Share

Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna
Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna
Author: Mercy Ashquill

CHAPTER ONE

last update Huling Na-update: 2024-10-22 00:39:30

HAZEL

"Third complaint this month, Hazel. Third!" Bob slammed his hands on his desk. "And this time you actually hit a customer?"

I sank into the chair opposite him and smiled as I recalled the satisfying moment of slapping that creep who wouldn’t keep his hands to himself. It felt good to fight back, even if I knew it only added to my troubles.

But I should have known better by now. Standing up for myself never ended well - it just gave everyone another excuse to remind me how different I was, how I didn't fit in.

These reminders came daily. In the stares of strangers, in the whispered conversations they thought I couldn't hear, in the way people either avoided me entirely or got too close for comfort.

My crime? Being born with hair and eyes of pure Gold. Not the fake bottle blonde or amber that you might assume, but actual metallic gold.

The doctors called it a genetic anomaly. The kids at school called me a freak. I just called it my curse. And tonight, that curse had cost me again when a drunk customer wouldn't keep his hands to himself.

"He wouldn't stop trying to grab my hair," I said, knowing it wouldn't matter. The customer was always right, even when they were wrong. "What was I supposed to do?"

Bob sighed. "Handle it professionally? Not cause a scene in the middle of my diner? Look, Hazel, I took a chance hiring you. I knew your... unique appearance might attract attention, but I thought you could handle it."

"I did handle it. He learned to keep his hands off women. Maybe you should learn that lesson too." I met his gaze.

"Get out of my diner.” He spat.”Freaks like you aren't worth the trouble."

I didn't even argue any further. What was the point? I'd known this was coming from the moment I'd raised my hand. I yanked off my apron and tossed it on his desk. "Fine. Have a nice life."

I stormed out of Rosie's Diner with a racing mind. Another job lost. Another failure to add to the growing list. All because of my stupid hair and eyes.

I'd never asked for this. Never wanted to be different. Not only did my hair and eyes set me apart, but my senses were unnaturally sharp.

I could see things others couldn't, hear whispers from across a room. It was both a gift and a curse, making it even harder to feel normal. And yet here I was, seventeen years old, and I couldn't even hold down a waitressing job. All because of these 'gifts' I never asked for.

Sometimes I wondered if this was why Dad had sent me away after Mom died. if he'd known somehow that my differences would only get more pronounced with time.

The memory of that night swept over me without warning, as vivid as if it had happened yesterday instead of nine years ago. The smell of smoke that had yanked me from sleep. The heat pushing against my skin. Dad's terrified face, bundling me into the car and driving through the night leaving Ravenville town behind us.

I was only nine then, too young to understand why Mom didn't come with us, too shocked to question why Dad kept looking in the rearview mirror as if expecting something to chase us. The official story was that Mom died in the fire – a tragic accident, they said.

We never went back. Within days, I was shipped off to live with Aunt Jenna in the city, while Dad stayed behind in Ravenville. "It's not safe," he'd insisted, though he never explained what exactly wasn't safe. All I knew was that something about that fire had terrified him enough to send his only daughter away.

But I tried not to dwell on the past. I had one good thing left in my present life:Jake. My boyfriend. The one person who seemed to get me, who didn't care about my weird looks or fiery temper.

I pulled out my phone, sent him a quick text. "Bad day. Coming over."

His apartment was only a few blocks away, but something felt wrong the moment I arrived. The potted plant by his door, the one he obsessively maintained lay toppled, soil scattered across the welcome mat. I frowned, fishing out the spare key he'd given me.

The apartment was dim, but I could hear muffled sounds coming from his bedroom. My heart rate picked up. Was he okay?

"Jake?" I called out, moving towards his room. "You wouldn't believe the day I've had—"

I pushed open the door and froze. The world seemed to tilt on its axis.

Jake was there alright but so was Mia, my best friend. They weren't sitting on the couch playing video games or studying.

