Proposal

Ava was back home before her father's arrival time. She thought about sharing the incident that happened to Juliet, but her behaviour was the one that surprised her.

"With whom should I talk" she went to sit on her bed, puzzled by her thoughts

Her mind drifted to the wolf she saw before it shifted into human form. God's grace that she only passed out before watching him change. What would have happened if she was wide awake," Definitely a stroke", she mumbled when the hair on her body stood straight, giving her chills.

Ava kept thinking about Juliet's behaviour as it kept bugging her," Is there something she is hiding from me" she thought, biting her nails when she widened her eyes in sudden realization.

"What if uncle Leonard is also kept under wrap... what about Karissa" she stood up and started walking back and forth, imagining her friend's scary face.

"I need to know it.. what if something big happens this time," she said, looking outside the window where she had seen the shadow a few days ago.

"And why was that wolf following," she thought when she thought of the red scarf tied on his stomach.

"No way... don't tell the wolf that changed into a man was the same whom she saved that night" she was shocked to remember the whole scene.

"Woah... I should have seen his face before passing out" she cursed herself for fainting at the crucial moment.

"No, no. I should find out the person who was following me.. the wolf I mean and... who was that man whom he killed" she didn't remember her being hypnotized by the man, but after getting back to her senses, the only thing she saw was his head fallen on her foot.

There were so many queries running through her mind, but no one would answer her.

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

Coal had been watching the crystal that showed him about Ava's sudden attack.

All these years, he managed to keep her away from that creatures, and even her mother wanted the same. She wanted her child to have an everyday life but what he had seen now was scaring him for his daughter's life.

"How can they find her and why did you say he is her fate" he frowned and walked towards the man.

"Father.... you need to answer me", he squealed at the old man hiding his frame in the dark.

The man turned to face the concerned Coal. Fear was evident all over his face. The old man came forward, showing his face to him.

"It was always destined, Coal and you hiding her all the way was of no use," he said, walking to the table where the crystal ball was placed.

"They were fated to meet. And you can't play with destiny," Rasmus said, looking at his son.

Ava was his granddaughter, but they had to keep her identity hidden from everyone for her safety.

"The girl has encountered her other half, do you know what it means" he looked up and sighed when he saw Coal nodding his head.

"He won't let her go..."Coal whispered, thinking about his daughter leaving him even if she tried to stop them.

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

"You should stop roaming in the forest your Majesty" Liam turned to his human form after running miles to follow his brother.

"And you should not be formal with me outside the Royal castle", he scoffed at his brother's words.

Liam was his younger brother and even his beta. The sole purpose of his existence was to protect his brother from harm and watch him lead the throne until his heir was born. Being loyal to his brother, Liam had always been his knight from the time his brother took over the throne.

"Are you keeping eyes on everyone?" he asked when he saw his brother squatting down, watching the scar on his stomach.

"They fooled us hard, Dominic" he saw the healed wound leaving a scar on his skin.

"I need to find the person who harmed me" he frowned, thinking about the person who stabbed him, but he couldn't see anything as his memory about his attack was not clear to him.

"Who dared to grab my attention on them" he smirked as his green eyes kept looking at his surrounding.

"What's with that smirk, brother?" Liam found his behaviour a little odd.

"Clear my rumor death news. I would be coming back soon. I need to prepare for my wedding" he smiled as Ava's face flashed in his mind.

"Wedding?" Liam creases his brows listening to the word wedding.

"Yes, wedding. I have found my mate" he got up smiling after his long-awaited search for his bride finally ended.

"Congratulations, brother.. I can't wait for another wolf to join our pack", he smiled, thinking about his sister-in-law.

"She is not a wolf, she is a human," he said and started walking into the woods.

"Human..."

"How can a human be your mate," he asked, following his brother. Aren't they supposed to have a wolf mate?

"Why can't it be... even great grandfather married a human," he said and removed his clothes before diving into the pond.

"Does she knows about you.." he asked in curiosity.

They have been hiding their true self all these centuries from human eyes, and now this aloof brother tells us that his mate is a human. But that was not his fault. The shapeshifter, like them, was blessed with the power to recognize their mate.

The Moon goddess had blessed them to sense their mate, but she didn't bless them to have the same mate as them. They can be anyone.

"No, or maybe yes.. "he recalls her fainting after watching him change.

"What does that mean, Dominic? You know we have been hiding our identities all these years from a human. How can you say she doesn't know it."

"We are not going to tell her anything about us. After all, we are good at hiding it" Dominic smirked as he swam to the shore where Liam was standing.

"But what if she finds out," he asked.

"That will never happen", his face stiff, thinking about her getting scared of him.

He was a human in front of everyone and will always be the same in their eyes.

There is no way he would expose his identity to her. And now that he knew who she was, he had to keep her next to him...

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

Coal had returned home after the new revelation his father exposed to him. How was he supposed to give his daughter to them after keeping her hidden from their eyes?

All these years, he felt he had been successful enough to keep her identity under wrap, but all this was a lie. He couldn't fight her fate. Even if he tried to change it still, he was not successful.

Coal was busy in his thought when someone knocked on his door.

Getting up from his chair, he walked to open the door. His eyes bulged out when he saw the royal informer standing on his doorstep with a large envelope in his hand.

He titled his head to the side and found the royal guards along with him.

"Your Majesty has a message for you Coal Odin" he passed him the envelope waiting for him to read.

After reading what was written inside, he looked up, giving the informer a questionable look.

"Your Majesty wants to have a word with you. You have been asking to escort to the caste with us," he said and moved back.

Coal didn't understand why would a royal informer comes to his house to take him with them. And why would the Majesty want to meet him, he thought, watching the paper in his hand still confused.

He looked back before walking out of the door, closing it from outside.

Ava had gone out to the market to bring some vegetables for them to eat for their dinner. He went along with the royal informers and the guards to ensure he would be back before she came.

Throughout his whole ride, he kept remembering the wolf that saved Ava from that bloodsucker monster, but his father didn't wait for him to see his face before he snapped his finger, shutting the scene.

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

After reaching the castle, he climbed off the carriage as the royal guards escorted him into the large meeting hall where the former king waited for his arrival.

"Your Highness, Coal Odin is here", one of the guards informed and moved back to let Coal in to greet the former king.

"Your highness.." he bowed, greeting him when he heard the king say...

"My son has decided to marry your daughter Coal Odin" his words came as a blow to his mind. Coal looked up at the king in shock.

"We would like you to accept our marriage proposal," he said with a smile.

"Sorry for the interruption your Majesty but, I don't think my daughter is suitable for the Queen's position. She is still not eligible enough to take the responsibility" Coal rejected his proposal.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience" he bowed and turned back to leave when he heard the king's words.

"If you don't accept my offer then the consequence would be bad Coal Odin" his words came out as a warning making him halt his steps.