Gem

Turn For The Worst

It looks like a busy morning for the kitchen today. Probably because of summer break so everyone is practically here. Families and friends can eat together, train and enjoy their day. I rush over to the buffet tables that are usually out everyday with various types of food and beverages. I grab a warm jelly donut and chocolate milk. My fav!! Before heading to our usual table smack center of our pack. We do have a separate dining hall for high ranking families only but Karson hates it in there. He always says if he is going to be the Alpha someday he wants to dine with his pack members and I don’t blame him.

I walk over and see him talking to Blake and Anastasia Hawkins. They are our Gamma’s kids. Blake is older than us by two years. He’s both brains and brawn’s. At least six five. Stass is my best friend. Taller than me by like three inches. I’m telling you the girl is ALL legs! Standing at five ten. She is gorgeous just like her mother Carol. They both have Carol’s blue eyes and their father Peter has green. Blake and Carol have brown hair while Peter and Stass are blondes. Blake has short hair and a short beard, Stass’s hair is long like mine. She’s always been a sister to me and we both have always had a big crush on Karson although I did tell her a couple years back that my crush went away so we could stop arguing over it.

If there’s one thing about Stass, she is extremely competitive and usually doesn’t take no for an answer best friend or not. If she could be his Luna on the spot she would. I know she sounds like a total bi.tch and she does have her moments I will give her that but she has been my longest and most trustworthy friend. I also spy Ryder sitting at the table right next to Kar. His face practically in his plate scarfing down his meal per usual not for long as if he must’ve sensed me because he pops his head up and looks me whistling and wooing loudly drawing our table and the rest of the dining halls attention to look my way. I immediately roll my eyes at him. While everyone else laughs going back to what they were doing I turn on my heel to make a run for it when I hear Karson call my name. Ugh great..

“Haze! Come sit please and ignore this a.sshat.” He said glaring at Ryder which Ryd gives right back then they both laugh. Alpha or not they are like brothers. Brothers buttheads and the level of respect they have for each other goes beyond their titles. “Yes! Babes sit next to me.” Stass says and I chuckle watching her slap the empty seat. I finally sit. Stass squeezes me into a side hug. She’s sitting across from Blake, Karson at the head of the table and of course I am directly across from Ryder. It’s inevitable I swear.

“Morning guys what’s the plan for the day?” I say taking a bite of my donut then taking a sip of my milk. “Well I thought you could start my day off by helping me with something very important.” Ryder says pointing his index finger down clearly indicating his d***k before anyone else had a chance to respond. Karson was about to punch him when I smiled at them deciding to play Ryder’s game but only better.. I lick the center of my donut where the jelly is as sexy as I can while looking Ryder dead in the eyes. “Mmm. Keep on dreaming babe.” I say knowing I’ve got him good because he is completely speechless. Mouth open and eyes bulging out of his head. He was not expecting that and especially not from me. The rest of us loudly burst into laughter drawing more attention again but this time it was worth it. Once he’s adjusted he shakes his head.

“Oh buttercup that was so hot it’ll be on replay in my mind forever. Thank you for that.” Ryder says smirking at me. I just scoff. “Yeah well that’s all you’ll get out of me for a lifetime.” I say poking my tongue out at him. I turn to Karson. “So what’s going on?” I ask. “Not here. No offense guys but Hazel let’s go to the gardens.” He says looking into my eyes before standing. Sh.it. He never uses my full name. This must be serious.. Stass was about to say something to him but he walks away.. Not even to look back to see if I was following. She looks defeated so I stand and tell her we will catch up in a bit. Ryder blows me a kiss which I pretend to dodge and I smile at Blake which he returns with his sparkly eyes. Okay I’ve melted.. I can’t help it.. All wolves are genuinely attractive! Alright enough wasting time I practically run to catch up to Karson whose already outside.

“Wait up!” I yell but he doesn’t. “What the he.ll Karson!? Where’s the fire huh! Why are you acting so strange!?” I yell at him again pissed beyond belief now walking further into the gardens before he quickly turns to face me and I bump straight into his hard chest about to fall backwards when I feel him grab my waist pulling me back up straight. Not letting go of me I push him lightly to release his grip. He moves away and starts pacing back and forth. He stopped and ran his hand through his hair. “I.. I.. I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s been happening lately with me. I think it’s because my birthday.” He says softly looking down. I don’t say a thing as he continues talking. “You know what who am I kidding!? I know I’m feeling this way because of my birthday next week.. I.. I just can’t help but feel I will find my mate and she won’t be you..” He says with so much emotion lifting his head practically looking straight into my soul. I’m speechless right now.. my mouth is hanging wide open.. I begin to close it and gather what I’m going to say.. Is he confessing his love for me? Am I fu.cking dreaming? This is something I’ve always wanted to hear from him and yet it feels so wrong.. Although Angel hasn’t spoken to me much she is in there somewhere and I can feel she’s not happy with this conversation. My eyes begin to water.. If Angel isn’t happy then that means he really isn’t my mate.. I pinch myself hard to make sure this is real.. “OW.. Okay definitely real..” I say out loud. Karson tries to say something but I snap before he had a chance.

“Why.. Why are you doing this to me!? You’ve always told me that I was your sister and now you want to confess your love for me!? What the actual f***k Karson?!” I yell at him releasing a few tears I’ve been trying to hold back.. He tries to step towards me and I take a big step back. He goes to say something again but I don’t give him a chance. “No!” I scream and the tears start running down my face as I see his beautiful blue eyes staring into my soul start to tear up. “You know what I’m not doing this..” I throw my hands up in the air and start hysterically laughing while crying.. “I’m not fu.cking doing this with you.. This conversation never happened. Stay away from me the next few days and then maybe we can talk.” I say taking deep breaths pacing back and forth trying to calm myself down..

“Hazel I know your upset with me.. I’m so sorry I literally have no words for my actions but I can’t deny that I’ve always felt this way and I’ve tried to shut out my feelings for you! I really have! I’ve told you that you were like a sister to me my whole life so it would go away but it hasn’t! Any male giving you attention made it difficult for me not to react so I told them to leave you alone.. Even Ryder who might be your mate but I hope to Goddess he’s not.. Please you must understand..” He said looking at me like a lost puppy. I take a step forward and he isn’t sure what to make of it. “Don’t you ever talk about the mate bond!” I screamed pointing my finger in his face before taking a step back again. “You know I truly thought my silly little crush for you might come true someday but now I know it was just that. A silly little crush.. Please respect my boundaries and leave me the f***k alone.” I said to him storming off..

I wipe my face and hold my head up high as I walk back over to the door and enter the dining hall. Thankfully there’s basically no one here. I walk over to the hallway exiting the dining hall and see a few people hanging out. One in particular. Ryder and he’s now walking down the hall heading towards me. Great just what I need.. I quickly put my head down trying to walk by when he stops me. “Buttercup I really like that shirt on you.. Red is my favorite color you know.. Are you done talking to Karson?”

I nod my head not saying anything so I can keep moving past then I feel him lightly grab my arm. “Hazel is everything okay?” He said and it actually sounded genuine. I just shake my head and softly sniff. “Come here babe.” He pulls me into a bear hug wrapping his big arms around me and I loose it. I cry so hard.. Realizing Karson and I won’t ever be the same after this.. Why couldn’t I just live with him never telling me? I prefer to live in the dark. “Let’s go get some ice cream near the Lake, my treat.” Ryder says pulling away from me. I nod my head at him while sniffling again. He laughs. I kinda like the sound of his laugh.. He takes my hand in his and I’m surprised. I feel warm.. He really must be my mate.. I think to myself and we walk through the pack house and out the front door.