HAZEL POVI started to feel a little bad for him. He had tried so hard, but it was clear he was no match for Orion. Still, I couldn’t help but shrug and smile. “I told you alphas never lose to their betas.”Kael glared at me, but there was no real anger in his eyes. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”I laughed and nodded. “A little, yeah.”Orion stood over him, offering him a hand. “Good effort, Kael,” he said, pulling him to his feet. “But maybe next time, you’ll think twice before challenging me.”Kael grumbled something under his breath, but I could see the small smile on his face. He might have lost, but he was still a good sport about it.Lily crossed her arms and pouted. “Well, I guess that’s it, then. Kael lost, and I have to admit defeat too.”I turned to her, grinning. “Looks like you backed on the wrong tree, Lily.”She stuck her tongue out at me, but she was smiling. “Whatever, Hazel. Just wait until next time. Kael will win for sure.”I highly doubted that, but I didn’t
HAZEL POVWe fell into a comfortable silence, and I couldn’t help but stare into his eyes. They were so deep, and it almost looked like they were swirling with different colors of brown. They were also warm - much warmer than I expected. It was as if the world around us suddenly disappeared.I didn't know how much time passed while we just sat there, staring at each other. My heart began to race in my chest and for some reason, it felt like he was tugging at me... opening something inside me that I kept locked up.Before I could process anything, Orion shifted, his movements purposeful. I held my breath as his lips descended toward mine. Then he brushed his lips over mine in a featherlight kiss.Everything stopped at that instant. His mouth was warm and soft but powerful just like his presence. Not demanding, but it left me feeling stunned all the same.When he finally pulled back, I was so stunned I couldn’t think straight. Orion smiled at me, a rare genuine smile and my breath hi
Hazel POV The room went quiet for a breath. Orion stared at me, his eyes growing wide. I almost thought he hadn’t understood the words at first, but then I watched the meaning seep in. “A mate bond?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper. I nodded, fidgeting my hands nervously. “I didn’t realise it at first,” I said. “But my wolf has been telling me, and… well, it makes sense.” He was silent for so long, I couldn’t read his expression at all and I started feeling that pang of regret again. Why had I even told him? I should have kept it to myself. “Hazel,” he finally spoke, and his voice was as controlled as I’d ever heard it. “I felt the same thing when you entered the pack.” Finally, I looked at him again, his face now softer. “Why didn't you tell me this before?” I asked. “I didn’t know how,” he said. “And…I wasn't sure about what your reaction would be.” He sighed and shook his head a little. “Didn’t see that coming. But,” he said quietly, “I guess it makes sense w
Hazel’s POV“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said as the woman nodded while her maids worked on my face with the light makeup.When they were done with the foundations, I stood before the mirror and watched my reflection.The tailor got to her feet and walked around me while trying to get my measurement as she waved her hands around for the maids to help her with the different clothes in the rack.Her measuring tape dangled around her neck as she tried to start a conversation with me, not willing to give up.This woman was not a friend of mine. Anything I said now would be used against me. I would not give her the satisfaction of labeling me a rogue.I sealed my lips and gazed at her through the mirror.“So…” she began with a light voice and a friendly demeanor. She had been anything but nice before but now she was smiling and wanting to talk to me. This was how they got to many people. “Tell me about yourself. Where are you from? How are your people like?”“Can we focus on the clo
Hazel’s POVAs I got out of the car. I felt a little self conscious with how people were entering and leaving the restaurant while being dressed impeccably. I could see them staring at me but felt someone hold my waist as he led me into the restaurant.Orion's hands were like a comforter. He made me feel like I belonged here and his steady presence was enough for me.In the restaurant I marveled at how stunning it was here. The soft lighting; the air filled with delicious aroma of food and the hostess who greeted us in a warm manner and led us to a private table in the back where we could talk with no one disturbing us.“This is beautiful,” I said while sitting as he shrugged and leaned back in his seat. “It is the best restaurant in town,” he smiled, rubbing his hands together like an excited man.I was beginning to see multiple shades of this alpha.At first when I had shown up in his pack he had been aggressive to me and he had shown a part of him that was official but now that I
Hazel’s POVI remained seated inside the restaurant, my hands drumming my thigh as I waited for the alpha to return. The low hum from the guests in the restaurant and the tiniest sounds of glasses touched on each other gave me a background buzz, but all my attention was absorbed. All that was in my head was Orion. Where did he go? What must have gone down during that phone call?He had left the table to get the call and that was it.I did not have to wait long but it felt as if hours were spent as I was able to see him walking back. Every time I saw that frown on his face my heart started beating faster. It was not like the alpha I had seen earlier who looked handsome, composed with smirking lips and those dreaming eyes ready to sprinkle the world with lust. This version of him seemed irritable, aloof and shut down entirely.When he came closer to the table I tried to sit erect. “Orion?” I pretended to whisper since I did not want to provoke him. I said gently. “Is something wrong?
