~~ HAZEL ~~
I was dragged to the backyard and tied to the tree over there. The ropes were hurting my skin and it began bleeding.
"Fifteen strokes of cane." One of the guards muttered and pulled out the cane at his side.
"Why not let me go please? I did nothing, he's cheating on me." I referred to the guard who was about to use his cane on me.
He stared at me for a while and sighed. "I'm sorry, it's an order given to me by the king… and I might lose this job if I don't obey him." He replied politely.
I could sense that what he's about to do isn't from the depth of his heart, but he had to because there's no other option left for him.
He stared at his cane and moved closer to me, then gave me the first slash on my arm.
I groaned in pain as he gave me the second and third slash. Taking a look at my arm, it was bleeding profusely.
The cane is so sharp that it pierces into one's skin.
He was about to give me the third slash when someone held his arm upwards.
I adjusted my head with the tears that had gathered in my eyes to see that it's Earl. I had thought that he left the palace out of anger.
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Isn't your conscience judging you for what you're doing?" He asked the guard.
He turned and bowed to him. "Greetings, Alpha Earl."
"Get out of here." He ordered the guard.
The guard left the backyard immediately and Alpha Earl moved closer to me.
He stared into my eyeballs and then wiped the tears on my cheeks.
"I'm so sorry for the pains you're passing through even as the Luna. Just be strong enough, don't let your fellow female take away your position." He referred to me.
I nodded in agony and watched as he began losing the rope on me. If only he wasn't beside me, I'd have fallen to the ground when I was fully untied.
He glanced at my bleeding arm and hissed.
"I'll treat the wounds, just wait here for me." He uttered, and I nodded.
I moved to the brick at the side of the building and got seated on it while waiting for him, and he arrived after some minutes just like he assured me.
He held three different types of leaves in his arm, then he began squeezing the first.
"Ouch! It's painful." I groaned in pain when he dropped the liquid on the wounds.
He squeezed the second and used it on the wound too, then the third.
"Go back to your room and freshen up, I'll advise you to stay away from him for today." He advised.
I nodded and left after him.
When I passed by the chamber, I glanced inside of it to see the king with Selah and Nykon interacting. I didn't mind, I just walked straight into my room to meet the queen sitting on my chair.
"Greetings, your majesty." I bowed down in greetings.
She stood up and walked to me while her gaze focused on my arm.
"What happened to you? Were you flogged?" She asked me.
I nodded. "Yes, he ordered the guard to do it because I yelled at Selah." I replied to her politely.
Everything about that lady pisses me off, and so I'll have to report her to the majesty that hates her too.
When I replied to her, she left my room instantly. And the next thing I did was lock up my room.
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~~~~ ONYX ~~~
There's something about me that I don't understand any longer. I can't believe that I ordered the guard to punish Hazel, and then I was feeling pity for her again.
Why? I shouldn't be feeling that way when I hate her so much. Everything about her makes me sad to the last.
The moment she approached Selah, I felt like strangling her to death. But after I laid a punishment on her, I felt pity for her again.
No! I'll have to discard this feeling from me, because I'll never love or cherish her for any reason.
She's wolf-less and a cursed female wolf, and so I'll never welcome her into my life fully.
That she's in this pack is because I can't afford losing the throne to someone else, but then, Earl has been acting strange towards me which I don't care about.
The voice of my mother from behind drew me out of my thought, I stood from my throne and walked some feet away from it.
"Mother, you called me." I uttered politely.
She bit her lower lips. "Onyx, how dare you? Who gave you that guts?" She shrieked at me.
I could see how annoyed she was at the moment.
"I gave myself the guts."
A heavy slap landed on my cheek and I felt the ground rotating.
"She's your Luna, and you have no right to do that to her. No matter what it is Onyx." She scolded me.
My mouth was agape as I was staring at her. "Mother, you just slapped me because of that mother fucker."
"And I'll do it countless times if you dare it again." She roared.
The anger in her was damn vivid in her eyes, they were glowing like fire.
She walked to Selah who was shivering at her presence and held her ear so tight, she squeezed them heavily and pushed Selah that she almost fell to the ground.
"I have warned you several times to stay away from my son but you wouldn't hear. Maybe I should teach you a lesson." She warned her, then turned to Nykon. "I don't know the benefit of you being his friend when you support his stupid act, maybe you'll stop coming here."
I shook my head in disagreement. "Hazel will leave instead of them, besides she's the reason my sister is on the sick bed right now." I bit my finger. "I'm not done with her." I added, and my mother dragged my cloth.
"That wasn't intentional and Cherry will be fine again. Don't ever speak ill of Hazel to Cherry or you'll regret it." She warned me.
But I don't care, I hate that female so much, and I'll make sure she regrets ever meeting me.
