"Austin?" I touched his back, but he didn't respond. Even his breath was gone. I started to panic. I could still hear the approaching footsteps and the roar of engines."Austin? Hey, wake up. Alpha Austin." I shook him, my hand feeling around his back as I did.I came up on moisture, somewhere around the left side of his back, a little above his waist. I pulled my hand away and brought it to my field of vision. Blood."Austin. Austin, please. Austin."Tears filled my eyes again as I shook him, but his body was limp, and he was too heavy for me to carry.The footsteps had gotten much closer, and I hugged his body to me. I would die before they touched Austin."Hazel?" It was Simon trying to link with me."Are you here?" I said, crying. "Please tell me you are here.""I am not. The beta and the pack's troops are there. I hope you come out safe."I nodded, and hugged Austin's body to myself. The footsteps were upon us now, and I could see the shadows of people cast on us by the sun.My b
I gulped, finally realizing. Even though it disgusted me that while Lily's brother and Catherine's long time lover and mate was probably fighting to stay alive, they were back here, showing a video of me admitting to not being his mate. It was disgusting, and it gave some of Austin's words a meaning I never expected they could have."Grand alpha..." I started to say, and took a step forward.He took a step backward, then spat on the floor between us. I closed my eyes at it and I heard Lily chuckle."How dare you? How dare you even move closer? Have you forgotten your place as an omega? Are you now delusional because Austin has foolishly brought you to live in our house?" He asked, his eyes wide with anger."I didn't do it because I wanted to, I...""Now you are even trying to frame Austin because he is currently indisposed? He can't speak for himself? How did I not notice how cunning you were?"I bit down on my lips, tears filling my eyes again. "Of course. What was I thinking? Austin
Lily came back later, and spilled my things in front of me. She might have run out of hurtful words to say, because she just threw them at me and walked away. I didn't pay attention to it, just stayed there, on my knees, my chest clenching with the pain. "Hazel." I looked up to the voice. Eric was standing there, his eyes sad. "I heard what happened to you and Austin. And also the whole mate thing." I only sighed and said nothing. "I am sorry. Let me escort you to the pack house." "No." The adamance in my voice surprised even me. "I am not going anywhere till they let me see him. I just want to see him." He squatted to my height with a sigh. "I am sorry. I don't know how it happened, but I am sure you were not at fault. For now, just please let's go to the pack house." He held my hand to stand me up, but I yanked it away, his nail mistakenly digging into my flesh. But the pain was nothing in comparison to the one I felt inside. "I have to see Austin. I have to see him at lea
Eve brought me closer and wrapped her hand around me, her hand patting my back. I didn't know how to feel. Happy that I was finally seeing him or sad about the way I was going to see him?I let go of her and leaned back on my bed. I heard Eve stand up and leave, and I was left with Simon amd Eric.Silence fell between us, and I was too preoccupied to even make an effort to change it."What do you think will happen now, Hazel?" Eric suddenly asked and looked up to me."I don't know." I said with a shrug. "For now, all I want is to see Austin. Everything else will come after that."Eric looked at Simon then shrugged. "Fine, Hazel. I will come see you tomorrow and take you to him. For now, I will try and see him too before going back home."I nodded and thanked him, then let my head rest as he walked out of the room. I wasn't really digesting anything well. Be it the pain or what they were saying to me. Today has happened so fast, from being with Austin and then now having to probably s
"Are you done there?" The guard said, peeking his head in. I hurriedly grabbed Austin's wrist and put two fingers in it as if I was feeling his pulse, and turned my back to him properly."Not yet, is something wrong?" I answered."I believe the grand alpha is on his way. Hurry up," he said and without waiting for me to reply, he closed the door.I let out a huge breath, then held on to Austin's hand, intertwining our fingers. He didn't feel as warm as he normally did, but I felt content knowing it was his hand."Austin? You promised me you were going to stay safe." I had intended not to cry before coming here but my tears seemed to have a mind of their own.I leaned further and rubbed his arm, feeling his slightly tense yet limp muscles under my palm. He probably would have never let me do that if he was awake, but it would be fine if he was okay. I could keep these brewing desires beneath me. I could keep them buried deep inside me, as long as I can see him."I am sorry this is all
"You didn't just say that." I retorted, turning fully to face her. She laughed and walked forward, dismissing the guard with a finger."Oh, I did. Weirdly enough, there is no one here to change it."Eric held me back as I took a menacing step closer to her. "Don't you dare do anything to Austin."She shrugged. "I can't, even if I want to. But I am not exactly guaranteeing anything.""He is your brother."She laughed. "Is that what he told you?"My brows furrowed in confusion as I turned to Eric who looked just as shocked. "What?""Did he tell you I was his sister? Weird. We never considered each other siblings. And I never will."My eyes widened a little as Eric pulled me away from her. It was too much to digest all in one day, and the world felt like it was spinning under me."But..." I started to say, but I knew how I sounded. Weak and stupid."Leave this pack, Hazel. That's all you need to do to secure him. Catherine is his mate. You are nothing."Eric held on to me as my fists cl
"Do I have a say? Or has the judgement already been made?" I asked and looked up to them. The rain was convenient, no one would see how hard I was tearing up."What do you have to say? Are you about to say how exactly you got Austin to believe your little lie?" Catherine spoke up, her brow shooting up.I gave her an indignant look and turned to the grand alpha. "It is just that..it is pretty obvious everyone here wants to somehow make me the bad one. But all of you saw it. Catherine was right there, and Austin walked right past her...to me. I showed his marking on my neck and he had no objections. Don't you think if Austin really wanted to change his mate so bad...it just means he doesn't think she is worthy of him?"The grand alpha put a hand under his nose and snickered a little. "Are you trying to push the blame on Austin because he is not here to defend himself?""If he was here, he wouldn't want to defend himself," I said rather confidently as opposed to the way I actually felt.
