CHAPTER 19

THADDEUS

Victory was mine at yesterday's welcome party, but I just couldn't claim the prize which was ‘HER’.

I had avoided Hazel the next day as much as I could. I just didn't want her to think that just because my wolf is smitten with her meant that I was too. She seemed to have noticed my actions, but didn't say a word. I just felt her eyes follow me around and study me yesterday.

It sincerely made me wonder if she actually wanted me. Most of the wolves would have tried talking to me by now and seducing me or even gotten closer to me but she acted like she didn't actually feel the pull and that kind of bothered me- a lot more than I liked to admit, thanks to my fucking wolf’s constant murmuring. 

‘It has gotten her thought under my skin.’ I shook my head to get rid of the thoughts.

There was no point in doubting whether she wanted me or not. Of course, she wanted me. She was probably one of those mates who clung to their mate as much as they could and practically worshipped their feet. Afterall, someone had to do that and that obviously wouldn't be me. 

I had so many things to do, and a pack to look after than to sit and worry about a Mongrel.

My wolf at that moment snarled at my thought, making me pause. 

“This is ridiculous,” I muttered, putting the pen down and rubbing my throbbing temples in frustration. 

‘Holy shit, for crap sake, stop thinking about her’ I cursed under my breath. 

I couldn't even concentrate on anything today. My thoughts kept revolving around two things: The rogue's and then Hazel. She was going to go into her heat this week, and I was just waiting for Sparrow to perhaps mind-link me about it when it happens. 

I had no clear idea what I was going to do about her heat when I found out. My wolf hasn't voiced his thoughts on it, but I knew he was ready to mark her as soon as she started her cycle, which wasn't an option.

It was the first time in a long time, I have seen him act this way towards our mate.

I honestly felt bad for the she-wolves. They had to go through the pain of menstrual cycles, heat cycles, and then the pain of giving birth. It was a never ending torture, even if it did have a good outcome at the end. 

‘Like bringing a little pup to life.’

Finally, my wolf chimed into my thoughts happily and produced an image of a pregnant Hazel. 

I quickly shook my head, before I could even give my thoughts on the image, and raked a hand through my hair. “Fucking hell.”

Suddenly, an intoxicating scent drifted through the doorway, making me freeze. The smell of banana mixed with honeysuckles with something equally intoxicating filled my nostrils. I bit my lips while the exhilarating scent got stronger with every moment that passed. My heart pumped wildly in my chest as my jeans tightened around my crotch. While, on the other hand, my wolf growled and clawed at me, itching to be released. 

A shiver travelled down my spine as I stared at the door, half shocked and half turned on. 

‘Hazel was finally in her heat.’

•

•

HAZEL

The last few days have been a mind-blowing experience for me and I still do not understand most of it. Sparrow and Thea had seen to my every need- like, feeding me, taking care of me but not Thaddeus. 

‘He has been acting like a dickhead,’

It was a very quiet afternoon today and no one was home, or at least that's what I thought since there wasn't any noise coming from any of the rooms. It sincerely felt wonderful. I enjoyed having some peace and quiet once in a while since there were usually people always coming and going. Mostly, to see the Alphas. 

A soft smile played on my lips as I carefully threaded the yarn through the hook. I was crafting a cozy little outfit for a newborn pup, just two days old.

Miranda, a former Omega of the Shadow Moon Pack, had been the one to speak with me the night I plotted my escape. We'd grown quite close since then, and it was she who introduced me to the pup's parents. In a few days, the parents would hold a small but significant ceremony to thank the Moon Goddess for the blessing of their newborn and announce the pup's name to the pack.

"Hazel, would you happen to have a Kirby pin?"

I yelped, nearly dropping the needle after pricking myself with it. “Alright, Thea, that was a bit much. A little warning next time?”

“A werewolf, huh? Well, your stealth skills could use some work. I practically announced my arrival, stomping down the stairs like a herd of elephants just to annoy Thaddeus.”

I picked the needle from the floor and put it down to look at him properly. “Thaddeus is in this house?” 

“Yeah, he had locked himself in his room and practically won't say a word. That's why I was trying all my best to annoy him. Anyways, do you have a Kirby pin?”

“Why?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him in suspicion. He didn't even have that much hair to want to use a Kirby pin.

