Chapter 9

Hazel

I noticed some sort of withdrawal from Conner too after I broke our embrace. I didn't judge him, I was probably disgusting. That's how everybody else always treated me, like I didn't matter. He had been different at first, but after everything that just happened, I was afraid of what would come next.

For several moments a tense silence reigned over the entire area, one broken only by a question from the Alpha.

"Don't you want to have breakfast?"

I stared at him momentarily without breaking contact. I was searching his face trying to figure out an opening through his mask of pretence and lies. There was no way he was still being nice to me after I literally lead him on, and let him down as well.

"I've eaten already, thank you." I replied sharply before attempting to make my escape. However, a firm yet gentle grip restrained me.

"You're pregnant Hazel, you need to eat more than your usual portion for your baby." He urged.

"Is this a date?" I inquired jokingly in a bit to change the tense atmosphere.

"Call it whatever you like." Conner replied with a bright smile, one that had me in a trance for a while. His smile was warm, like the sun after a rainy day. With him around I felt as though the stormy days in my life were over. I felt as though hope wasn't lost in his presence. But at the same time it was a feeling I always experienced moments before I got my heart shredded.

It was the same feeling I had when I discovered that Alexander was my mate. My life had been bathed in the light of his arrival, I considered him my knight in shining armour, but look how that turned out. Although I had learnt bitterly from my past experiences, it seemed as though Conner was different.

"Don't go falling for someone who's not your mate!" My wolf yelled at me. I wanted to cuss right back at her, but decided otherwise. Definitely she hadn't forgotten all the things I had to deal with simply because I believed my mate would someday love me. But that never happened, Conrad only saw me as a tool, and I was sick and tired of being used.

Although I had learnt that love never favoured the likes of me, I wasn't going to deny myself the luxury of being around those who actually valued me. I wasn't planning on falling in love again, but that didn't mean I wouldn't enjoy myself.

"How's your mother?" Conner asked after we had finished breakfast. At first I thought I misheard him. Not once had someone asked of my wellbeing, talk more of my mother's. It was becoming too good to be true, was this an act, or was he being genuine?

"She's a lot better thanks to you." I answered with a smile. My heart was beating fast, but not in a nervous way.

Conner pushed the plates aside, and right in front of me stripped without prior warning.

I was supposed to stare away, but for the first ten seconds I captured his every feature, and commited them to memory. Again I was embarrassed on his behalf, but couldn't complain this time. The heat in the room increased significantly, but I couldn't tell if it was because Conner was naked, or my emotions were burning with desire. To be held in those masculine arms, to feel his gentle touch over my delicate skin. And the lips, those ll—

"Why don't you introduce me to your mother." His words snapped me out of my reverie, and I immediately got busy with the plates before me.

"S..sure.." I stuttered before making my escape from the room.

After I was done returning the food cart back to the kitchen, I headed straight to my room to further my daydreams. I imagined him in the shower with me. I imagined the cold water dripping down our skin while we provided warmth for each other in a passionate embrace.

I was lost in my daydreams when a knock came to my door. Snapping out of my fantasy, I rushed towards the door to answer, and there he stood like a newly wedded man. The smell of lavender mixed with honey and coconut essence wafted from his presence, engulfing the atmosphere with his alluring scent.

Slowly, Conner's hands traveled to my face and pushed a rogue behind my ear. It felt as though electricity was coursing through my veins at his touch. Every fibre of my being demanded that I introduce him to my bed. But sadly, the battle was lost to self respect and control. I was mad at myself for not doing as I wanted, but at the same time glad I hadn't acted out of line.

"Are you ready?" He inquired and I nodded affirmatively with a smile.

"Then let's get going." He urged and I immediately escaped from my room. Most of our walk was spent in silence due to my inability to speak. I didn't trust myself not to speak out of line. I probably wouldn't be able to live with the embarrassment.

The moment we stepped into the clinic, the atmosphere became dense. The workers became stiff and lost their flexibility and carefree attitude. I couldn't help but notice that outside his main quarters, Conner appeared quite intimidating.

After a brief check in, I took him to the room where my mother was confined. Mother was asleep at the moment, and although it was a bit disappointing that I couldn't introduce them, I still enjoyed the time I spent with him.

"I'm sorry you two couldn't meet each other. I promise she'll be awake the next time you visit." I assured as though I could predict the future.

Conner smiled at my puerile words before replying. "It's fine, she needs her rest to get better."

Just then his phone rang and he excused himself to answer it. It was a brief call, but I felt as though it was filled up with important information. The aura around Conner was different throughout the brief moment of the call, and afterwards his sense of humour seemed to have completely vanished.

"I have some place to be right now. I'll see when I get back." He said, and in the next moment he was gone. I didn't judge him, whatever it was must be pretty important.

After Conner left, I headed back to my room where I spend most of my day. I was either sleeping all day, or out in the garden bird watching.

Just as I reached my room, I was approached by one of the guards who worked in the mansion, and he handed me an envelope before disappearing like he came.

"That's odd." I commented in a whisper as I entered my room. Once I was in, I wasted no time in tearing open the envelope. I wasn't the type that enjoyed being kept in suspense.

My eyes teared up as I read through the lines of each sentence. Surely this wasn't real, I was being pranked right? I questioned myself. But the more I consumed more of its details, the more I was convinced that this was real.

Right on the pages of this letter, Conner was offering me the job to work as his secretary in the pack company. Just when I thought that my life was getting good, it got a lot better. Now my tears were streaming down endlessly. Never in my life have I been this happy. All this was happening way too fast, and was becoming way too much or a daydream.

Just few days ago, we were complete strangers wandering into a pack that could potentially kill us if they so desired. But now I was going to be working as a secretary in one of the biggest companies in town. I couldn't contain my happiness, and I ended up screaming out in joy.

The maids will probably think I was insane or something, but I couldn't care less. Anybody in my condition would do the same.

After calming myself down, I picked up my phone to dial Conner's number but decided against it. It would be underwhelming to show my gratitude through the phone, I should wait until he was home to thank him. That was probably the best idea.

It was all too good to be true. Who would have imagined that I would find happiness inside the walls of a pack I had no idea would accept me. I closed my eyes that prayed that this happiness lasted for a while. Knowing my luck, fate would probably rob me of this happiness soon. All I prayed for was to enjoy it while it lasted.