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Chapter 13: Avalyn's POV 

Half an hour after Sara left me in the ward, I got tired of just sitting on the bed. I got down and walked to the window. That was when I noticed the small hospital gown I now had on. 

I didn't remember wearing them before I slept off. Sara must have changed them.

I ignored the piece of clothes and approached the window. I pulled the curtain and looked out to the world outside.

There were cars and horses parked in the field outside in different sections that made the place look like an organized circus where there was a designated space for vehicles and the animals that came to entertain people. 

My eyes went further and I could see the peak of the castle from where I was and a small smile sat on my face.

The first time I saw it, I thought it was going to be the beautiful place where I died. How ironic because I was really going to die there...

I would move there today, just as Mr. Greg had said. And then five days later, the King was going to come for me. My heart clenched painfully around the muscles and swallowed back the tears that almost pricked my eyes.

This wasn't the time to cry. I have embraced my destiny. There was no point in crying anymore. I chastised myself by referring to all the great people I knew. Most of them never saw their mothers. Others had really strong mothers who died while birthing them. 

I was going to be one of those mothers. I was going to birth the next king of the werewolves. He would definitely bring a change because he wouldn't just be a werewolf, he would have my blood too —which makes him human as well.

He wouldn't be heartless like the average werewolf. He wouldn't be cruel. He would be gentle and he would also have a good heart.

I held my chest and prayed that I would find favor in the King's eyes. That was the only thing I needed.

If he did then he would listen to me. He would be able to grant my wishes. 

I wasn't looking for a lot of things. I already knew my life was ending. All I wanted was to see my child before I breathed my last. I wanted to hold my child close to my chest as my eyes closed from this cruel world.

A cold breeze blew in through the window and I hugged myself. Look at me, making all these huge plans when I was still scared of doing the actual mating itself.

I wasn't even pregnant yet but I made plans for what kind of son I would deliver.

"Oh, Avalyn..." I whispered silently letting out a breath.

It was going to be fine in the end. I was certain of that. Everything I wished for, would come to a realization. I would die a happy woman.

But one thing still bothered me. How could I make the king take a liking unto me? A liking that was strong enough for me to let me hold my child as I died?

I remained by the window as I continued to think of ways to get his favor. How did those women in our town do it? How did my stepmother do it?

I was a novice in every way. Maybe I could ask Sara about it. She was older, she should definitely be more experienced.

"Room service is here! Who is hungry?"

I turned from the window and my eyes met Dawn as she walked into the room with a trolley. There was a large tray on it and then a small bag on the lower deck.

She looked very different from when we last met. She wasn't wearing any of the guard's gear. She was putting on a pair of short jeans and a white tank top. If we didn't meet earlier, I would have thought she was merely human and not a werewolf.

"Hey!" I greeted, awkwardly as I walked towards the bed.

"Hey hey! Avalyn, right?" She brought the tray to the bed. I came closer and joined her.

"Yeah," I replied timidly.

"I am Dawn... I think I already introduced myself the other day when we were coming but I want us to start on a clean slate as civilians. I am not usually that hard," she said and gave me a wink.

I smiled not knowing what to reply with. I wasn't really a social person. I never had any friends and I didn't even know how to start a conversation with anyone.

"Guess what I brought?" She exclaimed, suddenly pulling the cover off the tray.

My eyes expanded at the content of the tray. If they didn't already tell me what I was here for, I would think they wanted to fatten me up for meat.

"This is a lot..." I whispered as my stomach growled embarrassingly again.

There was chicken, spaghetti, salad, roasted crabs, rice, ponding, and even melted chocolate.

"You are the King's special guest! Nothing is a lot when it comes to you! I have been given special orders to make sure that you get everything you want. So whenever you need anything please ask me for it..." She said with a glint of excitement in her eyes.

"Thanks," I said.

I looked at the tray not knowing what to start eating. I was not a fan of chocolate so I pushed the plate aside and I heard Dawn gasp.

"You don't like chocolate?" She gasped.

I pulled the plate back at once as I feared I might have offended her. "Umm...I am sorry, I can eat it... If you want me to.." I said.

Her eyes expanded and my heart skipped a beat. Did I do something else wrong?

Before I could apologize again, she snatched the plate of chocolate from me and shook her head.

"If you don't like chocolate then you shouldn't have it!" She cried out.

"Oh," I whispered. "I am sorry, I thought I offended you... I didn't mean to," I whispered.

"Oh boy, you and I have a lot to learn from each other... First, you don't have to apologize all the time. Jeez! You have done it like a million times now..."

"Ummm... I am sorry —I will try not to..." I said and tried to focus on the food she brought me.

I picked the fuck and tried the spaghetti first. It tasted really good. Nothing  I have eaten before.

"You like it? I can see the smile on your face!" Dawn pointed out with a huge smile on her face.

"Thank you..." I mumbled. "Umm... Won't you eat with me? This is really a lot..."  I offered, hoping I didn't offend her again.

"Oh, I am already, having the chocolate. Since you don't like it, all your chocolate servings are mine," she snickered.

"How old are you Avalyn?" She asked as she ate her chocolate pudding 

"Umm... Nineteen," I said and she nodded.

"I'll be twenty in a couple of months, you should call me with respect. I am older!" She said giggling. "And please that was a joke, don't apologize..."

I was already starting the apology but bit back my tongue as she mentioned it.

She threw her head back in laughter and I only smiled at her good mood. "I have a feeling you and I are going to be best friends! Now come on hurry up and finish, let's give you a makeover!"

"What's a make-over?" I asked with my fork hanging halfway through my mouth.

Again Dawn's eyes almost pooped.

"I am sorry, I don't know what it is—" I explained.

"What sort of a teenager are you? Your parents must have been really horrible," She said with a serious face

I simply shrugged, not knowing what to respond with.

"Anyway, let's not talk about the past. Hurry up and let me show you what I mean." She wiggled her brows for dramatic effect and I smiled a little wider than I had done in my whole life.

I quickly finished my meal and Dawn helped me clear away the leftovers. Then she helped me to the restroom, which I didn't even know existed until she pulled the curtain off the wall, revealing another door.

"Go in there and start the shower, I will bring in the shampoo for your hair," She instructed as she left me by the door.

It was a small enclosure with a toilet seat and a shower head, just enough for one person to comfortably stay in.

I turned on the shower head and tested the water under my arm.

"Avalyn?" Dawn called as she pushed the door open.

My heart skipped a beat as I feared something might have happened.

As her eyes saw the panic in mine, she rolled her eyes and stretched out her hand to show the shampoo.

"I am calling to give you the shampoo. Why do you look like you have seen a ghost?" She said with laughter lacing her voice.

"I am so—" I stopped the word immediately after I saw the glare in her eyes. "Thank you," I said instead.

I took the shampoo and washed my hair with it. I had to go back into my hair with the product at least three times to take out all of the greases that had settled in it. 

When was the last time I washed it? My stepmother never let me have this large amount of shampoo to wash my hair with.

When I finished, I stepped out of the bathroom and Dawn passed me the towel, which I cleaned up with.

Next, she gave me a pair of joggers and a matching hoodie in the color gray.

She messed around with my hair and my face then she smiled at me. "Now, we are ready to take you to the castle..."