Chapter 8 - Hazel
I woke the next morning and found the living room filled with people. Asher was sitting on the couch with a coffee, with Brandon next to him. Westley and Kaleb were talking as they stood across the coffee table. I froze as I got to the end of the stairs.
“Morning, Hazel.”
I blinked, not expecting them. “Morning, what’s going on?”
“We were just talking over the plan for the hunt today. We’re going to an area that Asher’s been monitoring since we all got here, so he is joining us today.”
“Oh, so you’re all going out?”
Brandon nodded. “We won’t be all out for long. Just a couple of hours and Asher will be back. It’s not that far from the pack, so if anything happens, we can come back quickly.”
I nodded as I turned, heading into the kitchen. I poured myself a coffee and sat down on the island. They continued to chat, and I felt my phone vibrate. I glanced at it and saw it was a message from Gabriella. I wondered if she was nervous about today.
“Are you going to be good?” Asher stepped into the kitchen, placing his mug into the sink.
I looked up at him and nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” I couldn’t deny that my stomach dropped a little with the knowledge that they were all going to be out of the pack. I knew that with the barrier up, we would be safe, but that didn’t calm my head.
“Besides, Gabriella just messaged. Maybe she and I will spend the day together.”
He nodded. “That should be fun.”
I nodded, feeling like things were a little awkward with how our conversation went last night.
I felt hot as he described how he knew how to get a woman.
That he didn’t play games, and if he wanted to, he hardly had to try.
I knew that was probably true, but for him to tell me just made something stir in me.
“Are you okay with that?”
He frowned at me. “It’s your house too, Hazel. If you want your sister over, have your sister over.”
The guys left twenty minutes later, and I threw myself onto the couch. I pulled my phone up and called Gabriella while lying back. I stared at the ceiling as the phone rang.
“Morning,” she chirped.
I smiled. “You want to come over?”
I could hear shuffling on her end. “Give me ten minutes, and I’ll be there.”
I heard the doorbell ring and the front door open ten minutes later. “I’m here! Hazel, where are you?”
I leaned forward on the couch, waving a hand at her. She smiled as she shut the door, turning to me. She was holding two cups in one hand and a bag in the other. “I brought goodies.”
I raised an eyebrow. She must have already been out the door when I called if she stopped and bought stuff.
“Coffee and bagel sandwiches.”
“Oh, that sounds yummy.”
She slid her shoe off and walked into the living room. She threw herself onto the couch next to me, dragging half of the blanket over her lap. She leaned back like we had done a hundred times before.
“Whatcha watching?” she asked as she handed me a cup and turned her eyes to the show I had on. I hadn’t even been watching it. My mind was everywhere else.
I shrugged. “Not sure. I just flicked something on.”
She leaned back on the couch and sighed. “So, how have things been between you two? Are you getting along?”
I nodded my head, not wanting Gabriella to worry more than she already was. She’d been messaging me every day asking the same questions. I knew she was here to make sure I wasn’t lying.
“We’re getting along.”
“You’re not just saying that to make me feel better?” She glared at me, and I half expected her to know I wasn’t telling the full truth. We learned how to pick up on each other’s bullshit.
I rolled my eyes. “No. If I hated it so much, I would tell you. I would have arrived at your front door with all my crap and taken up the spare bedroom again.”
It wasn’t entirely a lie. Asher gave me space, which is what made this bearable. He wasn’t hounding me or constantly bothering me. It was nice to have alone time. But he was around if I needed anything. That was what annoyed me. I felt like I was being watched, but he wasn’t watching me.
I knew she needed more if she was going to believe me. “We went out skating yesterday.”
Her eyebrows went up. “Really? You went skating?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Fell on my ass a few times, but I had a good time. It was fun. He used to play hockey, so he was really good on the ice.”
“Oh, well then, maybe you are doing fine.” She took a sip of her coffee and pulled out a bagel. “And you two have been getting along? He’s been treating you nicely?”
I nodded. “Yes, Gabriella. He’s nice. He’s respectful.”
I could see her shoulders relax at my words. “Good, that makes me feel better.”
We ate as we watched TV. Gabriella told me how the house felt empty without me and that she missed having me around.
