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 POVI had not expected to hear that name from her mouth and to hear it now had me shocked.She stared at me in anger and I could tell that my absence earlier with Evelyn being around must have something to do with this.“Well?” She asked me in anger as I looked around the room.“How do you know about Evelyn? Did she come in here to talk to you?”“I’m guessing she was the reason you decided to push me aside huh.”I sighed. “Hazel. Relax. Don’t ruin the already good night we were having just because that lady decided to show up and ruin everything. You are my mate. You know that and I know that.”“What about her?” She asked as I sighed and sat down on her couch. “She said she was your arranged mate.”I sighed. “Is it true?”I knew whatever I answered now would only lead to more problems so I decided to shut up and walk out.I walked to the door and got out of the room while thinking of what to say to Evelyn.The minute I got to my study, I found her there.I entered with a frow
Orion’s POV“Excuse me?” Kael asked in shock. “Hold up. You can’t be serious. Are you for real?”“I am very real,” I said while leaning back in my seat. “She has my baby.”“That is… that is another story I did not see coming. Now I can see why you want her to stay in this palace.”“Other than the fact that she is my mate, I think we have that figured out.”This was too much for the beta as he leaned in his seat.“Does Evelyn know?”I shook my head. “I don’t want her to know. Just yet. She might be mad about it.”“She’s going to know eventually.”“And when she knows it’s going to be when I tell her and not when she isn’t supposed to know. At least right now; the heat is too much and she doesn’t need to know now.”He nodded.I couldn’t tell Evelyn this just yet. We had been trying for a baby for a while before she left me and telling her this at this time I was also telling her to leave my quarters was too much. It would be too much. Besides, all of this is just an assumption but I had
Evelyn’s POVI walked with the elder who took me to a different part of the garden and looked around to make sure no one was following us.“Welcome back to the pack,” he said as I nodded. “Now you’re back, I’m guessing you’re going to start trying to take back what is rightfully yours.”That was a stretch but now I was confused on why he had said that.“Oh come on,” he said with a laugh. “Don’t act dumb. I know you have a plan to take back your place as his mate.”“Look, I’m done fighting with the alpha. You know Orion. Once he makes up his mind, that is that. I can’t push him out of his ideas. Just leave me alone.”“So you’re not going to do anything about that strange woman in the palace that is in your quarters?”I halted in my steps as I slowly turned to him.How did he know that Hazel was in my quarters?But how wouldn’t he know? He was an elder in the palace. There was no way he wouldn’t know.But I already had a plan brewing and I wasn’t going to waste my time with the elder.“
Orion’s povAfter finishing the last bit of work in my study, I leaned back in my chair and stretched. The day had been long and exhausting, filled with reports, patrol updates, and handling minor disputes within the pack. My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. I sighed, pushing away from my desk. I needed to head to the dining hall before the chefs packed everything up for the night.I wondered if Evelyn had finally eaten and given up on waiting for me as my wolf laughed.‘You already know who Evelyn is. She won’t give up on you. She is going to make sure she milks you for all you have.’I mentally shut my wolf away as I didn’t want to hear anything from him anymore.As soon as I entered the common room of the palace I saw Evelyn waving at me smiling while sitting at the chair.But I felt like something was amiss or better said someone was not present here. I parked this thought for now. Let me handle her first and we would know what to do next.I sat
Hazel’s POVThe sunlight streamed in through the slats in the wall of the shed, leaving patches of light that danced across the floor where Mara, Lily and I stood. We were working on something new today; a healing technique Mara had been excited to teach us. She was going on about pressure points, something important with interest at certain points on what appeared to be a dummy laid out before us so she could teach us the basics of it all. Her voice was steady, but her hands sure as she pointed to different areas over its chest and abdomen.“These are the pressure points you want to know when applying this moves.” Mara pressed into it with her fingers for emphasis. “If someone has extreme internal hemorrhaging, you’ll use this point here-”I watched, listening with an intensity I hadn't felt in years. This was knowledge I needed to acquire and I wasn’t going to mess it up. Lily stood against the wall next to me, arms crossed with a slight grin on her face.She made a funny face wh
Author’s povThe throne room of the Red moon pack was a buzz with thick tension as Hazel who had returned, stood proud and tall. She called for a meeting with both the elders of the red moon pack and the shadowclaw pack. It had taken Orion a leap of faith to extend an invitation to every important dignitary as he knew that Hazel who looked looked different this time after her travels had something important to say.She looked different from how she had been before traveling.With everyone seated in the court while she stood in the middle, she started the meeting. Hazel’s voice didn’t waver. “I’ve had no reason to doubt you before, Ryder,” she said, her eyes still locked on his. “But I wouldn’t have called this meeting if I wasn’t one hundred percent sure. You owe me justice―and you’re going to give it to me today.”Ryder laughed in disbelief and leaned back even farther in his chair. “Justice?” he asked disdainfully. “What kind of justice do you think you’re entitled to? Seriously?