HAZEL'S POV; As soon as the dowager queen left my room, I fell onto my bed and burst into tears. Nothing seems to turn out well for me and I begin to wonder if the curse that has been placed upon me is also affecting every aspect of my life because why would I be mated to someone who hates me more than anything? Everything seemed bleak and I decided to stay locked up in my room for a while. That way, I'd be out of Onyx's way. He doesn't even want to see my shadow and so do I. Somewhere in the deepest part of my heart is nothing but hate for him. It's starting out as a seed and I believed that in no time, I'd hate him with everything I have in me. I have been miserable my whole life thinking that my mate was somewhere waiting to claim me and be my redemption. I feel like I just walked into destruction. I suddenly begin to regret why I even chose to marry him in the first place. My wounds have been tended to but it still hurts. I can't heal fast or even at all becau
HAZEL'S POV; As soon as I shut the door leading to Onyx's room, I lean against thr wall by me and heave a sigh of relief. I was scared for a moment, thinking he was going to do something terrible like throwing me into the dungeon. But he did nothing. He only smacked me across the cheek and I am already quite used to being slapped by him. I move away from the wall and start walking down the corridor. I pass by Cherry's room. It's locked. I stop walking. I wish I could go into her room and check if she's getting better. Everyday I pass by her room, I feel really guilty and I wish I wasn't there in the woods, hunting, when they arrived. That would have saved me all of this drama. She's been sick for weeks and everyday, I suffer for that one mistake I made. Sighing, I move to her door and raise my hand to the handle but I stop myself when I hear footsteps coming behind me. Turning, I realize it's Onyx and he's glaring at me. "What are you doing there?!" I mo
HAZEL'S POV; Some of the maids have taken a liking to me. Theresa is one of the maids who I became friends with and I'm surprised. I mean, not everyone likes me and then she's all supportive whenever I need her. There's a dining chair in the room and she takes a seat beside me. She's holding two bowls. One containing chicken soup and the other containing boiled, mashed potatoes. My favorite. "What happened?" She asks. Pulling the bowl towards me, I shrug. "Well, I was asked to leave the dining room by Onyx. I had no option," "Did the Dowager Queen ask you to stay?" "Of course, she did. Onyx's father also did. But somehow, Onyx did not agree. Slightly threatened then by saying he was going to leave the dining room for us. Remember he rarely eats with us. His mother had no option. She didn't want to tell me to leave but I had to. I know she wants to dine with him and probably knock some sense into his head," Theresa laughs. "And you think he's going to
HAZEL'S POV; "You can run away, Hazel. Leave this pack, find somewhere to live with your brother. You don't have to be with a man who treats you like crap and only keeps you because you are of use to him," "I was forced to marry him, Theresa. You won't understand." I bow my head in shame. I've not cried since today but I am doing that right now. Tears begin to slip down my eyes and no matter how I try to hold back, it's basically useless. Theresa takes a seat directly beside me and wraps a comforting arm around me. "I'm sorry, Hazel. It's just the truth. I hate that a good person like you had to go through this. It's not fair. You don't deserve it and yet, you keep being treated like a piece of crap. You're such a wonderful person and you deserve more. And I am also sorry that you can not leave no matter how you try to. Must be testing." I nod and take the handkerchief she hands over to me. I wipe my tears before blowing my nose. "Thank you, Theresa. You've been wond
HAZEL'S POV: Throughout the ride, I am silent. I mean, is there any reason for me to speak when I am seated directly behind a man who doesn't even acknowledge me? Moments ago, he had pushed me against the car door and that had to be the most embarrassing thing ever as he had done it before our driver. I'm sure rumors about me being maltreated would start to spread but trust Onyx to fish out the culprit and do something about it. According to the guard who had come to inform me of the development, I was told that there would be a meeting at the pack this afternoon, after which there would be a dinner party. I'm not ready for it. I never was or never would be. But somehow, I was able to find a modest dress. I'm sure it's not even going to top the dresses I'd be seeing today but I don't care. I don't care about my reputation. Onyx would suffer for this. I can already imagine these women peeking at my dress and laughing at how basic it is. All fault would go to Onyx
HAZEL'S POV: I feel my blood turn cold when people only acknowledge Onyx without even looking at my side. They probably think I'm his Luna's maid. "See why I told you not to talk to anyone?" "It's not my fault." "Whose is it, then?" Onyx as and looks at me sternly. "Your fault. I understand that you hate me but I think it is absolutely ridiculous that you would bring me to such an event dressed in this manner," We were walking towards some people who were in a group, talking and laughing over drinks but he stopped and looked around before glaring down at me. "Did you think I wanted to bring you here with me? Do you know how embarrassed I am right now, standing with you?" What he says tears my heart apart but I have to be strong enough so I don't break down in front of everyone. "I know. But this would have been avoided if I had dressed properly. You should learn how to cover your shame in public and since I am your shame, you should have done the righ
HAZEL'S POV; "My name's Kylian," The man says as I go to stand beside him. I nod. "Hazel. That's my name," I say shyly. Kylian is so handsome and somehow, I love how his hair falls to his shoulders. His eyes are the greens of the forest and they hold nothing but softness. Coming to stand before me, I can see that he towers above me and somehow, it gives me a sense of security. He looks like someone that would be able to protect me from all sorts of evil. Onyx included. "So, why are you here? You should be downstairs with the royals, right?" Sighing, I look at him, contemplating if I should tell him why I am here wondering and trying not to die of boredom. "Well, someone does not want me there," Kylian raises a brow in confusion. "Why?" "Well, according to them, I am not dressed well and would be a source of embarrassment to him before the other women," "That's unnice, I must say. Who's that by the way?" I hang my head. I don't think I can tel
KYLIAN'S POV: Hazel is a beautiful soul just as she is facially. The moment I saw her climbing up the staircase, my heart went out to her. I've seen beautiful women but there's something about her that screams different. Is it the way she walks like she was made for royalty? Or the way she speaks like the world is a beautiful place? Her smile melts my heart over and over again and I always want to put it on her face. Even if she was dressed so basic, it didn't hide her beauty. Her blond hair flowing down her back smelt like roses and she smelt the same. Her laughter was soft and I was sure her skin would feel the same and when I saw the look of fear in her eyes when she saw me, I immediately wanted to wipe it away and make her feel comfortable around her. We spent about an hour together and honestly, it felt like ten minutes. Then that bastard appeared and made her look so scared. How the hell is she married to such a man who doesn't love her? Luna must have c