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

Chapter 8

Hazel's POV

My sneakers slapped against the floor as I rounded the corner leading away from the library section.

"Hazel?"

A soft, familiar voice cut through the noise in my ears.

I nearly stumbled over my own feet as I skidded to a halt. Standing in front of me was Zoey, holding a snack in each hand.

"Hazel!" Zoey gasped, "what happened to you? Did someone touch you? Was it Hailey?"

"No," I said.

Zoey narrowed her eyes at me for a moment, then took a deep breath, making my heart flutter with a feeling that only Zoey and Killian could give me.

"Okay,” Zoey murmured softly, reaching out to gently squeeze my arm. “Okay, Haze. Let’s go.” She handed me one of the snacks as we walked to our next class.

The next hour flew by in a blink of an eye.

I sat at my desk in the back row, staring blankly at the blackboard as the teacher's voice faded into the background noise.

When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, the classroom erupted into a flurry of shuffling papers and sliding chairs. I packed my bag as quickly as my shaking hands allowed, eager to escape the suffocating walls of the academy.

"Ready, Haze?" Zoey asked, picking up her expensive bag.

"Yeah," I whispered, offering her a faint, weary smile. "Let's go."

We walked out of the glass doors of the main building and headed toward the student parking lot. The afternoon air hit my face, clearing a tiny fraction of the fog clinging to my brain. The lot was crowded with luxury cars, but standing near a black SUV at the far end of the row was Killian.

He was leaning against the driver's door, his broad chest wrapped in a black leather jacket, looking every bit the formidable warrior he was trained to be. But the moment his eyes landed on us, his stern expression melted into something undeniably soft.

As we reached the car, Killian stepped forward, dropping an arm around Zoey's waist and pulling her effortlessly against his chest.

"Hey, baby," Killian murmured, his deep voice dripping with affection as he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Zoey's lips right there in the middle of the parking lot.

Zoey melted instantly into his touch, as she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back without a single care for who was watching.

Standing a few feet away, a quiet ache flickered in my chest. Watching them reminded me of everything Silas had stripped away from me.

Killian pulled back, flashing Zoey a soft smile before turning his warm eyes toward me. "How are you holding up, Haze?"

"I'm okay, Killian. Thanks," I replied softly, offering a polite nod.

"We were just about to head to the mall," Zoey said, turning around in Killian's embrace to look at me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Killian promised to take me shopping for the upcoming gala, and then we're grabbing dinner. Come with us, Haze! It'll be fun, and it'll get your mind off... everything."

I hesitated, looking between the two of them. Killian gave me a welcoming nod, clearly happy to have me join. They deserved time together, and the last thing I wanted was to be a third wheel on their date. More than that, the sheer exhaustion of the day was catching up to me. My body ached, and the dark reality of the place I called home was waiting for me.

"Thank you, Zoey... I really appreciate that, but I think I just need to go home and rest today. I'm really tired… but I promise I’ll join you some other time." I declined softly, giving her a gentle, appreciative look

Zoey searched my face, a small pouting expression touching her lips, but thankfully she didn't push.

"Alright," Zoey sighed, leaning in to give me a tight, warm hug. "I'll drop you off first. No arguments."

"Okay." I smiled faintly.

Ten minutes later, Killian pulled his car up outside my house.

"Call me if you need anything, Haze," Killian said, catching my eye in the rearview mirror. "Seriously. Any trouble, you link or call."

"I will. Thank you, Killian. Bye, Zoey."

I stepped out of the car, pulled my backpack over my shoulder, and watched them drive out of sight.

I walked up to the door and quietly inserted the key into the door, turning it as silently as possible.

I pushed the door open, stepping into the dark, narrow entryway.

I didn't even have time to turn on the light as a hand shot out and grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking me forward.

"Ah!" A sharp scream tore from my lips as my knees slammed hard onto the floor.

"Where the hell have you been?!"

My mother stood over me, her eyes bloodshot with fury. She reeked of alcohol, her hair tangled. Before I could even speak, her hand struck the side of my face with a deafening sound.

The force of the slap sent my head snapping to the side, nearly knocking me off balance. My cheek burned like fire, the taste of blood filling my mouth.

“It’s all your fault,” my mother shouted, her voice echoing down the room. “You’re the reason why my life is ruined. You're pathetic.”

"Look at you!" she shrieked, her voice raspy and cruel as she kicked my bag away, sending my books spilling across the floor. "Useless! Eighteen years old and you couldn't even shift! You couldn't even bring home a decent pack allowance! You're a stain on this family, Hazel! Just like your pathetic father!"

I didn't cry out. I simply curled into a tight ball on the cold floor, pulling my knees up to my chest, burying my face in my arms, and letting her pour her anger on me. Over the years, I had learned that speaking back only made it worse. If I acted like a lifeless being, she would eventually tire herself out.

Her hard kicks landed against my ribs, my thighs, and my shoulders. She threw insults at me, her heavy breathing echoing in the small room.

I squeezed my eyes shut, taking the blows in silence, letting my mind detach from my body. I let the pain wash over me, remaining numb as I waited for the storm to pass.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, her heavy gasps slowed as she gave one last kick before she turned away.

I lay still on the floor, holding my breath until her footsteps faded away. Only after I heard the harsh slam of her door closing did I slowly and painfully push myself up.

Every muscle in my body throbbed with pain. My ribs burned with every breath I drew. I dragged myself up onto my hands and knees, gathered my scattered books, and pulled myself to my feet.

Everything is going to be alright, Haze…” Eva said reassuringly.

“I know,” I whispered back.

I walked down the dimly lit hallway, opened the door to my bedroom, and stepped inside, clicking the lock shut behind me.

The room was cold and dark. I dropped my bag onto the floor, dragged my aching body over to the bed, and collapsed face-down onto the bed. I lay there in the quiet darkness, listening to the sound of my own breathing.

BZZZ.

The quiet buzz of my phone broke the silence.

With a slow reach, I grabbed the phone and brought the glowing screen to my face.

It was a text message from Lily—the kind, older human girl who managed the small coffee shop three blocks away from the pack boundary where I worked part-time.

Lily: Hey Hazel! Just checking in. Are you feeling better? When are you coming over? We really need the help in the house!

I stared at the text. Working at the cafe was exhausting, but it was the only place where I earned my own money—money I used to buy food for the house and help pay the rent.

My fingers trembled as I typed back a quick, short response.

Hi Lily. Yes, I'm feeling better. I'll be there tomorrow for my shift. See you then.

I hit send, dropped the phone onto the blanket, and buried my face back into the pillow.

I closed my eyes, letting exhaustion pull me under, desperately hoping that tomorrow would bring a peace I knew I would never truly find.