A Queen Without A Crown

Hazel's POV

I woke up to the loud voices and clashing swords of the warriors as they trained outside. They were hitting their swords together, shouting wildly and loud, like they always did every morning.

This was a daily routine for the whole pack, and today was no different.

I turned lazily on the bed, thinking hard about whether I should get up or just lie there all day. But I knew I couldn't stay in bed forever. So, with a big yawn that felt like it could swallow ten guards at once, I finally got up.

The first thing I did was walk to the shower room. I stepped into the warm bathtub, letting the water cover my skin. 

The scent from the bath mix rose into my nose, relaxing me deeply and the soft foam touched my body gently, working like a magic in calming every tired part of me.

One special thing about this royal pack house is how strange it feels. From the outside, it looks very ancient and rural, like something from a far age. But once you're inside, it’s like a different world. 

The rooms are modern and fancy, filled with comfort and style. So much like living between two different worlds at once.

After soaking for a while, I stepped out of the shower room and that was when I saw the elderly women waiting for me. Each of them held a sweet-smelling ornament, ready to give me my usual morning body massage.

Asides the young maidens who always prepare my bath water every morning before I even wake up, this massage has become part of my routine. It was all done under Alpha Matteo’s strict orders.

 Ever since I came into this house, he has made sure I am treated like a queen. He gives me more than I ever thought I deserved, and sometimes, I ask myself why. Why is he doing all this for me?

Holding the towel around my body, I handed it over to one of the maids. 

The elderly women then walked closer, surrounding me and rubbing different kinds of old healing oils onto my skin. Their hands moved with care and skill, and I felt a soft, warm energy spreading through me.

It was the kind of feeling that made the day look easier. While their gentle touches reached all the right places, It felt like they were washing away every worry and I couldn't help but to shut my eyes slowly, giving in to the calm and safe moment.

After the massage, I put on a long, loose black gown, walked down the stairs, only to be welcomed by the beautiful sight of the village alive with energy. While the grown-ups were still in their training, the young ones were busy helping. 

Some were fixing damaged homes, some clearing the fields, and others trimming flowers into shapes. Everyone was engaged with one thing or the other.

As I watched everything, my eyes caught a strange sight in the distance. A group of young boys, shirtless and wearing only small pieces of cloth around their waists, were covered in thick brown mud. You could barely tell who was who because, Only their lips and eyes were clean enough to be seen.

They were laughing and joking, pushing each other as they climbed into a hole near a lake. I didn’t know what they were looking for, but curiosity couldn't hold the best part of me when I started running towards them, wanting to see more.

To my utmost surprise, the happy sounds stopped the moment I reached the lake. Everyone nearby turned to look at me with deadly disdain, whispering things I couldn’t hear. 

The smiles they had earlier were gone, making me stood there frozen, wondering what I did wrong this time. Why do they always look at me like this? Why does it feel like I’ll never be accepted, even among people I wish were mine?

I stepped away quietly to a lonely corner trying to avoid their troubles. As I stood there, a cool breeze blew softly across my face, tossing my hair gently in the wind. 

The cool air helped calm the storm inside me and I couldn't help but to gush over how nature had its way of bringing peace even in the middle of chaos. 

I was still enjoying the calm moment when a little girl ran up to me.

Oh my overies! My heart melted at the sight of her. She had long dark hair, full cheeks, big round eyes, and her brown skin was glowing like fresh honey. 

Even though tears were running down her face, she still looked like one of the most beautiful children I had ever seen.

“Aunty! My big brothers are fighting. Can you help stop them, please?” she cried as she grabbed the edge of my gown with her shaking small hands.

I looked where she was pointing and saw two teenage boys who looked like twins, fighting hard, throwing punches and shouting loudly.

But what truly shocked me was the people around them, acting like nothing was happening. Some were busy cutting leaves, some were fixing fences, others just stood and watched without care, not minding the danger ahead.

I looked down at the little girl again, unsure of what to do. Should I step in? Would I make things worse if I involve myself in this? Different thoughts ran through my mind.

But then when I lifted my eyes back to the boys,  what I saw shook me to the core.

One of the boys had picked up a big stick. He raised it and hit his brother over and over without care. The sound of the stick hitting his flesh was loud and painful, making his brother screamed and stood frozen in pain. 

Trying to retaliate with so much rage in his eyes, the second boy grabbed a stone, ready to throw it back.

I didn’t even think twice, when my feet moved. before my mind could stop it, I ran into the middle of the fight.

“Stop it! You’re brothers. You’re not supposed to fight like this!” I shouted, trying to hold both of them back. Just as I pulled one away, a hot slap hit my face. It was so hard that my head spun, and I felt a sharp pain shoot through me.

“Don’t touch my children! Or do you want to put them under your spell too, just like you did to our king?” a woman fired angrily, sending a hard glare on me.

In just a few seconds, the crowd who ignored the boys fighting suddenly became very alert. They gathered around me, folding their arms like they're ready to give a thorough beating of my life.

A boiling feeling ran through my blood, And for the first time in my life, I felt a deep pain of rejection. A pain even stronger than the one I felt back in Yellow Stone Pack.