We practiced a lot more, my feet slowly getting accustomed to the introductory steps of the dance while only barely escaping making mistakes towards the middle. I never did get too deep, as Austin just told me to focus on the beginning, and he will ensure we don't make a disaster at the end."Just go with my flow, okay?" he said to me and I ordered, allowing him to lead. It was rather convenient, and I found it easier.We retired to bed after a tired dinner, his hand clasped around my waist, drawing me into him, while his other hand stretched under my head to support it. Before I knew it, I was asleep, his slow, even breaths serving to lure me even deeper.I turned on to my back as the bright sunlight assaulted my eyes, then pulled a pillow over my head to shut it out completely. I didn't even care that Austin wasn't in bed, I just know I needed this sleep. "No, not that. I will inspect it myself in the next thirty minutes, so just move on to other things. Spotlight? Well, Hazel isn
The hall looked nothing like the unfinished one that Austin had shown me just yesterday, and I knew there was definitely no way it could have been done without having to pull all nighters.Dark red and black roses adorned a cleared path, and petals filled the floor I was supposed to walk on. Most of the pack were there, and in the front I could see Catherine, tears glistening brightly in her eyes, yet a small smile on her face.I smiled back at her as Austin slowly accompanied me, the train of my dress behind held up by an omega, and the scroll of the Luna's oath waiting on an elevated stand on which Austin would leave me to go to.He gave me a small reassuring smile as he left my side and then made his way to the stand, a happy smile playing on his lips.The standing ovation that had welcomed us was still ongoing, and Austin let it go on for a few more seconds, before he finally raised a hand and firmly clenched his fist. It immediately died down and he lowered his hand."It is an ho
9 MONTHS LATERHow long can nine full months be? Probably a little too short when you are anticipating to die. But even shorter with a husband who dotes on you like Austin does.Austin received the congrats half heartedly, and brought in some of thbest healers across different packs to wait on me. Sometimes, I felt a little too protected, but I knew he just wanted to keep me safe.Everyday as I watched my pregnancy grow bigger, I felt the fear surge higher. How would things be for them after I die? Would Austin be able to look past my sacrifice and love the children because they belong to him? It sometimes made me wonder, but I also, learned to push it behind me.Sometimes, I caught him just spaced out a little, and sometimes after I slept, he would hold my hand and end up sleeping on a chair. He didn't seem to mind any of it at all, and didn't show me how worried he was also. For that, I was utterly grateful, more than he knew.I stood in front of the open door, watching the sunset.
Austin's P.O.V.I took the remaining steps towards the large burial ground, the single rose I had plucked from my recent gardening hobby dangling from my fingers. I hated the amount of time it has taken me to come here, but at least I am making my way to her now, and I hope I let myself get to the very end.The grave was still new, and I found myself slowly kneeling toward it, and I dropped the single flower I'd brought. It will wilter and dry up, unlike my love for her. Unlike this undying love I still feel after so long.The headstone had only three letters written in cursive. "I love you."Nothing more. Because I had no words at all to say to her. In front of her, I am a sinner, and I will probably always be. I have no chance for forgiveness with her. She left, long ago, and in her wake a gaping hole.I let out a long sigh. If Hazel were here, she would have said I am a little too young to sigh like that. I smiled, shaking my head a little.I touched the grave again, my fingers sl
There are parts of my life that I simply can't forget, like the day my father died, the day I officially became an omega, and the day I saw Austin for the very first time.The first two shrouded my life in complete darkness, showing me no other way out than to embrace whatever dirt I got on my face.But then, the last. It was still the freshest in my mind, the one that resonated with me the most.It has, through the pitch black darkness in my life, offered me a difference. A ray of hope. A reason to wake up not wanting to end my miserable life. It was the only reason I was still here, the only reason I will be here for a long time.It had been on the pack's annual thanksgiving festival, and Austin, the Alpha interim was heading it.I remember that epic moment in my life, when he had walked up to the elevated position and stood there, giving the first vote of thanks, and prayer.I was, of course, where the Omegas needed to be. At the back, behind everything. Missing out on everything.
It had been a memorable night for me, and for a long time after that, Austin's face stuck in my mind like a banner.I kind of didn't want to lose it, though. I love staring at it, and even though I knew I got sadder every tine I saw him but didn't get any closer, it still comforted me to a very great extent.Two weeks after the night of the thanksgiving, was the full moon, and then, Alpha Austin was expected to find his mate. Naturally, Omegas would be excluded from the event, especially since they didn't want the Alpha blood tainted.I spiraled further into depression. The love I have held on to longer than I have held on to anything was about to fade into nothing but dust.I hated it.Even more since I wouldn't even attend it.All I could do was watch from the sidelines, and help fix the ceremony."Eve?"She was my friend, who practically lived with me."What now, Hazel? You want to keep crying about how you have seen the alpha and is somehow crazily falling for him that you always
I stayed there watching for a while, the tears stinging the back of my eyes. It hurt so much that I was watching the man I wanted to protect being hurt this bad.He stood there, his eyes closed, probably replaying all the memories that would only serve to hurt and torment him from now on.He turned away and sat, facing the small lake.I could only imagine how much he was going through. If I lost sleep because of a man whose love I have never experienced, how about him who had gotten used to the love and is suddenly deprived of it?I watched him put his legs into the lake, not minding that his trousers would get wet, he just plunged them in.I made to turn away. I guess this was his private moment, and he would hate to know that someone else was intruding in it. Especially in his most vulnerable moment.I turned away, my steps slow and cautious, before I stepped on a large twig, causing it to break under my foot. It made a loud noise, and I instinctively turned towards the Alpha to mak
“What do you mean you broke up? You guys were so in love, I am sure you guys still are.” I forced him to release me and look at me, but the sobs that were reverberating through his body did not let him raise his head to me.“I am so sorry, Hazel. But…I just can’t stand being with her when she hates you so much. She said things about you, said things about me and you…it would be bad of me to just leave you because I want to be with her. We go back way longer.”This can’t be happening. The exact thing that Alpha Austin had warned me about was coming true and I couldn’t even do anything about it.“No. I don’t mind Simon. It doesn’t really matter. Do what makes you happy.”He shook his head. “No. We go too far back for me to leave you just like that.” He sniffed, then wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve. “I will go up and be by myself for some time, okay? Is that alright?”I nodded and he walked away, to his tiny basement room. That was the sort of room most of us omegas had, and s