Chapter 140 Peaceful place

Chapter 140 Peaceful place
~Hazel~

Luciano pulled me carefully into his arms and patted my back to help me calm down. I held onto his golden robe so tightly as though my life depended on it and hugged him back.

"I would like us to go back to the castle so badly, Hazel. However,I can't because I need to talk to kings and queens from other kingdoms so that I can make allays and talk about trade between the kingdoms."Luciano told me through the mind-link and gave my body a gentle squeeze.

"I'm happy that you chose me."He said and I heard the happiness in his voice. He pulled off and looked at me as though he couldn't believe that indeed I chose him over Andrian.

"What about I ask Jonas Robert and Jonas to take you back to the castle? They will be accompanied by other soldiers for security, to make sure that you're going to be safe."Luciano suggested and I nodded my head at his words.

"I promise I will come back to you when I'm done with everything. I'm going to ask your mother to accompany you so that you don't get bored, okay?"Luciano told me and I nodded my head to his words.

____________

My mother and I arrived at the castle and I walked straight to my room. I felt exhausted,  so I sat on the couch to have a rest.My mother walked to the bedside table and poured a glass of water then walked to me, handing me the glass of water.

I nodded as a "thank you" and gulped the glass of water in one go.

"You don't need to feel bad about anything, Hazel."My mother said,she sat on the couch next to me then held my hands and gave them a gentle squeeze.

"You made the right decision to reject your fated mate. I looked at my mother and heaved a slow sigh.

"But I can't help it, mother. I feel like I betrayed him."I paused to catch a breath."I know. It happens to everyone who rejects his/her fated mate to be with someone else. I chose your father over my mate who was a werewolf just like me.My mother's lips curved into a smile and I could tell that indeed she loved my father so much.

"Your father chose me over his mate too. He rejected his fated mate who was a Lycan and chose me over her."She gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

"Being fated mates doesn't mean that you will end up together. It's upon everyone to choose their destiny. So, don't feel bad about it.''My mother told me and I felt a lot better.

"Luciano and I have gone through a lot together, Mother. I wouldn't be alive if not for Luciano. He saved me when the soldiers wanted to slaughter me because I'm half-breed. It means that my fated mate wouldn't have found me if the soldiers would have killed me."My voice was a whisper as I recalled that scary night.My mother wrapped her hands around my body and patted my back.

"What matters the most is the love that you have for each other."My mother told me and I nodded,"I love him so much, mother."I confessed,"I know.I see the love between the two of you each time you look at each other."I smiled when I heard my mother's words.I couldn't believe that she has been studying us all this months.

It was silent inside the spacious rooms,even a pin drop could be heard.I turned my head to look at my mother who seemed to be lost in her own world.I couldn't help but get worried about her and I  wanted to know what was troubling her.

"How is everything between you and Grandpa?"I asked,my mother turned her head to look at me and her lips curved into a bright smile.

"Everything is fine."My mother shrugged nonchalantly, "Hazel, I don't think we will be staying here in the castle forever."My mother said and I couldn't help but frown upon hearing her words.

"Why? Where are you going? Are you planning to leave me again?"Fear crept into my heart when I gave it a thought.

"You need to calm down, princess."My mother gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

"I'm never going to leave you again, isn't that what I promised you?"She asked and I nodded in agreement.

"What did you mean when you said that you won't be staying in the castle forever? This place is too big and it can accommodate all of us."I said convincingly so that she could change her mind.

"My mate and I are planning to move out of the castle so that we can settle somewhere peaceful.Don't get it twisted.I don't mean that it's not peaceful here in the castle. It's just that."She went quiet and heaved a deep sigh.

"I would like to be away from leadership."She said and I could feel the need in her voice.The need to be away from the leadership that she was talking about.

"I was the daughter of an Alpha.Our pack got attacked and I was taken to the South as captive and that's how I met your father.  When the king realised that there was something between your father and me, he warned him to leave me but we loved one another so much. Your father chose to keep me and leave the kingdom,  he was the Beta of the king back then."I listened carefully to my mother's explanation.

"When they banished us from the Southern kingdom, that's when we joined Mountain pack and they welcomed us with open arms and your dad became the Beta of Sebastian's father. His position in mountain pack made the Southern king so mad because Mountain pack was growing strong.The king was afraid that it would become the most powerful pack than his kingdom and that's why he kidnapped me to distract your father so that he couldn't concentrate on building the pack instead,  he divided his attention and began to look for me."

