Chapter 3

Hazel's POV 

“Mate!”

I heard my wolf's voice for the first time in my life and I just found out who my mate was. Alpha Brian. He was actually my mate. I knew he felt the bond, too, because his intense gaze never left me as he approached me slowly.

The whole room was silent, hushed whispers echoing here and there. I could barely see anyone else, my entire gaze was on the man I had spent most of my years adoring.

Moon goddess, what good karma did I do to get this kind of blessing? I always thought I was wolfless, but my wolf finally awakened after so long, and my mate was the almighty Alpha Brian. How lucky was I?

“You're my mate, huh?” Lisa voice came as a calm murmur and my knees buckled when he circled me like a predator watching its prey.

“That's impossible! How can you be her mate? What sort of sorcery is this?” Lisa shrieked in horror but I didn't care about her anymore. Brian was mine. All mine. 

I was beyond elated that I could fly through the roof right now. The maids shot me scornful looks filled with bitterness and jealousy but none of that mattered. I would literally be untouchable with Brian.

“I'm sure there's some kind of mistake, Brian. This useless witch can't be your mate! She doesn't even have a wolf.” Lisa added, her face red with anger and courage suddenly filled my bones as I turned to her.

“If I didn't have a wolf, how would I find my mate? And I'm not a witch, I'm a werewolf just like you.” I retorted as my heart pounded in my chest. She could have me killed for this but I've had enough.

“You—” She stormed towards me but Brian held his hand up, stopping her.

“Enough.” He said plainly and a small smile blossomed on my face. He protected me. “There's no sorcery here. Hazel is my mate and the mate bond isn't forged. There's nothing you can do about it, Lisa.” he added as he turned to me and my hopes skyrocketed.

My happiness knew no bounds.

“So what? Are you just gonna take an omega slave as your mate? What about me? You promised to marry me!” Lisa cried out, glaring daggers at me and Brian finally turned to stare at her.

“You're overreacting, Lisa.”

“Overreacting? You're gonna abandon me for her!”

“And who said that?” Brian asked with raised brows and for a second, I froze. My smile wiped off immediately as I struggled to comprehend the meaning behind his words.

“W-what?” I managed to stutter and that seemed to get his attention as he turned back to me with a smirk on his lips. His hands reached out to grab my chin gently as he tilted my head to meet his eyes.

“You're my mate, yes. But who said I was going to accept you? You want me to mark a filthy rag like you?” He asked calmly and my heart literally stopped working. The world around me spun, and my ears rang harshly.

Snickers and mocking laughter echoed around me as Lisa stared at me with contempt. The maids were no different, whispering about how stupid I was to believe Brian would accept me.

“I'm your mate.” I started, my voice cracking. “The moon goddess joined us together. You should accept me.” My voice was barely above a whisper as I spoke and his grip on my chin suddenly tightened.

“Fuck the moon goddess. She must have been blind to mate me to filth like you. You're so ahead of yourself, aren't you?” he spat in annoyance as he finally let go of my chin like it was disgusting and I stumbled backward.

Everyone was staring at me. Some with pity, others with amusement, most with contempt and mockery. How could I have been so stupid to believe I had finally met good luck?

I watched as Lisa walked up to Brian and he kissed her deeply, sending waves of pain through me. My wolf howled in betrayal inside of me and even though I couldn't feel her fully yet, I knew she was in pain. Just like I was. But I couldn't cry. I wouldn't cry. Not in front of them. I wouldn't prove that I was weak.

Lisa suddenly walked up to me and smacked me hard, sending my face to the side as she grabbed my chin.

“You were so full of yourself earlier. What did you say again? ‘I'm not a witch, I'm a werewolf like you’.” She mimicked me and tightened her grip on my chin. “Don't you ever compare your useless, filthy self to me again, or I will fucking kill you!” She yelled as she pushed me and I stumbled backward. 

Before I could fall, I crashed into something solid, and I felt strong hands grab my shoulder from behind to stop me from falling. My head turned sharply, and I froze when I saw Alpha Oscar behind me, an unreadable expression on his face.

“This was supposed to be a party, not a bullying show. Have you no sense of respect or shame?” His voice sent shivers down my spine, and he didn't let go of my shoulder, almost like he was supporting me.

“Father—”

“I don't care what you do, Brian. But there are guests. Have some common sense.” He spat in annoyance and finally let go of me before walking away. He didn't even spare me another glance when he walked away but I could still feel his grip on my shoulders.

I turned to walk away when Brian stopped me with his words.

“I, Brian Vesper, reject you, Hazel, as my mate. You're of no use to me.” He declared before storming away and Lisa followed behind him immediately. 

It became hard to breathe, almost like all the oxygen in my lungs had disappeared, and pain seared through me like lightning. I had been rejected by the one I thought would save me. I forced my legs to move, away from the humiliation and away from eyes that mocked me. I couldn't hide though. I had to work.

So I worked. I served drinks like I was a robot without emotions. Alphas stared at me with pity but I didn't acknowledge them. I didn't need their pitiful looks. Lisa thought he had broken me but he was wrong. I was used to being abandoned so this was nothing new.

The party finally ended and without thinking, I gulped down a glass, far away from the maids and their snarky remarks. It burned my throat weirdly, but I wasn't about to give up, so I downed another. And another until I could barely see clearly. I needed to forget the pain I had just experienced, and even though I had never drunk before, I didn't care about the consequences.

I stumbled out of my hiding place with the empty bottle of whiskey in my hand and trudged back to the mansion. I could barely see or hear anything, all I could think of was how high I felt. I should have started drinking more before now.

I recognized the hall and stumbled down, mumbling incoherent words to myself. I laughed when nothing was funny and staggered forward like a drunkard. I had just made a turn when I bumped into someone and when I looked up at him, my heart soared.

“Oscar,” I muttered with a grin and crashed into his arms.