CHAPTER 25

THADDEUS

I strolled towards the Pack hospital. The stale, antiseptic scent of the hospital filled the air as I cautiously approached the door. I hesitated, my hand hovering over the cold metal doorknob. 

'Thaddeus, what the hell are you doing?' I thought. 

I wiggled my head and turned around.

Just as I was about to turn and flee, a faint whisper reached my ears.

“Thaddeus?” Miranda’s voice cut through the silence of the empty hallway, jolting me slightly. I sighed and shut my eyes.

I took a deep breath before turning around. I stared at Hazel, my eyes wandering over every inch of her body to see how badly she was affected. A wave of concern washed over me, and my wolf whimpered at the sight of his mate and tried to convince me to go comfort her because 

she looked like a raccoon that had raided a makeup counter and then had a terrible allergic reaction. It was... quite a sight.

Her appearance was... well, let's just say she looked like she'd been through a particularly rough night. Her hair was a tangled mess, her eyes were bloodshot, and there were dark circles beneath them that seemed to stretch all the way to her jawline.

It was blankly obvious how much she suffered from her heat–the exhaustion was clear on her face. But one thing was for sure, even though she wasn't feeling well, she still managed to look extremely attractive. 

‘Fuck, what was wrong with me?’

I instantly tore my eyes away from her and nodded at Miranda who stood beside her. 

She gave me a halfhearted smile. I could tell that she wasn't exactly pleased with me at this moment. “Thaddeus,” she began, her voice laced with caution, "You seem okay now. I hope that you have that bad boy at bay now?” 

I nodded and turned my attention back to Hazel with an expectant look on my face. She looked surprised that I had perhaps regarded her. 

“Hazelnut, uh-huh, do you think we could talk for a few minutes?” I asked. 

She stared at me quietly for a few seconds before she nodded. “Sure, I was heading to Miranda's home to rest, you could tell me anything there.”

I followed behind them hesitantly and tried my best to ignore my wolf’s perverted suggestion about our Mate ass. 

But I wasn't going to look. 

We walked into Miranda's small cabin near the edge of the pack boundary, which made me frown.

Miranda had left us alone and I didn't know if I could trust myself around her. There was a faint scent of the remains of her heat. If my wolf took the time to smell her properly, he would go crazy.

She turned to face me and gestured to the couch, “Why don't you have a seat. Do you want a drink or something? I can have Miranda make you some__”

“No, I'm definitely good.” I instantly cut her short. 

She nodded slightly and sat down on the couch across from me, “What did you want to talk about? Uhmmm, it most be urgent.”

I studied her feature with a curious look while she did the same with me. When our eyes made eye contact, it felt like there was a new energy in the air. I felt a weird shiver go down my spine as my eyes bore into her beautiful bulgy ones. Her cheeks turned a faint shade of pink, and I had to force myself to resist the urge to smile. 

“So?” She asked quietly as if she didn't want to break the moment. 

Goodness, what was I supposed to say right now? I didn't know how to start the conversation. Why was I so nervous to talk to a she-wolf for the first time? She was like a pack member right now…except she could potentially rule beside me and have my pups.

I blinked and let my eyes fall on the coffee tables, “How are you feeling?” 

“I don't know but I have had better days, maybe.” She responded. 

Even though she honestly didn't sound angry. I felt worse than I did before. She was still willing to forgive me and accept me after I had put her through that terrible heat cycle. 

“Look, Hazelnut,”

“It's Hazel,” she corrected with a faint smile. 

“Hazel, I didn't mean to hurt you. It's just that, I don't know if it is right I claim you just because my wolf wants to mark you. He was out of control and I couldn't push him down no matter how hard I tried. If I saw you, I would have marked you by force. I didn't want to do that. If we mark each other, it should be because we genuinely like each other and feel ready to take the relationship to the next level… I don't even know if you prefer your other mate over me.” I said the last word while running my fingers through my hair roughly. 

She stared at me intently before licking her lips slowly as she thought about what I had perhaps just said, and that had caused a wreck and havoc in my head. 

