CHAPTER 41HAZEL'S POV;I hadn't planned on crying, I had to admit. I shook with tremors as I spoke, controlling the floodgates from opening up and rushing out in torrents but I couldn't hold back any longer.I was battling with several emotions and trying to keep them in check. From anger to shame to uncertainty to not feeling like I was enough to pain and everything negative!So when I burst into tears, I had seen it coming.Xavier hadn't seen it coming. It was obvious in the way he looked at me. He was surprised and when he drew close to me, I quickly turned away from him and wiped my tears while sniffling. I felt embarrassed that he had seen me in tears but I still couldn't stop. I kept sobbing till I got to the entrance of the bathroom. I was about to shut the door and stay there till I was able to dry my tears and wash my face but before I could shut the door, Xavi6 stuck his leg on the threshold.I looked up at him, still with teary eyes. "I need privacy, Xavier. Leave, please.

XAVIER'S POV;As soon as she walked out of the kitchen, I made to go after her but Lily held me back and gave me a stern look. She shook her head and I sighed."What exactly do you want from me?"Lily gave me a confused look. "We were talking before she came down and you lost every ability to focus on listening to me!"I rolled my eyes. "And so what? If I lost control, so? For crying out loud, she's my mate!""But you don't love her," Lily said, smiling bitterly. She walked slowly towards me and gave me a look. "You don't love her, do you?"I shook my head. "You're not going to ask me such questions and expect an answer from me. I should go to bed and you should, too. You're leaving early tomorrow, have you forgotten?""I know you're avoiding answering this question at all cost but that's totally fine. I know you do not want to answer me. But know one thing, I will always come first in your life and you are not going to get over me,""I have been over you for years. You think I am in

HAZEL'S POV;I turned to face her and when she straightened, she trained her eyes on me. She had the head-on expression of a buffalo, ready to get anything out of her way. I looked back at Asher. His arms were folded and he had a look of interest.I charged at her, going for her leg. She was able to get it out of the way before I caught it and she slid to the ground, aiming also for my legs. I immediately flew into the air and landed on my feet behind her with firmness.She stood to her feet again and looked at me. I had a smirk on my face and only Asher recognized it. I wasn't a slow fighter. I loved to get over any fight really quickly and that mindset helped me in combat. I was able to finish off my enemies in no time as I moved to the next one.She charged at me again and she caught my chin this time. I felt a sharp pain shoot up my head but I only squinted a bit before shaking my head and regaining composure. She was so close to me now and she threw another punch at me but I caug

HAZEL'S POV:And like I had said, I gave him the much distance he needed. It didn't make me feel good in any way but I had to do it. There were lots of things I had to think about. Ranging from our wonky relationship to Colin on my neck, expecting me to do something drastic.I spent most of my time training Kylie and Green and when I was less busy, I utilized my time doing something else that didn't bring me close to Xavier.One evening, while I was returning to the pack house, I was accosted by Felix who seemed to have something urgent to tell me. I rolled my eyes, knowing that whoever had sent him here was Xavier."What's it this time?" I asked, folding my hands."There's something I want us to talk about," Felix said in a really calm tone.I sighed and nodded. "What's it about?""Remember that next week we'd b going for the Royal Hunting Ceremony?"I remembered. "Of course, I do. And what's it have to do with me?""You know you're one of the important heads in Silver moon and also

XAVIER'S POVAfter several minutes of contemplating, I decided to go after Hazel.I couldn't just let her go there alone. I knew what the slavers were capable of and no matter how strong she was, if they got hold of her, it was going to be bloody.It has taken a lot of courage for me to actually stand on my feet and climb over the fallen log of a tree. And I had taken a long look at the village, going back to the times I used to come here with my father and even begged to follow after him.But that was in the past anyway.Even if it was in the past, it wasn't something I could easily forget. It was a memory that brought nothing but pain and because I wanted to lock every memory I had of my father, I just had to detach myself from this place.But looking at it now, it was just me being a coward and watching the place my father had built for these people burn down. It was just me watching memories I had shared with my father burn down with this place too and I didn't think I wanted that