Chapter 5

Hazel's POV

My heart clenched as tears suddenly gathered in my eyes, “Liam, I can't believe you. I just can't believe you would be so—”

“You don’t believe me?” Liam asked, his voice dripping with disdain, “I can't believe you would stoop so low as well. You're a slut, Hazel!” His words were like a dagger, twisting my insides and carving out my heart. My tears blurred my vision as my legs buckled beneath me, “Liam, you're calling me a slut now? You're with your Ex! You're willing to divorce your mate because…” I choked, my voice filled with tears, “Because of her.” I pointed at Alessandra and she shrugged her shoulders, a small smirk playing on her lips. 

“She is my Luna now, Hazel.” 

“A position I once held.” I discovered that the more I spoke up, the more I began to remember all the good times. The way Liam and I would talk about our day, lean into each other's touch and make more promises of love. However, Alessandra came and snatched everything from me. 

Everything was in the past now. Our memories together are only a fragment of my past that would forever be buried in my heart. I pressed my lips in a thin line and sniffed, fixing my gaze on Liam, 

“For 2 years, Liam. I loved you, I trusted you with my heart and I gave you everything, but this is what I get?”

“Stop making this hard for us, Hazel,” Liam said. “Sign the papers and leave. I can’t believe I've been living with a whore.”

I stopped in my tracks. “Excuse me?”

“You didn’t think I would discover what you have been up to?” Liam asked coldly, reaching for a few pictures next to him. My eyes darted around as a chill crept up my spine, “What are you talking about?” 

“I thought the divorce broke you, Hazel.”

“It did, Liam. I'm still hurting..”

“Yet you slept with another man just a few hours after you left the banquet? Tell me, is it because you were too happy that you were finally freed from the bondage that I had put in through our marriage?”

“This isn't you, Liam.” 

“And what type of Liam do you know?”

“One that was caring, loving, and loyal to only one woman—his true mate! Not this unfaithful man here.” I breathed.  

Liam walked towards me, his height towering over me effortlessly. I took three steps back for every step he took forward. I had seen him change drastically in the last few days, and there was no telling what he was capable of doing now

“What makes you think I am unfaithful?” He asked coldly, flinging a pile of pictures towards me. I rummaged around it and discovered pictures of me last night. I had no memory of what happened, and to be honest, it did not really look like me. It could be mistaken for me from a certain angle, but I was sure I wasn't the one in the middle. We had to properly vet these pictures. “This isn't me, Liam.” I explained. 

“I have tons of evidence, Hazel. I divorced you because I…fell in love with my ex. I had problems coming up with a way to tell you so I drank to stupor that night but I never slept with another woman. Never!”

“Liam…”

“I always asked myself if I was making the right decision.”

I chipped in immediately. “And you were not. Don’t make yourself regret this, Liam. We belong together. We're mates!”

“No!” Liam said through gritted teeth. “I can see that I have made the right decision, Hazel.” he breathed, weaving his hands through his hair, “we don't belong to each other.” 

“Liam, what on earth are you saying.” I whispered, my heart pounding loudly in my ears. Everything was happening so fast, I found it hard to breathe. First, it was the strange pictures that looked oddly familiar and now, Liam was acting even more strange. I inhaled a deep, sharp breath, “Liam, we can sort this. Just let Alessandra go.” she was the problem after all. 

“She's the only one who truly cares.” Liam whispered, his eyes fixed on mine and I gulped nervously, “But I'm your mate. You can't cast me aside, Liam.” 

“That's why I'm going to reject you.” 

Liam's words echoed loudly in my ears and I took a few steps backwards as my eyes widened in terror. For years, I've watched strong wolves get rejected by their mates, only to live a miserable life in the end. Due to the pain, some lost their lives or committed suicide. That kind of pain was going to kill me and my unborn child . I shook my head, tears stinging in my eyes, “No, I'm not going to accept your rejection.” 

“Are you going to disobey your Alpha?” Liam growled, his eyes changing from its usual color to a golden shade. He was doing it again, using his authority on me. I was forced to my knees and Alessandra stiffed a laugh, sending a mocking gaze across my way. I wrapped my arms around myself and shook my head, “Liam, please, don't do this. Remember the love we share.” 

“Share?” Liam chuckled darkly, “Hazel, you gave another man your body before we finalized the divorce. Did you really love me?” 

“Liam, you know that's not true.” I whimpered, clutching my heart in pain, “You know that's not true. I'm not the one in the picture.” 

“You're going to deny this now?” He smirked, taking a few steps closer. He lowered his gaze and fixed his eyes on me, “I, Liam Brooks, Alpha of the blackwoods pack, reject you, Hazel Hale as my fated mate.” 

“No!” A shrill cry escaped my lips as this hot simmering pain pierced my heart, knocking all breath out of me. Liam simply stared at me with no visible expression in his eyes, “Accept the rejection.” 

I shook my head, “Liam, I can't.” I breathed, clutching my chest in pain. I was not ready to lose my mate, but Liam was hell-bent on letting me go. It's surprising how he changed so much in a few days, and no matter how much I searched his eyes for something different—perhaps a feeling of guilt, there was nothing but disgust in them. 

I closed my eyes and inhaled a painful breath, “I, Hazel Hale, accept your rejection.”