I felt like I was doing a walk of shame as I made my way back to the pack house. Austin could now move his fingers. It wouldn't take too long for him to wake up. At least, that was good news. The bad news was...I can't even wait back to see him. I have to leave now.Eve was waiting for me at the front of the pack house when I got there, and she immediately leaped on me, not minding that I was soaking wet."Gosh. Why does this have to happen to you?" Her voice broke like she was about to cry and I forced a smile at her. There was nothing worth smiling about my life."I guess that's just how it's gonna be." I answered, pulling myself away from her.She didn't completely let me go and held on to my arm as if I was going to dissipate if she didn't. We climbed the stairs and made our way to the tiny room we so efficiently shared, and Eve immediately grabbed a blanket to cover me up."Hazel. I heard what happened. What did they say? What's going to happen now?" Simon asked, his eyes wide wi
Austin's P.O.V.I took the remaining steps towards the large burial ground, the single rose I had plucked from my recent gardening hobby dangling from my fingers. I hated the amount of time it has taken me to come here, but at least I am making my way to her now, and I hope I let myself get to the very end.The grave was still new, and I found myself slowly kneeling toward it, and I dropped the single flower I'd brought. It will wilter and dry up, unlike my love for her. Unlike this undying love I still feel after so long.The headstone had only three letters written in cursive. "I love you."Nothing more. Because I had no words at all to say to her. In front of her, I am a sinner, and I will probably always be. I have no chance for forgiveness with her. She left, long ago, and in her wake a gaping hole.I let out a long sigh. If Hazel were here, she would have said I am a little too young to sigh like that. I smiled, shaking my head a little.I touched the grave again, my fingers sl
9 MONTHS LATERHow long can nine full months be? Probably a little too short when you are anticipating to die. But even shorter with a husband who dotes on you like Austin does.Austin received the congrats half heartedly, and brought in some of thbest healers across different packs to wait on me. Sometimes, I felt a little too protected, but I knew he just wanted to keep me safe.Everyday as I watched my pregnancy grow bigger, I felt the fear surge higher. How would things be for them after I die? Would Austin be able to look past my sacrifice and love the children because they belong to him? It sometimes made me wonder, but I also, learned to push it behind me.Sometimes, I caught him just spaced out a little, and sometimes after I slept, he would hold my hand and end up sleeping on a chair. He didn't seem to mind any of it at all, and didn't show me how worried he was also. For that, I was utterly grateful, more than he knew.I stood in front of the open door, watching the sunset.
