Ariel yawned tiredly as she strolled down the vastly lit hallway to the fridge in one of the kitchens in the mansion. She was feeling sleepy, but she was grateful she wasn’t sleep walking. Ariel was a sleep walker, it began when she was a teenager. Several times she had wandered off into dangerous places at night. The last time was a pool, she had almost drowned. She padded softly through the grand hallway.

Her messy bun sat high, loose strands framing her delicate face, giving her an effortlessly beautiful look.

She wore a white oversized sweatshirt, its sleeves slipping slightly over her hands, cozy and far too big Her legs were bare, and her feet were tucked into fuzzy pink bunny slides that made the tiniest shuffling sounds as she walked.

The hallway glowed softly—gold chandeliers flickered like candlelight, casting warm shadows against cool blue lights along the high arched ceiling. She rubbed her eyes with the back of her palm as she made her way toward the kitchen, the silence broken only by the distant hum of the wind outside and the soft swish of her sweatshirt. Tonight was a particularly windy night at the mansion.

She yanks the refrigerator door open and grabs a bottle of water. She closed it and was about to leave when she tripped on her own feet. She was about to crash to the ground when a powerful hand encircled her waist to stop her from failing. She could swear she saw no one when she came in. Ariel locked eyes with her savior for a moment. Axel returned her gaze. Ariel was lost. She was staring back at the sexiest eyes she had ever seen. His black free pants and white sweatshirt framed his graceful figure. She realized they were both wearing matching sweatshirts. He had asked Marie to get rid of the one she had on. Seeing it on Ariel instead made him angry. He liked the brand so he had gotten another one for himself. Without warning, he let go of her. She came crashing to the ground with a thud.

“Ouch!! She yelped. Wondering why he had saved her if he was going to let go.

He draws back like he has been hit by electricity. Ariel stands up and contorts her face in pain. Her back hurt. “Why are you here?.” He demanded, his voice was dangerously low. He was clearly irritated to see her. “Water.” She points at the bottle on her hand. His brows creased as he stared fixedly at her.

Something came to mind, Ariel had no idea when next she'd see him again. This was her chance. Without a second glance, he turned to walk away. Ariel fell on her knees immediately. “If you need a servant I'm willing to work for you, I'll do anything. You don't need to treat me like we're married.” She pleaded. He struts out of the room without a backward glance and goes in search of Marie. She had some explaining to do.

Marie was babying her plants in the greenhouse, it was something she loved to do in her spare time apart from spinning the loom. There were so many threads to be measured, but they could wait. Her human side had become fond of these plants. She could not go a day without it.

“Marie.” She heard Axel's deep voice call her name in fury. She could not think about what could possibly be wrong, she rarely sees him angry. He opens the door and barges into the green house.

“I asked you to take her to the West mansion. Why is she still in my space?.”

Tears pooled Marie's eyes as she fell to the ground and pleaded with Axel.

“I beg you master, this is no time to be stubborn. A terrible curse awaits you. Ever since I followed you to earth a thousand years ago, I've dreamed of this day. The day you'd finally break the curse. This year is the last year you have left, only she can save you. The god and mortal marital bond is not enough. We're trying to appease a spirit, not flesh.”

“The wedding bond will definitely take it's effect, we'll go back to the sky soon.” He assured the sorrow ladened Marie.

“It may not work my lord, she was a creature in her past life, a werewolf. What if the marital bond does not work for werewolves?.”

She asked in worry.

Axel looked at the old fate who was filled with concerns for him.

Marie and his fates had left the sky with him when he was banished. And they had all served him steadfastly for a thousand years. Marie had served him all her life, but when the fates wheel became unsteady, Marie had come to earth as a human, and was dedicated to him in a thousand lifetimes after his banishment from the sky. Narissa was the fate who spun the threads of life, Marie measured the threads, while Gregory the gardener colored the threads of every day in every one's life. He determines if their day is going to be gloomy or happy, and creates events that guide their destiny. Together they spin the fates of humans, while Axel presides over them all.

“Be nice to her, and try granting any requests of hers my lord. If the curse is not broken, you'd become a rogue wolf with no powers forever, you can't even transform back to human form.” She cried. Wondering if her master knew the weight of the danger he was in. Marie was worried sick, Axel had grown on her. He was like the son she never had. Although he was her master, she always looked out for him like a mother would.

Axel was silent. He despised Ariel with every fiber of his being. He was nursing a hidden grudge against her that he had never told anyone about. He did not want her anywhere close to him at all. He looked at the grey haired woman crying before him. With much difficulty, he decided he was going to compromise a little for Marie's sake. Maybe he could start by giving Ariel a job.

And he knew just the perfect job for her.