Start of a second chance?

Grady P.O.V.

Leona asks us to be present at the will reading. She thought I, personally, would want to hear what she had to read out, and she felt like it would trigger some nasty behaviour from some of the family aka Jacob, Harper and Josie. I just told her to tell me the time and place, and I’ll make sure to be there. I would have wanted to be there nonetheless to see my mate. 

She was such a graceful figure all afternoon and early evening; talking, mingling and smiling. I know she told me she doesn’t feel the matebond, and although that hurt me more than I can put into words, I know I feel it and I have to give it a real chance to blossom with her again. I could feel all of her emotions throughout the afternoon, and I’ve come to notice the more we are together, the more I feel her and the more attuned I get to her. I know whenever she walks into a room I’m in, or when she is getting near me outside. Her scent invades my senses and leaves me breathless. Whenever I get to touch her, the sparks almost numb my skin, and the feeling of warm fuzzy love overtakes my being.

‘You sound like a whipped puppy!’ Onyx quips, but I know he is just grumpy because I’m spending time with Hazel, however one-sided it might be, and he wants to spend time with her wolf. 

‘Says the dude who keeps whining every time she leaves our presence.’ I snap back, making him snort and curl up. Onyx is very much the Alpha wolf, and he wants his mate - 5 years ago. And he wants me to mark her, so she can’t leave us. I have explained to him why that is never going to happen without her approval, because she would end up hating us, and he reluctantly agreed to let me move slowly. It’s kind of killing him, and I have to shift away from the pack more often now, to let him out and have free range to get energy out. He is not very patient, but with Hazel he has to be and he knows it. 

At the will reading I’m standing in the back with River, as Adrian is still with his mate and Lily. They are having a blast, and I honestly am very happy and a lot jealous of him right now. He seems to be bonding with his mate, and I wish that was me. Not that I would ever begrudge him or anything, but I wish both girls would give us a chance. 

Leona is reading how Hannah decided to divide the inheritance, and when she comes to Hazel, I have to concentrate on keeping a neutral expression. That sneaky old woman has made it so Hazel has to stay in my pack and spend time with me to get her and Lily to get their inheritance. I had no idea she even did that, but right now I’m eternally grateful for her. She knew I never would do anything with Josie, and she eventually also knew I truly and deeply loved her granddaughter. 

Of course Jacob, Harper and Josie had to get crazy and I saw Harper whisper something to my mate. From the feelings I feel through the matebond it’s not compliments, but then I hear Joel’s clear voice cut through the noise of everyone else and I gather she threatened or tried to threaten Hazel, which he heard. I’m moving forward when Harper tells him off and barks to the others that they are leaving. Jacob is dark red in the face as he keeps repeating he’ll contest the will, not that it’ll do him any good. Josie is the last to leave, and the way she looks at Hazel and Joel, I know I’ll have to keep a close eye on her and her delusional friends from now on. 

“Your things have been moved to the cottage.” River says to Joel, leading him out of the room while the guy waves to his sister. My Gamma had been informed it seems of the changes the will would leave. Hazel is looking over the papers, turning to the last page when I approach her. 

“Are you okay?” I ask, reaching out to brush a finger down her arm. Her head snaps up, her eyes searching mine. 

“You were not a witness of this will. Did you know of the terms?” She asks, her voice quiet and hesitant. I shake my head. 

“I was not asked to be a witness, and no I didn’t know what she had decided. I knew your grandmother, of course, and I often spoke to her, but we never discussed this.”                                              

“But.. Your father was a witness.” I raise an eyebrow at her, and she shows me the paper, pointing to my father’s name. I shrug my shoulders. 

“She must have felt the necessity of having either the current or former Alpha as a witness, and as she knew my feelings and longing for you to come back to the pack and me, she must have asked him to keep me neutral.” Hazel’s eyes widened slightly, but she didn't comment on my words.

“Your grandmother asked the former Alpha because she knew her terms would create turmoil with you, Hazel. And she didn’t want that turmoil to deter you from living up to the terms. It would had Alpha Grady known beforehand. Which he didn’t. I can promise you that in my honor as a lawyer.” Leona says from behind the desk where she is typing some things out. I give a small grateful smile, as Hazel looks at her. 

“It’s all very confusing.” Hazel says, shaking her head. Leona lifts an eyebrow and suggests that maybe we should take a small walk outside and get some fresh air. Hazel hesitates, but then she looks at the papers again and sighs.

“Grandma didn’t really give me much choice, did she?” She asks, walking to the door. “I’ll be down in 10 minutes. I have to explain things to Kaia.” I nod and ask if she needs support or help, but she shakes her head. I see the gratitude in the small tucked away smile on the corner of her mouth, and in her bright eyes. 

20 minutes later Hazel hurries down the stairs again. I’m sitting in the hall, answering work emails on my phone and trying my hardest to not run up there to see if she is alright. 

“I’m so sorry, but she had so many questions and then she made me promise not to walk too far away.” I chuckle. 

“She sounds like a great friend who worries about you.” I answered, closing the email I was reading and standing. “And never apologize, I was just answering some work emails and catching up. Are you still up for a walk?” She nods with a slight blush, and walks out ahead of me. I followed her, feeling elated and light for the first time in 5 years. She doesn’t seem bothered to be walking with me, and I have been spending a lot of time with her today. “Is Adrian still up there?” I ask, trying for a light mood and easy conversation. I steer her to the side of the mansion and through a gate to the backyard. I know there’s a gazebo in here, and we can sit and talk instead of wandering the pack. I’m worried about Josie, and this way I’m sure she can reach my mate.

“Yes, he was helping Lily read a nighttime story. The fourth one.” She laughs. “That girl will keep reading until she’s fast asleep, adamant that she is not sleepy at all.” She continues, and the love in her voice makes my heart equally hurt and flutter. I love how much she adores her girl, but I would love to be on the receiving end of that kind of tone one day as well. 

“She is a special little one.” I comment, and Hazel just hums an answer, looking around the backyard. I point to the gazebo, to which she nods. 

“So, what would you like to talk about?” Hazel asks, putting some distance between us. I sigh internally. How I would love to have her in my lap, kissing her senseless and cuddling her close. I close my eyes for a second, cooling myself down. I can have the chance of all those things if I just pace myself. 

“What exactly happened that night 5 years ago?” I ask, my voice quiet. I know it’s a chance to ask, but I have to know the truth now. She already let some things slip, but I need the story from her. 

“You really want to know?” She asks, and I nod holding her eyes. “Alright then.” She begins to explain about her birthday, her torment in school and Josie and her parent’s abhorrent behaviour against her. She gets to the part about the note and her voice softens slightly.

“I always had a crush on you, Alpha, but I knew it could never be anything more than a one sided crush.” I blink several times. She had a crush on me? I was, and still is, madly in love with her. She goes on to explain what happened when she came back from the forest, where we both know what happened, but she doesn’t know what happened after she left. I’m outraged about the betrayal her parents so easily played. She tells me about her sister Hope, and her ex. And I have so many questions, but they are not for now. Now I’m just listening and learning. 

“I’m so sorry, Hazel.” I say, reaching over and grabbing her hand. I open my mouth to say more, happy she is not instantly retracting her hand from mine, when the border alarm goes off. Rogues are attacking the pack.