Evelyn’s POVThe cell was damp, and cold, the hard stone felt as if it would close in on me. I didn’t know how long I had been down here since Kael had tossed me in this hole but it didn’t matter the time right now because if anything my anger had just intensified. My hands were shackled before me but that didn’t bother me. What bothered me was why I was here.I had done nothing wrong in my book.The heavy boots pounded down the hallway. I straightened, lifting my chin as the door creaked open.Kael stepped in, towering over me as much as he filled the small space. His expression was a mask, but I saw the tightness in his jaw, the anger in his sharp eyes. He folded his arms over his chest and studied me.“Where did you take Hazel?” The question was soft, and controlled, but I could hear the blame lacing it.I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “You’re delusional, Kael. I didn’t take Hazel anywhere.”His expression darkened. “Don’t lie to me, Evelyn. I know you were involved in her disappearanc
Hazel’s povI journeyed for a long time before I arrived at the spot Ryder had directed. There, tucked in between those boulders, was a large dark cave. Everything became dead silent all around me and for a moment, I stood still and doubted myself. But it quickly ended when my eyes landed on her.Alongside the entrance to the abyss, a figure sat there and it was an elderly woman, with long silver hair sliding down her back. She looked as if she would crumble right under herself yet something about her seemed so powerful.I took a step forward, opening my mouth to speak but before I could get a word out she lifted her head and looked straight at me."Hazel." She said softly.I froze.How does she know my name?Before I could ask, movement flickered in my periphery. More people were stepping out from the shadows of the mountains. Men and women in dark cloaks. Their gazes held something I couldn’t quite grasp. Recognition. And... happiness when they saw me.“She’s come back,” someone bre
Hazel’s povRyder shook his head, desperation pouring from his eyes. “No, Hazel. That’s not all. I…” His voice cracked. “I didn’t know.”She sliced her hand through the air, severing his words. “But you did,” she said with sharp, brutal conviction. “You really knew.”Ryder sucked in a deep breath and desperation filled his eyes. “I know I fucked up, Hazel. I know I hurt you but I didn’t know you were pregnant, or that the baby was Orion’s. If I had known—”I cut him off, my voice sharp. “Stop acting like you didn’t know. But you did know I was pregnant, Ryder. You knew, and you still banished me. In front of my parents. Do you have any idea how much that hurt? Do you have any idea how much you humiliated me?”Ryder’s shoulders slumped, and he nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. “I know, Hazel. I know I hurt you. And I’ll never forgive myself for that. But I’m here now. I’m trying to make things right.”I sighed, my face softening slightly. “I already said I’d help your mother, R
Hazel’s povI woke up the next morning and an ungodly heaviness sat on my chest. The argument from yesterday was the first thing I thought of—Evelyn’s betrayal, my escape, Kael stopping me. It left me angry and feeling restless and I couldn’t lock myself in this room all day to lick my wounds. I needed some air—to breathe, to think.With that said, I got out of bed and dressed quickly while making a path for the door. There wasn’t much noise in the rooms as made it way down the hallway, except for a faint hum of footsteps… the maids were working no doubt. No one was in the garden when I arrived so early this morning.But as I stepped foot into the garden, my feet froze. There, with his back to me, stood someone I never expected to see again—Alpha Ryder of my old pack. My heart skipped a beat and I was hit with a wave of emotions—anger, terror, confusion. What in the world is he doing here? After everything he had done to me—after banishing me from my own pack when he found out about m
