~HAZEL~“You cannot stop me," I firmly declare to Ashton, standing my ground. "I'm going." My voice leaves no room for argument, and I try to turn away from his angry gaze with determined urgency when he opens his mouth to respond. I notice the irritation flashing across his face, a clear sign that he's upset about my refusal to listen to him. His jaw tightens as he struggles to find words. Even though it annoyed me that he was upset, it bothered me even more that I had to stay here and watch him flirt with his mate.Suddenly, Ariel steps between us, her gentle yet commanding voice cutting through the tension. "I think that you should both calm down," she urges, her eyes earnest and caring as she looks from one of us to the other.Ashton continues to glare fiercely in my direction, his body tense and posture rigid, clearly ignoring his mate's attempts to defuse the situation."Ashton?" Ariel calls again, her tone more insistent this time, trying to capture his attention. He finally d
~HAZEL~It was already late in the afternoon, with the sun hanging low in the sky and casting long shadows, and of course, just like the many failed attempts since we got here, we hadn't found any edible food source anywhere, no matter how hard we searched."I knew it was difficult from watching the live streams, but this is absolutely ridiculous," Ariel says in frustration, her brow furrowing as she scans the area. "It feels like we're literally going in circles around here. And all this walking only makes me hungrier, which is the last thing we need right now."Ashton, noticing her increasing fatigue, looks concerned for his mate as he gently takes her hand in his, his grip reassuring. "If you're tired, you can get on my back, I'll carry you back to the cave where you can rest and regain some strength," he offers kindly, his eyes full of care.I would usually feel in awe of the way Ashton treated his mate—always gentle, attentive, and loving. But now, knowing that things were differ
~HAZEL~It's the second day since Ariel joined us for the mate hunt, and the early morning air is thick with a mixture of anticipation and quiet tension. I am still having a hard time pretending like everything is okay, even though my heart ached each time I saw Ashton with his mate, sharing looks and moments that I secretly longed to have myself."We need to hunt for more food, especially since it's three of us now," Ashton says to her, his tone practical yet slightly strained. "I want you to stay back here while Hazel and I go out hunting, to minimize the risk. I think that will be the best option.”She frowns, crossing her arms defensively. "What makes you think that I can't be out there with the two of you? Do I look weak to you and like I can't defend myself? Or do you think I will slow you down?”He shrugs, running a hand through his hair, indicating a mixture of concern and authority. "I would just prefer that you remain here, where it is much safer than out in those unpredicta
~HAZEL~"Hazel?" Ariel's voice cuts through the quiet, forcing me to turn around and face them. Ashton stands nearby, his arms wrapped protectively around her waist, leaning in slightly as if keeping her close. He avoids looking my way completely, maintaining a strict focus on the ground. He continues to pretend as though I didn't exist, his posture stiff and unreadable. He has been this way since I found him on the ground after he defeated the beast. I do not blame him for his actions. He was doing the right thing, acting as if I were a nobody when his mate was around. She was the one who truly mattered the most to him. I try to swallow the pain I feel and pretend I am okay as I smile at her, saying, "Yes. It's so good to see you, Ariel." It's the truth, despite the aching in my heart; I am still genuinely happy to see her, even if it hurts. She grins and pulls out a small object from her faded yet carefully packed bag, her eyes glinting with a secret. I was surprised she was eve
~HAZEL~"What is that?" I ask Ashton sharply, my eyes narrowing as I hear an unusually loud horn blowing repeatedly throughout the dense forest. The sharp, blaring sound echoes through the towering trees, startling nearby birds into flight. It's the first time I've heard such a signal during the game—normally, these horns are only used to mark the end of the mating event. But I immediately realize this isn't a typical signal; the timing and intensity suggest something is wrong. We had barely crossed the month mark since arriving here, and we're supposed to be stuck in this dreadful place for five months, not less.Ashton's face mirrors my anxious confusion, his brow furrowed in concern as he scans the surrounding woods."I'm not sure," he says softly, clutching his new weapons. "But I think we should be prepared for the worst, just in case."We stay silent, our ears straining as voices drift through the cave, as if the producers for the game were testing something. Then suddenly, an a
~HAZEL~Ashton refused to let me help him with his numerous fresh wounds and cuts, which were clearly visible on his arms and waist, and it bothered me deeply. After the intense moment we had earlier, it was obvious he wanted to keep his distance from me emotionally and physically. In fact, the tension was so noticeable that he was avoiding my gaze completely, refusing to even lift his head to look at me, as if attempting to block me out entirely. It absolutely bothered me to see him act this coldly towards me, his face devoid of any emotion. It felt like he was pushing everything aside and pretending like I didn't exist. All I wanted to do was to help him recover from the fight. I hated to see the purple bruises that marred his skin, evidence of the savage battle he had fought. The Necrofell had clearly given him a challenging and ruthless fight that pushed him to his limits. And even though Ashton had emerged victorious, he was still in a pretty bad shape, his breathing labored an