‘Let me out—’ my wolf purred in my head.

‘No, the last time I let you take control. You almost did the unimaginable. Don't tell me you have forgotten that?’

'You are just a coward, big fat one, I know her more than you. Our mate would have definitely liked what I would have done__stop acting like a baby.' He purred further. 

Jeez, I wished it was possible to punch your wolf without having to punch yourself. I would have done it with pride.

“I understand what you are talking about. You want to protect me, but I'm not just upset about that, Thaddeus. You haven't even tried to talk to me once before this. How are we supposed to get to know each other if you keep avoiding me?” 

“You didn't try to talk to me either, Hazelnut. Sorry, Hazel. You seem to prefer Sparrow. Don't push all this on me,” I stated angrily, if she wanted to talk so badly, why didn't she approach me? 

Fuck, I was sounding like a jealous boyfriend.

“I did try, I tried to introduce myself so many times but you have always been a dick, every time I try, you just walked away. Then, you pretty much locked yourself up in your room. How the fuvk was I supposed to talk to you then, Thaddeus? I wasn't going to chase you like a fool. I shouldn't have to, You are one of my mate. Have your parents not given you the mate talk?” 

“You know nothing about mate like I do,” I growled.

Mate talk was one hell of an awkward conversation to me. My mom made my dad tell me about mates and he wouldn't stop making awkward jokes any chance he got.

She raised an eyebrow. “Thaddeus. Peter and Thea already told me everything that went down years ago, with the pack and your mate. But you can't possibly think I’m someone sent here to betray the pack and how can you even think I’m a replacement sent to you by the moon goddess?” 

I suddenly felt angry that she was questioning my own decision. It made me seem like a total idiot.

I blocked my wolf so he would stop growling and snapping. “You have no right to speak about that. That has nothing to do with our discussion.”

“Really?” She drawled sarcastically, her eyes also flashing angrily.

“Yes, in fact, I can give you four reasons why I shouldn't accept you right now,” I retorted, standing up while I towered over her. But surprisingly, she did the same, except her head only reached my chest.

“Fine, big boy, give me the four reason.” she challenged

A dark glare formed on my face as she stood her ground. Most wolves would have pissed their pants, but she stayed still. I was angry that she affected me without even trying, her scent was enough to mess with my entire mind. 

“I don't know if you would be a good mate.”

She nodded slowly. “One.”

I opened my mouth again, but nothing seemed to come out. 

‘Fuck’

I racked my brain for a second reason, but the only things I could come up with were covered by the first reason. 

“You know what Thaddeus? Find me when you can speak some sense with your brain and not your ass or ego.” She muttered, turning to leave. She was almost to the door when I grabbed her hard and yanked her back, catching her off guard. 

“What the–?” She stumbled backward, and I quickly gripped her waist to steady her. 

Tingles rushed up and down my body at the feeling of her warm skin touching mine. She seemed stunned by my actions, but she didn't try to pull away from my grip. 

I had to admit, I could see what the fuss was all about. It felt really amazing to just hold her, and I sincerely wouldn't feel comfortable if any other male touched her like this. We weren't even doing anything remotely romantic, but the whole scene felt intimate. 

I was on the verge of saying something when she abruptly jabbed me in the forehead, causing a sharp sting.

“Ouch __why did you do that?” I asked but she ignored me and walked towards the window. 

“Do you smell that? It's getting stronger,” She uttered.

The fog in my head instantly cleared as a foul smell drifted into my nostrils. She turned back around with a worried look on her face.

Was it a rogue? After all, not all rogue's shared the same smell. 

The stench intensified, becoming almost unbearable. It was a nauseating blend of odours, reminiscent of a week-old, spoiled meal left to ferment in a closed container, mixed with the pungent, sulphurous smell of rotten eggs. The air was thick with this foul aroma, making it difficult to breathe without feeling a wave of disgust.

“Thaddeus,” she slightly whispered. “There is a strange smell in the air… It smells like danger.”