Hazel’s POVUnder the moonlight, the palace reared before me in an imposing form, tall and dark. As I approached the doors, I looked up at the guards on either side of the doors standing guard near the entrance as they stared at me curiously but no one spoke. I lowered my head and walked into the place.Maybe they knew. There was no one about as I headed to my room back through the quiet halls. I could hear sounds of argument but I ignored it and walked away.I replayed everything that happened that evening in my mind. From the dinner to the call and Orion’s new behavior — it all just didn’t add up as pieces of a puzzle I couldn’t piece together.I closed my room door and leaned up against it, taking a shaky breath. The room was silent, heavy like someone was pressing down on me. My heart was still racing as I stared out of the window at the dark night sky.Maybe Orion had really found out. What would he do? Would he banish me, too? Or would he punish me as a rogue?The thoughts gav
Hazel’s POV“I didn’t get to properly introduce myself,” she said, turning back to face me. Her lips curved into a cold smile. “My name is Evelyn. I’m Alpha Orion’s arranged mate.”Arranged mate? Her words hit me with force, but I tried not to show it as my chest tightened, my gaze never leaving her face as I tried to make sense of things.“And who are you?” she continued, taking a step closer. “What are you doing here? You have no right to be here.”I tried to speak but choked on my words. She didn’t seem to mind. She was already busy inspecting the room with her judging eyes.“You don’t belong here,” she said sharply, her voice slicing the silence. “You’re nothing but some rogue who made it this far in one piece. But your time’s just about run out.”I tightened my fists at my sides, feeling every beat of my heart. “I’m not looking for any trouble,” I replied.She laughed, a cutting, sharp sound that turned my stomach. “Not here to cause trouble?” she echoed, and I had no answer for
Orion’s pov"Everything's fine," I assured her, starting the car. "Let's go."I slammed on the gas as I drove off while the hum of the engine filled up the place with tense silence. My knuckles around the wheel turned white as I squeezed it and I frowned as I was focused on what I was doing.With time passing us I started to get even angrier and I hated it.“Orion,” her slurry voice came on as I sighed and growled. “Orion…”I couldn’t help myself any longer. “What?” I snapped at her.“I—I’m sorry,” she stammered, her voice small.I shot her a sharp glance then looked back at the road. “Stop,” I told her, my voice firm but controlled.She blinked, confused. “Stop what?”“It’s enough with the apology. You can stop,” I said with a snap with frustration in my tone. “I have so many questions but what I want to know is how you ended up being drunk in the first place.”Hazel hesitated, her hands twisting together anxiously in her lap. “I didn’t mean to,” she whispered.“Then what did you do?
Orion’s povHazel tugged my arm from behind “Orion, lets just go. Please.”I glanced back at her and tightened my jaw “Stay behind me.”One of the bouncers laughed, twirling his baton. “Big words when you’re outnumbered.”I stared at him and oozed as much Alpha into my stance as I could manage without tearing out of my skin.“You seriously don’t want to do this.”The leader of the group snorted. “We’re not scared of you. Now, are you going to come with us quietly and let us teach you a lesson, or do we have to drag you out?” I stepped forward, letting my growl echo out through the area. “Last chance. Move.”For a split second the bouncers hesitated, then they loomed in like wolves and I was moving faster than them.Using my heightened reflexes, I snatched the baton of the one closest to me as he tried to hit me with his baton, snapping it in half and tossing it aside with one hand. Hazel gasped behind me as I dodged a punch from another bouncer and kicked him down. “Anyone else?” I s
Orion’s povI couldn’t believe what I had heard him say as I tried to understand his words. “What did you say?” I asked with a frown.He chuckled, a low irritating sound. “If you’re so determined to find the outsider, what will you do when you have found her?”I took a menacing step closer to him. “That’s none of your concern, just answer the question. Where is she?”He shrugged, annoyingly unfazed by my mounting irritation. “She’s at a party.”This was crazy. Was he being serious now?“A party? What do you mean a party?” I couldn’t help but notice that my voice rose to a high point as I punctuated every word. “You’re joking with me aren’t you? Hazel would never leave the packhouse. She is supposed to be here. How could she be at a party right now?”He smirked and his gaze was unwavering. “Why don’t you ask around, Alpha, if you doubt me? I am a thousand percent sure you’ll get the same answer from the people.”Now I was losing my mind as I clenched my fists while trying to calm mysel
Orion’s povI was in my office going through some meeting with the elders who only yelled and talked about nothing that I would pay attention to if I was being honest. After their complaints, I nodded and told them I would fix it as they left the room.With a sigh, I leaned back and watched them leave as I looked at the time and sighed again.“Goddess, I hate this life,” I muttered as my wolf appeared before me and laughed.“Welcome to the life of being an alpha,” he said as I chuckled. “I don’t get it,” I said to my feet, walking to the large windows. “I understand that they don’t want me with an outsider but this is too much. The way they’ve been acting and treating me it’s been too much. They’ve been acting like I want to betray the pack.”“To be honest, if I were one of the elders and had no affiliation with hazel, I would want to get away too. She’s been labeled an outcast, she’s from the neighboring pack. We hate them and they hate us. We’ve been at war. What did you think was
