Alpha King's Forbidden Mate

~Hazel~

I sucked in a sharp breath, trying to soothe the ache at the depths of my heart but...I could still feel it, so deep, suffocating, hard to ignore.

"Hazel! Please open the door. Please...give me a chance to explain."

His husky voice pierced through the quiet air as soon as I walked from the bathroom. 

I stopped in my tracks and closed my eyes, then inhaled deeply. My heart twisted inside my chest as though someone was piercing it using a two-edged silver dagger and it was becoming hard for me to breathe.

The voice that once made my insides tickle sweetly was now causing nothing but an heartache.

"Hazel..."He knocked on the door again, this time louder than before, his voice strained and pleading.

'I need to face this. Hiding or avoiding him won't help anything. 'I encouraged myself.

I walked to the door and opened it because I knew he wouldn't stop banging. I saw relief in his ocean-blue eyes as soon as the door clicked open. His jet-black hair was a mess, he looked so worried and afraid. I couldn't recall when was the last time I saw him this way.

"Hazel...thank godess. I was so scared when Matteo informed me that you had left the ceremony without telling him where you were going."

He confessed as he wrapped his hands around my body tightly. I closed my eyes and a single tear dropped from my left eye. It was warm in his arms, I raised my hand to hug him back but my hand hung mid-air.

I couldn't bring myself to hug him, my hands fell back on my side.

"Please let me go! “I pleaded in a weak voice. I wanted to stay in his warm arms some more. However, it didn't feel like a safe place for me to stay anymore.

"No, there is no way I'm letting you go, Hazel. You're mine. “He said possessively and his grip around me tightened.

I wriggled from his warm embrace and he let go. I stepped away from him, creating some distance between us and wiped tears from my eyes using the back of my hand. I didn't feel safe around him, not anymore.

"What do you want us to talk about when everything is crystal clear? “I asked him.

"Please don't say that Hazel. “He grabbed my hands and gave it a small squeeze, his voice almost a whisper.

"We didn't do anything, I swear. I managed to fight my desires for her. “He looked me straight in the eyes, hoping that I could believe him.

"That doesn't change the fact that you went to her, Sebastian. I saw it in your eyes when you sniffed her scent, Seb. You looked so different, you have never looked at me that way since we started dating. You looked as though someone had put a spell on you. She was the only one that mattered."

I paused to catch my breath; tears flowed down my cheeks when the images re-played in my head once again.

It was hard to hold back tears. I wanted to be strong. To pretend that it didn't hurt that much, to pretend that it didn't break my heart into a million tiny pieces.

But...it was too much for me to take it. All the years we spent together, all the memories we made together, all the promises he made to me were broken. 

It was just too much for me to forget everything and let go. Sebastian lowered his head in embarrassment.

"How do you want me to forget about everything and pretend that nothing happened? "I asked and he didn't answer.

"I saw the effect she had on you, Sebastian. It's hard to pretend. I can't do this. Your heart doesn't only beat for me, it beats for her as well. How do you expect me to feel?"I wiped tears from my eyes.

"You didn't make even a tiny effort to fight for us, Seb. You promised to risk being weak and reject you’re fated if she ever comes between us. But what did you do? You went to her and made out.I felt every bit of it and it hurt so much. "I said and he was still quiet.

"It felt like someone was squeezing my heart into a tiny ball and it was becoming hard for me to breathe. "I waved my hands in the as I explained, hoping that he would understand how I felt while he was busy making out with his fated.

"But I tried, Hazel. "He said in a weak voice and his eyes were misty as though he was about to break down.

"Today was supposed to be our sixth marriage anniversary but I chose to accompany you to the annual ceremony. But what did you do? You didn't even show appreciation by holding back when you noticed your fated was around. Was that too much to ask? “I asked, looking him straight in his eyes and he looked away.

"I'm sorry for letting you down, Hazel. I'm sorry. We didn't go all the way. I fought my wolf. I fought knight and he bowed to me. "He said and a single tear dropped from his eyes.

He raked his jet-black hair backwards and held onto it so tightly and a frustrated sigh escaped from his lips.

"Maybe you managed to control Knight this time, but what about next time?. You promised that you'll never touch another woman, Sebastian. I think I was too naive to believe you. “I paused and heaved a sigh because the words were bitter in my throat and tongue.

"She has a lot of control over you compared to me. I don't want to keep my hopes up. “The corner of my lips curved into a bitter smile. Seb didn't say anything; he just looked away because he knew I was saying the truth.

Turning around slowly, I walked back to the room.

How am I supposed to forget everything and let go? Fate didn't give me a chance to prepare my mind. I need to start preparing now because it will take me down when the time comes.

"Please... Hazel, don't do this to me. I love you so much. "He ran to me as soon as I turned around and began walking away from him. He wrapped his strong arms around my tiny waist tightly as though he was afraid that I would disappear into thin air.

"Please don't leave because I don't know what to do without you. I'm sorry about what happened at the ceremony. "He pressed his lips on my shoulders.

"I didn't want to go to her. I wanted to continue dancing with you on the dance floor. But...the scent was too strong. I'm sorry that I wasn't strong enough to fight it. I promise that next time I'm going to stand my ground. I will fight for us."

His grip on my body tightened. He buried his face in my neck and inhaled my scent deep in his lungs as though reminding himself how I smelled.

"Please..."He begged and I could feel regret, pain, fear and worry in his voice. His warm breath fanned my neck and I fought the urge to tilt my head to the side to give him full access.

It reminded me of so many times that he has done this. He would come to the kitchen when I'm busy cooking and wrap his arms around me so tightly from behind.

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. I wanted all the happy memories that we shared to cloud my mind. However, what happened in the annual ceremony clouded my mind instead