Chapter 3

Panic hit her instantly, and she ran blindly down the corridor, feeling totally lost in the massive house. 

Every single hallway looked the same, and she couldn't see any maid or servant in sight to ask for help. Her heart was racing as she rounded a sharp corner much too fast, slamming directly into someone's broad chest.

Hazel gasped, immediately bowing her head in terror because she was so startled. "I am so sorry, sir! Both of us... I mean, I am so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," she stammered out, her voice shaking as she kept her eyes glued to the floor.

"It is alright, please don't worry. It was just an accident," a voice replied. It was deep, but surprisingly soft and kind.

Hazel slowly looked up, surprised by the gentle tone. The man standing in front of her looked a lot like Ryder, with the same sharp face and long white hair, but his eyes were a calm, icy white that felt warm instead of scary. 

He wore a simple white robe and smiled down at her "I haven't seen you around the mansion before," he said, looking at her face. "You don't look like one of the servants, Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but I don't believe we've met before. Are you new to the estate?"

"I am looking for my room," Hazel explained, finally letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "He told me it is the last door at the end of the eastern wing."

'Then you must be the one my brother Ryder brought here today. Tell me, are you the Alpha's mate?"

 "Yes, I am."

"I see. I am Kaiden," he said smoothly, reaching down to take her hand and gently kissing the back of it. Hazel's heart skipped a beat; she wasn't used to anyone treating her with such sweetness. "Since you are new to the estate, you shouldn't be wandering these dark corridors alone. Ryder won't see us, I promise. Would you like to see the gardens instead? It is much nicer out there."

 "Okay," she said.

They walked out through a side door, and instantly, the cool breeze blew across her face. Hazel closed her eyes for a brief second, breathing in the fresh air. She really loved gardens; the smell of blooming flowers and the open sky always made her feel safe.

"It's beautiful out here, isn't it?" Kaiden asked, walking slowly beside her on the stone path.

"It really is," Hazel whispered, looking around at the bright green hedges and colorful roses. "I didn't think a place like this mansion could have something so beautiful."

Kaiden let out a soft, sad chuckle. "This garden is the only part of the estate that stays bright. My brother has been cold and heartless ever since our mother was murdered right in front of his eyes when we were young. He prefers the dark rooms inside. But I try to spend my time out here. Flowers don't judge you, and they don't carry the weight of the past."

Hazel looked at him, feeling a wave of sympathy. "I am so sorry about your mother. It must have been terrible for both of you."

"It was," Kaiden said, stopping by a large white rose bush. He gently plucked a rose and handed it to her. "But it changed Ryder more than it changed me. He became a man who rules with fear. I don't want you to think everyone in this family is a monster, Hazel. I want you to know you have a friend here. Also, tell me something about yourself."

Hazel looked down at the rose in her hand, her expression turning sad. "My life hasn't really been fair, My mother died years ago. After she passed, I was left in the hands of my father. But he was completely blinded by my stepmother."

"My father stopped loving me the moment my mom died," she said, a tear escaping her eye. "My stepmother fed him lies, and he believed them. He started saying that my mom gave birth to me with another man, that I wasn't even his real daughter. They treated me like an outsider in my own home."

 He reached out and lightly touched her shoulder. "I am so sorry, Hazel. No one deserves to be rejected by the people who are supposed to protect them. You didn't deserve any of that."

Hazel wiped her cheek and looked up at him, giving a small, grateful smile. "Thank you for listening to me, Kaiden. It's been a long time since anyone just sat and listened to my story."

"Of course," he replied with a cute, reassuring smile that made her feel instantly safer. "Whenever you feel sad, just remember this: I'm always here."

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A couple of hours later, the sun began to set, painting the sky in soft shades of orange and pink. Hazel knew she had to return before she was missed.

"It was really nice spending time with you, Kaiden," Hazel said as they stopped near the entrance of the eastern wing.

"The pleasure was all mine, dear. I am already missing our conversation," Kaiden smiled faintly before taking a respectful step back.

Hazel smiled to herself, as she walked back down the hallway. She easily found the heavy door this time and pushed it open.

 Hazel let out a long sigh of relief. She walked over to the large bed in the center of the room and sat down on the edge.

Slowly, she stretched out her hand and touched the bed. Her fingers sank into the thick, luxurious fabric. It was soft—really, really soft. She pressed her palms into the mattress, amazed by how plush it felt.