Hazel’s POV He untied my hands, rough but not sloppy. I don’t think he wanted to hurt me. Not yet. I worked my wrists when he was done, enjoying the tingle as circulation returned.Mark yanked me upright by one arm, easy enough that it wasn't painful. He marched and dragged me towards the only partially closed door at the far end of the room, his eyes flicking around, wary.But so was I.I stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind me and my heart pounding. This was it. My only chance. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, and then I waited for a while before I exited the door into the room.Mark was standing a few feet away from me, his back turned as he used his lighter to light a cigarette. He didn’t turn his head when he heard my footsteps coming toward him. He had no fear in that moment. And that’s when I got him.With every ounce of strength I had, I kicked him. Hard. Behind the back of his leg, at his knee. He let out a grunt of pain as he stumbled forward and d
Author’s povRyder wrinkled his nose, his annoyance heightening. “Why?”“Because she’s busy,” Kael said in anger.“Busy doing what? I told you it was important. My mother is dying.”Kael’s mouth flattened and he closed the distance between him and Ryder, speaking in a low, rigid voice. “I said she’s busy, Ryder. That’s all you need to know. And if you’re hurt and in need of healing’, our pack has plenty who are more than qualified for the job.”Ryder narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. “With all due respect, Kael, I didn’t come here for your healers. I came here for Hazel. She’s the only one who can help my mother. So, if you know where she is, tell me.”Kael’s gaze hardened as he took another step closer. His voice was sharp when he spoke again. “I don’t owe you anything Ryder. You’re a guest here and you will respect our rules.Hazel is not available to you. End of discussion.”Ryder clenched his fists at his sides, feeling his patience—what little he had left of
Orion’s povThe following morning, I awoke early, my mind full of the day’s agenda. One of the first things I had to do was let Hazel know that her old alpha, Ryder, would be coming to the packhouse. She and he had a… difficult history, and I wanted to warn her in advance. I dressed quickly then headed down the hall to her room.I rapped on her closed door and called out, “Hazel? It’s Orion; we need to talk.”There was no answer. I knocked again, harder. “Hazel? Are you home?”Silence. I squinted my eyes and reached for the doorknob. Something was not right. The door swung open and creaked under my weight.No one was there. The bed was made perfectly and looked exactly as it did before she left this morning—empty.“Hazel?” I called out again, my voice bouncing back in the empty room.Silence. I took a few steps toward the dresser and pulled on the handle. It opened easily, revealing Hazel’s neatly folded clothes. All of her personal items were still there, exactly as she’d left them w
Orion’s povKael stared at me for a long moment before he finally nodded his head, his voice quiet. “Alright, Orion. I’ll trust you on this but if things go wrong it’s your head.”I smiled in reassurance and relief. “I know. And I’m ready to take that responsibility.”Kael dropped back down into the chair again, his voice still so serious for one so young. “So what’s the plan then? How do we help Ryder’s mother without putting the pack in danger?” I stood up straighter, my mind spinning with ideas. “We’ll start by sending some healers to Ryder’s pack. They can check on his mother and try to heal her if they’re able. But they’ll also be guarded in case Ryder tries anything.”Kael agreed with a slow nod, his gaze distant. “Okay. That’s a good precaution to take, but we can’t afford not to plan for the worst case either. How about bringing him into our own pack.”“I don’t like the idea, Kael. Bringing Ryder into our pack? After everything he’s done? It feels like we’re inviting trouble.