Chapter Eight – In A Fit Of Jealousy

Stavros's POV

Eight Years Later

“Hazel has joined Fairbanks Elementary School as their Academic Head. Now she will live with the Windcrest Pack and accept Alpha Zander Astros as her chosen mate. Her life is finally on track while we’re still wasting our lives here. Zeph, when do you plan to get back to Lucania? I’m tired of preparing for war,” whined Hera as we gathered in Zephyrus’s room to discuss our next move. 

For almost a month, all we were doing was planning to fight the Whiteridge Pack and defeat them. We were tired of planning. There was no way of knowing when Zephyrus was planning to strike. We needed action now. I was losing my patience and so were the others. 

It had been eight long years since I had seen Hazel. She hadn’t kept in touch with Hera as well. The only update I had of her was about her enrollment in college eight years ago. Hera told me she had opted to live in a dorm room at the college campus and I spent every night worrying about her. I didn’t want her to choose the males in her college as her mate. The mate bond had stopped working between us and I had no way of knowing if she had moved on. Years passed by, yet not once did she call or message me.

 Now, when I had almost given up hope of reconnecting with her, this new piece of news confused me. So, she had taken up her dream career.

“Hazel has found a mate? Are you sure?” That was all I caught from Hera’s lengthy speech. She glared at me instead of answering. I knew it was a dumb question, but I had to ensure. Blood boiled in my veins, although I knew I shouldn’t react this way. After I rejected her, I had no right over her. It was obvious she would move on. 

“Yes, she has. So?”

Zephyrus discussed his plans, but nothing entered my mind. All I could think of was fighting with Alpha Zander for my rejected mate. How could she move on when I was still so much in love with her? Despite the years gone by, I was still stuck to that fateful night when I had to reject her. 

The meeting was over and they dispersed, but I sat in a state of daze. I was physically present in Zephyrus’s room, but mentally, I was far away in Alaska. “Go to Fairbanks and see for yourself before jumping to conclusions.” 

I focused my attention on my best friend. I didn’t need to tell him how I felt. He knew everything, just like I could. “That’s not a good idea, bro. I might rip him apart if I see them together.” 

Zephyrus sighed and faced me with a confused look on his face. Obviously, he didn’t understand what I was going through this time, since he had no idea about mate bonds. He hadn’t met his mate even at the ripe age of twenty-nine. It didn’t affect him, as his focus was more on snatching back our territory from the enemy’s clutches. For the last few years, we have been more focused on saving Aromania from the King of Argyros. It was a deadly war that took all our attention.

“That’s what you wanted, right? I had asked you to not make a hasty decision.” I gave him a bewildered look. 

“No, that’s not what I wanted. I was forced to make a hasty decision. Eight years have passed by, Zeph and I’m still stuck with the wretched curses. Did we find a solution? No.” I sprang from the chair and paced the room, feeling agitated and helpless. This was always my state when we discussed the curse and my mate. 

Strangely, ever since I rejected Hazel, and she left me, not once did I feel the presence of the dragon inside me. It was as if it was a hallucination. Only I knew it wasn’t. He was there, waiting to resurface in Hazel’s presence. 

“Did we try our best? No. After you rejected Hazel, you lost the zeal to live. We were more interested in getting college degrees and war to give it much thought. Once we conquer Lucania, we can look for a remedy.”

I nodded, knowing he was right. After Hazel left me, my life had lost its meaning. I was just living like an automaton, going with the flow of getting myself an education. We trained in warfare rigorously every day and fought valiantly to save Aromania. These were enough to keep me occupied and push on. Now that Aromania was safe, we were ready to conquer Lucania and lead our pack successfully. 

“Sure, but what if Hazel moves on? I must stop her.” 

Zephyrus nodded with a shrug. I knew what I would do. The next morning, I booked a ticket to Fairbanks. It was best to check things out for myself before confronting the rival Alpha. 

I sneaked out of the castle in the wee hours of the morning. I couldn’t tell anyone about my plans. What if Hera informed Hazel beforehand? I didn’t want her to know about my arrival and be prepared to face me. I wanted to catch her unawares. 

After a strenuous thirty-six-hour journey, I reached Fairbanks at noon. It hit me then that I knew nothing about Hazel’s whereabouts other than her workplace and chosen mate’s pack. So where could I go looking for her?

Maybe I could wait at the school where she worked. What was the name? 

‘Fairbanks Elementary School,’ replied my over-enthusiastic wolf. 

‘Right. If we see her, can you stop that dragon from taking over?’ I growled at the thought. I had no wish to shift into a Grypwolf in front of Hazel and the world. 

‘As if I can control Dyson!’ groaned Vyros. It was true. My dragon Dyson was too strong to control. In fact, although I shared a close bond with my wolf, I had no connection with Dyson even once. He was always aloof and hated being trapped inside me. 

I had no time to fret over him. It was necessary to seek Fairbanks Elementary School. before Hazel left for home. It took me almost forty minutes to locate the place. Thankfully, I was just in time for dispersal. The school gates opened and I could see the crowd of parents and school buses crowding around. It was impossible to see Hazel amidst the chaos. 

‘I can feel her presence nearby,’ whispered Vyros excitedly through the mind-link. I could understand his excitement since I too felt the same way. After rejecting Hazel, I had never imagined I would still feel so connected to her. It seemed our mate bond hadn’t severed completely. Was I the only one feeling it? Didn’t Hazel feel connected to me? 

‘I’m so glad we could feel her. Let’s wait for her in the car.’ It was safer to stay hidden in the rented car so that even if I shifted, I would be away from prying eyes.

There was nothing else to do but wait opposite the main gates with my eyes glued there. I couldn’t blink in case I missed her. With my heartbeats pounding inside my ribcage, I was sure Vyros was going through the same. Maybe it was our heartbeats racing! 

After almost an hour, I saw her. She was a sight to behold with her golden cascading curls tied up in a messy bun and her smoldering, hot, curvy figure clad in a fitted pencil skirt and white blouse. I could see how beautifully her body had filled up. She looked more like a woman than the eighteen-year-old I remembered so vividly. She looked the part of an academic head of her institution!

However, the moment she stepped out of the gates, her hazel eyes flitted around as if searching for someone. Did she sense my presence, too? 

Hope bubbled in my heart, and I contemplated getting out of the car and facing her. Would she feel happy to see me? Did she miss me even once during these four years? 

I wanted to apologize for hurting her and confess everything truthfully. Would she accept me knowing what I was? 

As I opened the car door, a Land Rover came to a halt right in front of Hazel, blocking my view of her. Who’s car was it? My gaze fell upon the male behind the steering wheel and I immediately realized he was an alpha. Jealousy coursed through my veins when Hazel got into the passenger seat and they sped away. 

I came out of my daze and started my car to follow them. I couldn’t let go of this opportunity to chase them and confront them.

I would definitely fight for my rejected mate, even if I shifted into a Grypwolf in front of them. 

I drove fast and caught up with their car at the next traffic signal. Pulling up beside their car, I rolled the window down and glared at Hazel. 

Her gaze fell upon me, and a gasp of horror escaped her lips. I wanted to get out and kiss the daylight out of her. How dare she move on from me when I couldn’t?