CHAPTER 10

    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 as I plan on looking like I don't like my marriage. Do I really?

    In thirty minutes, we're driving through large gates along with other cars. I feel Hazel stiffen beside me and I wonder why he suddenly became that way. 

    As soon as the driver parks, he steps down and goes to open the door for Onyx. I don't bother so I unlock the door myself and step down. 

    A lot of people are here. They're probably from different pack. I had no idea that we had lots of packs in our province. Shrugging, I wait for Hazel to come and take my arms and surprisingly, he does. 

    "Make sure you're smiling at all times. Never should your expression be dead, is that clear?"

    I immediately put on a bright beam which I am sure everyone would find strange and forced. Through my teeth, I say, "Clear."

    "Good." He says and we start walking to the door. 

    As we are about to go into the large hall, someone by our side turns to look at Onyx. A look of recognition coats his face. "Onyx!"

    Onyx immediately turns his head to see the man and immediately, a look of recognition washes over his face. "Asher! You're here?!"

    "Of course, man! What's up?" 

    Onyx immediately leaves my hand and shakes hands with his friend. He looks happier than he usually does. "I'm good."

    "How's the leadership going?" Asher asked.

    "We're trying hard to keep up. What's up? Why is your father not here with you?"

    Asher sighs sadly. "Man got sick with a serious fever. We lost him. Later discovered it was from the wrong medications. Someone was giving him a placebo,"

    Onyx's eyes widened. "I hope the culprit has been executed?"

    "Of course. We were able to fish them out."

    "My condolences, man. Must be hard for you."

    Asher smiles sadly. "We try our best." His eyes darted towards me and he frowned a bit. "Why isn't Selah with you?"

    I know he has no idea who I am but this is plain rude. I don't say anything anyway. Onyx already gave me instructions to speak when I am spoken to. 

    I notice Onyx's discomfort as he tries to speak. "Err, we're no longer together,"

    "That's sad. I legit thought you were going to marry her," Asher says while still looking at me. "Who's she though?"

    Onyx looks at me. I can't place his expression and I just hope he doesn't say something terrible about me. "She's my mate,"

    Asher's eyes widened. "Are you for real?"

    "Of course, I am."

    Asher bows slightly to me. "Greetings, my lady."

    I just give him an awkward smile. I don't say anything in reply till Onyx nudges me. "Hello. Nice to meet you, Asher,"

    "May I know your name or do I address you as Luna?"

    "She prefers to be called by her name. It's Hazel," Onyx quickly replies and both I and Asher give him a strange look. Why is he acting this way?

    "Oh, nice name, Hazel. Just like the color of your eyes," Asher says then he looks at Onyx. "Luna blessed you with a really beautiful one."

    Not knowing what to say, Onyx nods and smiles. "Indeed."

    Asher slaps his shoulder. "See you around, man." Then he looks at me. "My wife would be pleased to meet you."

    

    ONYX'S POV;

    

    As we get down from the car, I realize that there are lots of people here today and they're here for the meeting. I take a quick look at Hazel and her dressing and think twice about taking her in there. I could just ask the guard to drive her back home and come back to pick me, right?

    But she already stepped down and even if it doesn't seem like it, people already saw her with me. If I send her back, it's going to be talked about. Someone will definitely talk about it. It always seems like they don't see things but they actually do and I am not ready for the tension and gossip they come with. 

    Reluctantly, I go to the other side of the car where she's standing. I crook my arm and she slips hers into mine then we start walking towards the door. I try to ignore the fact that she doesn't really look good in this dress. I should have gotten something better for this meeting. 

    Everything I'm doing is just to preserve my reputation but there'd be a dent in this one. It can be avoidable if she listens to my instructions. 

        "Make sure you're smiling at all times. Never should your expression be dead, is that clear?"

   She's silent for a while but later, she replies. "Clear."

    "Good."

    Just as we get to the door and are filing into the hall, I hear someone call my name and I immediately turn. Fuck, it's Asher. That dude rarely minds his business. But I put up a surprised look, acting like I am happy to see him. 

    We exchange greetings and where I feel violated is when he starts looking at Hazel. When he asks about Selah, I notice the look on Hazel's face. 

    "Err, we're no longer together,"

    "That's sad. I legit thought you were going to marry her," Asher says while still looking at Hazel. "Who's she though?"

    I look at Hazel who's also looking at me to say something. There's no need to lie or anything like that because everyone will eventually find out sooner or later. "She's my mate,"

    Asher's eyes widened. "Are you for real?"

    "Of course, I am."

    Asher bows slightly to Hazel. "Greetings, my lady."

    Hazel keeps to my instructions. Instead of speaking, she just smiles at him and doesn't say anything in reply. Starting to feel bed for actually telling her that, I nudged her to speak. "Hello. Nice to meet you, Asher,"

    "May I know your name or do I address you as Luna?"

    "She prefers to be called by her name. It's Hazel," I quickly reply. 

    "Oh, nice name, Hazel. Just like the color of your eyes," Asher says then he looks at me again. I know he's trying to pass a message to me but I am going to act really oblivious. "Luna blessed you with a really beautiful one."

    Not knowing what to say, I nod and smile. "Indeed."

    Asher slaps my shoulder. "See you around, man." Then he looks at Hazel. "My wife would be pleased to meet you."

    As soon as he is gone, I heave a sigh of relief. "Great job you did here, Hazel. Make sure not to engage with his wife," I whisper into her ears as we are crowded around by people in the hall.

    I take a good look around. No one is seated yet. The hall is still scanty but quite a lot of people are here, talking and getting familiarized with each other. Ushers serve drinks and I grab one for myself.

    "Why?" Hazel suddenly asks. Frowning, I look at her. She's looking around as well. 

    "Why what?"

    "You asked me not to engage in a conversation with his wife and I am asking you why."

    "I thought I warned you against questioning my order?"

    "Well, you did. If I don't socialize, everyone would think I am not happy with you,"

    "You want them to think we are?" I laugh and shake my head. "That's absolutely ridiculous."

    "Is it?"

    "Under no circumstances should you talk to her. I'm sure other Lunas wouldn't even want to talk to you,"

    "Why?"

    I turn to give her a once over. She really doesn't look good. Her dress looks like something any of these women here would wear to cook in the kitchen for their husbands. 

    "Because, your dressing. Everyone here addresses people according to how they're dressed,"

    Just as I say that, a man who recognizes me comes to greet me but he doesn't even spare a glance at Hazel.

    "See?"