CHAPTER 7

    HAZEL'S POV;

    As soon as I shut the door leading to Onyx's room, I lean against thr wall by me and heave a sigh of relief. I was scared for a moment, thinking he was going to do something terrible like throwing me into the dungeon. But he did nothing. He only smacked me across the cheek and I am already quite used to being slapped by him. 

    I move away from the wall and start walking down the corridor. I pass by Cherry's room. It's locked. I stop walking.

    I wish I could go into her room and check if she's getting better. Everyday I pass by her room, I feel really guilty and I wish I wasn't there in the woods, hunting, when they arrived. That would have saved me all of this drama. 

    She's been sick for weeks and everyday, I suffer for that one mistake I made. Sighing, I move to her door and raise my hand to the handle but I stop myself when I hear footsteps coming behind me. 

    Turning, I realize it's Onyx and he's glaring at me. "What are you doing there?!"

    I move farther away and bow my head. "Nothing."

    "But you were standing in front of the door and about to open it. Do you want to kill her finally?!"

    I immediately raise my head to look into his eyes. "No. It was never in my intentions to shoot the arrow st her for crying out loud!"

    Whack!

    I find myself on the floor, holding onto my cheek. He had slapped my right cheek twice and now, I can feel a tingling as I look up at him with tears rolling down my cheeks. I am filled with so much anger and vile hate for this man but knowing there's nothing I can do, I stand to my feet. 

    He pulls me by the hair before I can fully stand to my feet. It hurts and he doesn't care, I know. 

    He pulls me really close to him and lowers his tone to a whisper. "I don't want to see you close to this door again. When passing through this hallway, make sure you turn your face the other way. Don't you dare look at this door, is that clear?!"

    I nod my head even if it's really a hard task for me to do. "Yes."

    "Good." He says and pushes me off him violently. I would have fallen to the ground if I hadn't held onto the wall. He glares at me before walking away. 

    As soon as he's gone, I pick myself up and put my hair in order. I older make sure the tear streaks in my eyes are dried before I continue going towards the dining table. 

    Getting there, I find everyone seated at the table.  The King on his wheel chair, the Queen beside him, Onyx and Earl. 

    As I step into the dining room, the Arya, Asher and Earl are all smiling at me but Earl's smile turns into a frown when he sees the mark on my cheek. I smile and nod at him, pleading that he doesn't speak. He swallows and nods but I see that he's really angry. 

    Onyx is glaring heavily at me so I know that my place is not here. 

    "Thank you, Hazel. You were able to bring him here. I've never been able to achieve that in a long time. It's nice to see he's softening towards you,"

    I smile stiffly even though I know it's all a lie. Earl also has the same expression on his face. He knows it's not true. As for Onyx, he starts eating and pretends like they're not having a conversation about him.

    "Come join us, Hazel dear," The King says in his gentle tone. 

    Immediately, Onyx objects. "No."

    Everyone turns to look at him with shock on their faces. "Why?"

    "I don't want her eating on the same table with me," Onyx replies.

    "You haven't given me a reason, Onyx!" Dowager Queen Arya thunders. I can feel the intense anger in her voice. 

    "Because she irritates me. Can you cut me a fucking slack, mother?" Onyx says in displeasure. "I have always eaten in my room just to avoid this occurrence and now, you begged me to join you for dinner only for it to turn out this way. I'll leave if you esnt to. I don't want her here."

    I see the expression on Arya's face. She looks torn between decisions so I decide to make that decision for her. 

    "I'll eat in the kitchen with the maids, there's no need to leave the dining room."

    "Better."

    

    ONYX'S POV;

    

    As soon as Hazel leaves, I notice that everyone is glaring at me. It doesn't make me feel comfortable but deep down, I admit that maybe I am being hard on Hazel. I immediately shake off the thought. She deserves it. She put my only sister on the sick bed for weeks, she doesn't have a wolf and she's just everything I don't want. 

    I wonder how I'll be seen as when it's time for the Festival Of The Lunatic. Other Alphas would see me as a weak and useless Alpha. I'd probably not be invited to general meetings and that alone makes my hate for her increase. 

    "Y'all stop looking at me that way and enjoy your dinner." I say to everyone and they all sigh. 

    As soon as dinner is over, Earl wipes his mouth and stands to his feet. He bids my parents goodbye before leaving through the kitchen. I know he wants to go meet Heyli and I feel my anger rise. 

    Once I'm done eating, I wipe my mouth and stand to my feet. "Goodnight mum, Dad."

    As I walk down the dining table, my mother grabs me by the wrist. I stop to look down at her. "Take your father up to his room. You know he's not capable of doing that,"

    My eyes hits my father. He's still eating and acting like he didn't hear what my mother said to me. 

    Sighing, I reply to her. "Mum, the palace is filled with guards. They can do that for him,"

    "What's wrong with helping him up to his room? What's wrong with your hands?"

    "I have to get busy in my study. There are important things to attend to."

    "Your father is an important aspect of your life, too. Why are you finding it hard to use your common sense?!"

    I pull my hand away from her grip. "Of course. I'm failing to use my common sense. Whatever you say. You're being this way because of that bitch, aren't you? I don't even know what you see in her. She's useless and worthless!"

    "You're acting like a child, Onyx, and I really feel sad for you. When you come to realization, you're going to regret this mistake you made. Mark my words,"

    Without saying anything, I walk out of the dining table. On my way to my study, I order one of my guards to go take my father up to his chambers and as soon as the guard leaves, I go into my study. 

    Once I am in the confines of my study, I go into deep thought. What am I really doing? I shouldn't be with that woman. For crying out loud, I am the King and I have the authority to send her out or even kill her. 

    Yes!

    If I kill her, even the priest wouldn't know. I'll make it look like she died a natural death. That way, I can get rid of her and get married to Selah.

    A knock sounds on my door. "Come in!"

    The door opens and the person standing before me is Earl. I close my eyes and groan. "What did you want?"

    Earl shits the door behind him and walks into the room. "Did Heyli do anything to offend you in the past?"

    I laugh. "I see you have gotten acquainted to her so quickly. You're fucking her, aren't you? Because you support her so much. Tell me what the fuck she does for you."

    Earl bangs his hand on the table, glaring at me. "I'd fall in love with her because she's worth it. She's everything I want in a woman. But she's yours, Onyx and yet you treat her like a slave. Even worse!"

    "Cherry is on that fucking bed because of that whore and you ask me if she didn't anything to wrong me? Yes, she fucking did!" I thunder while standing to my feet. Now, I'm matching his tone and intensity.

    Earl calms his voice and sighs. "You know it's not her fault, Onyx? It's Selah, right? She keeps poisoning your mind towards Hazel?"

    "I have always hated Hazel, earl. You of all people knows that I always have. I don't care about her and never will I. If you care so much about her, why not remarry her and take away? Why disturb me?"

    "Because she's your mate, Onyx. You think I'd have let you treat her this way if you weren't her mate? She deserves better and I would have fucking given her that! You're not the friend I know, Onyx. Something has come over you and I hope you get over it and see the gem called Hazel!"

    With those words, he walks out of my study and bangs the door.