Chapter Six – Family Pressure

Hazel’s POV 

I rang the doorbell of granny’s cottage in the sleepy suburban town of Tetlinville along the Chena River, almost 80 miles south of Fairbanks, Alaska. It has been my home for the last ten years yet I was apprehensive of granny Erika’s reaction to my return. After the way we had parted, I knew she wasn’t expecting me back. Or was she? Maybe she knew what was in store for me in Aromania. She knew I would get rejected for no fault of mine. Maybe that was why she objected to my plans. After all, my granny, Erika Payne, was a powerful witch in her youth. 

My mom, Carol Payne, was a witch too, but her first spell backfired and she got expelled from the coven. To escape punishment from the Supernatural Council, my mom fled with my aunt Cassie to Lucania. They led anonymous lives as omega when my dad met Mom and accepted her as his mate. Mom lived a life of anonymity and never disclosed her true identity to my dad. It was only after their death did my grandparents, Erika and Simon Payne contact me. 

I sighed at the memory of my grandpa. He was a kind man who loved granny Erika unconditionally, accepting her even after knowing her true identity. His pack, the Windcrest Pack, threatened to expel him if he accepted my granny as his mate. He paid no heed to their threats and left his pack for her. Ever since, they have lived a peaceful life here in Tetlinville. 

Now, after my grandpa’s death, the new Alpha of Windcrest Pack, Zander Astros, wanted to make amends. He had requested granny Erika to join the pack, but she refused. So we were still rogues, and I didn’t mind at all. I couldn’t belong to the Windcrest Pack ever. I was a Lucerian by birth and would forever remain true to my pack, the Luceres Pack. It was my father’s pack and my home. 

Now I was stuck here in Tetlinville forever. Maybe Zephyrus and Stavros would never want me to return to Lucania. After all, I wasn’t Stavros’s mate anymore. I wondered why Zephyrus wasn’t attacking the Whiteridge Pack and snatching back our territory from their clutches. Hera had told me they were planning to do so, but when?

The door opened, and I was brought out of my reverie. My granny smiled sadly at me. “I’m so glad you came home, Zell. I was so worried about you.” The sound of my nickname and her familiar loving voice brought tears to my eyes. I couldn’t stop them from overflowing. She was right all along. I shouldn’t have gone to Aromania at all. 

“I’m sorry for not listening to you, granny.” She enveloped me in her wide bosom as if she knew what I was going through. 

“Hush, dear. Now that you’re back, it doesn’t matter at all.” I sucked in a deep breath to compose myself. I couldn’t talk about the hurt my mate had inflicted on me. It was too personal to discuss. My granny seemed to understand my predicament and led me inside. She talked about everything else that happened in my absence rather than addressing the elephant in the room. 

“Where’s Aunt Carmen?” I looked around for my aunt, who was my mom’s youngest sibling. 

“Oh, Carmen has gone to meet Zander Astros.” My jaws dropped to the floor. Were they considering joining his pack? I wasn’t ready because I didn’t trust Alpha Zander. There was a catch behind his offer, and I somehow had the feeling it involved me. Even a blind wolf could sense Alpha Zander’s interest in me. I had met him once three years ago when my grandpa was alive. Ever since Alpha Zander has been after us to join his pack. 

“Why?” Granny looked a little uncomfortable and walked away towards the kitchen. 

“He wanted to meet me, but I couldn’t go so far,” admitted Granny. I followed her to the kitchen to stop them from going ahead with their plans. 

“I hope you aren’t considering joining his pack?” Granny couldn’t look at me and it strengthened my suspicions further. 

“You can’t live a rogue’s life forever, Hazel. Now that your fated mate has rejected you, don’t you think you should choose a good mate for yourself?” I gave her a blank look. So she knew Stavros had rejected me. 

“How do you know Alpha Zander is good? I still love Stavros, granny. He has indeed rejected me, but I can’t move on from him. I’m sure he’ll realize his mistake one day and accept me into his life. I’ll wait for that day forever.” 

