Hazel walked deeper into the beautiful castle.
Many thoughts filled her head.
If she was really cursed, who cursed her?
And why?
Her father had stayed very calm the whole time.
He did not even look surprised when High Priest Lady Mira spoke about the black stone and the incident.
He must have known everything long ago.
Was Scarlett a witch?
Emily had suddenly stopped talking that day in the library, as if she heard a strange voice.
And what kind of deal had her mother made with the witches?
Hazel scoffed out loud.
“This doesn’t make any sense at all. If some of them work with witches, why did they make other werewolves hate witches so much?”
She ran her hands through her hair in frustration.
She still could not understand how her life had become like this.
All she had ever wanted was simple.
Marry Ryan.
Apply for a job at Sky High Company — the biggest company owned by a powerful werewolf and the number one company in the whole immortal world.
Work as a secretary.
Have her own children.
Live a quiet, happy life.
Instead, she was here.
“Where am I even going?” she groaned.
She stopped walking when she saw Lady Mira resting against one of the tall pillars.
The High Priest had a small smile on her face.
Hazel quickly bowed.
Lady Mira shook her head.
“Please don’t bow to me. Very soon I will be the one bowing to you.”
Hazel blinked several times.
Then she forced a small smile.
“Ahh… I knew you were a good person, but bowing at my funeral is a bit too much.”
“Funeral?” Lady Mira burst into soft laughter.
She turned around.
“Allow me to show you around.”
Hazel sighed and started walking behind her respectfully.
Even though Lady Mira looked about sixty years old, she was still very strong.
Even Ethan and Alexander respected her, despite their high ranks.
In werewolf rules, people with lower rank always walked behind those with higher rank.
Hazel had noticed that Akeelah always walked behind Janet.
What surprised her most was that rank was not only about age.
Lady Mira was older than both Alexander and Ethan, yet her rank was lower than theirs.
Still, she was the fourth strongest werewolf alive.
Her own mother had been the first person King Harry turned into a werewolf.
That history brought her to the headquarters.
She was very intelligent and knew more about magic than most people, even though she could not perform any spells herself.
Many rich academies had tried to invite her to teach.
Hazel had even read in history books that Lady Mira once dated the old Vampire Dracula before he died.
The current Vampire King was his son.
She was almost as famous as Caius in the immortal world.
Hazel never thought she would one day meet these legendary people in real life, or even talk to them.
Her father knew them because he was one of the strongest Alphas.
She still could not believe that a werewolf legend like Caius was supposed to be her mate.
That crazy man!
Lady Mira suddenly stopped and chuckled.
She turned around and held out her hand.
“Let’s walk side by side, my lady.”
Hazel froze and looked around.
She did not know much about royal manners.
Walking beside someone of such high rank could get her into trouble.
But Lady Mira only laughed and pulled her gently to her side.
“Who am I to walk in front of our Queen?”
Hazel’s eyes widened.
“I’m not—”
Lady Mira smiled kindly.
“Of course you are. You are just not ready yet… and…” She paused and held Hazel’s hand.
Her expression turned a little worried.
“Your hands are too small. I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle his stamina. He’s a fierce beast, not the gentle type…”
“My lady!!!” Hazel’s face turned bright red.
She almost died of embarrassment.
She did not even want to imagine anything like that.
Emily had already warned her that Caius was more dangerous than the mafia men in the dark romance books she used to read.
He had beheaded a strong Alpha with one bare hand.
Lady Mira stopped walking and watched Hazel’s red face with amusement.
“That’s not going to happen,” Hazel said quickly.
“He already said he will kill me.”
Lady Mira chuckled and started walking again.
“He simply does not like weak wolves. Because of him, we are now on the same level as the dragon beings. In my life, I heard that dragons existed long before werewolves. When I first saw how enormous those beasts are, I never imagined His Majesty could kill one while still in human form.”
“Wow…” Hazel was truly stunned.
She had only seen paintings of dragons.
They looked huge and savage.
How was that even possible?
“So,” Lady Mira continued, “if you allow us to train you, and if the fifth-in-command Rita helps break the curse on you… don’t you think it could become interesting?”
Hazel blushed, but she knew Lady Mira had a reason for being so kind.
“Can… can I know why you are helping me?” she asked carefully.
She would not be surprised if the High Priest already knew about her escape from Blackwood Pack.
Someone this powerful would not lower herself for no reason.
Lady Mira’s smile deepened.
“Ahh… as intelligent as your mother.”
“But… they said I was switched at birth…”
Lady Mira waved her hand.
“Don’t worry. Your mother knows you are safe with me.”
Hazel looked at her in a daze.
Safe with her?
She suddenly remembered the soft conversation she had overheard outside her mother’s room that day.
“I really need something from you, Lady Hazel,” Lady Mira said.
“And I hope you will do it for my sake.”
Hazel glanced at a beautiful pool of water that looked like a small lake ahead of them.
Then she looked back at the High Priest.
“As long as I can do it…”
Lady Mira chuckled and gently touched her cheek.
“Oh my… You are so adorable and innocent. A perfect little bunny next to a big black dragon.”
Hazel swallowed and forced a small laugh.
“What is it, ma’am?”
Lady Mira pulled her hand back and sighed softly.
“I want you to carry His Majesty’s child.”
Hazel choked immediately and started coughing hard.