Hazel’s povWhen Evelyn had mentioned the party to me earlier, I hadn’t known she was for real. I was in my room, combing through my wardrobe when she breezed in without knocking, a self-satisfied smirk spread across her face.“Sweetie stop whatever it is you’re hunting for in that cupboard,” she declared dramatically waving a paper bag.“I’ve got stuff. And believe me it's way cooler than anything you’re thinking about wearing.”“What are those?” I blinked at her. She walked over to my bed and dumped the bag on top of it. “Dresses. Party dresses. You’re not going out there looking like a librarian. You need to make an entrance.” But my clothes are good. There is nothing wrong with them.She laughed. “Let me see one of them.”I got to my wardrobe and got out a dress as I wore it and showed her which didn’t work as she laughed even louder.“What are you laughing for?”“I’m sorry,” she said before bawling out again. “Where did you pick that? The dumpster?”“I can tell you I went shopp
Orion’s povI was seated at the large oak table as I clasped my hands on my laps together. The elders who were around me with their voices raised were shouting about something that I rolled my eyes about but I didn’t care either way. One of the elders, elder Gerik’s voice, cut through the noise. “She doesn’t belong here, Orion. She’s a rogue. An outcast,” he said, his gaze hard.I didn’t respond immediately. I kept my eyes on the table, letting the words hang in the air. The room fell quiet, but only for a moment.Elder Alia chimed in, her voice cold and sharp. “We’ve tolerated her presence long enough. You cannot harbor a rogue in this pack. If we let her stay, others will come. We’ll be overrun by outcasts.”“And what are we supposed to do, send her away?” I asked, finally breaking my silence.Elder Gerik leaned forward. “Yes. She’s a threat. A rogue from Shadowclaw. She could be plotting something. You can’t trust her, Orion.”I looked at him with rage. If only I could tell them t
Hazel’s povIt started quietly, a few snickers here and there, but soon it grew louder and louder as I fumbled on. It was an ugly sound, one that made my face burn with shame. I wanted to shut it out. I wanted to focus on what I was doing and push through, but it only became more pronounced with every mistake I made. It felt like they were all staring right at me, seeing me for who I really was. A failure and an outcast.Mara’s voice cut through the laughter, sharp and cold as ice. “Hazel. What is this?” Disappointment oozed from her.I winced. I hadn’t been expecting that reaction at all.“I can’t believe it,” Mara snapped. “You didn’t understand a word of what I taught you in class. This is a basic healing technique and you failed it.”My heart thudded in my chest like an exhausted bird flapping its wings against a harsh wind. She was wrong—I had tried. I really had learned these techniques before. “Go sit down,” Mara ordered, her tone dismissive.I felt the breath sucked from my l
Evelyn’s povI left Hazel’s room with a heavy heart, my steps slow and deliberate as I made my way to my own room. My emotions were in turmoil, some of them beyond me, I couldn’t even put them into words. It wasn’t just the fact that Hazel had turned down my attempt at friendship. I had come to extend an olive branch, and she had shut the damn door. I had tried to be the better person but she’d seen right through it. And for some reason that hurt.Who did she think she was to act all high and mighty? Oh she was just trying out and she was thinking she was hotcake. I would show her what she was missing.When I got into my room, instead of finding a seat or attempting to clear my head I went straight towards the small table where tea was already being steamed down by one of my maids’.“Give me a painkiller,” I muttered to the maid as I dropped down onto the chair by the window. “And don’t give me anything weak. Give me something strong that will blot everything out.” I couldn’t keep up
Hazel’s povI got up from my bed slowly, resting my palm against the wood in front of me. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see anyone today.But as soon as I opened the door, I saw Evelyn standing there in front of me, her body blocking my path. I stopped dead in my tracks.“Hazel,” she said as I shook my head and got back into my room. Before I could even step back to close the door, she was faster than I expected. She stuck her hand in the way just before the door slammed shut. The force of it made her wince slightly, but she didn’t pull her hand back. I noticed the way her hand immediately started to heal, the skin knitting back together, and the redness fading quickly as if she hadn’t even been hurt at all.Frowning, I couldn’t understand what she was doing here. “What do you want?” my voice came out both cautious and suspicious as all hell kept racing through my mind; What could she possibly want now?She smiled at me, but it didn’t reach her eyes. There was something about the way s