The hall looked nothing like the unfinished one that Austin had shown me just yesterday, and I knew there was definitely no way it could have been done without having to pull all nighters.Dark red and black roses adorned a cleared path, and petals filled the floor I was supposed to walk on. Most of the pack were there, and in the front I could see Catherine, tears glistening brightly in her eyes, yet a small smile on her face.I smiled back at her as Austin slowly accompanied me, the train of my dress behind held up by an omega, and the scroll of the Luna's oath waiting on an elevated stand on which Austin would leave me to go to.He gave me a small reassuring smile as he left my side and then made his way to the stand, a happy smile playing on his lips.The standing ovation that had welcomed us was still ongoing, and Austin let it go on for a few more seconds, before he finally raised a hand and firmly clenched his fist. It immediately died down and he lowered his hand."It is an ho
We practiced a lot more, my feet slowly getting accustomed to the introductory steps of the dance while only barely escaping making mistakes towards the middle. I never did get too deep, as Austin just told me to focus on the beginning, and he will ensure we don't make a disaster at the end."Just go with my flow, okay?" he said to me and I ordered, allowing him to lead. It was rather convenient, and I found it easier.We retired to bed after a tired dinner, his hand clasped around my waist, drawing me into him, while his other hand stretched under my head to support it. Before I knew it, I was asleep, his slow, even breaths serving to lure me even deeper.I turned on to my back as the bright sunlight assaulted my eyes, then pulled a pillow over my head to shut it out completely. I didn't even care that Austin wasn't in bed, I just know I needed this sleep. "No, not that. I will inspect it myself in the next thirty minutes, so just move on to other things. Spotlight? Well, Hazel isn
I woke up with a start, feeling the empty bed around me. I had realized Austin wasn't anywhere near me when I stirred and for some reason it just scared the shit out of me. Maybe because things have been going a little too well and I am scared of anything jeopardizing it, or maybe I was having having bad dream."Hey. You are going to get a headache doing that." Austin said, walking over to where I sat. He held me in his arm, and scanned my face."You are here.""Of course, I was just on the phone with the gamma, I did not want to wake you up. Sorry if that startled you."I disentangled myself from him, leaned away and smiled, feeling my fears immediately drown. "No, I am fine. Maybe I was having a bad dream."He nodded. "I'm sorry."I smiled at him and leaned back on the bead headrest. "You know, I just realized...I never really asked what my duties as luna are."The slight furrow in his brows cleared off and he smiled. "Always so thoughtful. I believe during the crowning, you will ge
"This or this?" I asked Austin as we went over the dresses that were brought for the luna ceremony. He had commenced preparations immediately after, telling me how we needed to plan the world's best Luna ceremony in three days.The omegas waiting on me seemed to have an opinion, even as Austin thinned his eyes at the dresses."Why do you keep picking purple dresses? I think you look good in red." He said, his eyes slowly moving towards the red dress I have left on the bed."It's your favorite, Austin."He rolled his eyes and walked to me, then picked out the red dress. It was designed to hug my body from above, and then spread out into the tulles filled with satin towards the end.He put it in front of me, and then nodded. "I believe this will look good when you wear it.""Fine. I will try it on."He nodded and collected the other dresses, then gestured for the omega to leave. He turned away and closed his eyes as I wore the dress."I can't zip, Austin." I called out to him and he gav
I stirred a little and turned to the other side, and my eyes fell on Austin. He was sitting facing me, his elbow propped half on the headrest, his eyes fixed on me. My eyes slowly widened as I straightened."Are we here already?" I asked, my voice sleepy.He slowly nodded. "Yes.""You should have woken me up. You must have been tired from driving all day." I squinted my eyes at him. The sun was setting behind him, the sheen causing his hair to turn a golden brown, and make his red eyes a little lighter than they actually are.He smiled and extended his hand to me. "I thought you looked too pretty that way. I wouldn't mind waiting for you."I smiled, and he let go of my hand, then got out of the car. He went around to my seat and opened my door for me, and waited till I got out."Go on. I will bring in our stuff."I nodded and went in, my arms stretching on their own. My neck felt a little stiff, and once I made my way into the house, I found a couch to rest and I just went on it.When
I felt the entire world come to a stand still as the healer's words hit me again and again, like an ambush of arrows."Me...or the baby?" I asked, a little in a daze. It felt like I was in some faraway place, watching the girl who looked exactly like me sitting in front of the healer.I slowly turned to Austin whose eyes were wide and reddened. Unlike me, he seemed to clearly understand what the healer had said, and seemed to be trying to accept it too."What do you mean?" I asked, feeling hot tears sting the back of my eyes. I blinked rapidly, but it only made them rush down faster, and I felt the warmth on my cheeks."One of you will make it out of labor. It can't be both of you.""Is there no other way? Is there nothing? An offering? A sacrifice? A prayer?"I swallowed on hearing Austin's voice. He sounded just as broken as I was, and my chest filled up."None. That is what's written."Austin gave a slight pause. "What if she doesn't give birth?"I turned to him, my eyes wide. "No
I held Austin's arm tight as she took a step closer to me, and her eyes slowly drifted across to Austin. I turned instinctively to him, but his face was set in expressionless too, his hand holding my waist to keep me on my feet. Seeing him so determined gave me a big of confidence and I swallowed as I turned back to the healer."So she is the one. The substitute I have heard of.""Just check her, healer. Her status does not affect anything." Austin said, his voice cold.She flickered her eyes to him, then back at me. "All of that is good and all, but...do you not realize how powerful a mate bond is? How can an entire pack be so nonchalant towards a mate bond, especially that of the alpha? What were you thinking?"My breath hitched as her eyes thinned in a little judgemental look. I could tell she didn't have good news for us. My eyes lifted to Alpha Evander behind us. He looked a little disgusted too, like he absolutely didn't understand how Austin could disregard a mate bond to be wi