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

Chapter 10

Hazels POV

My lungs were burning as I gasped for air that felt far too thin. I kept looking over my shoulder, half-expecting to see a towering figure rushing behind me.

He is ours! Go back! Eva’s voice roared inside my head. Go back to him!

Shut up! Shut up, Eva! I screamed back at her, clutching my head as tears blurred my vision. He's lying! It’s a mistake!

The memory of his voice made a cold sweat break out across my skin. My hand trembled violently as I raised it to my neck, my fingertips brushing the spot where his warm lips had lingered just a minute ago.

It was impossible.

The Lycan King. A legend carved out of blood and nightmare. He was the most feared monster in the supernatural realm, a creature whose very name made full-grown Alphas bow their heads in submission. And he had pinned me and called me his.

He made a mistake, I repeated like a desperate prayer in my head, turning the final corner onto my street. He had to have made a mistake. He smelled someone else. He confused my scent. He was mocking me. He had to be.

My house finally came into view. I scrambled up the stairs, my shaking hands fumbling so badly with the rusty handle that I nearly dropped my backpack. I shoved the door open, practically throwing my body inside, and slammed it shut behind me.

I threw the deadbolt into place, leaning my forehead against the door as I tried to catch my breath. The house was quiet. Too quiet.

I held my breath, every muscle in my body locking up as I listened carefully to the stillness.

"Mom?" I called out softly, my voice trembling.

Silence answered me. I tiptoed into the small living room. The couch was empty, save for a few empty beer cans on the coffee table. A wave of relief washed over me, instantly. She wasn't here. Probably off to gamble again.

I didn't have to face her slurred insults today.

Hurrying upstairs to my bedroom, I slipped inside, shut the thin wooden door, and immediately locked it.

I pushed the chair under the knob just for good measure, before finally letting my body collapse backward against the wall. I slid down to the floor, pulling my knees up tight against my chest and wrapping my arms around my legs. I buried my face into my knees, letting out a long, shuddering breath.

I was safe. For now, I was safe.

Why are you running from him?

Eva asked.

I stiffened, pressing my palms against my temples as if I could physically block out her presence. Not now, Eva. Please. I can't do this right now.

Why are you running from him, Hazel? Eva insisted, her voice rising. He felt it! The pull, the heat, the bond—it’s real! He is our mate!

"Because he's the Lycan King!" I snapped aloud, my whisper harsh and desperate in the quiet darkness of my bedroom. "Are you out of your mind, Eva? He's the ruthless Lycan king of the most powerful and feared wolf Pack! He could snap my neck with two fingers!"

He didn't snap our neck! Eva argued fiercely, while pacing back and forth in my head.

"That would happen when he sees us again!" I argued back, tears of frustration stinging the back of my eyes as I squeezed them shut. "He doesn't know who I am! He doesn't know I'm a pathetic, low-ranking scholarship student who can't even shift!"

We are not wolfless! Eva growled, her voice vibrating through my skull. I am right here! I am inside you!

"Just deal with it Eva!" I yelled back in my head, pulling my hair in frustration. "And besides, it doesn't matter! We already had a mate, Eva!"

The silence that followed was heavy and suffocating.

When Eva spoke again, her voice was dripping with a bitterness that cut straight to my heart. Silas rejected us, Hazel. He is not our mate anymore.

A sharp, familiar ache bloomed in my chest at the mention of Silas's name, but I hardened my heart, burying the pain.

"Exactly!" I shouted back. "That's the point, Eva! Silas rejected us! Silas, who was an Alpha of a regular pack, looked at me and decided I wasn't good enough to be his Luna! So what in the Moon Goddess's name makes you think a Lycan King would accept us?!"

Eva tried to speak, her voice surging forward with an argument. Because—

"If an Alpha rejected us for being useless, a Lycan will obliterate us the second he finds out what I really am! He was mistaken, Eva! It was a hallucination, or a cruel joke! And I am NOT going to stand there and let another male destroy what little is left of my soul!"

Hazel, listen to me—

"Just let me be, Eva!" I screamed.

Then finally Eva's voice faded into a muffled, resentful whimper before disappearing completely into the back of my mind, leaving me in total silence.

Before I could sink any deeper into my thoughts, a sudden tug pulled at the edge of my consciousness.

Hazel? where the hell are you?

Zoey’s voice burst into my mind through our pack link, dripping with concern. Right behind hers came Killian’s steady tone. Haze, Where did you go?

I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing my palms against my temples. I couldn’t tell them what had happened.

I'm fine, I sent back through the mind link, forcing my thoughts to sound as calm and even as

possible. I'm sorry, guys. I just... I had something personal I needed to deal with at home.

Are you sure? Zoey pressed. Do you want us to come over? I swear if Hailey or Silas did something—

No! No, please don't come, I cut in quickly. I just need to rest. I'll be at school tomorrow, I promise. I just need today to myself.

Killian let out a long sigh. Alright, Haze. Rest up. But if you need anything, you call us immediately. Got it?

I will. Thank you.

I severed the mind link, letting my head fall back against the wall. Finally, absolute quiet.

Exhaustion settled heavy into my bones, crushing me down. Crawling across the cold floor, I dragged myself up onto bed. I didn't bother changing out of my clothes. I just curled up into a tight ball, buried my face into the pillow, and let the darkness drag me.

The sleep that claimed me was far from peaceful.

His scent followed me into my dreams. Cedar. Rain. Something darker beneath it.

Everywhere I turned, those glowing silver eyes found me.

Mine.

The voice echoed through the darkness. Always mine.

I gasped, my eyes flying open as I sat upright in bed.

A bead of cold sweat broke out on my face. I looked around my room, panting heavily. The room was dark, illuminated only by the faint orange glow of the sun filtering through my window.

I picked up my phone from the table beside my bed and checked the time. It was nearly time for work. I slept through the entire afternoon.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead with a trembling hand, desperately trying to push the image of those glowing silver eyes from my mind. It was just a dream. It had to be.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, forcing my sore muscles to move.

My shift at the café started soon.

A small, genuine wave of relief washed over me. The café. It was a tiny, quiet place located on the far outer edge of the human town, miles away from the territory of Lunas Crest.

The owner was a kind, elderly human woman who had no idea what werewolves were, let alone Alphas. To her, I wasn't a wolfless omega. I was just Hazel—the hardworking girl.

It was the only place apart from the library where I felt safe. The only place where nobody looked at me with disgust or pity.

"I need to get to work," I whispered to the empty room, forcing myself into my bathroom.

I walked over to the cracked mirror hanging above my small wall. The girl staring back at me looked out of place. My hair was messy from sleep, my skin was deathly pale, and my eyes were hollow.

I washed my face with freezing water and scrubbed hard on my skin.

I pulled my hair back into a tight, neat ponytail, smoothing down the stray strands, and swapped my school sneakers for my plain black shoes.

Checking my small bag to ensure everything was intact, I slung it over my shoulder and moved quietly to the door. I stepped out of my bedroom, unlocking the door and walking quietly into the main hall. I didn't want to risk running into my mother.

I stepped out of the house, closing the door softly behind me. The cool evening air brushed against my heated skin.

I took a deep breath, pulling my jacket tight around my body as I began the long walk toward the human town.