CHAPTER FIFTY-TWOHAZEL.“Everyone was watching. You could have just ordered clothes in. Their minds would all be going to the dirty stuff when they see me coming out in clothes that aren't mine.” I grumbled in the garden, where me and Darius sat. We had a table and a chair arranged in the midst of the flowers, and amidst the paperwork were cups of tea, and lots of snacks. Darius kept scribbling something rapidly, without looking at me. “Well, didn't we do the dirty stuff?” He asked casually, opening the next page, and circling something with a red highlighter. My cheeks went pink, and I was short of words. I kept opening my mouth to speak, but ended up closing it repeatedly. The umbrella was no longer over us, so the maids, who were doing a few things around, and the guards could probably see and pick up on our conversation, although their faces said otherwise. The sun had come out after the rain shortly, brightening the whole place up. “Seriously, why are you keeping me here?
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREEHAZEL.Gently, I placed my hand in Darius', and he held it, still keeping his eyes on the screen.Honestly, if I was told that he'd never sat down to watch a movie in his life, I would not believe it, but on the other hand, it felt like a bad influence. There was a lot of action involved in the movie, and multiple people had been killed because of a virus that made them madly after money. What if he was only interested because there was a lot of murder in it?Darius leaned back in his seat, and dipped his hand in the popcorn. I sighed, reminded of what he said he had to tell me.*Earlier, when I changed my mind to dress Darius in black, I left the room, and took out my phone.“I'm going to cancel my order, and request for new ones.” I said to the attendant on the phone. “Make everything I ordered pink. Yeah, I don't want black anymore. Just pink.” I said, and smiled, as the attendant understood me.Then I'd turned round the corner and had run into a maid, holding
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOURMELISSA.“You look beautiful, my lady.” He’d said, as he took my hand, and swirled me onto the dance floor. It was our first time meeting, and I couldn’t deny that night had its own magic.“I didn’t expect the rogue King to be this handsome.” I said to him,“Just like I never expected the daughter of my business partner to be this spectacular.”My laughter was real, and sweet. For the first time in ages, I wasn’t faking a smile. Being a businessman’s daughter, I’d met so many men, old and young, who I had to talk to with smiles, even though I was disgusted by the sight of them. It didn’t help that my father was an Alpha, aspiring to be granted his own pack. I had to be overly-cautious, and enchanting, but Darius…Immediately our eyes locked, while he was talking to father, something leaped in my chest. It was my heart calling out to him.“He’s our mate.” I said, but Myra, my wolf didn’t agree. ‘He’s not.’“Well, I say he is. Who’s for him if not me?” Yeah, I’d ch
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVEHAZEL.“What?” I asked, my jaw dropping. “You want me to marry you?” “Yes. You're my mate. The one given to me by the goddess herself.”“I know, but you can't be serious. Do you have any idea what you're saying? You want to marry two women on the same day? You want Melissa and I to walk on the aisle together?”“Yes, is there a problem?” “Darius, you can't just do that.”“I do whatever I want. This is my pack. Remember; I'm only marrying Melissa out of responsibility, and a promise made. In fact, I can completely scrap the promise, but she's having my child. It's the only reason I'm putting up with her, but you, I want to spend all my rooftop nights with you. I want us to go on dates like this. For a long time.”I was flattered. Honestly, I really was. Also, I wanted it more than anything. I really wanted to get married to Darius, and have the cutest babies with him, but before I was Hazel, I was a woman. If I were to get married to someone I love, and then anothe
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIXHAZEL.I peeled out my ears, listening. Melissa? What was she doing there? Why was she there? How did she get there? Was she also in the shopping mall? How the heck was it a coincidence that she happened to be at the same mall me and Darius were at?Did she see us?A pang of guilt hit my chest. Or did she follow us on the road, into the boutique? Was she here to see me? Did she tell all those girls to leave because she wanted to tell me something?“Just imagine the shitty makeup this girl just did. Is this what I'll look like on my wedding day? Impossible!” I heard the sound of water running, and waited for a long while hearing Melissa curse whoever helped her with her makeup. I stayed stuck in the stall, until I heard her leave. Then, I finally sighed. I ought not to feel any pity for Melissa due to the kind of person she was, but I couldn't help it. If Darius suddenly added one more person to marry him. Maybe someone he liked more than he liked me— I definitely
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVENMELISSA.I watched them leave, and felt my heart burn. For a long while, I could not tear my eyes off the direction they went. My face held stubbornness, but inside, I was breaking apart. Darius. How had we gotten that way? How did we lose that chemistry we shared? Was I the only one who thought something was going on between us? I took in deep breaths. No, I wouldn’t think negatively. Darius was mine, and I’ll burn everything in my path to him. Even if it was the world. I’d burn the world just to get him. I found him first! I knew him first! There was no way someone else would steal him.“Ma’am, would you still like to check the wedding dresses?” An attendant asked, and I shot her a glare. She backed away immediately, and I stormed off, throwing away the bags of makeup I’d bought. “Ma’am! You can’t…”I took a shoe off a nearby shoe rack, and hurled it at her. It hit her square in the belly, and she doubled over in pain.With that, I stormed out of the boutiqu
