FEAR

Chapter 6

HAZEL

"Hazel." Ramon calls out my name and I knot my eyebrows while looking over my shoulder at him. I didn't sleep in the same bed as him last night, nor did I even sleep on the same level of the house as he did.

I'm still scared of him. Well, not of him. I'm afraid of what he is capable of doing. Ramon is a strong and spoiled man. He didn't come this far giving everyone in his path a hug and a friendly smile.

He is a dangerous man to test. His patience is a thin string and he doesn't like questions. It's like defying his ruling over you to him. He doesn't like it.

"Hmm?" I hum tiredly because I was up most of the night dreading that he would come into my room as angry as he was before. I didn't sleep very well at all! My back hurts from sleeping in a ball and my eyes are heavy. The only good thing that came out of being here last night were the churros.

"I need you to get ready for the day." He mumbles, adjusting the shirt that's falling off of my shoulder. I remain calm. After thinking things through last night after he had left me to sleep, his touch doesn't seem as welcoming as it did before our hateful encounter. "We've got a lot to do today."

I shy away from him and twiddle my thumbs around. I lose eye contact with Ramon and focus on my thighs. The bruise isn't there anymore, but the reminder of how hateful his touch can be still lingers on my skin.

"You've got a lot to do today." I reply lowly, running my hands over my face. All I want to do today is take the long trip back to my parents and sleep in my old bed. I feel out of place here.

Ramon let's out a heavy sigh and paces the room. "You're still mad." He states the obvious. I glance over my shoulder at him and see that he's infuriated. "You said that it was fine." He huffs. Suddenly, fear rises. I flinch at the tone of his voice and cower away from him.

"I said that because I wanted you to leave me alone!" I reply, my voice trembling. I lied to him about it being fine. I just wanted him to let me be!

"You can't lie to me, Hazel!" He shouts into the tension filled air. I flinch at how hateful his words are and cover my face with my hands.

Tears leave my eyes no matter how hard I fight to keep them from coming out. My knees tremble in fear and my bottom lip quivers like it's below freezing outside. I need time to deal with all of this. It's hard to swallow your fears when they keep coming back, even stronger than before.

The room falls silent. I cry softly, trying to contain the sounds coming from my mouth. "Hazel.." I hear Ramon call out to me. I momentarily lift my eyes to meet his. He looks like he regrets everything he has just done. He swallows as he looks at my puffy eyes.

"Just leave me alone." I whimper, burying my head in my knees and try my best to stop crying. It isn't going to happen any time soon.

"I can't." He replies softly.

"Why the hell not?" I snap, looking up at him.

"Because you don't really want me to." He says softly. I blow out a slow breath. He's right and wrong at the same time. I want to be as far as the moon away from Ramon, but at the same time I want him to smash me between him and the bed.

"Do you want to go?" He asks. "It's your choice. I won't force you into anything you're not comfortable with."

"Yeah." I whisper. "I'll go." A wave of fear washes over me as I agree to go and meet the pack. I've only met Jack and it shouldn't even count as a meeting.

"I have to warn you, Hazel, you have to earn your title there." He explains. I knot my eyebrows and look up at him in confusion but I don't beg for an answer. Instead, I agree with him by nodding my head and getting up to get ready for the day.

We arrive at the pack house after an hour of getting ready and Ramon forcing me to order something from a fast food restaurant to eat. He didn't really force me, but he did annoy me until I finally told him what I wanted.

The house is absolutely breathtaking. I glance over at Ramon who has his full concentration on driving safely. His home isn't as far as I had expected it to be from the pack house, but it's still a distance away.

A man at the end of the driveway gives Ramon a mysterious look and nods his head, letting him through.

"You don't have to be so nervous." Ramon says, resting his large hand on my thigh. I blankly look at him and sigh.

"I have a legitimate reason to be nervous." I sigh, "you told me before we left that I have to earn my title. These people have had years of training that I've never even thought of." I run my hands over my face.

"Trust me, Hazel, you have already earned your spot in my heart. They will too." I look over at him and let out a soft breath. His words are somewhat soothing, because I know Ramon will back me up if anyone tries to mess with me.

As soon as my mate parks the car, I unbuckle and climb out of it. I haven't been so excited to go inside of a new place in such a long time. I mean, I've only ever read about this place in the books.

My mouth gapes open at the breathtaking sight just in front of me. I have to tilt my head up just to see the entire place.

