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 cursed her with someone as terrible as he and I felt really sorry for her.
I saw the look of fear that overshadowed her eyes and whole body when she saw Onyx standing there, glaring like he wanted her dead on the spot. And the way he pulled her roughly made me want to punch him to death. But I knew I had to mind my business and keep to myself. I have been doing a lot of that lately.
The sound of the bell signaling the beginning of lunch at the banquet table had me going down the staircase. I had been unable to have breakfast because I went hunting really early and came back once breakfast was over. I'm not someone who likes to eat after the scheduled time so I decided to wait till lunch.
Going down the staircase, I hear voices float up the staircase and immediately stop.
"What wrong did I do?" This voice belongs to Hazel and she sounds really annoyed and frustrated.
"You're really asking me this question?" Onyx asks harshly. I feel my fists clench.
"Yes. You left me alone and lonely behind that column. I couldn't stand there for too long. I had to move around to work my legs and now you're mad at me for going upstairs where no one can see me,"
"And why the fuck were you standing with Kylian and talking about the fucking sunset!"
"Because he was ready to listen to me and he didn't treat me like trash. He acknowledged my existence and listened to me and also offered to show me around,"
"But I asked you to stay behind the porch, didn't I? Why the fuck did you leave?"
"I already explained,"
I hear a feminine grunt. "You like him, don't you? You think he's good looking and he's nice to you, right?"
"Yes,"
A smile coats my face as soon as she says that. I know I have the charms but I didn't think it was going to affect her, too.
But then, I hear the sound of someone hitting something and immediately run down the steps.
"You whore, I know you wanted him to touch you. That was why you chose to follow him, right?"
"Is everything okay here?"
Hazel immediately stands to her feet. She can't bear to look at me.
"Yes, everything is. You can go on your way." Onyx says.
I ignore him and look at Hazel. "Are you okay, Hazel? And why the hell are you on the floor?"
"I missed a step," She says, but I know she's lying. "But I'm okay. Thanks for asking,"
HAZEL'S POV:
The table is already filled with people but there are three seats left and I sigh in relief. Onyx is holding my hand.
What a stupid way of public show off.
Who does he think he's deceiving by holding my hand? To make it look like we're a happy couple? I don't even look happy right now. I am the angriest and most embarrassed person in this area.
Onyx leads us to the table and draws out a chair for me. I smile stiffly at him and take a seat before he takes a seat.
We're flanked by two really beautiful women and they seem to recognize Onyx because they greet him. The woman beside me leans towards the table.
"Onyx, it's been a while since I last saw you," She says.
Onyx doesn't look like he's in the mood to talk but he gives them a fake smile. "Hey, Brenda. How have you been?"
"Good. Janice always asks after you. I'll tell her you came today."
Who's Janice? Another one of his numerous girlfriends?
I'm sure he definitely cheated on Selah before he met me. I just try to concentrate on the empty plate before me.
I see that everyone begins to serve themselves and that's when the anxiety sets in.
I can't do this before a whole bunch of influential people. They look so good and I feel like a peasant before them even if I am Luna.
Just then, Kylian appears before everyone. He draws out a chair and takes a seat beside a man who looks quite like him. They bump fists and that's when I realize that that's his twin brother.
I notice that women keep glancing at him. Yes, he's a fine specimen and mysterious. Women tend to love that about men.
Brenda, who is the lady seated beside me, leans forward to talk to Onyx. "How about Cherry? I also haven't seen her in a long time,"
"Cherry's fine," Onyx says and looks at me. Definitely to make me feel guilty.
"Who's she?" She asks, gesturing to me. She gives me a downgrading look.
"Brenda," Onyx says more seriously now. "Don't you think we should observe some table manners? You can ask all these when we're done eating,"
Brenda flushes in embarrassment before returning to her food and I am actually confused, I don't know what to say.
Everyone has taken something to eat but my plate is still empty. I can't bring myself to actually take some food. What if I do something stupid and everyone laughs at me? I'd literally freak out and hide under the table.
Kylian notices my discomfort. "Hazel, you're not hungry?"
Everyone's attention rests on me and that had to be the worst thing to ever happen to anyone on this planet. What is he doing?