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHTHAZELI bit my lip, as Melissa took a step back, staring at Darius mixed with rage and horror, then she spoke shakily. “I hate you, and I won't do what you say. Your doctor can take his test if he can find me first!” Melissa gave me a scathing look before she stormed out of the room. I sighed immediately, and began to pace slowly.“This won't work.” I said. It felt so unfair to me, and unsettling to my conscience. If only she'd just do one crazy thing— just one more crazy thing, then maybe I'd be able to let go of the guilt I felt for her.“Of course, it will. Melissa can't do anything, but rant. I'm being generous. Initially, I called off the wedding when I found you, but because of the baby, I had to go on. Does it make sense to marry someone else, while my mate stays like some concubine? No way. So tomorrow, official preparations will start, and I'll be with you every step of the way.” “You sound like an expert in getting married.” I muttered, and he chuckled
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINEXANDERI looked at Darius, who didn't even notice Melissa and Hazel were too close. He was busy checking the wedding dresses around.I decided to do the ‘watching’ for him. Seeing Melissa so close to Hazel bothered me. Everyone knew what a snake Melissa could be. Hazel said something, but I couldn't catch it because their voices were too low, and I didn't want to use my abilities. It would mean eavesdropping.Hazel left Melissa's side, and I saw Melissa clench her knuckles, as she watched Hazel continue to gaze at the wedding dresses. I kept my eyes on Hazel, throughout, unable to stop staring at her. Each time, I'd ask myself ‘Didn’t I just look away now? How am I back to staring at her?’“Don't look too hard. King Darius can mistake it for something else. You know he's extra sensitive when it comes to Lady Hazel.” Falcon said, suddenly appearing next to me, and there was a leap in my chest.“When did you get here?”“Just now. King Darius said he might need me to
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINEHAZEL'S POV {One Year Later}I pushed the baby in the cot, hearing him moan and look up at me with twinkling eyes. “Sweet Dennis, you know you want to sleep. Don't give mom a headache. You know I should be with the twins, right? It's their birthday, and you had me with you all day.” I said, touching his cheeks, and he giggled. His giggle— my freedom.After Xander had been banished, and Melissa had been cast into the dungeon, I'd been so traumatized. She'd truly given birth to a baby, but it had been given to Xander. That was the last thing Darius could do to compensate him as a Beta as he sent him off to never return. As for Melissa? She remained in the dungeon. The moment she gave birth to the baby, she hated it. She complained the baby didn't give her freedom and seeing it made her remember Xander whom she painted to be a traitor and a snitch. Staying in the dungeon had broken her and the maids whispered of how she murmurs inaudible words,
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHTMELISSA'S POV I yawned, stepping out of the room to get myself something to eat. Perhaps, it was just my intuition, but the house felt strangely quiet. The fridge light reflected on my face as I pulled it open, and I saw that Hazel's food for the day hadn't been given to her. “Are you planning to starve her now that we're going to kill her?” I called out, “Well, good riddance!”My voice bounced back to me in echoes, and I stepped back, “Xander?” My feet crossed the living room quickly to the room he usually slept, and I pushed open the door. He wasn't there. Did he really go to a hotel, or was he down in the basement with Hazel?Turning around, I went straight to the basement, and pushed it open, looking inside as I switched on the light. Hazel wasn't there!It hit me like a bolt of terror. “Xander! Hazel!” I called into the empty basement as if they would reply from some hiding place.“No, no! Stop thinking crazy thoughts, Melissa!” Quickl
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVENHAZEL’S POV I couldn't believe it when Xander was loosing the ropes from me. I was finally free. My hands were so white, and devoid of blood, completely lifeless. After freeing my legs, he helped me rise to my feet, but I fell back almost immediately. He caught me, and we waited a while for me to be able to regain the feeling in my legs. Walking was strange and difficult after being tied up for so long, but after taking a few steps, I finally began to get the hang of it, my heart pounding in excitement as we left the house. Xander took me in his car to the mansion, and I rubbed my hands in anxiety. I would see my kids. I would see Darius. Night had fallen completely by the time we got to the mansion, and when the guards at the gate saw Xander, they gave a signal, and different guards came out from different angles, surrounding us with weapons trained on us. “Beta Xander, you have been…” A guard began.“I know. I know… just take me to the Kin
