Chapter 1

"Artemis!!! It's time for dinner" Grandma Shuu called out to her granddaughter for the fourth time. Grandma Shuu has too much patience for Artemis. She doesn't mind letting Artemis be carefree and young minded most times. "Coming Nana!" Artemis finally shouted back out in the woods behind their teepee. "Nana, i saw a wolf again" Artemis rushed in breathless. "Slow down child, calm down your breathing, didn't I tell you not to go too far into the trees?" Grandma Shuu scolded Artemis. She still passed Artemis a clay bowl of her favorite soup and a cup of water and told her to eat up.

Grandma Shuu lived with Artemis in the human world on the outskirts of a huge village of traders. They have their own farm and livestock and live a secluded and peaceful life. Grandma Shuu is actually a wolf beast woman from the Beastworld who has long lost her ability to shift and even her slow aging has sped up over the last 20 years living in the human world with Artemis. Artemis' parents were murdered and she would have died with them had it not been for Grandma Shuu showing up just in time to save her and barely make it out alive. Artemis believes that her parents were murdered by humans but the truth is that they were murdered by a sorcerer and beastmen doing evil deeds. This was a big scandal in the Wolf Kingdom long ago. It was revealed that Grandma Shuu's descendants had actually mated with a female sorceress and produced a litter of wolf cubs who had magical powers. It was unheard of so the litter was kept hidden until they could control their powers and then went off to have families of their own. Grandma Shuu does not have significant powers and was almost a plain female wolf if not for her extreme beauty and intellect. Grandma Shuu was the first female born in her family then she had a daughter of her own which was Artemis' mother. But her mother who was half human mated with another half human man and had Artemis. It was outright scandalous. Luckily Artemis actually came out more wolf than human. Beastman strive to keep their bloodline pure and if they do need a human female her offspring would in the future mate with another pure beastman. When Artemis' parents were killed, Grandma Shuu enlisted the help of a kind sorcerer to send her to the human world to hide and raise Artemis. They lived as farmers and traders and dared not socialize.

After Artemis ate up all of her food Grandma Shuu instructed her to bathe and then get into bed as it was getting dark and late. Artemis was always well behaved for Grandma Shuu and never gave her any problems. At the age of twenty Artemis is smart and strong and very independent unless It's Grandma Shuu taking care of her. Grandma Shuu knew that if they were in the Beastworld plenty of men would be lined up outside their door begging to be her mate or even her guardian. She was tall, dark and curvy. She had long black locs and deep dark eyes. In the end Grandma Shuu is glad she raised her up until now in the human world and was able to hide her away from jealous eyes.

Once Artemis was finally sound asleep, Grandma Shuu silently crept out of the teepee and walked into the forest where Artemis always liked to play. She knew she needed to check on Artemis' claims of seeing a wolf. She needed to know if it was a human world wolf or a beastworld wolf. When Grandma Shuu was far enough away the wolf finally dared to come out and show himself. "You naughty boy. How did you get in here" Grandma Shuu scolded with both of her hands on her hips. The wolf lowered his head and whimpered, scared to get closer to Grandma Shuu. She didn't need to take a second guess to figure out that this was a beastman wolf let alone a direct descendant. "Come, come my child, I won't punish you," Grandma Shuu said, sounding more gentle . She opened her arms inviting the wolf in for a hug. The wolf happily jumped into her arms and proceeded to lick her face. "Oh Kasper how I've missed you" she sighed, rubbing the wolf's shiny black fur. After getting enough hugs and kisses the wolf Kasper backed away and shapeshifted into his human form. He was a young man a few years older than Artemis. He had lighter skin than Artemis and longer hair. He was the youngest Prince of the wolf kingdom and Grandma Shuu's youngest child.

"Mama, I'm finally able to see you" Kasper said emotionally "I know my son. It must have been hard on you since I left" Grandma Shuu said, holding onto his face "I don't know how I got here. But I've been here for a while. I was running away from bad people and then next thing i know i was here outside your home" Kasper said shaking. "Who were you running from Kasper?" Grandma Shuu demanded "Ferals. Unmarked and rejected led by an evil sorcerer " Kasper said low "Kasper where were you to come across a feral?" Grandma Shuu demanded again "Mama I wasn't that far from the castle but the ferals have been wandering close to the villages attacking people. I didn't think they would be so close to the King's castle but I was mistaken" Kasper said "ok it's ok my child. Are you the one who's been following your niece? You know she is supposed to be kept a secret right?" Grandma Shuu asked. "Sometimes. But not all the time. I just want to make sure that you and her are ok while I'm here" Kasper said scratching his head. "Kasper my boy. You being here is a bad Omen. Who is the sorcerer working next to your father? Grandma Shuu asked. "Yozar" Kasper said "Ok he is one of the best. We might not be doomed after all" Grandma Shuu said "Mama can I meet my niece the Princess I don't want to be in wolf form this time" he asked childishly "Kasper she doesn't know about you. She thinks your wolf is just a wolf wandering around looking for food. It wouldn't be good to push her into this just yet. She's still a child and i don't even know if she has a wolf either" Grandma Shuu told Kasper "Ok i don't want her to be scared mama" he said nodding his head. "Are you sleeping somewhere safe and warm?" Grandma Shuu asked him. Kasper nodded his head while also shrugging his shoulders. "I dug a hole underground," he said, scratching his head. "That's fine. I'll get you some blankets and some clothes and some food and come and find you again" Grandma Shuu said, giving Kasper a big warm hug and shedding a tear.

When Grandma Shuu got back to the teepee Artemis was still sound asleep curled up under the covers. Artemis was always cold when she slept and required extra blankets and pillows to get comfortable. Grandma Shuu sat and watched Artemis sleep while she sewed clothes and blankets for Kasper all night. She made a bag so that he could carry all of the clothes and blankets in it. Grandma Shuu wondered how Kasper ended up here and what this meant for her and Artemis. Ferals are beastmen who have not been mated or have been rejected and went crazy being so alone. Ferals have never been this bold to hunt villagers like that so something must be amiss. Now Grandma Shuu is even more reluctant to go back home to the beastworld.