When I don't give him a reply, he stands to his feet. "I'd dish some for you then,"
Onyx's fork drops on his plate with a noisy clatter. Everyone is watching quietly. "I'm seated right beside her and I can do it, Kylian,"
I don't know what to do. I just want to disappear. This is making me feel embarrassed. Onyx pretending he's jealous and Kylian being there for me. It's enough to create a scandal.
Onyx takes my place from under my arm and fills it up with enough food. Surprisingly, he makes the right choices and I wonder how he discovered foods I enjoyed.
"Next time, you tell me, okay?" Onyx says and I nod. Then he leans over and plants a kiss on my cheek.
It's enough to make people go back to their food.
I know he kissed me on the cheek for a reason. He needed people to see a level of intimacy between us so the gossip would die down a bit and I know that it took him great willpower to actually place his lips on mine. I literally disgust him.
He has said those words to me before.
I can feel Kylian's eyes on me and I totally avoid it. I'm already starting to get worried because he has no idea what trouble he's putting me in.
Once we get home, Onyx would pounce on me and I would be the one suffering the consequences.
Suddenly, I start to regret ever entertaining him. I become afraid of how I'd be hit when I get home and that is when I have an anxiety attack.
My fork clatters on my plate and I push my chair back violently, causing everyone to stop talking and eating. Their eyes are all on me but I literally don't care. I have to find somewhere to hide so I don't break down before these people.
I find somewhere to hide. It's by the side of the building under a roof and it's really quiet. I slide to the ground and burst into tears and immediately muffle my cries with my hand.
There are a bunch of people with sharp hearing who might definitely hear me crying and I don't think Onyx would be too pleased with that.
"Hazel, why are you crying? What's wrong?"
I lift my head to see Kylian standing before me and I groan. "Can you leave me be?!"
Kylian is shocked by the harshness of my voice. I feel guilty for yelling at him that way.
But I'm scared for me because he won't be there when I am being punished.
"You already put me in enough trouble but you don't seem to care."
"What do you mean? Is something wrong?"
"Just leave me be!" I scream.
"You heard her. Leave her be."
ONYX'S POV: As soon as Hazel left, everyone's eyes were suddenly on me and it made me feel really uncomfortable. They were all silent but I could read it in their eyes that they were waiting for me to do something as they all knew she was my Luna. I sighed and pushed my chair backwards and began to walk away from the table, from my food. I was only doing this to protect my reputation. What if a scandal happened? I'd be the one to suffer the consequences. I know the direction she went because I can smell her scent. It's something I don't have a problem with. Finding her by her scent and that's because she smells really nice. More than I expected. I also heard sobs as I drew closer and when I saw Kylian standing before her and trying to act like he did care, I felt my fist clench and my teeth bare. Hazel has no idea that Kylian is standing before her till he speaks she lifts her head to see Kylian standing before her and she expels an exasperation. "Can you lea
SELAH'S POV: I hate how things are turning out. I am barely allowed access into the palace as Onyx mother doesn't want me. His father doesn't even care and Cherry is not healthy enough to defend me. I know how much she adores me. Onyx on the other hand, has changed drastically. He no longer pleasures me the way he used to when we used to be in a serious relationship. Now, he's married and when he invites me over all the time, he's always busy and detached and I don't like it one bit. Sighing, I put on my earrings. I need to go see Onyx today and probably talk to him about what's happening and how I don't like it at all. I'm dressed really well as that's my specialty and I wonder how Onyx copes with a woman who dresses like she carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. I hate her so much. I slip my legs into my boots and I am set and ready to go to the palace. I just hope the Queen doesn't see me. She always has something harsh to say to me and it makes me
ONYX'S POV: We're just driving into the gate when we see a lady being pulled towards the palace gates by the guards. Hazel also cranes her neck to see who it is but she says nothing. I recognized her immediately. "Selah?" Then I tap the driver. "Stop driving! Park immediately!" Wounding my glass down, I see that she's really angry and I just hope it's not my mother's command. I'll be livid with them. "Onyx!" She calls out loudly. "Look what your mother made these retards do to me!" The driver finally halts and I quickly step down from the car. "Selah, why are you here?" I ask as soon as I get to where Selah is, standing with the guards still holding her arms tightly. "Let her go," command and immediately, she is released. Selah moves away from them and rushes towards me to hold my arm. "Why are you here?" I ask again. "Firstly, I find it offensive that you would ask me why I am here. Secondly, I came here to talk to you about something,"
