*LAUREN*
"Child, the beast you see in the basement is just part of your imagination. Forget everything you see in the basement." Granny Ursula told me, disregarding what I saw with my own eyes, that it was not real.
My eyes widened in disbelief, and I shook my head while I was staring at Granny and listening to her explanation. I cut her short: "Gran, you lied to me. You told me that those entities there in the basement are harmless and won't hurt me if I just light the candle, stay quiet, and leave right away. But that scary beast ran after me! It's going to eat me!" I insisted.
Granny sighed and looked at me with irritation shimmering in her eyes. "Fine! Believe what you see. But the beast is harmless. It didn't want to eat you because if it did, Alex wouldn't be able to save you and get you out of the basement."
I took a deep breath, getting confused as the minutes passed by. The fear of being eaten alive by the beast in the basement still gripped my heart, giving me nightmares and sending chills through my entire body. The fact that I'm still alive is a miracle in itself.
"Alright, enough of this pointless conversation. Just go to the bathroom and wash your face with water because you've got dirt on your face," Granny told me.
I got up from the bed and went to the bathroom, and when I was about to splash water on my face, I got the biggest shocker of my life at that very moment because I saw my flawless face in the mirror. "Holy cow! Is this my face? What happen? Where did the scars go?"
I caressed my face a hundred times, and I couldn't stop doing it as tears of happiness streamed down my cheeks. I felt like my heart was about to explode as extreme elation gripped my entire being. I can't describe the happiness that I feel at that moment while I stare at my pretty face.
The scarred-faced girl is no longer present!
Wow! I'm looking pretty now!
It's like I'm seeing a different person, but it's still the same old me. Deep inside, nothing has changed except for my face.
The changes in my face feel amazing, satisfying, and life-changing! I'm floating on cloud nine right now. I don't want this happiness to end. I want this feeling to last as long as I live.
I want to stay beautiful forever!
Unable to contain my happiness, I exited the bathroom and came flying back to Granny's side. "Granny, look at my face! The scars on my face are gone! I don't know how it happened. I don't remember anything that caused the scars to go away on their own. This is a miracle!" I exclaimed hysterically as I was over the moon with my new self.
I jumped up and down due to extreme happiness while Granny continued to observe my jubilation with amusement glistening in her eyes; she was wearing a bright smile on her face too. She's never seen me so happy as I am now.
It's been my lifelong dream, and it finally happened today! The scars were gone! I hope they never come back. I love the way I look right now. I no longer look scary. I look presentable and normal. I look like a human and feel like a human for the first time in my life.
I finally stopped jumping and sat on the bed, facing my beloved grandmother, wanting to ask her several questions. "Gran, do you know when the scars left my face?" I asked, eager to know how and when the miracle happened.
"I think the entities who are residing in the basement are the ones who took your scars away and turned you into the beautiful lady that you are now." Granny responded to my queries.
A deep frown appeared in my face. "But I saw no one there—only the beast!"
"Alright, I think the beast did it," Granny replied. "That thing you see there didn't eat you. The beast healed your face instead."
Granny's response astounded me. "How did it happen? I don't remember anything after darkness took over my senses. I fainted, and I can't remember what the beast did to me after that incident. Did you see what happened after I lost consciousness?"
Granny sighed deeply. "I was also shocked by the whole thing. And then that repairman appeared out of nowhere. He rushed to my side to help us, went down the stairs, and took you in his arms. Then, after getting you out, we left the basements afterward."
I was studying Granny's face, wanting to know if she was telling me more lies or the truth. Then I remembered that I landed in the arms of that beast before darkness took over my body. The beast could have healed me. It's possible. "Should I go back to the basement and thank the beast, Granny?" I sought her opinion.
Granny shook her head and said, "No need." She stood up and looked at me. "Stay here in the room. I think the Alpha King and his family have already arrived. I'll come back later to bring you food."
"Yes, Granny." I nodded my head and watched her leave the room.