Granny gave me a bewildered look as if that day would never happen in my life. “There’s no point in waiting for something that cannot happen, Zell. Just meet Zander once. He’s quite a charmer, and I’m sure he’ll keep you happy.” Her insistence irked me. 

“How can you be so sure about Stavros? What am I missing here granny? How do you know so much about Stavros?” She gave me a hesitant look and walked out of the kitchen. I knew she was avoiding my questions, and I wasn’t letting this go. 

“I have my ways, Zell. I can’t go against my coven and reveal my secrets to you. Let nature take its course. I’m sure you’ll find out the reality eventually.” I blinked in confusion when the doorbell buzzed. Granny opened the door and an excited Aunt Carmen came rushing into the house. 

“I’m so excited. Guess who I met today?” She clasped her hands together with joy, her eyes sparkling. Granny chuckled at her state. 

“Your second chance, mate. Who else?” Aunt Carmen gave her a disappointing look. 

“It isn’t fair, mom. Why do you always use your magical powers? We can hardly surprise you ever! So I guess you already know who he is.” She grumbled and walked away to her room when she turned to look at me as if seeing me for the first time. 

“Hazel? Hadn’t you left for Aromania forever?” Granny rolled her eyes with a told-you-so look. 

“Her mate has rejected her. So she’s here for good.” 

Strangely, Aunt Carmen looked thrilled instead of sympathizing with me. “Oh, I’ll inform Alpha Zander right away.” I gaped at her while Granny steered her away into her room. What was cooking between them? 

I trudged towards my room with a heavy heart. I hadn’t expected to come back here at all. Instead, I had dreamed of a happy life with my mate in Lucania. Now, being back in the same dismal room shattered all my hopes of a happy life. I could hear Aunt Carmen’s excited squeals from the next room. I was glad she finally found her happiness. After her fated mate died in a vicious fight with a Lycan, Aunt Carmen had lost all hopes of finding another. Now, when she got a second chance in life, I was happy for her. 

But I didn’t need a second chance in life. Despite the rejection, Stavros will always be the only one for me. 

I freshened up and unpacked my stuff reluctantly. There was no other way than to move on from the heartbreak and concentrate on my dream career now. It was the only thing I had with me. Ever since I came here, Aunt Carmen’s dedication to her passion for teaching inspired me. She was now the most coveted teacher in Tetlinville High School. With her experience and dedication, she was an asset to any school she joined. 

I wanted to be a teacher like her. So I would now focus on my education and pursue the subject of my choice. 

A knock on my door made me groan. I knew Aunt Carmen and Granny were here to discuss their plans with me. I opened the door, and they poured into my room, ready to brainwash me. 

“Hazel, I had a word with Alpha Zander Astros of the Windcrest Pack. He wants to meet you now,” said Aunt Carmen while my jaws dropped to the floor. 

“Now? I just came home. I’m exhausted. What’s there to talk to him about? Didn’t you just meet him?” I panicked at the thought of meeting someone I barely knew. We had nothing to talk about, and I definitely wasn’t meeting him. 

“He has offered us a home in his territory, Hazel. We’ll live a protected life. The pack’s doctor, Stuart Fleming, is my mate. With you two joining the pack, I wouldn’t have to worry. It’s a win-win situation, Hazel. Just meet him once.” 

“I don’t want to meet him or join his pack. I’m fine here.”

I repented my decision to return home.

“You know I won’t let you live here alone, Hazel. You will meet Zander and accept his proposal. If you don’t, I’ll accept his proposal on your behalf,” said Granny sternly. I looked from one to the other helplessly, my heart fighting their decision. 

Aunt Carmen’s phone buzzed, and she walked out of my room to take the call. I turned to face my granny. 

“What does Alpha Zander want? Why he is after us?”

Granny gave me a look of disbelief. “I thought it was quite clear. He wants you.” 

I scoffed at the obvious. I knew it. “No, Granny. I can’t move on from Stavros, and I refuse to accept Zander as my mate. It’s my final decision.”