The Alpha’s Regret, The Lycan King’s Obsession

Chapter 7

Hazel's POV

I lay still in bed for a moment, my body still weighed down by the lingering ache of the bond. The unbearable agony had slowly dulled over the past four days.

Four days had passed since Silas River rejected me. Four days since my world shattered.

I pulled myself out of bed and strode down the hallway toward my mother's room. I pushed the door open an inch and peeked inside. She was still fast asleep, tangled in the messy sheets. Her steady breathing filled the room, accompanied by the faint cheap scent of alcohol that never truly left the air.

At least she was resting.

I quietly closed her door and walked into the tiny kitchen. I pulled a slice of bread from the bag and I quickly ate it, washing it down with a glass of tap water. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep my stomach from growling during morning lectures. Grabbed my bag, I wrapped my thin jacket tightly around myself and stepped out into the morning air.

The walk to Lunas Crest was familiar, but the atmosphere inside the gates had completely shifted.

Silas hadn't spoken a single word to me since that day. In fact, he acted as if I were entirely invisible. Whenever our paths crossed, his eyes would pass right over me, sweeping past as if I were nothing more than a dust. He was always with Hailey, his arm draped over her waist, parading her around the school as his future Luna, while she preened under the attention like a queen receiving her crown.

The bullying hadn't stopped, either. The stares and chuckles floating around were still very much alive.

But things were different now. I wasn't entirely helpless anymore.

Zoey and Killian had made it their personal mission to protect me. Wherever I went, one of them was usually right beside me. Besides my miserable social status.

Rumors had exploded across campus, about the Lycan king being transferring to our school in a few days.

No one knew why a royal as legendary, terrifying, and ruthless as King Kai would leave the Shadow Pack to step foot in an academy for Alpha heirs. But the mere whisper of his arrival had turned the school upside down. Female wolves suddenly started arriving at school looking like they were attending a royal gala instead of morning classes. Even Hailey seemed extra focused on her appearance.

"Is it true he's really coming?"

"I heard he's completely heartless."

"Imagine if he finds his mate here..."

I tuned out the excited chatter as I walked into my morning class, taking my usual seat near the back window. A wave of instant relief washed over me when Zoey slid into the desk right beside mine, flashing me a bright smile. Having Zoey in almost every single one of my classes was a blessing I didn't take for granted.

The morning flew by in a blur of lectures, scribbled notes, and quietly dodging the glares sent my way. But when the mid-day bell rang signaling lunch, our smooth routine ran into a hitch.

As we stepped out of the classroom into the crowded hallway, Zoey checked her phone, letting out a frustrated groan.

"Ugh, you have got to be kidding me," she huffed, rolling her green eyes.

"What's wrong?" I asked, pulling my notebook close to my chest.

"The Headmaster's office," Zoey sighed, running a hand through her hair. She looked around the hallway, her jaw tightening a bit. "Where's Killian?"

"He texted me five minutes ago," I said, checking my own screen. "His dad called for him. He won't be back until next period."

Zoey narrowed her eyes, instantly hovering like a protective mother. "I hate leaving you alone, Haze?"

"Zoey, I'll be completely fine," I smiled, trying to reassure her. "It's just lunch. I'll go somewhere safe."

"Where?" she demanded, arms crossed.

"The library," I answered softly. "It's quiet, and no one will bother me there."

Zoey hesitated, searching my face for a moment before letting out a small sigh. "Fine. But the second I'm done, I'm coming straight there. If anyone breathes the same air as you, link me immediately, okay?"

"I promise," I nodded.

With a final wary glance, Zoey turned and hurried down the corridor.

I took a deep breath, clutching my backpack straps tight, and wove my way through the bustling halls.

Lunas Crest library was a massive, ancient structure, built long before the modern academy wings were added. High ceilings, towering stained-glass windows, and endless rows of bookshelves.

I walked past the counters, stepping deeper into the bookshelves until the loud noise of the school faded into silence. Up here, away from the cruel laughter of the students, the air felt cooler, and peaceful.

I found a small table nestled between two tall rows of books, right beneath a arched glass window that filtered the pale afternoon light. I slid into the chair, dropping my bag onto the floor, and let out a long, exhausted breath.

For the first time all day, my shoulders dropped out of their tense hunch.

"Rough afternoon, my child?"

I gasped, jumping slightly in my seat as I turned around.

Standing a few feet away, holding a tall stack of tomes, was an elderly woman. She wore long, flowing robes, her silver hair braided intricately around her head. Her face was lined with deep wrinkles that spoke of immense age.

I had seen her from a distance before…the oldest wolf who had managed the pack lands' historical records for decades—but I had never spoken to her directly. She rarely interacted with any students.

"I... I'm sorry, Elder," I stammered, quickly standing up and bowing my head respectfully. "I didn't mean to trespass in this section. I can leave—"

"Sit down, Hazel," she interrupted slowly. Her voice wasn't harsh or demanding. It was gentle, echoing with a quiet, soothing warmth that took me off guard.

I blinked, surprised that she even knew my name. Slowly, I lowered myself back into the chair.

She set her books onto the edge of the wooden table and reached into the basket resting on her arm, pulled out a mug, and placed it gently on the table right in front of me.

"Drink," she murmured softly, resting her hand over mine for a fleeting second. Her touch was surprisingly warm. "It calms the spirit."

I stared down at the steaming mug, my chest tightening with a swell of emotion. It had been so long since an adult had offered me something simple without expecting anything in return, or without looking at me with pity or disgust.

"Thank you," I whispered.

I took the mug in both hands, bringing it to my lips and taking a slow sip. The sweet, herbal tea thawed the icy knot in my stomach, spreading a gentle wave of comfort through my tired body.

Elder Martha stood beside the table, her bright eyes resting on me with a soft, knowing expression. She reached out, her fingertips lightly touching the edge of the bookshelf beside us, staring out the window at the autumn trees swaying in the wind.

"The young wolves of this pack are loud," she spoke quietly, her voice cutting through the silence of the room.

I lowered my mug, looking up at her.

She turned her gaze back to me, her steady eyes piercing into mine, making my heart skip a beat.

"Remember this, Hazel," she said, her voice dropping into a quiet whisper. "Not every flower blooms in spring. Some require the bitter frost of winter before their true color awakens."

My brows pulled together as I searched her wrinkled face for more explanation. "I... I don't understand."

A small smile touched the corners of her lips, but she offered no further explanation. She simply turned away, picked up her books, and began walking slowly down the narrow aisle of bookshelves, her robes whispering against the floorboards.

"Finish your tea, child," she said before she vanished entirely.

I sat there alone at the table, the mug cupped tightly in my hands.

Not every flower blooms in spring...

Her words echoed in my head. I looked down into the tea, the reflection of my hollow eyes staring back at me. I didn't understand what she meant.

A dull throb pulsed through the back of my mind.

I froze.

Eva...?

A heartbeat later, the familiar warmth I had thought I'd lost forever flickered to life.

"Haze!" Eva cried excitedly, her tail wagging so hard I could almost picture it. "Can you hear me?"