I stood in the middle of the room, thinking about what to do with my free time. I jumped in glee as I went to the dresser table and stared at my beautiful self in the mirror. I just can't believe that after just one trip to the forbidden basement, my whole life will be changed forever. If I had known that this would happen, I should have explored the basement a long time ago.
I can finally go to the market with Granny without wearing a wide hat covering my ugly face. It's a liberating feeling!
For the first time in my life, I feel truly alive and human!
I used to think that I was a monster with my hideous look, but that beast in the basement is the real monster, and now he is my hero! My saviour!
But since the monster healed my face, then he must be a good beast. One day, if I'm brave enough and Granny will allow me to go back in the basement, I will thank him myself.
That's exactly what I intend to do!
Feeling happy with my new look, I grabbed a book from the book shelf and went back to the bed, then started reading to pass my idle time.
While reading the book, I stopped for a moment because my mind suddenly wandered to Alex, the handsome repairman who got me out of the basement.
He was good-looking. I've never seen a handsome guy like him. He had a mysterious aura about him.
I giggled like a high school girl seeing her crush for the first time. I no longer read the book; instead, I daydream about Alex, the handsome repairman.
*ALEX*After a long explanation, a long debate ensued."I will stay here with you! We will go home together this weekend!" My mother insisted."Mom, please, just go home!" I begged my mother to agree to my request. "I just want to have alone moments with my fated mate without your presence hovering around us like a beautiful piranha." I jokingly said to lighten the mood after noticing that my beloved mother was starting to get annoyed with my persuasion.My mother rolled her eyes. I grinned cheekily."Pretty please!" I said it with my puppy dog's eyes. I used to do this in my younger years every time I wanted something very badly, like toys or food. That was before the curse made me a prisoner in the basement."Just give me one month with my fated mate, then I'll go home ready to become the next Alpha King so that you and Dad can finally go on a three-month cruise together and explore the world outside." I assured her.My mother took a deep breath and looked at me for a long time. "Wh
*ALEX*That night, Granny Ursula cooked a delicious dinner for us. The three of us sat in the dining room, eating our delectable meals in silence.My human mate was trying her best not to look at me the whole time we were inside the dining room. As for Granny, she was unusually quiet, maybe because she feels sad that she's going to leave her granddaughter behind.And based on what I observed with Granny's behavior earlier, she wasn't going to inform her granddaughter that she was leaving soon without her knowledge.I can imagine Granny sneaking outside the house in the middle of the night, carrying a bundle of her meager belongings in her arms.Maybe I should send one of the servants, specifically the driver, to drop her off at her destination so that I can be assured that she is safe.Good idea!I will present my offer to her later, before I retire for the night.After dinner, I left the two women in the dining room and proceeded to my room on the second floor. I reached the room, li
*ALEX*Lauren's heartbreaking sobs filled the room as I continued to comfort her during the lowest moment of her life. I rubbed her back gently, channeling my strength toward her the only way I knew how."My grandma is dead! What am I going to do now?" She lamented, her voice breaking in utter despair."We will give your grandmother a proper burial," I replied calmly. "Don't worry, as long as you stay by my side, you will be safe. I will take care of you and protect you with my life." I gave her my assurance and pledge of protection.She raised her tear-stained eyes and looked at me. "We are complete strangers to each other. Why are you offering your protection to me?" She asked, surprised by my statement.I took a deep breath. "Because we are destined to be together in this lifetime." I declared in a serious tone.Her brows knitted together in confusion. "W-what do you mean? I don't understand..."I patted her head gently, itching to envelope her in my arms. But today is not the time
