Hazel stormed out of the room, her heart pounding against her ribcage as she hurried down the corridor. Her head spun with anger and confusion, the memories of Kieran's past rejection and hurt flooding back like a raging river. With each step, she tried to gather her strength and determination, but her thoughts were eating her up from within.
How dare he come into her life as though nothing had happened?
She could not betray the pull she still felt towards him, even after so many years. But she would forget him as soon as possible, just as she had forgotten him five years ago.
Hazel rounded a corner as she stormed away, and collided with a figure standing tall and regal.
"Oof!" She yelped, staggering backward.
"Watch where you're going, will you?" The person snapped, and Hazel looked up.
Her eyes widened as they met the person's gaze.
Luna Rhea.
Oh, Goddess! Hazel's wolf cursed.
Luna Rhea stood before her—shoulders straight and every hair in place, radiating an aura of authority that froze Hazel in her tracks.
Kieran's mother loomed before her, her piercing gaze like icy daggers that penetrated Hazel's soul.
A million different emotions flickered across the other woman's face, ranging from surprise to recognition, to anger, and finally, a sudden and absolute coldness.
Like hitting a freezing wall, Hazel's wolf muttered.
Slowly, she registered Rhea's hands on her shoulders, holding her in place. Hazel yanked her shoulders away from the woman's grip and averted her gaze.
"You!" Luna Rhea's voice was a cold whisper, laced with contempt. "Why are you here?"
"I was on my way out," Hazel replied, as coldly as she could muster.
"Did my son not banish you five years ago?" Rhea asked. "After all these years, after what you did, you dared to set foot in this pack again? Have you no shame, girl?"
Hazel's jaw clenched, her eyes flickering with a mixture of resentment and resignation. "I was... brought back," she replied, struggling to keep her tone even. Despite her sudden anger, she bowed her head in a sign of respect, though her body tensed in anticipation of any provocation.
"By whom?" Luna Rhea's voice turned steely, her eyes narrowing as she sized up Hazel, scrutinizing her every move.
"It's none of your concern, but your son brought me here!" Hazel shot back, her voice carrying a hint of defiance.
"None of my concern?" Luna Rhea's voice rose, a smirk playing on her lips. "You come barging into my pack house, stirring trouble, and you claim it's none of my concern?"
Hazel swallowed hard, trying to mask the boiling anger within her. "I came back to this pack seeking answers," she managed to say, her voice strained. "And I don't want any trouble."
"Seeking answers?" Luna Rhea's laughter was cold and mocking. "You've always been a troublemaker, Hazel. Causing chaos wherever you go."
"You're one to talk about causing chaos!" Hazel retorted, unable to contain her frustration. "You were the one who orchestrated my banishment!"
Luna Rhea's expression remained unreadable, her eyes glinting with a mix of malice and superiority. "Your banishment was a necessary decision. You were a threat to our pack."
"A threat?" Hazel's voice rose incredulously. "I was never a threat! I left because of your son's rejection, not because I posed a threat to anyone!"
Hazel watched as the woman sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes bulging with anger. However, she continued. "I know what you did, Rhea. I know everything! You never liked the mating bond I had with Kieran, did you? You lied against me to get him to throw me out, no?"
"Ah, Kieran's rejection," Luna Rhea's lips curled into a disdainful smile. "You were weak, Hazel. Unfit to be a part of this pack."
Hazel's hands balled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. Her head was pounding and her joints were aching from the aftermath of the accident, but she pressed on.
"You and your family have always underestimated me." She growled. "But I will not let you belittle me anymore."
Luna Rhea's laughter echoed through the corridor. "You're in no position to challenge me, little wolf. You'll always be an outsider here."
Hazel's chest heaved with anger and hurt. She wanted to lash out, to scream her frustrations, but she knew she had to restrain herself. Instead, she straightened her posture, meeting Luna Rhea's gaze with fiery determination.
"I may be an outsider, but I won't let anyone control my fate," Hazel said, her voice resolute. "I'll find my path, away from your influence, your pack, and your spineless son!"
Luna Rhea's eyes flashed with a mix of disdain and curiosity. "Bold words, Hazel. Let's see how long you can hold onto that defiance."
With a final steely glare, Hazel turned on her heel and walked away, her heart pounding with a mix of fury and determination. Luna Rhea's words had left her with a hollow feeling in her chest, but her head was as clear as a stream.
Hazel knew what she had to do now. She must find Zelda.
********
She stormed out of the pack house, her muscles aching and her head still reeling from her accident. Each step she took felt like a struggle, her body protesting against the pain, but her determination to find Zelda propelled her forward.
The streets of the Moon Gold pack were eerily quiet as she limped through them, the familiar surroundings stirring up a mix of emotions within Hazel. Memories of her past, both joyful and painful, resurfaced as she navigated the almost deserted streets. The bitter taste of betrayal lingered in her mouth, fueled by her anger towards Kieran and the haunting words of his mother.
Who did they think they were, anyway, she thought. She had been treated like scum all those years ago, but never again. It was time to fight back.
Every stride carried her closer to Zelda's old house. Hazel hoped against hope that Zelda still lived there after all these years. It was the only thing left in this pack that was familiar to her.
Her footsteps echoed through the silent streets, her mind restless. Anger burned like a relentless fire within her, fueled by Kieran's rejection and Luna Rhea's cruel influence that had driven her away from her pack years ago. Yet amidst the anger, determination fueled her spirit. She needed answers to these voices that kept invading her thoughts, she needed closure, and she needed her friend by her side.
Finally, Hazel got to a street that was even more deserted than the others. She stopped before the weathered door of Zelda's house and paused for a moment, her hand trembling slightly as she raised it to knock. With a deep breath, she rapped her knuckles against the door, the sound breaking the eerie silence of the street.
The door creaked open, revealing Zelda's astonished face. Their eyes locked, and a myriad of emotions flickered across Zelda's features – shock, disbelief, and a glimmer of joy.
Zelda's lips parted in surprise, a whispered "Hazel!" escaping her in a mix of astonishment and elation.