"What?" I asked, my lips parting. "What did you say?"He swallowed, his hand still on my cheek. This time, he moved his fingers a little, and I felt the small caress right to the depths of my soul.He blinked slowly, then broke into a small smile. He looked weak and tired."I love you, Hazel. I am sorry." His slight grip around my face weakened, and I held on to his hand, my eyes filling with tears. He loves me. He said he loves me.My heart felt lke it was about to burst with maddening euphoria, and I leaned forward, letting my hands explore his body slightly as I did, then brought my hands back to cup his face.His eyes were closing slowly now, and the hand that had been on my cheek had fallen back onto the bed."Austin." I said, and his lashes fluttered. My chest felt warm, warmer than I had ever felt. I leaned forward and kissed his lips. His response was very weak, almost nonexistent, and I moved forward, kissing him like I owned the right to. Because maybe I did.I broke the ki
"Tell me what you want and I'll say it...""I love you, Hazel. I love you..."I took in a deep breath as I felt someone grab me from behind, and my eyes opened. I turned around, my breath in rags, my eyes wide."Why?" I asked, as the healer held on to my shoulder.She brought me to a standing position and I turned to Austin. He was back in the position I had propped him in, his eyes still closed. His lips were slightly parted from my invasion."What do you want to do? Kiss him till he comes back? Kiss him till he returns?"I blinked, tears streaming down my face. What did I want to do? Just have him back, I guess."He is not gone. You are being too quick to judge, he isn't gone.""You think?" The healer asked. She sounded stern, but her eyes were reddened with tears too.I felt my world crashing again and I turned to Austin's still body. His head was resting on the head board at a weird angle, and I yanked ny hand away, knowing I had no right to be rude to her, but I had nowhere to pu
I stayed there by Austin's side for a long time, smoothening his hair, while the healer put together a few herbs. She arranged them on the bedside table, then came over to me."Those are medications to nurse him bbackto health."I nodded. "I will make sure to use them."She gave me a small smile, moved close and held my head, then kissed my forehead. "You did us a miracle, child. You were the substitute. And I always wondered why the seer anointed you. Maybe she saw this day. You have done us a huge favor just by being here, Hazel."I smiled. "It's all him. He is the one keeping me here."She gave a smile and patted my shoulder. "I will come back tomorrow morning, dear."I nodded my approval and she slowly walked away, patting beta Liam too. Once she left, Beta Liam came to my side, his eyes full of wonder."Kiss of life?" He said and laughed. "It was such a wonderdul sight, Hazel. You brought him back to us."I smiled and held Austin's now warm hand. "I am just happy he's back."Bet
I went down, leaving Austin alone to try to fix the place up. It wasn't in a mess, just that I needed a bit of time to process everything that's happened. Austin had literally almost died, and I just discovered that he can't stand rain, not even a shower. Catherine hugged and thanked me, and Austin confessed his feelings.My feet were on cloud nine as I found myself moving effortlessly, sometimes twirling a little, my wolf just as ecstatic as I was.I heard Austin turn on the shower in the room and I slightly panicked, but I remembered that he normally took showers. I tried not to be the fussy girlfriend although, I admit, I got worried. Seeing him like that had left a little dent. Wait. I looked at my ring and smiled. Fussy wife. It brought butterflies to my stomach.Maybe because I hadn't been there when he got shot, but it felt like I was seeing everything crash in front of me.I walked to the kitchen, my ecstasy still higher than ever, and checked the fridge. I couldn't rely on be
"Catherine?" He asked, his eyes fixed on mine. I slowly nodded."You don't know this, but..." I trailed off as he straightened, then put his hands over my lap for balance, so he was facing me directly."You really think Catherine would do anything to help you? You think Catherine has that in her?" He asked, his voice low."She was actually here till you woke up. You might not have noticed but...she apologized. She even hugged me and asked me to stay by your side. I had called her back to assume her place but...""Hazel. I don't...want her anywhere near you. By now, I am sure you know how it feels. The abortion, the drowning, literally just everything, Hazel. Think of how I would feel if anything happens to you again. Think of how I would feel if anything happened to us again." His eyes darted across both of mine, and I lowered my head with a small, shaky breath."Austin...she really is different. I swear. She really wants to be able to do something to redeem herself in front of you."
Sun rays filtered in through the window, and I slowly opened my eyes. The sun was bright, the orange hues filtering in as I opened my eyes. Austin was squatted in front of me, his hair turned golden by the sunlight, his smile small."Good morning, Darling." He rose up to sit beside me on the bed, then moved my hair away from my forehead, leaned and kissed it.I smiled, forgetting everything that had haunted me all night. "Is this a dream?""That I am here?" he asked and I nodded. He laughed and kissed my cheek, then took a little bit of flesh in his teeth and bit down on it a little gently."What was that for?" I yelped, surprise taking over as I quickly covered my assaulted cheek.He was laughing as he leaned away. "Just telling you that it isn't a dream."I sent him a small punch, and he laughed as he moved away."How about you wash up and get ready for breakfast? I thought I'd cook for you today."I nodded and extended my hand to him. He pulled me forward into his, his hand going
Austin closed the door as he walked into the room, his back on the door. I watched him close his eyes, and just let himself breathe. I wasn't going to kid myself, I knew it would be hard for him to completely be over Catherine to the point where even resenting her feels useless, but...it still stung a little. More so, because I understood him."Austin..."He opened his eyes and turned away. "The food is getting cold."I walked to him and wrapped my arms around him, closing in on him from behind. My hand went up to his chest where I could feel the rapid beat of his heart, fueled by anger and resentment."You know, Austin...I really hope there will come a time when you...will be so over her that even resenting her will feel baseless. I want to wait for a day when I will heal all of those wounds that you will have no more room for resentment. No more room for all this anger. I really hope I am able to love you that much." I slightly moved my fingers, just as he held my hand, then slowly
"What?" I expected the disbelief in his eyes and his voice, so I just closed my eyes and nodded, seeing nothing wrong with his behavior.The day my father had died was undoubtedly one of the worst days of my life. He was the best dad ever, and I couldn't ask for more. Him being alive delayed my imminent omega status, and he never let me suffer despite our low statuses. But on those days...on these days when he was a little less human..when he was a little less like my father...I believed it was the price I had to pay for surviving alone. The price I had to pay for the other days of bliss that he gave me. The price for being me.I swallowed hard as Austin knelt in front of me, then slowly traced his fingers on my stomach. He looked at me, and his eyes glistened with the tears I never let my father see when he drunkenly did that. The tears I swallowed no matter what as he put the sharp edge of the knife over the open fire, his other hand holding mine.It was the price I believed I had