out of the kitchen.
Hazel kept crying quietly as they walked through the dark hallways back to the small, dirty room that was now her prison.
John continued staring at Hazel.
Something didn’t feel right about her, but he didn’t say anything.
…
After shutting the door, “Why would they even do this to you?” Iris asked angrily.
Some people are just stupid.
That black stone sign is not even for a witch!”
Iris sat down on the floor and gently pulled Hazel’s head onto her lap.
She stroked her hair the way a big sister would.
“Why would your wolf ignore you like that?” she whispered.
Hazel looked at her.”You don’t think I’m a witch?”
“Of course not.” Iris sounded very sure.
“Lady Hazel, I’ve known you for years. You have never behaved like a witch.”
Hazel’s eyes filled with tears again.
“Then why did the stone glow?”
Iris became quiet.
“I don’t know.” She gently touched Hazel’s hair.
“But something is wrong with this whole situation.”
Hazel lowered her head.
She didn’t know what to believe anymore.
A few minutes later, the door opened very quietly.
Two young girls slipped inside carrying a small box of medicine, clean cloth, and a tube of healing foam.
Iris looked up and scoffed.
“What took you so long?”
The first girl quickly placed the bag on the floor.
“Thank goodness for the Luna.”
Iris frowned.
“The Luna?”
Before she could ask another question, the second girl rushed toward Hazel.
“Lady Hazel!” Her eyes widened when she saw her.
“What happened to you?”
It was Akeelah.
Hazel’s personal attendant.
Hazel looked at her in surprise.
“Akeelah?”
Akeelah immediately knelt beside her.”Who did this?”
“Humph.” Iris crossed her arms.
“That idiot John.”
She shook her head.
“He thinks because Hazel has been accused of being a witch, he can do whatever he wants.”
Akeelah’s eyes filled with anger.
“How dare he?”
The other girl, Janet, quickly opened the bag.
“Let’s treat her before someone comes looking for us.”
Hazel watched them.
She couldn’t understand why they were doing all this for her.
She had been accused of being a witch.
Her father had ordered her to be killed.
Everyone had turned against her.
Even Ryan she loved most, walked away.
Yet these girls were still here.
Still treating her like their Lady.
Hazel’s tears fell again.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
Akeelah looked at her and frowned “Why? I thought we were friends…”
“You could get into trouble.” Akeelah smiled.
“Don’t worry, someone already approved this” She gently cleaned the wound on Hazel’s back.
“I’m your maid because I chose to be.”
Janet smiled.
“And so am I.”
Iris looked at both girls.
“Now stop talking and help her!”
They carefully cleaned Hazel’s wounds and placed medicine on them.
Hazel winced several times, but she didn’t complain, she felt a little safe.
Her eyes slowly became heavy.
The last thing she thought about before falling asleep was the strange wolf.
Those beautiful white eyes watching her.