Chapter 3: A New Start

Carol is happy to have a new start. This is going to be a new chapter in her life. She wants it to be a happy one. Now, she is waiting for Rachel to come back. She is happy about the thought of meeting her old friend.

Meanwhile, Hagon feels like something is different. However, he still believes that his mate is dead because he truly felt her pain when she died. He doesn't want to give himself false hope. But he doesn't know what this feeling is…

What is happening to him?

Various thoughts like "Am I going to die very soon and meet my mate?" and "Is that why I feel this happiness?” run through his head.

Hagon doesn't know what he is thinking, and he is fully confused. At that moment, his brother Oliver and his mate Lexie knock on the door. He gives them permission to enter. He loves his brother, but he didn't have the mental strength to share his brother's happiness when Oliver found his mate. Because Hagon can never find his mate, he is envious of his brother. Besides, for some reason, he does not like Lexie. She is human, and her father has worked for this company for a very long time. Still, he doesn't know about the werewolf world. Lexie came into the brothers' lives when her father started working at the company years ago, so technically, they are all childhood friends.

However, when Hagon was searching for Carol, she used to hit on him. One day, when Hagon turned 18, she told him that she liked him and wanted to become his girlfriend. But Hagon didn't like Lexie, even as a friend—only Oliver was hanging out with her by then. So Hagon cut her off, saying that he already had a girlfriend and didn't like her. That made her unhappy, and she stormed out of the place.

After that, Hagon didn't really pay attention to Lexie at all because he had lots of other things to take care of. He was still searching for his mate, and he had been crowned as a King two months back, so he had to carry out his duties without any problems. The next week, when Oliver turned 16, he found out that Lexie was his mate. Oliver didn't know about her confession to his brother, so he innocently accepted her as his mate.

Only Kings can find their mate at any time, which is why Hagon knew Carol was his mate when he was a pup. Others only find their mate at 16—even for those like Oliver, who's part of an Alpha bloodline. It's been seven years since he accepted Lexie as his mate, but Oliver still doesn't seem to find her as attractive as other wolves find their mates. He is still hesitant to mark and mate her. He wants to wait, but she keeps trying to pressure him into marking her. Oliver often uses his brother as an excuse because now that she has found out about the werewolf world, he doesn't have to lie to her about what he is doing.

Today, he's coming to Hagon's office to discuss something Lexie wants to propose since Hagon doesn't allow any female inside without the company of any of his Betas due to the curse on their family. No Kings ever allow females into their rooms without their Beta present.

"Hagon," Lexie starts, and Oliver nudges her with his elbow. "Sorry, president," she corrects. Hagon clenches his fist in anger at her disrespect, but she doesn't seem to notice and continues, "I want to fire the elderly janitors and hire young ones since the elderly are useless and slow. They are money eaters."

Hagon is not heartless like her. He doesn't fire anybody, even if they are aged and cannot do hard work. He only needs them to do what they are able to do. So, upon hearing this, his anger grows to the point that he can't control his beast. Lexie has only just taken the position of Maintenance Head, and she is making drastic decisions all on her own. Even Oliver is shocked at his mate's demand. She knows that King Enterprise doesn't fire anyone unless they commit some unforgivable crime or resign. If he knew that she was planning on suggesting this to Hagon, he wouldn't have accompanied her.

Hagon gives her a warning glare, tells her to memorize the policies of King Enterprise, and asks her to act accordingly, warning her not to fire anybody. However, he does allow her to hire some extra people to help out.

After Oliver and Lexie leave the office, Hagon’s mind once again drifts towards his mate. Is she waiting for him in heaven? When will he be able to meet her? Will she recognize him?

He is not at all afraid of death, but he is afraid of living in pain. He has to train somebody else as the King before his departure. He knows that Oliver would be a good king, but Lexie would not be a good Luna. She definitely could not handle the position of Queen, but mates are the moon goddess's gift. Werewolves cannot deny their mates or exchange them, so he cannot ask Oliver to be the King of the supernaturals after Hagon leaves.

He is still waiting for a solution; that is the sole reason he is still alive. He is waiting for his new start, which will happen after Death Day passes…

It's been one week already.

…

Today, Rachel is coming home to visit her grandmother after six months of separation. But when she reaches home, an unfamiliar figure opens the door. Rachel startles but relaxes when she hears her grandmother call out from behind the stranger, "Come in!"

Rachel runs to her grandmother and hugs her tightly. This is the first time she's seen the old woman in six months.

She feels like someone is looking at her, so she slowly turns towards the stranger, asking her grandmother who she is. Her grandmother explains everything to her: Carol, how she escaped from her evil stepmother, and how she needed a place where she could avoid their capture.

Rachel can't remember Carol because she was only 4 when they first met. But she feels some attachment towards Carol. She thinks that is because of their past friendship, but that is only partially right.

Soon after the two reunite, Rachel and Carol grow very attached to each other, almost like they're sisters. Two days pass by quickly, and it's time for Rachel to head back to the company for work. Carol tags along so that she can apply for the job.

Before they leave, the grandmother calls Carol into her room and gives her a small box. When Carol opens it, she finds a strawberry hair clip inside, and it takes her a moment to recognize it as her father's last gift. She cries upon seeing that hair clip, remembering that day again.

Grandma hugs and consoles her. "Carol," she starts, "On that day, your father said that he would go to the forest with you and come back within half an hour. But he didn't come back, even after half a day had passed. So I searched for you until the evening. I couldn't find you or your father; I could only find this, so I kept it, hoping to give it back to you when you came back. But I didn't know that you had lost your father that day and were locked up. I should have searched you earlier. Then, I might have saved you from them." She sighs.

"Or you might have lost your life, and both Rachel and I would have become orphans. At least now, we have you. They are very cruel people," Carol says gratefully, even as she feels disgusted by her stepmother.

"Now, you have to get ready. Pack all the clothes I bought for you yesterday. It's going to be a long journey." The grandmother pats Carol's back and heads to the kitchen to prepare the two women some food. After staying with her for a week, Carol has learned some basic cleaning, but she still can't cook.

Carol is moving towards her new start. She wants it to be a happy one. Will it be happy for her?