Hazel couldn't even remember the last time she slept on a comfy bed since her mother died. For years, she had slept on hard floors and thin, scratchy blankets, waking up with aches and pains every single morning. Feeling this level of comfort brought a small tear to her eye, but it was a tear of relief.

She looked around the room, and everything looked beautiful. 

She kicked off her shoes and crawled into the center of the mattress, pulling the heavy, soft quilt up to her chin. Hugging the fluffy pillow tightly against her chest, Hazel closed her eyes, finally feeling a deep sense of peace wash over her as she drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep.

.

.

"Yaaawnnn-aahh!" Hazel gasped, her jaw stretching wide as the crisp morning air hit her face. She blinked rapidly against the soft, golden beam of sunlight slicing through the heavy velvet curtains. 

Her body tensed as she rolled over, wrapping the blankets tighter to fight off the waking world.

 It had been literal ages since she had last slept so peacefully without a single care in the world. Back at her father’s house, her mornings were a living nightmare, filled with the splashing of ice-cold water on her face or a cruel kick to her stomach from her maid.

Knock, knock.

The sudden noise startled Hazel. She sat up fast, pulling the soft sheets right up to her chin.

"Good morning, milady, May we enter to help you prepare for the day?" The maid said behind the door.

Hazel blinked in surprise, her heart doing a quick little flutter at the grand title. 

"Yes," Hazel said, clearing her throat.

The heavy door opened, and two young maids walked in, pushing a golden cart filled with steaming pots of water, fluffy white towels, and a collection of beautiful glass bottles. 

The main maid, whose name tag read Chloe, gave a small, respectful bow as she stepped closer to the edge of the large bed.

"We have prepared a warm bath for you, milady," Chloe said with a gentle smile that instantly made Hazel feel a bit more at ease.

 "The waters have been infused with natural lavender oils and a special milk soap to help soften your skin and wash away the tiredness from your long journey yesterday."

"Thank you so much," Hazel whispered, sliding her legs out from under the thick quilt and letting her bare feet sink into the incredibly soft rug on the floor. "I’m really not used to all of this attention, to be honest."

Chloe gave a soft chuckle as she helped Hazel guide her arms out of her old gown and step down into the large, steaming marble bathtub.

 "You are the Alpha's mate now, milady, so you deserve to be treated with the utmost care. Just relax and let us handle everything."

As Hazel sank into the warm, bubbly water, a deep sigh of pure relief escaped her lips. The soap was so soft, bubbling up like fluffy clouds as the maids gently washed her long hair and massaged her tense shoulders. For a moment, the delicious scent of lavender made her forget all about her dark past, making her feel like a true princess in a classic romance novel.

 They wrapped her in a thick, warm towel and guided her toward a grand vanity mirror, where they began brushing out her silky hair.

Chloe then walked over to the grand wardrobe and pulled out a breathtaking pastel pink dress made of the finest silk, decorated with tiny embroidered roses along the sleeves. As they gently slid the soft dress over her head and zipped it up, Hazel looked at her reflection in the glass, barely recognizing the beautiful girl staring back at her.

"You look absolutely stunning, milady," the second maid gasped, adjusting the skirt of the dress. "The pastel colors suit your gentle eyes perfectly."

"Thank you," Hazel said, a genuine blush creeping up her cheeks as she touched the soft fabric. "It’s the most beautiful thing I have ever worn."

Chloe smiled, but her expression quickly turned a bit serious as she picked up a silver hairbrush to add the finishing touches. "You need to look your best this morning, milady, because you are going to have breakfast with Master Ryder in the main dining hall. He is already downstairs waiting for you, and he does not like to be kept waiting for his morning meals."

The mention of Ryder’s name made Hazel’s stomach instantly twist into a tight, nervous knot, all the warmth from her bath completely vanishing. Her mind flashed back to his cold, emotionless eyes from the day before, and she swallowed hard, her hands starting to tremble slightly against the silk of her skirt.

"Is... is he in a bad mood today?" Hazel asked softly, trying to hide the rising panic in her voice.

"The Alpha is always quiet and difficult to read in the mornings," Chloe replied gently, placing a comforting hand on Hazel's shoulder. "But you don't need to worry. Just be polite, follow his lead, and everything will be completely fine. Come along, we will show you the way to the dining hall."

