Chapter 9

Hazel's POV

The soft bed was strange to my body, which was used to the chilly, rugged stone of the prison floor. The warm solace of the bed soothes my sore muscles as I lay down on the bed.

With a frown on her face, Marianna checked the cuts on both my knees.

"You've been through a lot" she said shaking her head, a look of compassion in her eyes. 

That's an understatement, I thought. 

"This will sting, but you have to hold tight" she said as she opened the balm that the doctor gave me to speed my healing process.

I bit my lips to muffle a scream; tears streamed unhindered from my eyes as she applied the balm to the deep cut on my knees, the sting cutting through my body. 

"Please, please, stop" I whimpered, holding her hand to prevent her from applying the balm on the other knee. She's a lot stronger than she looks as she keeps both my hands away.

"Keep still, dear," she said, in a firm but kind voice.

"Please, let me do it myself," I murmured, my words lacking conviction. I knew that I wouldn't be able to withstand the pain of applying the balm to the injuries myself.

Marianna grinned, shaking her head, not persuaded. "I'm sure you can, but I'll save you the trouble, so allow me."

Crushing my dress in my suffocating grip, I bit my lips from shouting as she applied the balm on the other knee.

"You can relax now, dear; the pain will be over soon," she said, blowing air on my wounds, calming the sting. 

Her care, caused me to recall how my mom would take care of me whenever I was hurt. My wolf has always been frail, so I don't recuperate from cuts or sickness like other wolves do.

"Get some rest," she said, pulling a stray hair behind my ears. "I'll make you something to eat."

The mention of food made my stomach growl. I've not eaten for two days now. I scarcely survived with the stale bread given to me once every two days in the dungeon. 

"Thank you" I murmured.

She looked at me for some time, seeing my hungry expression, a knowing grin spread all over her face.

"Get some rest, I'll be right back," and with that, she left, leaving me in the little room.

I glanced around; the room was small, but warm and comfortable, a sharp contrast to the cold and dark dungeon.

I flinched as my hand strayed and brushed on my injury. How long will it take for the wounds to heal? 

As a wolf, I ought to have the power to heal even without the aid of medication; however, my wolf has forever been powerless, more fragile even than the weakest omega.

Minutes later, Marianna came back, a servant followed her bearing a tray of food. The aroma of cooked meat and freshly baked bread filled the room and my stomach growled.

I immediately got up from bed and could scarcely wait for that food to be set down before devouring it.

Goodness, the taste of the food was paradise!

The bread was warm and soft compared to the cold, stale bread that I ate in the dungeon. The meat was so delicate and delicious. I choked on the food while rushing it down.

"Easy, easy, dear," Marianna said, giving me a glass of water.

I nodded, embarrassed. As I drank the water slowly, while Marianna rubbed my back. 

"Thanks" I managed to say, in-between coughing. 

I ate all the food without a spot left on the plate. I felt more energized after eating.

Marianna motioned toward the servant who left with the empty food plate.

"Take some rest; I'll be back later to check on you," she said, tucking the blanket around me like my mother used to.

Once more, left alone, I stared at the roof, what happened in the Coldfire forest still lingered in my mind. 

I had thought that it was over for me when the crowd was cheering for my impending destruction. They must have hated me so much. 

They have marked me as a traitor's daughter and a murderer. My parents did nothing wrong. I'm certain that they were being framed for treason as I was being framed for killing Francis, my mate.

Mate

I recalled again how Alpha Xavier stepped in and saved me. He went as far as pronouncing me as his mate before the entire pack.

I've always heard how merciless he is and how he doesn't hesitate to punish the guilty. 

"Yet, why did he save me?" I mumbled to myself.

Why had he interceded? Was it out of pity? Or something else?

Confused, I turned it over in my mind till I finally drifted off to a restless slumber.

"Hazel! Hazel! Run!" the hysterical voice of my mom filled the air. 

My dad stood in front of me, a smile on his face as he held out his arms towards me. I ran forward to embrace him but stopped frozen as I saw a heavy axe swing mid-air, its blade slicing through my dad's heart.

His body slumped to the ground, blood pooling from his dead body. The assailant stood over him with his blood-stained axe. Slowly, he moves towards me. His mouth wound in a perilous grin as he drew nearer to me, covering the space between us.

I tried to run, yet I was unable to move; my feet stood frozen in place.

As he raised the blade, it gleamed in the faint light with my dad's blood stains; I shut my eyes, waiting for the inevitable. 

I woke up screaming. My breath was an uneven gasp, as I tried to calm down, cold sweat soaking me.

"Hush, easy, it's just a dream," a deep voice said next to me as I snapped back to reality.

I spun around to take a look at him, and my breath caught in my throat as I saw Alpha Xavier sitting on the edge of my bed. The expression in his dim eyes was unclear as he stared at me in the faint light.

"What… what are you doing here?" I stammered, my voice stiff. 

His presence was suffocating and tension filled the room.

His hair fell across his face as he bent over me, his open shirt revealing his solid chest. I immediately turned away, my cheeks feeling hot. I felt the air in the room tense as he gazed at me with his grey eyes boring into mine.

Cold sweats trickled all over me as my heart dashed with questions.

I squirmed nervously, feeling uncomfortable to be alone with him.

"Relax," he said, his normally cold voice softer.

My eyes were wide in fear as he leaned closer to me, his scent filling my nostrils.

He tenderly brushed his fingers against my cheek, his touch sending a mixture of fear and flares of desire in me. My heart was pounding as I looked into his warm eyes.

Then, immediately, his expression changed to something darker. His dark eyes were cold and hard as he grabbed me by my throat with frightening strength. 

I gagged and wheezed for breath as I battled defenselessly against his attack but I was doubtless too weak to break free.

"Ple- - ease," I managed to say as I tried to break free from his grasp.

Has he changed his mind about me?

After saving me, had he decided that I wasn't worth it after all?