Their naked bodies were pressed against each other, skin to skin. Mia’s moans filled the air as Jake drove into her. I slapped myself hard to be sure I wasn't dreaming, and they both turned around.

"Hazel!" Jake scrambled off Mia and nearly fell, which I wished he had. "God, I... This isn't..."

I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. The whole room felt like it was spinning around me.

Mia sat up, not even bothering to cover herself. "Well, this is awkward."

I found my voice finally. "How long?"

Jake fumbled for his shirt. "Hazel, please. Just let me explain. It's not what you think."

Not what you think. The same lame excuse every cheating boyfriend uses. I'd heard it in movies a thousand times, but I never thought I'd hear it in real life, especially not from Jake.

"How. Long." I repeated, my fists already clenched at my sides.

He started approaching me with his hands raised like I was some wild animal he was trying to calm. "Haze, I'm sorry. I just... I can't do this anymore."

Mia snorted. "Don't sugar-coat it, Jake. Tell her the truth. Tell her how you're sick of dating a freak who won't let you touch her. How you're tired of the stares, the whispers. Tell her how you want a normal girlfriend who doesn't hide in clothes three sizes too big."

I glanced down at my oversized hoodie and jeans, suddenly feeling exposed. They didn't understand. They couldn't. The comfort these clothes gave me, the security of not being ogled or touched without permission.

"Is that true?" I asked Jake, searching for any sign of denial.

He couldn't meet my eyes. "Hazel, I... It's just hard sometimes. I just can't deal with it anymore. The way guys look at you, how you flinch when I try to touch you. I don't even know what you really look like under all those layers."

I laughed bitterly. "So this is my fault? Because I don't dress like some Barbie doll for you?"

"That's not what I meant!" Jake protested.

"Enough!" I spat. "You want to see what's under the baggy clothes? Fine."

In a fast motion, I yanked off my hoodie. Jake's eyes widened as he took in the curves I usually kept hidden. For a moment, I savored the shock on their faces. Then shame and anger washed over me. I shouldn't have to prove anything to them.

I pulled my hoodie back on already feeling dirty. "Happy now? This what you wanted to see?"

Jake stammered, "Hazel, I... you're beautiful. I didn't know—"

"You're right. You didn't know. And now you never will."

I stormed out, slamming the door behind me. Jake's pleas followed me down the stairs, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. If I did, I'd fall apart right there.

Somehow, I ended up back at Aunt Jenna's apartment. I fumbled with my key, hands shaking, and stumbled inside. The place was empty - Aunt Jenna must still be at work.

I made it to my room before the sobs hit. Collapsing onto my bed, I let out all the pain, all the betrayal, all the anger. How could they do this to me? Jake, who I thought understood me. Mia, who I'd trusted with my secrets.

As the tears subsided, my eyes fell on a framed photo on my nightstand.

Me and Darryl, back in my hometown. We couldn't have been more than ten.

My heart clenched. Darryl. My childhood best friend, the one person who never made me feel different or strange. We were inseparable once, until that night I left. I never got to even say goodbye.

I don't know what possessed me, but suddenly I was on my feet, shoving clothes into a bag. The photo of Darryl and me went in too, carefully wrapped in a sweater.

Then, solemnly, I gathered my collection of paranormal novels - stories of werewolves, vampires, and otherworldly creatures that had been my escape for so long. I can't bear to leave them behind.

My hand went to my neck, fingers brushing the silver pendant that hung there. Dad's words echoed in my mind: "Never take it off, Hazel. Promise me." I didn't understand why, but I'd kept that promise faithfully.

As I zipped up the overstuffed bag, I realized I didn't know where I was going, just that I couldn't stay here.

The front door opened. "Hazel?" Aunt Jenna called. "What's Wrong? What are you doing?"

I froze, staring at the bag in my hands. What was I doing?

Aunt Jenna's eyes widened as she took in my tear-stained face.

"Hazel? What happened?"

What happened? My entire life had imploded, that's what. And suddenly, I knew exactly where I needed to go.