Even though I was only seven years old, I remembered clearly how Dad couldn't stop looking for my mother.He was so desparate to an extended that he neglected his Beta duties.

"I hope you understand where I'm coming from, Hazel. I don't want you to think that I'm abandoning you or anything. It's just that I don't want to get involved in leadership because of everything that I have gone through."My mother explained.A single tear dropped from the corner of her eyes and she wiped it using the back of her hand.

"Grandpa was planning to fight for his pack and take it back from the kingdom that took it over.However, I asked him not to do it because all I want is a peaceful life."Tears couldn't stop streaming down her cheeks.

"I told him that if he wanted to get into war, I was going to reject him before losing him.  I know it will take me down in case I lose him like I have lost everyone in my life because of war, except you."She wiped tears from her face using the back of her hand.

"I don't want to loose anyone else, Hazel."I pulled my mother into my arms and patted her back.

My mother pulled off after staying in my arms for some time.She brushed the dark hair strands from her face and tucked it behind her ear.

"I'm sorry, the emotions got the better of me."She said and smiled shyly,"I'm your mother.I'm the one who is supposed to be strong but I entered up being swayed away with the emotions."My mother chuckled.

"Well, mothers have emotions too."I joked so that she could stop feeling shameful of being emotional.

"I get where you're coming from, Mother. It's okay."I nodded and heaved a deep sigh.I was so sad that my mother didn't want to stay with me in the castle for that long.

However, I can't keep her close if it makes her feel uncomfortable. Even though it hurts so much.I will agree to whatever she wants because I love her so much. I would like my mother to live a peaceful life too after going through so much.

"What about grandpa? Is he still going to take over the pack?"I inquired.

"He chose me over the pack. Grandpa wants a peaceful life too. We want to raise our grandchildren in a peaceful environment so that when they come to visit us, they don't feel leadership pressure."My mother explained and I couldn't help but smile at their brilliant idea. It's true staying in the castle comes with so much pressure.

For one year that I have been staying with Luciano in the castle.I have been studying everything carefully and I have to admit that being a leader is not that easy,it's so exhausting and stressful.

"If that is what you want.Who am I to refuse? All I want is to see you happy and if being away from the castle will make you happy,  you have my full support.Just don't leave me again, okay."My voice broke at the end of the statement and tears flowed from my eyes effortlessly.

Reality hit me harder than before.It dawned to me that it's real mother will be leaving the castle soon.

I didn't care about being crowned as the queen of the Southern kingdom at the moment. I just wanted to get into my emotions.I know Mum will understand me.  We hugged for the hundredth time and I cried in my mother's arms.

"When are you leaving the castle? And where are you planning to settle?"I asked my mother, wiping the tears from my eyes.

"Just like I promised you some few days ago, I will be by your side throughout your pregnancy and when you welcome the newborns.So, we are not going to leave the castle so soon. I was just preparing you mentally so that you don't get surprised when the time comes."My mother explained.

"We will leave a few months after you give birth."I was so happy to know that I still have some time to cherish with my mother.

"Your grandpa and I were thinking of settling on a farm where we will be able to raise animals and do farming. We would like to keep ourselves busy.."I nodded in understanding when I heard my mother's words.

"More like a ranch?"I asked and she nodded, "Yes,more like a ranch."She said with a smile on her lips.

"I will talk to Luciano about it so that we can start building the house and everything. We will build a big house that will fit our big family because we will be visiting you so often, you know."I joked and my mother looked so happy when she heard my words.

"I hope you will be coming back to check on your daughter."I said in a sad voice,"Of course I will be coming to check on my daughter and her family."My mother assured me. A knock pierced through the air and we both turned our heads to look at the door.

"I will go to check who is there, "My mother informed me and I nodded to her in understanding.She stood up from the couch and headed to the door.Mum turned to look at me and smiled. I didn't need the prophetess to know what that smile meant.

"I will see you,"  She told me through the mind link and left.

Luciano appeared from behind the door,his hair was a mess and I could tell that he had run his fingers through it a few times. Even though he looked exhausted, his lips curved into a smile…