EARL'S POV: I don't know what to tell Onyx. He's as stubborn as an ox and would listen to no one. I guess only time would make him listen and as I sat beside his Luna, one of the most beautiful women I have come across, I decided that I would do something drastic. But for now, I need to listen to Hazel. "You're worth more than this. Can't you leave him?" Hazel whips her head to look at me. There's fire in her eyes. "Do you think I don't want to? If I leave him, he'll find me. He'd scour the corners of the earth in search of me. I can't run away from him. That's what's most depressing!" Hazel cried out and bent her head. "He doesn't know how much he has hurt me. I have never been treated this bad my whole life as it is new to me. I hate it, I want to run away from it but I know I can't. I only have to endure and hope that someday, something changes or maybe I can get used to it," While she speaks, I listen to her and my heart goes out to her. I can feel my
ONYX'S POV; "Let's go to your room," Selah whines as she gets on top of me. "But we're fine here." I say, slightly pushing her off me. She gets off me in anger and glares at me. "Find where anyone can come in?" "I'm really not in the mood, Selah," Onyx said. He was shocked that he had actually said that. He had never not been in the mood with Selah and this was strange. He looked at her to see that she was already frowning and getting on her feet. "I should leave, then," She says. Grabbing her by the arm, I stop her from moving and she tries to be free from my hold to no avail. "You're not leaving." "Why?" Selah queried. "You won't even touch me and now, you don't want me to go either!" "Calm down, Selah. Sex isn't the only thing we should be having, should it? There are other things to do. Like have conversations, take a walk or even play games," Selah is staring at me in confusion. "What are you saying? Conversations, walks, games?" She bursts
HAZEL'S POV: I thought Selah left this afternoon? What's she still doing here by this time? I'm not moved by the way she looks at me as she proceeds into the palace. "I really hate her," Kiara spat. "She makes me want to murder," I burst into laughter. "Hey! Kiara, you don't have to sound like that." "I don't really care. She's so shameless. She should be busy searching for her mate but she's here rubbing her body against the King. How shameful." "Calm down, Kiara. It's not that deep," We're standing outside the gates now and she's glaring at me. "It's not that deep?!" She bursts into laughter. "You must be really dumb to think that it's not that deep. Someone is trying to take your place in Onyx's life and you're saying it's not that deep?" "I thought you hated Onyx? Aren't you the one asking me to leave him? Why are you mad that I'm not doing anything about it? Cut me some slack, Kiara. I am already receiving so much pressure from being the King's
SELAH'S POV: "She was able to bribe the priest to announce someone else as his mate." I laugh, shaking my head. "I don't believe that the Priest would collect s bribe," Stella said, looking very doubtful. "He's a very transparent man," "Like I said, they'll show you what they want you to see and hide what they don't want you to see. While all these were happening, Onyx was informing me about it and I thought he was on my side. He made a promise to me that he would never let their plans come to fruition. Look at things now? He's married to Hazel, a lady from the woods. Hazel was the one who shot an arrow at Cherry. That's why the sweet girl has been on the sick bed for almost two months and nothing is being done!" "The Dowager Queen doesn't care enough for her daughter. In her quest not to make me part of the family, she has wreaked a lot of havoc and I can't even stand to watch it. It's terrible!" "On the day that it was announced that Hazel was his mate, I wa
ONYX'S POV: The next morning, I woke up to see my mother standing in my room. For a moment, I am confused as to why she's in my room. She rarely comes to my room when I am asleep. She did that a long time ago when I was still young so seeing her here at this time has me wondering why. "What are you doing in my room, mother?" "A good morning to you too, Onyx." She says sternly. Sitting up, I stretch and yawn before going to my window to open the curtains. It's a brand new day and I don't know what it holds for me. "Were you aware that the priest came?" Frowning, I turn to look at her. The priest rarely ever comes here. The last time he was here, it was for my coronation. "No, I wasn't. When did he come?" "This morning." She replies and goes to take a seat in front of my work desk. "I was in the sunroom with your father and your wife when he came," I wrinkle my nose at the way she addresses Hazel as my wife. "Did he state the reason why he was here