CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX HAZEL*‘You got yourself hurt. Do you think it's easy to tend your wounds, you slow-healing omega?’ Darius asked. We were in the bathtub once more, and he was cleaning my wounds like he'd done when we both made it from the Land of The Dead. ‘Do you have to spell it out?’ I asked. ‘Where does it hurt?’‘My head hurts. So does my back. My ribs seem to have cracked a little. There are numerous scratches and bruises here and there. I feel pain literally everywhere, and cold too. It's miserable, Darius.’Then he hugged me, and smiled, placing his chin on my head. ‘Then hold me tight. I'll be your warmth.’I smiled, but my smile ran down after a few seconds. ‘Hey, are you crying?’‘Crying?’ He asked, but his voice sounded distant. Drops and droplets of water fell and splashed on me, until I opened my eyes.*The ground was soft with hard rocks jutting me in different positions. My eyes hit a large leaf. Water was dropping on it, and it in turn splashed droplets on
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN XANDERMy mood already changed drastically after seeing the way Hazel received me. It felt like disappointment snatched my efforts from me. I led Hazel to a little building I used to be familiar with back in the days, and stopped.“This is where you'll be staying.”She looked at the place, and bit her lip. It was unbearable compared to the mansion, but it would have to do. “Thank you.” She replied softly. After cleaning the building for her, I got her a whole lot of fruits for her to feed on for a few days while I got her more stuff from the mansion. “I'll have to return to the mansion.” I said after dropping the last batch of fruits, and she got up from the sofa immediately..“You're going back? Can I come with you?”“No, Hazel, you can't. I'll be back in three days. Just manage the fruits. I'll bring food supplies, and the necessary things you'll need. I'll get you some books too.”“I know, but I want to see Darius. Xander, I've thought about it so much,
CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT DARIUS“What are you doing back here? I told you; this place— you cannot stay in my mansion!” My body was trembling. I could not even talk properly. My voice was faltering. It felt like I would suddenly explode out of anxiety, fear and shock.“Hazel! Can’t you hear me?” I stormed forward, and took her by the shoulder, my heart light and furry, as it hoped to steal a look that would last forever. I turned her to me in a flash, and saw it was another maid with hair just like Hazel’s. She squirmed out of my grip, and fell to the floor, pleading. It turned out she was deaf, and dumb. If she could hear, and speak, she’d have saved me the stress of getting so excited, and anxious at the same time. “King Darius, it’s time for your tonic.” I heard, and swirled around angrily. “It’s all your fault!” The elderly maid stepped back, flinching.“Your stupid tonic keeps making me see things. It makes me mistake things for something else! Is that your goal? To embarrass yo
CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINEMELISSAMy hand flew to my stomach, and I let out a wail. Darius’ eyes widened, and he froze, with only his hand moving slowly to touch the sheets. He pushed away the covers, and gave a sharp gasp when he saw my legs bathed in blood. Then I collapsed against him. "Anybody there!?” Darius shrieked, and maids and guards rushed in. “Start the car!” I was pushed onto the back of one of the guards, and rushed down the hall, down the stairs, past the many rooms and halls, before we came out into the light morning sunlight. “King Darius, is everything okay?” Xander asked, with a little panic in his voice. “Nothing is okay!” Darius yelled. “You! Be gentle with her!” I was placed gently in the car, and Darius came in, placing my head in his lap. How careful he was with me. The car began to move, progressing into a neck breaking speed, yet Darius would not keep quiet. “Faster, faster!” He yelled every few minutes, and I got a little scared that we’d get into an accide
CHAPTER EIGHTYXANDERI turned around to see Melissa, coming out into the moonlight, with a large cloak on, shielding her eyes which were definitely on the things with me. “It's not my business to pry, but may I ask where you're going at such a time, walking with such suspicious movements?”“With all due respect; like you said— it's none of your business, Lady Melissa.”“I see.” She said, then her gaze slipped to my pocket where I'd grabbed another of Hazel's scarf last-minute. It was dangling down, and a little smile twitched her face. “Sometimes later, I believe we should have tea. Maybe I'll come to pay my condolences to your sick mother.” She said, moving backwards, and she walked away. How would she suffer a miscarriage, and walk so perfectly with no sign of discomfort? I'd have to dig into her if she was going to dig into me.***Hazel flew to the door when she heard me knock, and she flung it open with expectant eyes. “Welcome.” She said, and from the mere restlessness she
CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONEHAZEL My hopes were resting on this final attempt. Maybe if he knew I had a child for him… if he just knew.Xander looked speechless for a while, before he finally looked away. “I'll tell Darius about it.”“Oh, thank you so much, Xander. Thank you.” I said, with tears filling my eyes. That day, Xander left with a gruff expression on his face, and I could only watch him from a corner of the living room, not wanting to make a mistake that would change his mind.When the evening came, I looked out the window, gazing up at the stars. Darius was there somewhere underneath the same sky.“What are you doing?” I asked softly. “I can't even feel him anymore.” Isis said for the first time in days.“I'm so sorry, Isis. This… is what we have if Darius still remains adamant.” My eyes swept the dingy living room, with its dull, peeling paint. It was nothing like the beautiful glow of the mansion. It was completely dry, devoid of life, and unbearable. Would I be forced to li
CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO HAZEL The night was cold and harsh, as my feet took me along the unfamiliar path. I could feel the blood pounding in my ears, and my heart rising in my throat, as I moved on. Every nerve in my body was alive, and despite the cold, my palms were still slippery with sweat. I kept looking back, continuously to see if no one was following. “If Xander catches me, he'll get really mad. These days, he's been scary.” ‘His wolf is unstable. He is too.’ Isis replied, and I looked back once again. “Well, I'll be back before morning; he shouldn't panic.”It felt like my heart was too big for me to contain in my little chest, as I went on. The very thought of seeing Darius again… it was thrilling.‘We have to walk faster than this. He can wake up to check on you anytime.’ Isis warned. “If I run, I'll fall. I can't see enough to run.” I said breathlessly, and tried to quicken my pace. However, as I went deeper into the woods, the trees crested together so thick that even t
CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREEHAZEL My heart roared, flaring dangerously to life in a new way, but the engine powered down just as quickly as it had rumbled to life. The man who had let out the terrible roar wasn't Darius, but Xander. ‘We’re in trouble.’ Isis whispered. The panther stopped at the sound of the beta, and changed direction. It pounced out of the water, and shook all the water off its fur. Xander didn't cower, nor did he hesitate to go straight into battle with the panther. ‘Do something, Hazel. Don't wait to exhaust your strength.’ Isis said, and with a deep grunt, and badly wobbling arms, I managed to hoist myself onto the rock. Snarls and growls from Xander and the panther erupted into the air, and my heart pounded hard, hoping Xander wouldn't get hurt.If he did, then I was going to be in deep trouble.“Do you think he can handle the animal?” I asked, when I was safely on the large rock.‘He’s trained for war. You should be worried about us, not him. He looks so mad that
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