Hazel took a deep breath, trying to summon the courage she had felt while talking to Kaiden in the garden, and slowly nodded her head as she followed the maids out into the long, silent corridor.

 She kept smoothing down the front of her pink silk dress, her hands still a little sweaty from nerves.

"Just breathe," she whispered to herself, but her throat felt completely dry.

The dining hall was massive but sitting all the way at the far end, completely alone, was Ryder.

He was holding a cup of black coffee, looking over some papers. He wore a sharp black suit that made him look even bigger and scarier than yesterday. He didn't even look up when she walked in.

Hazel’s legs felt like jelly. She looked back at Chloe for help, but the maid just gave her an encouraging little nod and stood by the door.

 Hazel was on her own.

She walked slowly across the room, her eyes glued to the floor. The smell of fresh bacon and warm pastries filled the air, but her stomach was tied in such a tight knot that she didn't think she could eat a single bite.

"Good morning, Master Ryder," Hazel said. Her voice came out small and squeaky, making her face instantly turn bright red from embarrassment.

 When he lifted his head, his cold, dark eyes locked right onto hers, scanning her from head to toe, completely ignoring how nice she looked in the pink dress. His face was like stone.

Hazel froze, her breath catching in her throat. 

"Where do you think you went yesterday?" Ryder asked. His voice was cold.

Hazel’s heart dropped straight into her stomach. 

Her hands gripped the fabric of her skirt so hard her knuckles turned white. 

She swallowed hard, trying to force her voice to work, but her mind was racing. If she told the truth, Ryder might punish Kaiden. If she lied, his cold eyes told her he would know instantly.

"I... I just needed some fresh air, milord," she stammered, her eyes darting to the floor because she couldn't bear his intense stare.

Ryder stopped just two feet away from her. The heavy scent of his expensive cologne mixed with the smell of coffee made Hazel feel trapped.

"Do you think I am stupid?" Ryder said.

Hazel squeezed her eyes shut for a second. The coldness in his tone made her shiver.

"I know you were with your brother, Kaiden," he continued, " Hazel. Did you really think you could sneak around in the dark right under my nose?"

"Please," she whispered, as she forced herself to look up into his icy eyes. "It was just a misunderstanding. I didn't mean to break your rules."

"Brother, it's enough. Stop scaring her, a calm voice echoed through the massive room.

The heavy wooden doors of the dining hall had swung open, and Kaiden stepped inside. He looked exactly like he did yesterday in the garden, with his long white hair brushing against his shoulders. 

His pale, icy eyes looked soft and relaxed, completely different from the dark, angry stare of the Alpha. 

 She let out a tiny gasp of relief, her shoulders dropping as she looked at Kaiden like a lifesaver.

Ryder didn't move away from Hazel immediately. Instead, his body went completely stiff. His jaw clenched so tight that a small muscle jumped in his cheek. He slowly turned his head to look at his brother, his dark eyes narrowing into a fierce glare.

"Why are you here? Are you not supposed to be in your garden?" Ryder asked. He clearly did not like his brother interrupting him, especially when it came to his new mate.

Kaiden didn't look scared of the Alpha's anger at all. He just kept walking until he stood on the opposite side of the long dining table. He looked at the breakfast platters, then up at Hazel, giving her a warm, reassuring wink.

"Get out," Ryder said.

Hazel flinched at the sharpness of his words. She expected Ryder to send her away, but instead, he was turning all his anger onto his own brother. 

Kaiden just smiled, completely ignoring the dangerous tone in Ryder's voice. 

"Can't you welcome your brother?" Kaiden asked. He turned his eyes away from Ryder and looked directly at Hazel. "You look beautiful today, Hazel."

Hearing another man call his mate beautiful made him angry. He stepped right in front of Hazel, completely blocking her from Kaiden's view with his massive shoulders. He didn't want his brother looking at her, and he didn't want her looking back.

"I will not tell you again, Kaiden," Ryder warned, his jaw clenching so hard it looked like stone. "Get out of my dining hall. Now."

Kaiden raised his hands in the air, pretending to surrender, though his eyes still sparked with mischief. "Alright, alright. I'm going".

With a slow, lazy turn, Kaiden walked back toward the heavy wooden doors. But right before he left, he glanced back over his shoulder at Hazel and gave her a small, comforting nod, leaving her alone in the quiet room with her furious mate.