Chapter 161
HAZEL’S POV
Nora and I were watching each other, I pressed my lips tighter and felt them shake when I blew out a breath making a rumbling noise on the way.
Neither of us said anything and I don’t know why she was suddenly quiet but I had my reasons. Having to picture her naked with my mate being one of
them.
Mathilda would have put her things in the room by now and headed to the kitchen with Elise to get something to eat. I could bet anything that she was asking the chef for meatloaf and chocolate cake, it was her comfort food, whenever she was sad my mom would make her the most delicious meatloaf and buy chocolate cake from the local bakery.
I tried cheering her up once when our parents were out of town but my macaroni and cheese with broccoli weren’t as big of a hit.
“I’m gonna go check on Mathilda,” I pointed toward the archway and smiled.
“I’ll come with you!”
“Why?”
Nora abruptly stopped and I internally slapped myself. Why would I say it like that? As though It was the worst imaginable thing for her to come with me, wasn’t the worst idea and I’m not even entirely sure what this grudge is that I have towards her. She’s been nothing but nice to me.
She crossed her arms over her chest, and now that she was closer I could smell the citrus coming from her hair, she’d washed it. The dress was different as well, still lace but this one was black with a red slip under.
“We’re not going anywhere until you tell me what your problem is,” she wore a stoic expression and I believed the part about us not going anywhere.
Her feet were glued to the spot but what if I ran- would she tackle me?
The air rose up my chest and I heaved a sigh that sank my shoulders.
It wasn’t her that I had a problem with, at least I didn’t think it was but her presence here was a constant reminder that she and Darian slept together and the thought of it was making my blood boil.
Ugh, to make matters worse her stoic expression slowly faded and left behind wounded puppy eyes when her arms fell and she dropped her jaw.
“What did I do?”
It’s not her fault. Damn, I was such a bitch.
“Nothing, you haven’t done anything,” I sighed.
“Obviously it’s something. You went from talking to me to looking at me like I’m…” She shook her head and then her eyes narrowed and her shoulders sank. “…like I’m the whore who fucked your boyfriend. It bothers you that I’ve been with Darian, doesn’t it?” she whispered.
“Not intentionally but yeah, I guess it does,” I tossed my arms in the air hoping the frustration I felt would seep out through my fingertips and out into the universe.
“I know that it wasn’t your choice, you had to, it’s your job,”
“Because I’m a whore,”
“That’s not what I said,” I shook my head.
Nora smiled and walked closer.
“It’s not a bad word, Hazel. I am a whore, it’s my job, it’s what I do and quite frankly I enjoy doing it. Working in the palace, however, is never an easy feat. The girls warned me when I got the job here, you’re not catering to two or five guys, every Guard who wants to fuck you will and they don’t give a damn
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Chapter 161
about when or where; nobody ever does. What the girls warned me about was the King, it wasn’t an act of love if that’s what you’re imagining,”
“I know it wasn’t,”
“I don’t think you do,” she countered.
“What was it then?”
“Stress relief, Bells were his chosen form of tension-reducing practice, there’s no emotional attachment. Whenever and wherever. The need for control is too great with Darian and Bells are the ultimate objects for practicing dominance, control, and relief,”
The smile didn’t reach her eyes and I was afraid to hear anything more that she had to say. I already knew the monster he could be, I was also aware of the King he needed to be to fulfill his duties but what I’m curious about is who he will be to me.
“Do you think he can change?” I asked. I don’t want to be his stress reliever or the good little mate he calls on when he has an itch.
Darian can be bad, I don’t mind, he just can’t be bad to me. It wasn’t a secret that he had enemies but he was also feared and respected and I would forever understand his need to protect Valeria, other than that, I needed him to be a respectful, kind man.
“I think he already has,” she said and the smile grew a little wider.
After having talked I must admit I did feel better, nothing she said indicated that he still saw her for any kind of relief so for now that would have to do.
Nora was kind and sweet and I didn’t want to be the bitch who pissed off the one person here who wanted to be my friend.
I walked toward the hallway and turned my head.
“Let’s go explore the castle,” I grinned and Nora hurried after.
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The Alpha’s Hunt