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIXXANDER’S POV As Melissa walked past me, my hands balled into a fist, and shook so much that I couldn't even find a way to calm myself. She had crossed the line. She had done way too much. She had said way too much!My chest burned intensely, as a wild heat rampaged around, spreading deep within me, like a fire racing down a forest, burning everything in sight. Damn everything. Damn it all. I wouldn't let her have what she wanted. My baby! She was going to give it to Darius. And then killed Hazel? That was impossible. Yes, I'm mad at Hazel, but I still love her and wouldn't just let her die. The thought ate at me for hours, digging deep inside of me, probing me, disturbing me, until I finally realized I couldn't stay still. Hazel couldn't just die like that. I know it sounds crazy to not want her dead after everything she did to me, but for the sake of the past… perhaps just for the past…I stormed down to the basement where she stayed tied u
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE MELISSA’S POV Yes, Three long weeks went past, and my life became so static, and stagnant. Seeing Hazel’s face everyday honestly made me want to puke. At times, I’d meet her praying for her kids, and that would anger me more. She’d become a kind of punching bag for me because I vented my full anger on her whenever I felt like it. As for Xander, I didn’t know how he was doing it. For the time being, there was no trouble even with Darius having the kids, so I guessed all was going well. Perhaps he’d been avoiding Darius, although that was almost impossible and risking.However, how he handled it wasn’t really my problem. The only thing he’d become useful for was pleasing my body’s sexual desires. When he wasn’t doing that, everything else he was doing naturally became annoying. That very morning, I woke with a fever; something that was very rare for me to have. I got up, took some water, but my headache only got worse. Eventually, I crawled back
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUR DARIUS’ POV {Three Weeks Later}The last three weeks that passed were hectic. Azel was still so closed off, and wouldn’t talk to me. He would not eat, and get me worried so much that I’d have to ask Theresa to find out what he wants, and take care of him so he wouldn’t get sick. Recently, things got worse. Azella, who was the more receptive one suddenly locked herself up, and wouldn’t leave her room. It was what baffled me the most, and caused me sleepless nights. A knock sounded on my door, and Theresa came in, holding Azel, who had a lollipop in his mouth, and a scowl on his face. “Yes?” “You asked for my report. Azella still won’t come out, and keeps crying. She won't let anyone talk to her.” She said, and I pushed aside the hectic work on my desk, with a sigh, before rising to my feet. Damn. My men were all over, looking for Melissa now. She’d simply gone off the grid. Her phone was untrackable. All of her records were blank. How she did
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE DARIUS’ POV {The Previous Day}My heart stirred as I beheld the two children before me. My kids. Seeing the girl again, my resemblance was present in her shining face. And the boy… he was a combination of me and Hazel. They were really my kids—my heirs. They were… mine. The feeling in my chest felt tight. Like I couldn’t breathe. Just the pain of seeing them so close to me. I’d missed so many important things in their lives. Things I wanted to do with my heirs—take first steps, go out somewhere nice, hear them call my name. The girl smiled happily, her cheeks turning a deep pink as her adorable smile reached her ears. However, the boy had a deep-seated frown on his face, making him look more like me instead of Hazel. I raised my hand, and the guards following all came to stand behind me.“Take the kids in. Give them to Theresa. Food, water, clothes, a bed… give them everything they need.” I said, and they nodded, going to the kids. Azella'
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-TWOMELISSA'S POV Damn it. I was drunk.She was probably not in her right senses too. The silence was too thick, and my eyes fell on his lips. Firm, smooth, full… like a magnetic attraction, I was drawn to them, and couldn't take my eyes off them. And he made the move. He placed his hand behind my head, and bent to kiss me. It was when his lips touched mine that I knew it—my body ached to be loved. It ached to be wanted, wanted to be remembered. I'd spend so many years aching for Darius who never looked my way that I forgot what my body craved, and needed. My tears dropped as the kiss between me and Xander ran deeper, like we wanted to devour the whole of us, tongues gliding over tongues, over lips. My hands found the hardness of his chest, roaming around it as the feet seemed to pull out from underneath me. I fell against him, and he supported me, since the world was becoming unstable. My fingers ended up ripping his buttons, pulling his shirt
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-ONEMELISSA'S POV PRESENTLY “The kids are what?” I asked, shocked. “Missing for three days.” My whole world crashed on me. They were dead. Two malnourished kids on their own for three days. They were dead. What would I do? My hands slowly threaded into my hair. If Darius ever found out…What would be my plan? What exactly was the whole plan from the start. Darius was never supposed to find out. He found out, and ruined everything. His patience would soon wear thin. He would soon realize that I would never ask for anything, and all I wanted was their deaths. What exactly was my plan?My hands fell limply to my sides, and I turned away from my parents, feeling the devastation continue to creep on me, snatching my chest in its iron grip. “Melissa! Where are you going in that manner? You…”“Don't act like you care! You ruined me!” I screamed, without even looking back. I needed to think. There was no way I'd see the twins if I wanted to start search