All Chapters of His Mate Or His Step-Sister: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

~HAZEL~"What is that?" I ask Ashton, my voice unable to hide the fear that I felt upon hearing the sound. "What are they planning now?" The weight of uncertainty presses down on me.He stiffens instantly, muscles tensing as if readying for confrontation, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "I knew the calm was too good to be true," he mutters under his breath, a flicker of unease crossing his face as he listens intently for any signs of danger. Suddenly, I can hear the announcement echoing throughout the quiet forest, its clear voice resonating through the tall, leafy trees. The announcer's tone is cheerful yet commanding, as the broadcast begins: "Good morning, viewers. I hope Hazel and Ashton have enjoyed their time together in this beautiful woodland. However, it is now time for them both to split up for a week to test their survival skills independently. Let us see how well they can thrive on their own in this natural challenge!" W-what? I didn't expect this sudden situation to un

~HAZEL~"Ashton, what are you doing?" I demand, concern evident in my voice. I was worried about him. He was fighting back and refusing to comply with their requests, despite my earlier instruction for him to do so.Now, there were numerous creatures hunting us—feral, snarling beasts with glowing eyes—and it felt as though we were being cornered, even though we stood in the midst of a vast forest that seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions."Shh," he whispers urgently, glancing over his shoulder as the sounds of the creatures grow louder. "I need you to stay here while I fight them." My eyes widen in fear, and I shake my head vigorously. "No!" I gasp, voice trembling. "Ashton, listen to me—these monsters are only the beginning. Even if you defeat them, they'll just send more!"He narrows his eyes, his voice calm but determined. "Then that means I will fight them all if it means they don't get to take you." My heart skips a beat, a rush of emotion flooding through me. This sid

~ARIEL~Things have been quite tense back home. It was clear that Ashton's mom and Hazel's father were having a hard time accepting how intimate they were being on screen or simply in general. I shared their feelings twice as much. It was difficult for me to watch, especially since I saw things in Ashton that made me feel like it was not fake at all. I was worried that he was beginning to develop romantic feelings for Hazel, which could complicate things. Before I left, I explicitly asked him to keep their interactions strictly professional and to avoid any intimate behavior. However, it was obvious that he was doing the exact opposite, engaging in close, personal interactions that suggested otherwise. Ashton's mother smiles gently at me, her eyes filled with warmth and concern as she offers me some food from a small plate she's holding. "You are incredibly strong, Ariel," she says softly. "The things you've witnessed and endured must be overwhelming. I feel helpless knowing what yo

~ASHTON~"Hazel!" I shout, my voice almost drowned out by the relentless pouring rain that soaked my body and blurred my vision. I have been shouting her name for hours, desperately trying to pinpoint her location amid the storm's chaos. She wasn't the only one I was searching for; I was also determined to find one of those elusive creatures—looking everywhere to find those glowing eyes—that had taken her from me. Yet, as long as the Soul Keepers remained guarding these woods, they would continue to refuse allowing me access.Her location remained forbidden and fully concealed from my view and these rains were definitely helping their mission to keep her from me. My hand clenched into a tight fist as I struggled to mask my emotions during the live streams. I was aware that Ariel was watching intently, and I couldn't afford to reveal how deeply my separation from Hazel was affecting me. The pain of my longing, the fear of something happening to her—each was hidden behind a forced comp

~ASHTON~I place a hand over my chest, surprised to feel my heartbeat pounding rapidly, as if something was wrong. I couldn't quite explain it, but a strange intuition told me that something was happening to Hazel—I couldn't tell what it was but I knew it was bad. She needed me. I knew she did, even though I couldn't quite explain or understand how I was able to sense this. Hazel was not my mate—this kind of deep, instinctual connection was exclusive to mates. Normally, I could sense when Ariel was in minor danger—enough to tell, though not entirely. However, she has never truly been in any serious trouble that would fully test or confirm this intuitive ability. There was plenty between us that I was yet to learn more about. But, she was supposed to be the only one that I could have such a strong connection to. So, how was it even possible that I was able to recognize so clearly that Hazel needed me? I run my hand through my hair, feeling the slight dampness from the rain earlier,