Chapter 6

Mia's POV

The castle loomed ahead. I almost felt like telling Hazel to stop, but I didn't want to risk his ire. Not after he saw me with Xavier in that position. 

For some reason, I was feeling very awkward because he caught me crying on Xavier's shoulder. He hadn't even reacted. Just raised an eyebrow and asked me who my friend was. I introduced them, and they seemed pretty friendly with each other. 

And Hazel has been nothing but nice and sweet ever since. But it only made me all the more awkward, with the result that our conversation was a little strained. 

I sighed internally. I wished I could just play my flute, it always calms me. And I was with it, because Hazel had requested I bring it along. So, obviously, I was going to play sometime today. Maybe in front of an audience. 

"Hey, relax, Mia. You're biting your lips again," Hazel told me, smiling gently. 

I smiled nervously and tried to relax, taking a deep breath to help me. 

Okay, Mia. You got this, calm down. I told myself. When I opened my eyes, Hazel's soft green eyes were looking into mine. He was smiling slightly. I blushed. 

"Does that help? Taking a deep breath and talking to yourself?" He asked me. 

I nodded. He smiled more widely. 

"You know, I do that when I'm nervous too," he said. 

I could tell he was trying to make me relaxed, so I decided to make an effort at conversation too. I raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise. 

"I didn't know that anything could make the prince nervous," I commented. 

He threw back his head and laughed softly, and for a moment, the horses went out of control. He brought them back under control in no time. Then he turned to me and winked. 

"Something like that. Unruly horses make me really nervous. One threw me down when I was about seven and would have stomped me to death, had my father not been there," he chuckled. 

"And oh, my father too. He can make anyone nervous. When he fixes his gaze on you…" he made a face that had me laughing. For a while, we both laughed together, carefree. 

He looked so handsome while laughing. So handsome and strong. His straight auburn hair, his chiseled jawline. They looked so good that I wanted to run my hand through his hair and trace his jawline. 

At that moment, my heart plopped down at his feet, though he didn't know it. It just slid right out of my chest and fell at his feet.

And I thought how I could easily get used to looking at that face every waking day, laughing along with him at his jokes and tending to his hair when it gets messed up. 

Hazel kept me laughing with anecdotes about his childhood all the way to the castle that I didn't even know we were there till he jumped out of the carriage. 

"Here we are," he announced cheerfully. "Ready to meet my parents?" he asked cockily. 

I felt my heart jump at the thought. His parents were the Alpha King and Luna for goodness' sake. I wasn't sure I was ready to meet them just yet. 

"Um…no," I replied. "Can we leave that for later?" 

I watched his face fall in disappointment, and I wished I wasn't the cause. But then, I can't afford to embarrass myself and give a bad first impression. My mother would skin me alive. But more than that, his parents would probably be turned against me then, and might prohibit him from relating with me further.

The thought gave me even more shivers. 

"Let's…let's…" I cast around for something to salvage the situation. "Let's do something else. Please?"

He considered it for some time. "Are you shy?" He asked. I nodded nervously, my cheeks heating up. I expected him to laugh, or smile mockingly, or self importantly. And when his eyes softened with care and he came to lay a hand on my shoulders, I was both relieved and pleased.  

"I understand you're not used to all these. But you had better start getting used to it, because you're going to be visiting the palace a lot. My parents are wolves, just like you are," he told me softly. 

"Well, then, how about a tour of the palace?" He asked, looking deep into my eyes. 

"How about I play for you?" I replied. I really needed to calm my nerves. He smiled. 

"Well then, a tour first. Then you can play for me. How about that?"

I had no problem with that. I stayed in the carriage while he called over a maid. 

"Can you tell the Alpha King and the Luna that Mr. Turner wants to see them for an urgent matter at his mansion?" He asked a maid. The maid went off and he turned to wink at me. 

Some time later, the Alpha King and the Luna hurried past in another carriage. 

"There. They're out of the way now," he told me with a mischievous smile. He took my hand in his and we went into the castle.

It was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. The hallways with their high ceilings, the tapestries of wolves on the walls, the lamps and every other decoration. It was simply awesome. 

We chased each other as we ran up the stairs to what he told me was the North tower, then we held each other's hands on the roof and looked at the green world below our feet. 

I was scared of heights, but at that moment, with his palms in mine, I felt like I could jump off into the skies and soar. 

Was this love?

He led me room after room, describing the various ornaments and furniture, and then we went to the courtyard.

"Here we are. Play for me," Hazel told me, smiling gently. "I miss your music," 

Smiling with pleasure, I started playing. Then I heard a gasp and opened my eyes. A lady was standing at the entrance to the courtyard, her eyes wide at the sight of Hazel at my feet, eyes closed, obviously entranced with my music. 

I watched her with some trepidation as she marched right up to me. 

"My name is Selena Turner, and you will leave my boyfriend right this instant," she spat at me.