*LAUREN*When I opened my eyes, it was Alex's handsome face that greeted my vision. I blinked a few times, trying to chase away the fog lingering in my brain. Then the nightmare of losing my grandmother came back to haunt me.I quickly looked at the empty space beside me. "W-where is Granny?" I asked Alex in panic."Cam down, sweetheart. We bought a coffin from the town and then put Granny in it while you were sleeping. I decided to act on my own without asking for your permission because it was the best thing to do under the circumstances. I didn't wake you up because I don't want to disturb your sleep," Alex explained in a gentle tone.I got up from the bed and exited my room, rushing to the living room. And when I arrived there, I saw a golden coffin in the middle of the living room, adorned with beautiful flowers. I ran to the coffin and looked down at my dead grandmother's lifeless face behind the glass. I burst into tears. "Granny, please don't leave me alone here! Please come b
*ALEX*I woke up at 5:00 a.m. in the morning as the sun was rising on the horizon. Another day has just begun.Today, Grandma Ursula's body will be buried in the mansion's cemetery, located 300 meters away from the 5-hectare mansion. The servant informed me last night that he had already dug a six-foot grave below the ground and that it was ready for burial.I got up from the bed, went to the bathroom, and daydreamed of my human mate while I was doing my thing under the shower.I left the bathroom feeling refreshed. A few moments later, I exited my room and went downstairs to check on Lauren.When I descended the stairs, I saw her standing beside the coffin, looking down at Granny Ursula's serene-looking face behind the glass of her golden coffin. I went to her side and said, "Good morning, dear. Have you already eaten your breakfast?"She nodded her head and replied, "Yes.""Ah, okay. I'll have my breakfast first and rejoin you later." I said, walking in the direction of the dining r
*ALEX*She might have her doubts about accepting my offer, but I am confident that she will eventually accept it, whether she likes it or not."Please give me enough time to decide, Sir," Lauren replied, avoiding my eyes and staring at the empty space in front of her."OK. I'll give you enough time to decide." I sighed inwardly. "Let's just focus on Granny's burial for now." I said, rising to my feet and leaving the dining room quietly. I want her to analyze my offer carefully. I'm feeling confident that she will accept my offer since I'm kind to her and I'm offering her a bigger salary.After breakfast, Lauren stayed in the living room, staring intently at Granny's coffin with sadness covering her eyes and face. With each passing minute, she was aware that her time with her precious grandmother was coming to an end.I sat there on the other end of the couch, itching to be near her but at the same time wanting to give her much-needed time to mourn the passing of the person who is both
*LAUREN*Granny's coffin was already buried six feet below the ground, and yet my heart is still bleeding from the loss. I know I could never bring Granny back to life, but staying here for as long as I can in her final resting place will give my grieving heart a few moments of solace.After crying for so long in Alex's arms, I felt shamed because his t-shirt was already soaked with my tears. While I was still drowning in the sea of sorrow brought on by the unexpected passing of my cherished grandmother, one of the men offered me a chair to sit on.Alex offered me a bottle of drinking water to quench my thirst. "Have a drink, dear," he said, standing beside me."Thank you, sir," I replied and accepted the bottle. I consumed the contents in one sitting.The shade of the tree offers us protection from the blistering rays of the sun on such a hot afternoon.Earlier, I thought it was going to rain because of the gloomy atmosphere, but the sun appears again on the horizon and shines even b
*ALEX*We arrived at the basement door, and I grabbed the doorknob and pushed it open. I looked at my nervous-looking companion standing beside me. I can feel the loud beating of her heart. "Don't be afraid, sweetheart," I said softly, wanting her to calm down.Lauren looked down at the pitch darkness below. "It's so dark in there," she said, her voice trembling a bit due to nervousness. I'm itching to hold her hand so that she will feel relaxed, but I went against it."I know. Just wait here a little bit, sweetheart, and I'll light the candle before we go down, and I'll also inform the wolf that he needs to shift into his human form to avoid scaring you," I said, stepping on the staircase, ready to go down."Um, wait, what is the wolf's name?" She asked, and I halted on my step.I looked at her and smirked. "You will know his name later. I'll go down now before you change your mind," I responded, and I descended the stairs, taking my time and trying to remember the state of my room d