“I don’t have anyone to chat with in the morning,” she whined as she pulled her feet up, scooting them underneath her. “No one to side with me when Westley won’t admit he’s wrong.”
I rolled my eyes, unable to hold back a laugh. I didn’t even side with her that often when I was living there. “You’ll survive. Besides, I enjoy not listening to a headboard bang against the wall and you panting your husband’s name.”
Her face went red. “That happened once. One time, Hazel.”
I scuffed. “That scene, maybe, but I have heard you guys having sex more than once. I can’t forget the waffle morning when you bent over, and you had no panties on. Thanks for that, by the way. I’ll forever have the image of your vagina engraved into my brain.”
She giggled into her coffee. “You can’t get mad. We’re in love. We at least never did it around the house.”
I snorted. “That I know of. You could have, but I just never caught you. And now that I’m not living there, you guys can fuck in any room that you want.”
She laughed. “Speaking of our house, do you want to join me? The girls are coming over for lunch, and it’s been a while since you’ve joined us.” I could hear the hope in her voice.
I frowned, unsure if I wanted to. “I don’t know. They are more your friends than mine.”
“Oh, don’t say that. They like you just as much as they liked me. Come on, please. You haven’t been back to the house since you moved out.”
“And it’s a good thing I didn’t because you apparently fuck everywhere now. I could walk in and witness you getting slammed from behind.”
She rolled her eyes, a smirk pulling at her lips. “Oh, come on, please? It’s going to be fun.”
“Fine.”
“Yay!”
After I showered and changed, we headed over to her house. Gabrielle started to cook some chicken while I sat at their island. It felt weird to be back in the same space I once called home. It was exactly the same, but it felt so different.
“What are you guys doing to my old room? Or have you not thought about it?” It had only been a couple of weeks since I left. I didn’t know if she’d even thought about it.
Her hands paused for a split second. “We uhh…actually have been talking about turning it into a nursery.”
My eyebrows went up. This was news. “Wait, really?”
She nodded. “Yeah, we spoke about it the other night. I was standing in the room and told him the house felt empty. He asked if I wanted something more. And surprisingly, we both kind of agreed that we were ready.”
I couldn’t help but stare at her in shock. I hadn’t even been moved out long, and they were already talking about children. I knew that I had been holding her back, but I hadn’t expected this. It was just something I’d been telling myself, but it was clearly true.
I wanted to ask if they had been ready while I was living in the house, but I couldn’t. I didn’t want to know the answer. “I’m surprised.”
She smiled. “I know that it’s fast. But we’re ready.”
I shook my head at her. “No, it’s not fast. You guys are in love, and it’s the next step. I’m happy for you.” And I meant it even if I was a little hurt by the news.
I watched Gabriella cook while I sat and listened to her talk.
She spoke about how they were planning to start the nursery once things settled in the pack.
She’d explained how she looked forward to being pregnant and becoming a mom.
She never thought she would. She never thought she would get anything that she has right now.
I felt so much had changed since I left. She seemed more vibrant, more alive. There was no extra weight in worrying about me. I could see the shift and noticed how light she was on her feet. She was happy.
There was knocking, and then I heard the front door open. I turned just as Jade and Nora stepped inside. “Hey!” Jade said, holding up some wine bottles. “Let’s party!”
Jade hurried into the kitchen, pulling out wine glasses. Nora slid into a seat next to me, nudging her shoulder against mine. “Hey, Hazel. How have you been? How is living with Asher?”
“We’re doing fine.”
“That’s good. He’s treating you well?” Jade asked.
I nodded.
Jade popped the wine and poured some glasses. “Well, that’s good.”
Jade slid a glass to each of us, and I took a small sip of it. Jade leaned onto the counter. “So, what is the plan today?”
“Chicken is almost done. I could put a movie on if you guys want.”
“Or,” Jade said, wiggling her eyebrows as she pulled out a deck of cards. “Does anyone want to play some poker?”
I frowned. “I don’t know how to play.”
“Oh, that’s okay. We can teach you.” Jade grabbed her glass, heading to the dining table. I looked at Gabriella, who laughed, giving me a nod in agreement.
