Chapter Nine – Why Is Stavros Here?

Hazel’s POV 

My heartbeats stopped as I gaped at Stavros in the car next to me. I couldn’t believe my eyes at all. Was he really here after eight long years? Why was he here? As far as I could remember, he knew no one in Fairbanks. Then did he come here for me? 

The signal turned green and Zander drove us ahead, unaware of the storm arising within me. To my surprise, Stavros followed us all the way to the hospital. How did he know Granny was unwell? I hadn’t told a soul yet. 

“Don’t worry, Hazel. She’ll be fine now.” I nodded absent-mindedly at Zander. I was indebted to him for taking care of my granny for the last eight years. While I stayed away from him and his pack to build my dream career, he never took out his grudge against Granny. After four years of college, he hadn’t contacted me to fulfill his ultimatum. I had almost thought he had moved on, but after my last visit to Granny, I knew I was wrong. Alpha Zander was still waiting for me.

There was no use fighting my fate and my feelings any longer. I agreed to accept him as my mate, but Granny was down with pneumonia and had to be hospitalized. So, maybe I would accept Zander after Granny recovered. 

Now that I considered moving on, what was Stavros doing here? He had taken no update on me after rejecting me so cruelly. For him, I might as well have been dead. His rejection still hurt me, but I was used to the pain by now. I hardly kept in touch with Hera or Zephyrus as they reminded me of the dream life I wanted with Stavros. It was impossible to forget my first love, but I was still trying. Why did he have to appear in front of me after so many years? 

“Drive faster, Zander.” My gaze went towards Stavros’s car, tailing us. 

“Is he following you?” I focused my attention on Zander. How did he know Stavros was following me? 

“Yes. How do you know?” He smiled as he picked up speed. 

“Your reaction speaks louder than words. So, is he your fated mate? Is he the one who rejected you and forgot about you for almost a decade?” I nodded and looked out of the window to swallow the pain constricting my throat. 

It wouldn’t have hurt me so much if it would have been someone else. I hadn’t expected this from Stavros. I knew him from the day I was born. He always took care of me. Our hearts were connected, and he was an inseparable part of my life. He protected me, took care of me, rescued me, and pampered me. Then what changed in the two years we were apart? How did he suddenly fall for Princess Anastasia and forget me? 

“Will you forgive him and accept him back as your mate?” I could sense the fear in Alpha Zander’s voice. 

“No. I’m sure he isn’t here to ask for my forgiveness.” 

I glanced at Zander with a puzzled look on my face. Why was he so upset about Stavros’s presence?

I was sure Zander knew there was no mate bond between me and him. It was a lie. I still had no idea why Zander was pursuing me. Nor could I understand his motive behind sheltering and taking care of granny. It couldn’t be love because I didn’t feel it in his actions or words. 

Therefore, even after eight years, I still had no clue about Alpha Zander’s motive for pursuing me. 

He stopped the car in the hospital parking space and we rushed in. I turned to see Stavros still following us. What was he planning to do? I didn’t want a confrontation here. Zander steered me into granny’s room and I locked the door after us. 

“I’ll talk to him,” said Zander, but I grabbed his sleeves to stop him. 

“No. He’ll leave if we stay here for a while. Please don’t pick up a fight with him.” I had no idea why Stavros was here, but his body language wasn’t at all friendly. I could see the fiery glow in his eyes as he stormed after us. It was the same aura I had seen in him eight years ago in Aromania. There was no reason for him to be angry with me after so many years. 

“I don’t think so. He’s here to snatch you back from me.” We stood beside granny’s bed but she was in deep sleep. I wanted to correct Zander and point out the truth to him. I hadn’t yet accepted him as my mate. So, I didn’t belong to anyone now. 

I was happy with my job and career. The last thing I needed right now was two males fighting over me! 

I sat down beside granny and closed my eyes. Strangely, I could feel Stavros outside pacing the lobby agitatedly. How could I feel him when we had rejected one another? 

“I’ll have a word with her, doctor.” I turned to give Alpha Zander a suspicious look. It seemed he was itching to pick up a fight with Stavros. 

“Not now.” He glared at me when there was a knock on the door. Was it Stavros? 

Zander opened the door, and the doctor entered. 

“How’s she doing, doctor?” asked Zander, while I waited for the doctor’s reply. Granny had been down with pneumonia and if Zander hadn’t admitted her here forcefully, her condition would have deteriorated further. The infection would have entered her lungs and it would have been fatal for her. I felt guilty for not taking care of my granny well. Aunt Carmen had four pups to take care of, along with a full-time job. Therefore, I was the only one who could take care of granny. 

Granny’s health was the only reason I considered accepting Alpha Zander as my chosen mate. Granny didn’t wish to live anywhere else, and I had no other choice than to join the Windcrest Pack.

It seemed living in Lucania with my pack would remain a distant dream forever. 

“She’s improving, but we would like to observe her for another twenty-four hours.” The doctor’s reply brought me back to reality. 

The doctor left and so did Zander to complete the hospital formalities. Granny opened her bleary eyes and broke down to see me at her bedside. The door opened and Aunt Carmen came rushing in. 

“If you weren’t feeling well, why didn’t you call me, mom?” Aunt Carmen looked upset as she sat at Granny’s bedside. 

“I didn’t want to disturb you.” Aunt Carmen looked even more upset. 

“I won’t get disturbed at all. Now, you’ll move in with us, Mom. I won’t let you live alone anymore.”

I felt relieved that I wouldn’t have to accept Zander and join his pack, for Granny’s sake. I was dreading the decision every minute. 

“That won’t be necessary. Hazel will join our pack and accept Zander as her fated mate. I’ll live with them.” Aunt Carmen gave me a doubtful look. I was sure she could feel the hesitation in me. 

“Until it happens, you can move in with me.” 

“Yes, granny. Please listen to Aunt Carmen. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to figure this out.” The disappointed look in Granny’s eyes made me feel guilty, but I was helpless. I just couldn’t accept Alpha Zander despite everything he did for me. Something didn’t feel right about him. He was too good to be true. Surely there was a catch to his offer. What could it be?

“I can wait. There’s no urgency,” protested Granny and we groaned at her stubbornness. 

“This time you have no say in the matter, Mom. I’m staying here until your discharge. The pups are at home with their dad. So I’m sorted.” I sprang from my chair, feeling relieved to have someone with granny. 

“I’ll check what Zander is up to. It has been almost twenty-five minutes since he has gone to the reception desk. Maybe he needs help.” I rushed out. Not for Zander. I was worried Stavros would pick up a fight with him. I emerged from the room, but there was no sign of the duo in the lobby. They weren’t there in the elevator as I went down to the reception desk. 

I looked around the reception area, but Zander was nowhere in sight. I was right. They were surely fighting somewhere. I inquired at the reception, but they had no information about Zander. It seemed he hadn’t even reached the reception desk. 

I was at my wit’s end. Where would I look for them? I didn’t have Zander’s number. So, the only one I could call was Stavros. I didn’t need to check his number because I knew it by heart. If he hadn’t changed it, maybe I could call him and find out. After looking for them the last time, I gave up and took out my phone. 

I punched in Stavros’s phone number and waited with bated breath for him to accept my call.