I turned to face my aunt. "I'm going home," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Then, as if someone else was speaking through me, I heard my voice rise very strong and clear.

"I'm going back to Ravenville."

Patuloy na basahin ang aklat na ito nang libre
I-scan ang code upang i-download ang App
Mga Comments (1)
goodnovel comment avatar
A.n.y.a
Nice beginning
Tignan lahat ng Komento

Kaugnay na kabanata

  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER TWO

    HAZELThe "Welcome to Ravenville" sign emerged from the darkness, it's faded letters shone by the taxi's headlights. Eight years of running and here I was, crawling back to the one place my dad swore I never to return to.The cab driver hadn't said a word since I boarded, and I was grateful for the silence. No awkward questions about why a teenager was traveling alone at night, No suspicious glances at my strange golden eyes in his rearview mirror. Just the quiet sound of the engine and my thoughts for company.Until my phone buzzed, again.I sighed and glanced at the screen. Aunt Jenna's name flashed for what felt like the hundredth time."Hazel, this is insane! Answer me!""Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?""What about your father? Did you even tell him you're coming?"I switched the phone to silent and dropped it into my bag. She wasn't wrong about Dad – I hadn't told him I was coming. The plan was simple. find a motel, get settled, then figure out how to break the news

    Huling Na-update : 2024-10-22
  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER THREE

    DARRYL "Darryl, you're gonna snap the steering wheel in half if you grip it any tighter." Katrina’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I blinked and eased my hands off the wheel slightly realizing how tightly I’d been holding it. I muttered, “Sorry,” but didn’t look at her. My mind was somewhere else—no, on someone else. The girl we just ran into. I didn’t want to think about her, I didn’t want to drag up memories I’d buried years ago. But the past always had a way of creeping up when you least expected it. Especially when the past stares you in the face. Hazel. The girl who left everything in ruins on a day that should’ve been perfect. My tenth birthday—one that turned my entire life upside down. It was supposed to be a day filled with laughter, plans, and promises. Hazel and I had spent weeks planning it. We were going to spend the whole day together, just like we used to. She had promised it would be unforgettable. And it was… just not in the way I expected.

    Huling Na-update : 2024-10-22
  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER FOUR

    HAZEL "You don't need to walk me in, Dad. I'm not eight anymore." I stood in the school parking lot, shifting my backpack on my shoulders while he gave me that worried look I'd seen a thousand times since coming back to Ravenville. Dad's hand went to the silver pendant around my neck, adjusting it for the tenth time this morning. "Just... promise me you'll keep this on. No matter what." "Yeah, yeah, your magic necklace. Got it." I rolled my eyes but touched the pendant anyway. It felt weirdly warm against my skin, like it always did. "Are you ever going to tell me why it's so important?" His face did that thing where it shut down completely. "Just keep it on. And Hazel? “ "What?" "Remember - two weeks. Two weeks is all you get. If thing's don't work out—-" "You'll ship me back to Aunt Jenna. Yeah, I got it." I didn't look back as I walked away, afraid he'd see how much that thought terrified me. Two weeks. Fourteen days to prove I belonged here, to make Darryl remember me

    Huling Na-update : 2024-10-22
  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER FIVE

    HAZELI stood there, my feet refusing to move even as my mind screamed at me to just get the hell out of there. Darryl's words kept echoing in my head. "You disgust me." Three words shouldn't have the power to destroy someone, but these did. My hands wouldn't stop shaking no matter how hard I tried to steady them, and the worst part was knowing I probably deserved every bit of this pain. After all, I was the one who had abandoned him all those years ago. I was the one who had broken our promise of an unforgettable birthday. My gaze drifted to the deep scratches in the wall where his hand had struck, and I tried to convince myself that they had been there before. There was no way a normal teenager could have left marks that deep in a solid wall. Not unless they had some kind of unnatural strength. As I stared at the marks, my feet finally started to cooperate, slowly carrying me away from this hallway. But the further I got, the more I realized just how silent everything was. I co

