CHAPTER 6: HAZEL

Hazel

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I grunted as I pushed him off me.

“Not even up to two weeks and you have found another Alpha to cling onto,” he said with a bitter tone, inching closer. “That prick couldn't keep his hands off you, could he?” He glanced at my waist.

I inched back further into the wall, my heart palpitating. “You don’t get to question me, Nathan.” I bolstered my voice, ignoring every effect his presence had on me. “You said I mean nothing to you, isn’t it? Why are you acting all jealous? Does it hurt to see someone treat me better than you did?”

Nathan snorted. “Treat you better than I did?”

“Yes,” I lied; I just wanted to hurt Nathan, to make him feel an ounce of pain—regret. “He eats my food when I cook for him,” I said, despite knowing all the food I made Elijah ended up in the trash can. But Nathan didn’t need to know I still grieved him; I still wanted him. I loathed myself for it; considering how he had broken me, I should have let him go. But four years didn’t vanish overnight, and neither did my heart.

“He took me to nice places, places you never took me.”

Nathan’s brows furrowed, and his jaws tightened.

And there was one that wasn’t a lie—one I hadn’t recognized. “He always comes back home.” Despite not being on good terms with me, Elijah never slept out; he always returned home, and the house never felt as lonely as Nathan’s. A soft smile formed on my lips.

My eyes hardened as I glared at him, resisting the way his beautiful brown eyes melted me. “I’ll be like the stars—distant and admired. You can gaze at me with longing, but no matter how you reach out, you’ll never hold me.”

“I’ll always be like smoke—close enough to touch, but slipping through your fingers. You won’t hold me, but my scent will haunt you with the memory of what you’ve lost,” I said, my heart stuffed with every pain and flutter he stirred. “And all you will be able to do is watch me become happy with another man,” I continued, knowing the future of loving another man was bleak. I might not even live long for Nathan to realize how much he has hurt me.

A vein pulsed in Nathan’s temple. ”No one can love you except me,” he spat. “I am the only one for you.”

I glared at him. “We are divorced.”

“That’s just on a piece of paper. I had to do what's right by the pack.” His voice softened. “You are still mine; besides, we are still mated together.”

“Our mate bond doesn’t mean anything to me anymore. What’s the use of the bond when I’m not your wife?”

Nathan growled as he slammed his hand to the wall, caging me. “Does he know you are an omega?” My eyes widened and a smirk formed on his lip. “You think I don't know you are losing your wolf? He obviously can’t smell you as an omega. Do you think he would still love you when he finds out?”

A ruthless heat burnt in my chest. I was losing my wolf—my life— all because I sacrificed for him, yet he stood there taunting me. My palms itched to act—something I should have done since. I swung to strike him, but he caught my wrist in mid-air.

A wince jumped out from my throat as Nathan tightened his grip. “Remember I saved you from the basement, from your father.” His voice tinged with self righteousness.

My jaw tightened as I remembered Felix’s words. He had caged me just like my father. “You’re no different,” I gritted, “I healed you; we’re even.”

Nathan’s eyes darkened, his grip on my hand tightened further as he yanked me closer to him. “You think I’m exactly like him?”

An ache jolted through my chest. Self loathing burnt my every nerves;how could I love a man that treated me like my father?

“Do you go around assaulting other people's wives?” Elijah’s voice cut through the tension. His face was straight, but his eyes were darker than the abyss.

Both men's gazes turned cold as they met with each other. The air could barely contain the aggression in their stance, as they stood like enemies at a war front.

When the words finally settled in, Nathan’s eyes bulged out. His body stiffened like he had been struck. “Wife?” His voice tightened.

My heart raced as Elijah stepped in.

Elijah strutted towards me, and his eyes raked over me. “Did he hurt you?” He took off his coat and hung it over me. His warmth and fragrance that had clung onto his coat seeped into me. “Let’s go.” His big hands wrapped mine as he pulled me away, and I brisked behind him.

Nathan stood there, surprise boldly written on his face.

After striding a short distance from Nathan, Elijah stopped and turned. “You seem to have a habit of touching what’s mine. Next time you lay your fingers on my Luna. I’ll break every single one of them. If a war starts, so be it.” His voice, strict and challenging. Elijah grasped my hand gently and led me to the car park.

Despite being conflicted, part of me—tired of being alone—found comfort in his protection if Elijah had overheard the conversation with Nathan.

Elijah guided me into the car and entered the driver’s seat. His eyes lingered on me. “Are you alright?”

My head lowered and my gaze fixed distantly on my thighs. “Why did you do it?” My voice quivered a bit.

It didn’t make any sense. “You have been treating me coldly. In the hall, when you acted warm, I understood it was needed. But why did you protect me from Nathan? You could have looked away.”

Elijah flinched. “Despite our complicated relationship, it doesn't mean I’ll let anyone hurt you or disrespect you.”

I snapped my head towards him. His response only confused me more. “And inside the hall, when your hands were around my waist, nobody was hurting me. You also went as far as threatening to break his fingers and declare war.” I didn't know why I needed his explanation, but something in me demanded it.

Elijah raked his hands through his hair and let out a sharp exhale. “I don’t even know why I did that.” His hand gripped the steering.

My chest tightened at his response. The more he answered my questions, the more I ended up confused, so I decided to let it go.

As both of us felt lost in our thoughts, silence ladened the air for what felt like a thousand years.

Breaking the silence, Elijah began. “Anna.”

I faced him.

“I hate lies more than anything, so I expect nothing but the truth from you,” Elijah said with a strict voice, his gaze zeroing in on me. “Who is the man to you?”

My face turned livid as ice infused into my veins. How could I tell the truth when everything Elijah knew about me was a lie? And how could I lie when he might have overheard my conversation with Nathan?

This was my chance—my only chance. If I lost Elijah's trust, I’d lose everything: the influence of finding a cure and my life, already slipping away piece by piece.

Any answer felt like a disaster waiting to happen.