“I want to unlock his door so I can see what he's doing. My guess is that, he’s most probably jerking off, or doing something even more than that___,” 

There was a stunned silence between us, and my eyes were literally bulging out. I was literally dumbfounded because Thea had never been this blunt with me, and he didn't even seem fazed. His expression signified that he felt normal about the entire thing. 

“Come on, Hazel. I would tell you this for free___even if Sparrow and I have had our virginity broken, Thaddeus is a Twenty eight year old virgin, who needs some way to release.” 

My mouth fell open even more, “Are you serious, Thea?”

Thankfully, my wolf didn't know what to make of this new information either- half of her was in pure shock, the other half wanted to do something about it, which in this case meant she wanted to mate with Thaddeus and also Sparrow. 

Thea shrugged, “it seems reasonable enough. How else was he supposed to satisfy his needs when he didn't want any mate? He obviously wasn't going to sleep with a random she-wolf either.”

To be sincere, I smiled slightly and went back to the crochet I was knitting. 

It was good to know that one of my mates was a virgin. I really respected him for that and so did my wolf. Sadly, many wolves didn't hesitate to sleep around if they didn't find their mate in the first six months after they turned twenty. They believed their wolves would experience a strong urge for intimacy, a phenomenon they referred to as "releasing heat." But that didn't make sense at all to me since I had never felt the urge before.

Then again, I wasn't really interested in another relationship. I just wanted my mate, so maybe both of us felt the same sentiment. 

“Thea, what are you doing? You are supposed to be helping Kara organise the new pack warriors.” 

Thea snorted at Sparrow's statement, “Kara had to postpone. She had something quite important to take care of,”

“Wait, why do the shadow moon pack have to recruit new warriors. I thought they had enough warriors?” I asked, butting into the conversation. 

Sparrow gave me his signature smile that always made my stomach flip before sitting down on the barstool next to me. I swallow again, trying to dislodge the rock that seems to have taken a residence in my throat. 

I just didn't understand this but I felt this sudden urge to rub all over his body and bite his neck like he's my male to claim. 

I wanted to lick him so bad. 

‘No, my wolf want to lick him badly’

Alright, maybe we both wanted to. 

It was hard to distinguish her needs from mine, something that makes me frown. 

“Thaddeus' father had decided that it would be best for the packs to recruit more warriors since there have been more rogue attacks than usual lately.” 

“I don't get what those rogues want. We had no issue with them for years and all of a sudden they start attacking random packs. There isn't even a pattern,” Thea muttered, stealing some grapes from the fruit bowl. 

“My pack always contacted the witches about things like this. Has anyone asked the witches about this? Perhaps they know something,” I said. 

“Thaddeus' father went down to one of the witches in the East. But she apparently didn't say much and sprouted some shit about the moon goddess blessing and something precious.” Sparrow said, staring at me. I nodded and turned my head back to my knitting to avoid eye contact with Sparrow.

“What's happening to me?” I ask, shivering as a chill chases away my warmth. 

“Fuck, You are going into heat,” Thea spat out moving closer to me. 

"Heat," I murmured under my breath. 

The heat cycle was a lot more painful from what my mom had told me. It lasted for three days, but those three days were always hell. The first day, the she wolf would experience severe stomach cramps and an unbearable desire to mate. If the wolf didn't mate the first day, the second day would be even worse. She would have a massive migraine and even more stomach cramps, not to mention a severe throbbing in her private parts. And if the wolf didn't mate on the second day either, then she would basically be passed out on the third day from exhaustion.

Suddenly, there was a stab of pain in my abdomen and I immediately hunched over. My body felt more feverish as a wave of nausea ran over me. 

“No, shit,” I gasped out, gripping the counter as I felt the sudden urge to hurl because the cramps were starting to get even stronger. 

“Hazel, you have to go back to your room. Your scent is changing. Soon there will be a crowd of unmated wolves standing in front of that door because you haven't been claimed.” Thea snapped, trying to pull me up.

I let out a shaky breath and stood up, flinching at the pain that took over my senses. My wolf started howling and shaking her fur out. She was starting to feel the desire to mate. 

“Hazel, you're not safe around us, our wolves are stirring and Thaddeus would go even bonker.” Sparrow said quietly, closing hi

s eyes that were slowly darkening. 

There was a roar coming from downstairs,

‘Shit’

Suddenly there were rapid footsteps coming through the stairs, I knew who it was. 

‘THADDEUS’

I hurriedly walked inside my room and locked myself. 

Crap, this was going to be so damn hard.