    Huling Na-update : 2024-11-15
  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER SIX

    HAZEL"Your secret is safe with me." I turned around so fast I nearly lost my balance. "What secret?" I managed to get that out, while my mind raced through everything that had just happened in that hallway. Did he see what really happened? Did the memory wipe or whatever it was not work on him?Lucian smiled. "About how you stood Darryl up on his birthday. He told me everything."The relief that flooded through me was so intense I almost laughed. Of course that's what he meant. What else could he have been talking about? Maybe I really had imagined everything in that hallway. "Oh. Right. That.""Were you expecting something else?" He raised an eyebrow.I shook my head quickly. "No, just... it's been a weird day. Look you're Darryl's friend, which means we probably shouldn't be having this conversation.""Actually, that's exactly why we should be talking." He stepped beside me, and I noticed he had to slow down his long strides to match my pace. "I want to help you fix things with h

    Huling Na-update : 2024-11-16
  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER SEVEN

    DARRYL Five Days Earlier"She's dangerous, Darryl. You didn't see what I saw." Katrina paced in front of me. We were in my room at the pack house, and I was trying really hard not to lose my shit over everything she was telling me about Hazel.I ran my hands through my hair for the hundredth time and fought the urge to punch something. According to Katrina, Hazel had gone full psycho in the hallway, picking fights and threatening people. My childhood friend, the girl who used to cry over dead butterflies, suddenly turning into some kind of violent maniac? It didn't add up."She's not the same person you knew," Katrina pressed on. "She came after me for no reason, started spewing all this stuff about you only belonged to her alone. When I tried to calm her down, she just... snapped."I forced myself to breathe slowly. "And You're also telling me everyone who saw this suddenly forgot? That's convenient.""That's exactly my point! She must have done something to their memories. And that

    Huling Na-update : 2024-11-18
  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER EIGHT

    HAZEL Mate. What the hell did that even mean? Darryl had said it like it was the most important word in existence.I'd heard Amy talking in the background, her voice very distant, but all I could focus on was that word and the way my body was responding to it. My heart was racing, my hands were shaking, and something deep inside me was screaming YES while my brain was desperately trying to make sense of what just happened. And worst is I could still smell him everywhere. Not just a regular smell but this was something else entirely. Something that made me want to track him down, to follow that invisible trail he'd left behind. I knew I had a good sense of smell, but this was different. This was like my entire body was a bloodhound, and Darryl was the only thing that existed."Hazel? Are you listening to me?" Amy's hand grabbed my arm and her touch jerked me back to reality. "What's going on? You just took off from the cafeteria like you were possessed.""I'm fine," I managed to g

    Huling Na-update : 2024-11-20
  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER NINE

    HAZELThe moment I got home, everything went to hell.Shadow wasn't just angry. Shadow was a nuclear bomb ready to detonate inside my skull. Every piece of furniture in my room became a potential weapon, and I could feel my control slipping faster.I couldn't think about anything except the fact that I'd just walked away from my fucking mate.From Hazel."YOU WALKED AWAY!" Shadow screamed inside my head. "WE FOUND HER. AND YOU WALKED AWAY!""Shut up!" I roared, grabbing the nearest chair and sending it across the room. It shattered against the wall like my entire world was shattering right along with it. Luna Mara was the first to reach my room. Her eyes went wide taking in the absolute destruction I'd created. The desk lay broken to pieces, books were scattered on the floor, a lamp broke into a thousand fragments. And me, in the center of it all, breathing like I'd just run a marathon."Darryl," she said softly. "Breathe."But Shadow wasn't interested in breathing. Shadow wanted ON

