Chapter 5

Hazel

Though Alexander was my mate, getting away from him was my first priority. We were mates yet there was absolutely no bond between the two of us. The only thing we mutually shared was the desire to get away from one another. He clearly hated me, and the only time he even thought of looking at me twice was only when we were making love.

Almost instantly the memories of our nights together flashed through my mind, and for a moment I genuinely reconsidered going back to the mansion.

"No you mustn't!" I yelled out to myself. I mustn't give in to the pleasure and forsake my wellbeing and sanity. Alexander had done me more harm than good, though the sex was inexplicably good, it just couldn't make up for the wrongs he'd been doing to me. He probably would be happy I left, it wouldn't make any difference not when he had Beth around.

"What's with this guilt?" I inquired from myself inwardly. Hadn't Alexander made it clear that he wanted nothing from me, so why did I feel so guilty with escaping. Was it because of this pregnancy? Since he had cut all ties with me, technically it was no longer his.

"You know it doesn't work that way" My wolf reminded curtly.

I knew she was saying the truth, but I chose to go with my own conclusion just so I could overcome the lingering guilt in me.

"Where to now Hazel?" My mother inquired softly. She was probably the person that made me feel way more bad than I should be about myself. I was making her walk all these distance with me for a selfish reason. Back at the palace she was taken care of, she wasn't the person that got maltreated constantly, but here she was suffering simply because I chose the decision to escape from my mate.

And that was the only reason why I still appreciated Alexander. When I had moved on, I got so worried about my mother's well-being and though I was not always with him, because he cared little about me, he noticed. And, after I had told him what the problem was, he asked that my mother be brought to the mansion.

She was sick, and I could tell she could barely maintain her posture but she was pushing forward all because of me. I've offered to carry her but not once did she agree to my demands. She probably didn't want to burden me any further than I already was. I was probably the worst daughter in the world right now for making my sick mother walk all these distances on her own, but yet she still chose to be the best mother to me.

I genuinely knew nothing of the place I was heading to, but I had no other choice at the moment. I couldn't go back to my father, he wouldn't even let me back into the house so it wasn't even an option. There was the option of staying in the forest and surviving off its resources, I was a wolf and it wouldn't exactly be that difficult to pull off. But then my mother wouldn't be able to get the medical attention she needed. All these factors resulted in me making the boldest decision of my life yet, to seek refuge in a different pack. It was not exactly an easy thing to do though

Though the other pack probably wouldn't be able to identify that I was from Nightfall pack, accepting a rogue wolf whose purpose and identity you did not know wasn't going to be easy. At the moment the usual yellow glow in my eyes had turned crimson indicating that I currently belonged to no pack whatsoever.

It had been tough walking to this place, but finally I could see the large almost mountainous gates that towered over each layer of walls that housed the mansion of the Alpha of Midnight Pack.

Mustering up courage, I walked towards the gigantic gates with as much confidence as I could gather within myself.

I had barely taken a step to approach the gate when a blade was bared at my neck by a figure I hadn't seen, nor had I sensed. Without a doubt whoever that was behind me was skilled in the art of stealth and assassination, any wrong move and I and my mother might drop down as corpses.

"State your business here intruder!" Though his aura was demeaning, and the closeness of his blade life threatening, his voice was somehow calming even to me.

"Umm...I..I have come to join your pack sir. Please can I get a chance to see your Alpha," I said after much stammering. It was probably because of blade, and my lack of reason and excuse.

"And you are?" He asked sternly

"Hazel, Hazel Jones" I answered sharply. I expected for his blade to at least drop down a bit after I had answered his questions, but instead they drew closer and now I was tensed beyond my control, I was visibly fidgeting and the heavy balls of perspiration that rolled down my face were evidence of my uneasiness in this situation.

"And who is the woman with you?"

"That's my mother. Please let us join your pack, I swear we mean no harm" I blurted out with tears in my eyes even though he probably couldn't see them.

"How am I to know you aren't spies? What exactly do you want here?" For someone who was an assassin, this man was quite the talkative. Wasn't silence their torte? Or had assassins these days seriously degraded?

"We aren't I assure you!" I yelled before taking the risk to turn my neck around to face him even with the blade. I wanted him to see my pupils so he could identify that we weren't really spies. We were rogue wolves who were simply seeking for accomodation.

I could almost swear my hands were free when I turned my neck, but In the next second they were already cuffed. 'What the hell?' I exclaimed mentally.

"Follow me" The guard commanded and without hesitation we trailed after him. My guess was that we were going to meet the alpha of the pack who will be the one to decide our fate. Deep in my mind I already painted all Alphas to misogynists, proud and extorting bastards. But for this moment I sincerely hoped this one would be different.

We arrived in front of a large oak door that reflected the rays of the sun that struck it. One quick look at it and I could tell it was imported from the best carpenters in the middle east. Such exotic furniture couldn't possibly be from around here.

"Alpha Conner, may I come in?" The man before us yelled abstractly after two knocks on the door. He was probably talking to somebody behind those expensive doors, but I feigned ignorance to everything he was doing.

"Enter" A firm voice authorized from inside. The guard entered and left us cuffed outside of the door, then ten minutes later he surfaced back again and this time took us in with him.

Although the room had features that were impossible to neglect, the features of the man before me merely outshone them. On his silver throne he appeared like a god, cloaked in expensive mauve linens that I could tell smelt good just from looking at them.

My mind was yet to find words to quantify his looks, but I managed to stick with handsome.

"Hazel Jones huh, state your business in the premises of Midnight Pack" His tone was solemn yet authorizing. He seemed calm but at the same time his dominance was established and the need to answer him as quickly as possible immediately became a trait to all his subjects.

"Accommodations, and membership" I went straight to the point. If he already knew my name then I guessed the guard should have filled him in already, there was no need talking too much, Alexander had taught me that in several occasions. Keep my replies short and meaningful.

"And what can you possibly offer this pack in return?" This was a question I hadn't expected at all, but I still managed to deliver an answer I considered to be good.

"I am willing to render any services which might be lacking within these walls" I seriously doubted that any services were still needed, but it was the best answer I could come up with given the condition I was in.

A heavy silence descended upon the room, and with it a tension and pressure I hadn't realised had built up until now. I was still shaking, and now I chipped in some prayer for a positive response from the Alpha.

"Uncuff them and take them to the royal quarters. Have the maids bring them some clothes and food."

His words sounded almost too good to be true. For a brief moment everything felt like a daydream, was this really happening? Somebody was actually being nice to me? It was simply not possible. With the shitty luck I had, this kindness was definitely going to be repaid in one way or the other.

Driving away my pessimistic thoughts, I gestured a very low and appreciative bow to the alpha, but was unable to vocalise my appreciation before I was rudely pulled away by the guard. I didn't really mind his actions at the moment, I was too happy to even care. Maybe running away was a good decision after all.