"The outside needs a few repairs." Ramon points to a corner of the house. I roll my eyes at the minority of it. "This was originally the pack house." He explains.

"But, my pack has doubled in size the past centuries and so this is now the academy." He points out. I nod my head. Oh.

"I thought you said we were going to the pack house?" I knot my eyebrows and look up at Ramon. He gives me a gentle smile.

"I just have to pick up some paperwork, and then we'll go." I nod my head and follow behind him as he starts towards the grand entrance.

There's a few people hanging out in the hallways as we walk through. I silently reach for his hand and continue behind him in silence.

I swallow because there's so many looks from so many people at me. I glance at a girl, not much older than me and her eyes are filled with fury. I swallow and quickly look down at the ground. I know how to defend myself but the people here are intimidating.

We stop in front of a large red door and I bump into his back. I suck in a deep breath as he unlocks the door and steps inside.

"Are those the guy dorms?" I point to the row of rooms starting on the next wall over from us. Ramon pokes his head out and then continues towards his desk.

"They're the dorms, yes." He confirms my assumptions. "But, we don't separate the dorms. I mean, the girls and guys live in the same hallway, not the same rooms." He rolls his eyes and unlocks his computer.

"Why not?" I knot my eyebrows and roam around his office. My fingers graze over his bookshelf and I let out a sigh. What a great collection.

"Separating them won't keep them from sleeping together." He shakes his head. "I've tried in the past." I nod my head, mindlessly listening.

"Oh." I mumble. Suddenly the topic is more embarrassing now. I look down at my hands and try to figure out something different to talk about.

"What are you getting?" I perk up because I've changed the topic. Ramon glances up at me and smirks.

"Papers, do you have to ask so many questions?" He rolls his eyes and doesn't sound the least bit happy about it.

"One more question." I say, making Ramon to glance up at me and raise an eyebrow. I take that as permission to ask anyway.

"Can I take this home and read?" I ask, lifting up withering heights. He gives me a wide smile and nods his head in agreement.

"Absolutely, babydoll." I grin, and take a seat with my new book on a little couch in the room. I settle in and silently begin to read. Picking up a few papers has turned into having to wait to get them from Ramon's intern for a while longer.

"Ramon" I groan, shutting my book and looking at the clock on the wall. I let out an aggravated breath.

"I know, I know baby. I'm sorry." He rubs his temples. We have been here for nearly an hour and a half now. Apparently the papers he needed were lost somewhere on the way up to his office.

I shift continuously and uncomfortably on the couch and try to find something to do. I've been reading the entire time and I've gotten bored with it.

"Come here and we'll watch a movie on my computer." He offers, patting his lap. I hesitantly take up his offer. I'm not too fond of my weight.

I stand by him and he rolls his eyes and pulls me against him. I let out a sigh and curl up against him without any argument. Although I'm still terrified because of what happened last night, I sort of still trust him. At least, enough to watch a movie.

He chooses a old looney tunes movie and shifts in his place. Not too far into it, Ramon's mind changes. "I want to apologize again for last night.." He starts. I let out a sigh and focus on the movie.

"Don't apologize." I mumble, "it's alright." I try my best to convince him.

"No, it's not okay. Baby, I didn't mean to do or say any of what I said." He says gently. I let out a frustrated breath and straddle his waist to face him completely.

"It wasn't you that said any of that. I know, Ramon. Don't apologize for what your wolf did." I mumble, and to assure him I lean forward and give him a gentle kiss.

The kiss turns more aggressive. A burning sensation for him pools inside me. He forces his tongue into my mouth and I don't do anything about it. He's good at what he does.

His large hand slides against my butt and holds me against him. My fingers knot into his hair as I'm swept away my the intensity of the kiss.

Ramon's lips part from mine only to trail hot open mouth kisses to my neck. I crane my neck for him, selfishly enjoying his touch.

Ramon's teeth gently graze my spot where he is to mark me and I involuntarily buck my hips at the pleasurable feeling. An approving growl rumbles from deep within his chest and I can't help but feel myself craving him.

He nips at my skin again, but this time his teeth are longer and sharper. My heart pounds inside my chest because I know that Ramon is about to mark me. His tongue grazes the spot again and I let out a cry when his grip tightens on me.

Suddenly, the office door opens, "Mr. Alej- oh, am I interrupting?" A woman's voice calls. Agrrr! She's so bad at timing!