"Austin?" I touched his back, but he didn't respond. Even his breath was gone. I started to panic. I could still hear the approaching footsteps and the roar of engines."Austin? Hey, wake up. Alpha Austin." I shook him, my hand feeling around his back as I did.I came up on moisture, somewhere around the left side of his back, a little above his waist. I pulled my hand away and brought it to my field of vision. Blood."Austin. Austin, please. Austin."Tears filled my eyes again as I shook him, but his body was limp, and he was too heavy for me to carry.The footsteps had gotten much closer, and I hugged his body to me. I would die before they touched Austin."Hazel?" It was Simon trying to link with me."Are you here?" I said, crying. "Please tell me you are here.""I am not. The beta and the pack's troops are there. I hope you come out safe."I nodded, and hugged Austin's body to myself. The footsteps were upon us now, and I could see the shadows of people cast on us by the sun.My b

Lily came back later, and spilled my things in front of me. She might have run out of hurtful words to say, because she just threw them at me and walked away. I didn't pay attention to it, just stayed there, on my knees, my chest clenching with the pain. "Hazel." I looked up to the voice. Eric was standing there, his eyes sad. "I heard what happened to you and Austin. And also the whole mate thing." I only sighed and said nothing. "I am sorry. Let me escort you to the pack house." "No." The adamance in my voice surprised even me. "I am not going anywhere till they let me see him. I just want to see him." He squatted to my height with a sigh. "I am sorry. I don't know how it happened, but I am sure you were not at fault. For now, just please let's go to the pack house." He held my hand to stand me up, but I yanked it away, his nail mistakenly digging into my flesh. But the pain was nothing in comparison to the one I felt inside. "I have to see Austin. I have to see him at lea

"Are you done there?" The guard said, peeking his head in. I hurriedly grabbed Austin's wrist and put two fingers in it as if I was feeling his pulse, and turned my back to him properly."Not yet, is something wrong?" I answered."I believe the grand alpha is on his way. Hurry up," he said and without waiting for me to reply, he closed the door.I let out a huge breath, then held on to Austin's hand, intertwining our fingers. He didn't feel as warm as he normally did, but I felt content knowing it was his hand."Austin? You promised me you were going to stay safe." I had intended not to cry before coming here but my tears seemed to have a mind of their own.I leaned further and rubbed his arm, feeling his slightly tense yet limp muscles under my palm. He probably would have never let me do that if he was awake, but it would be fine if he was okay. I could keep these brewing desires beneath me. I could keep them buried deep inside me, as long as I can see him."I am sorry this is all

"Do I have a say? Or has the judgement already been made?" I asked and looked up to them. The rain was convenient, no one would see how hard I was tearing up."What do you have to say? Are you about to say how exactly you got Austin to believe your little lie?" Catherine spoke up, her brow shooting up.I gave her an indignant look and turned to the grand alpha. "It is just that..it is pretty obvious everyone here wants to somehow make me the bad one. But all of you saw it. Catherine was right there, and Austin walked right past her...to me. I showed his marking on my neck and he had no objections. Don't you think if Austin really wanted to change his mate so bad...it just means he doesn't think she is worthy of him?"The grand alpha put a hand under his nose and snickered a little. "Are you trying to push the blame on Austin because he is not here to defend himself?""If he was here, he wouldn't want to defend himself," I said rather confidently as opposed to the way I actually felt.

Eve nodded and came closer. "Please, Hazel. I will feel much better if Simon goes with you. Besides, Simon has a phone. You don't. I will be able to call and keep in touch with both of you and sometimes even visit. I can't believe you are really leaving. Whi will I share this room with now?" It seemed like she wasn't really thinking of her words, just pouring it out as her heart felt.I let her slowly embrace me, her hand gently patting my back. Simon put his hands on my shoulder and squeezed then walked out of the room. She released me slowly and I walked back to my now bare bed, then sat on it.I didn't feel much, I couldn't. It was crazy how downhill my life has gone in such short amount of time and how happy I could have let myself be by being next to Austin while it lasted. But I couldn't. I kept thinking of this day and now that it has come I can't stop thinking of the past.Simon walked in with a bag around his shoulder and a bigger one in his hand."I got some foodstuffs and t