Coming Back Home

Hazel's POV

Stepping down from the car, my eyes wandered around the all too familiar surrounding. Taking a deep breath, I inhaled the sweet scent of roses that was planted meters away in the small home garden.

My mother has always loved roses and even made a small garden in the backyard of the house.

Even after five years, nothing much changed about the place.

Home sweet home, I thought inwardly. Five years ago, I left. Broken, I chose to run away.

They say that finding your mate is the most magical thing for a werewolf. Well, I beg to disagree.

Finding my fated mate was no blessing, it was a curse.

Growing up, I always admired him, and prayed to the moon goddess to make him my mate.

Guess what, my prayers were answered but the life I envisioned with him never happened.

On the same day, he openly humiliated me and reminded me that I was nothing compared to the woman he held in his arms.

“ You are nothing but a weak and useless human. You don't even have a wolf. What makes you think an Alpha like me can settle for someone like you?”

Those words leaving his mouth felt like a thousand needles stabbing my heart. The pain was excruciating, but I was forced to endure it.

" A powerful pack like Mooncrest can never have someone like you for a Luna.” He spat as everyone in the pack listened without saying a word in my defense.

Was it wrong of me to want my mate to acknowledge the bond between us? Yet all I received from the so-called mate was nothing but scorn and a disgusted look.

Ashamed of the joke I had been reduced into, I fled.

Five years of healing and self development and I'm finally back.

Things are different now.

I am no longer that weak girl who knew nothing but weep at the slightest encounter of challenge. I am back and I'm going to prove to him that I'm not the one who is unworthy, he is in fact unworthy of me.

Taking baby steps, I was about to knock the door when it was pulled open, revealing my mother's beautiful face.

My father stood behind her, both wearing smiles on their faces.

Seeing them after five years, I could not help but shed tears. How I missed them.

Without a word, I threw myself into my mother's arms, hugging her tightly.

My mother hugged me back, her hands patting my back.

After staying in each other's embrace for a minute, my father's voice interrupted our little reunion.

“ The two of you sure don't plan on hugging forever, or do you?" He asked, making me pull away.

“ You could just say that you want me to hug you too. No need to go through that trouble." I snickered before hugging him too.

Feeling both of my parents' scent and warmth envelop me, I felt safe. I felt contend and… at home.

Yes, they were my home.

“ Since you knew what I wanted, what's the need to keep me waiting?" My father retorted. My mother rolled her eyes at him.

“ I haven't held my baby in my arms for years, don't I deserve that at least?" My mother asked, feigning distress.

" Baby? I thought that I was your only baby all along?" My father inquired, pouting.

" Aren't you ashamed of yourself? If others heard you, won't they be disgusted?” My mother countered, rolling her eyes at him.

“ I don't care what others feel, I only care about your feelings." My father shamelessly declared, battling his eyelashes coquettishly.

Looking at the two bantering, I could only smile helplessly.

Growing up, I have always wanted a relationship just like my parents’. Too bad, I wasn't as lucky to share the same with my mate.

“ No one told me that there was a family reunion here." My brother's voice sounded from behind my father. He had a gentle smile on his face as he made his way to me.

“ Welcome home, sister." He said, pulling me in his arms.

Pulling away, I gave him a glare making him scratch his neck awkwardly.

“ I trusted you and you betrayed me." I accused him.

I had asked him to keep it a secret that I was coming back home. I wanted to give my parents a surprise but he foiled everything.

“ It's not my fault. Mother happened to eavesdrop when I told Susan." Lucas said, making me roll my eyes at him.

“ I thought a secret was only between two people?” I mocked.

“ I don't keep secrets to my mate." My brother declared.

Yes, his mate's name was Susan. I have only managed to hear about her. Today was going to be our first meeting. My brother found her after I left the pack. It's been more than four years since and I hear she is pregnant.

“ Come on in, you don't want to listen to him blabber about his mate." My mother said, taking my hand and leading me inside. I could smell my father's displeasure from behind me but I chose to ignore it. With my mother taking my hand and ignoring him must have ignited sparks of jealousy in his heart.

My father has always been a possessive person especially when it comes to my mother. It's so serious that he gets jealous even of us, his children.

Stepping inside the house, a familiar yet unfamiliar scent hit me and I figured out it must be my brother's mate.

Looking around, I finally spotted her seated on the sofa.

“ It's you!" We both said at the same time.

I could not believe that it was her.

The next moment, I rushed to her before kneeling down to hug, careful not to crash her bulging belly.

“ I never thought the sister Lucas always talked about was you!" Susan said , her eyes scanning my face.

“ I also never thought that the mate Lucas talked about was you." I replied, not bothering to hide the happiness deep inside me.

“ Fate has a way of bringing people together, doesn't it?" Susan noted and I nodded. Who would have thought that my sworn sister would end up being my brother's mate?

“ You two know each other?"