Twenty minutes later, we were all sitting with our plates, holding cards. They had explained the rules, and I was pretty sure I had them down. I stared at my cards and then looked around the table.
Jade put a card down. “So, Hazel. How have things been with you and Asher? Besides that, things are good.”
I looked up from my card. “We don’t see each other that often. He took me skating yesterday, and it was nice.”
“Oh, I miss skating,” Nora said. “I haven’t done that in a while. I should see if Kaleb wants to. I’ve been told that they keep the skating rinks in really nice condition.”
Gabriella placed a card down. “Westley and I are thinking of trying for a baby.”
Nora and Jade both stopped, their heads snapping to Gabriella. Jade’s mouth dropped open, and Nora stammered.
“Really?”
“Oh my god, that’s huge!”
Gabriella blushed. “The house feels empty. We aren’t going to try until things settle here a little more, but we’re thinking about it.”
“Oh my god, that’s exciting!” Nora squealed.
“Talk about change,” Jade said, playing a card down.
I cleared my throat. “Is anyone worried about the guys?”
They all froze, and I suddenly realized why we were all sitting together. It was a cover-up to mask what everyone was feeling. I could see them all shift, worry filling their eyes.
“I trust Brandon will make smart decisions,” Jade said, taking a sip of her wine. “Which is why we are playing poker.” She offered me a smile.
“I’m sure everything is going to be okay,” Nora added. “Nothing to worry about.”
I looked at each of them, knowing I wasn’t the only one who was concerned. They all were. But they were all putting on a front.
“So, poker,” I said, pulling my attention back to the cards.
I arrived home late. The poker continued, and it was clear none of them wanted to be alone, so it went into the night. I didn’t bother flicking the lights on as I headed upstairs, tumbling into the sheets. I didn’t even bother changing as I let myself drift off to sleep.
I was sleeping peacefully, just dreaming about running through tall grass and feeling freer than I had in a long time. I could see the wind on my skin and the dirt underneath my feet.
But then I felt like someone was watching me, like my running wasn’t because I wanted to. That calm that had wrapped around me shifted into panic. I felt darkness creep over me, and suddenly, I screamed.
I jerked up in my sleep, gasping for air. I looked around my room, knowing it was empty. There was no one here, but that dream left me scared. It felt so real. One moment, I was safe, and suddenly, the next, I wasn’t.
I needed air. I needed to get out of my room and just sit in an open space.
I pulled myself out of bed and headed down the stairs. I paused when I noticed that the kitchen light was on. I knew I hadn’t turned it on. My heart stopped beating as I paused at the bottom step.
I swallowed, looking around for something. I found the broom sitting next to the stairs and grabbed it.
I moved quietly and stepped into the kitchen. I held the broom close, not sure if it would help, but it was something.
I stopped moving as I realized it was Asher. He was leaning over the sink, his back to me. But I knew his figure.
My shoulders dropped. “Jesus, Christ, Asher! You scared the living shit out of me.” I placed the broom down and rubbed at my eyes. “What are you doing?”
Asher turned slowly, and my eyes widened as I realized he was covered in blood. His left arm was hanging low, as if his shoulder was hurt, and he had a scratch that ran down his left side. He looked like shit.
“Oh my god!” I moved closer. “Are you okay? What the hell happened?”
“I’m fine,” he said, but I could see the pain on his face. “We just ran into a hybrid. It caught us by surprise because we hadn’t expected it. It had been following us.”
I reached up, trying to pull at his jacket. “Take off your jacket. Let me see where you’re bleeding.”
“Hazel, I’m fine.” He tried to step out of my touch, but wobbled.
“Stop saying that. Take off your jacket.” I moved, grabbed a stool, and pulled it closer to us.
I practically shoved him onto it. Asher moved slowly, tugging his jacket off.
I realized he had a large, deep gash on his left shoulder.
The blood that was all over him had to be his, and he was going to need stitches.
I quickly pulled our drawer open, yanking out a hand towel.
I quickly pressed it onto his shoulder, and he yelped.
“Fuck!” he whined, grinding his teeth together.
“You are not fine!” I snapped at him. I had so many questions filling my head, but I didn’t have time to ask. He needed me to focus.