    Huling Na-update : 2024-11-21

Pinakabagong kabanata

  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER 112

    HAZELWhy would Malachi save me? The notorious rogue alpha who had terrorized our pack for years, who had ruthlessly killed all of Darryl's previous girlfriends—why would he suddenly intervene?Our eyes locked, and something strange happened. A pull so powerful—tugged at my core. Before I could make sense of it, Lucian staggered to his feet, his face filled with rage."You!" he snarled at Malachi. "You dare interfere?"Malachi's massive black wolf form didn't flinch. He stood his ground, baring teeth that gleamed like ivory daggers in the moonlight. A low growl rumbled from his chest, and without warning, he lunged.The two wolves collided in a violent clash of fangs and claws. I watched in horror as they tore at each other, rolling across the forest floor in a blur of fur and blood. The air filled with snarls and the sound of flesh being ripped.Weakness washed over me, my legs trembling beneath me. I slumped against a nearby tree, unable to tear my eyes away from the brutal fight. L

  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER 111

    HAZEL"You're a werewolf," Amy and I whispered in unison, the realization dawning on us simultaneously.Lucian's mouth curved into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Very good, Hazel. I was wondering how long it would take you to figure it out."My mind raced through every conversation, every moment we'd spent together. The orphanage records, his comments about feeling abandoned, the Garrett family name in that book with the pack symbol. All the clues had been there, scattered like breadcrumbs, but I'd been too blind to see them."How?" I asked, finding my voice. "How could you be a werewolf and we never sensed it?"Amy moved closer to me, her fingers already extending into claws, ready to shift if necessary. I could feel her body tensing beside mine."I've had years to perfect hiding what I am," Lucian said, stepping further into the room. "Special herbs, certain techniques... you'd be surprised what you can learn when you're desperate enough."He moved toward the photographs on th

  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER 110

    HAZEL POVI stood in front of the entire pack, my heart hammering against my ribs. Though Darryl had asked me to show them who I was, my powers felt frozen inside me, locked away by fear and uncertainty. The judgmental stares of the pack members only made it worse."I... I can't," I whispered, my voice shaking.Darryl moved behind me, his warm hand resting on my back. "You can," he murmured. "I'm right here." His touch sent warmth through my body, and suddenly I felt my power stirring.It started slowly at first – a gentle golden glow emanating from my skin. Then it grew stronger, brighter, until my entire body was illuminated. My blonde hair shimmered like spun gold, and I knew my eyes were glowing with an otherworldly light. Gasps echoed through the room as pack members leaned forward in their seats, their faces filled with awe.An elderly woman pushed through the crowd, her wizened face full of wonder. "By the moon goddess," she breathed. "A Golden Wolf. After all these centuries..

  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER 109

    DARRYL POVThe morning sun felt different on my skin after weeks in that cell. Standing outside the prison with Hazel in my arms, I could barely process that I was finally free. But the weight of what I needed to tell her pressed against my chest like a stone."Hazel," I started, pulling back slightly to look into her eyes. "There's something you need to know about Lucian—""DARRYL!" The familiar voice cut through the moment. Lucian came bounding across the parking lot, his grin plastered across his face. Before I could react, he pulled me into a crushing hug that felt genuine—too genuine for someone who had orchestrated my imprisonment."Man, it's so good to see you out!" Lucian exclaimed, stepping back but keeping his hands on my shoulders. "We've been working non-stop to prove your innocence.""We sure have," Hazel agreed warmly. "Lucian was instrumental in helping us find the security footage."I fought to keep my expression neutral as my mind raced. The security footage that pro

  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER 108

    HAZELI stood in my father's office at the police station. Amy squeezed my hand, a silent show of support as Officer Sarah reviewed our statement about finding the security footage.Jared paced behind his desk, his jaw clenched tight. "This footage is eight years old," he said, his voice clipped. "Even if it shows what you claim, it might not be admissible in court.""But it proves Darryl's innocence!" I shot back, my hands balling into fists. "You can't just ignore that!""Hazel," Sarah interjected gently, "your father is just trying to—""He's not my father." The words escaped before I could stop them. The room went deadly silent. Jared's face turned pale, then red with anger. Sarah looked between us in confusion."Hazel," Jared warned, his voice low and dangerous. "Now is not the time.""When is the time?" I demanded, taking a step forward. "When you're not busy trying to keep an innocent man in prison? When you're not injecting me with—" I caught myself just in time, aware of Sara

  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER 107

    HAZELMy hands trembled as I connected the hard drive to Amy's laptop. We sat in her car, parked in a quiet corner of the mall parking lot, hearts racing with anticipation."Are you sure you want to watch this?" Amy asked softly. "We know it's going to be..." She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't have to.I nodded, double-clicking on the first video file. "We need to know exactly what it shows before we take it to the police."The footage was grainy, typical of security cameras from eight years ago. At first, there was nothing – just an empty park path lit by scattered lampposts. Then movement caught our attention. Two figures walked into frame, and my heart clenched. Gracia and Darryl, so young, so unaware of what was about to happen."There," Amy pointed at the screen. "Something's moving in the shadows."I leaned closer, squinting at the dark shape that seemed to come from nowhere. The attack happened so fast – one moment Darryl and Gracia were walking, the next Darryl was fly

  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER 106

    HAZELI banged my head against Amy's car dashboard for what felt like the hundredth time. The park meeting had gone exactly as we'd feared – complete disaster. My ears were still ringing with their mocking laughter."Well, that was humiliating," Amy muttered from the driver's seat, her knuckles white on the steering wheel. "Did you see the security guard face when we mentioned eight-year-old security footage?""Don't remind me." I groaned, remembering his patronizing smile. "'Oh, you sweet, naive girls,'" I mimicked his tone. "'Security footage from that long ago? Even if it existed, it would have been destroyed years ago.'""And the lady!" Amy hit her hand against the wheel. "She looked so annoyed. Like we were children playing detective."We sat in silence for a moment, parked outside the park where we'd just been thoroughly dismissed."We're idiots," I finally said, staring at the ceiling of Amy's car. "What were we thinking? Eight years. Eight years! Of course no one would keep se

  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER 105

    HAZELI paced nervously in Art room later that day, trying to figure out how to explain everything to Lucian without revealing the supernatural truth. He sat on a desk chair, arms crossed, clearly frustrated at being left out earlier."So," he said, his voice carefully neutral, "are you finally going to tell me what Maria said after you sent me away?"I exchanged a quick glance with Amy, who was perched on her bed. We had carefully rehearsed our edited version of events."Maria witnessed what happened the night Gracia died," I began slowly. "She followed her sister to the park because she was upset about a broken promise."Lucian leaned forward, his eyes intense. "And?""She saw Gracia and Darryl together," Amy continued. "They were attacked by someone... someone who seemed to know them. A man – large, incredibly strong. He….He attacked Darryl first, knocked him unconscious.""Then he killed Gracia while Darryl was out?" Lucian's voice was gentle, understanding how difficult this was

  • Alpha's Dilemma : Claiming My Golden Wolf Luna   CHAPTER 104

    HAZEL POVMy heart was pounding as I watched Maria struggle with her words. I knew what was coming - a truth about werewolves that we couldn't let Lucian hear. But how could we send him away without making Maria even more suspicious?Amy caught my eye, and I could see the same worry reflected there. We needed to act fast."Before you continue," I said gently to Maria, "maybe we should move somewhere more private? This hallway isn't exactly comfortable."Maria wrapped her arms around herself, looking smaller than ever. "I don't want to move. If I move, I might lose my courage."Lucian shifted closer, his presence both comforting and concerning. "We could at least find somewhere to sit properly. These floors are pretty hard."That's when Amy surprised me with her quick thinking. "Actually, Lucian, could you do us a huge favor? Maria's going to need some water, and probably something to eat. She's shaking."Lucian frowned, clearly reluctant to leave. "Can't one of you go?""You know wher

Galugarin at basahin ang magagandang nobela
Libreng basahin ang magagandang nobela sa GoodNovel app. I-download ang mga librong gusto mo at basahin kahit saan at anumang oras.
Libreng basahin ang mga aklat sa app
I-scan ang code para mabasa sa App
DMCA.com Protection Status