Chapter 102: Waiting for someone

Matilda continued after a moment of hesitation, “You are to remain in your chambers from now on as well, unless granted permission to leave or summoned by the Alpha himself.”

Those words felt like a verdict to Hazel.

So this was the punishment?

He was pushing her away and creating distance between the both of them.

There was no execution and no imprisonment. Just distance that felt heavy in her chest.

That distance hurts more than any punishment could ever do. Hazel would prefer if he had punished her in every way possible, instead of punishing her by taking away all the previous privileges she had.

It made her heart feel very unpleasant.

But what could she do? She’s the one at fault in the first place, so she could only silently endure it all.

“I understand.” She replied, her voice slightly dull.

Matilda, who was at the entrance, paused for a second before asking, “Hazel, Are you okay?”

“Yes, I am. Why won’t I be?”

Why won’t she be okay?

This was how it was initially meant to be between the both of them after all. They were not supposed to grow any closer to the extent of accompanying each other for a private outing that seemed like a date.

They were supposed to be this far apart, hating each other.

But where was the hatred she initially had?

Why does the thought of him hating her hurts? She had been fine with it before, so what changed?

The feelings?

She’s probably the one who felt that way towards him. She doesn’t even know anything about him and yet, she fell so soon and so hard.

It was ironic.

Matilda remained silent for a while before placing the food tray on the ground.

“I will place the food there. You must eat to get your strength. If you need me, call for me and I will be right here.”

“Okay.” I replied softly.

After hearing her reply, Matilda turned to leave. Hazel listened to the sounds of her fading footsteps and it was only when it disappeared completely did she stood up and walked towards the door slowly.

At the entrance, the covered food tray lay there, as though waiting for someone to pick it up.

She carried it and took it inside before closing the door.

As her door clicked shut, Matilda appeared from a corner Shr had been hiding and left only after seeing that the entrance of Hazel's chamber was empty.

The food was still warm and it looked appetizing, but she had no appetite at all.

She placed the food tray on a table before her and sat in front of it. The chair next to her was empty and it reminded her of the dining hall.

It suddenly felt strange to eat alone.

Habit sure is a scary thing.

She had been fine with eating alone before, so why wasn’t she now?

So this is how it is going to be now. They would gradually drift apart until they became the strangers they initially were.

But she would rather face his anger than his indifference.

She stared at the food for a long time until the steam began to fade, and she still did not touch. She just sat there, remaining in a daze, feeling somewhat lonely.

The silence in the room was eerie and suffocating.

Just as she was deep in thoughts, a faint scratching sound from the door attracted her attention.

It was like something sharp was scratching the door.

The sound stopped, then came again, persistent and louder this time.

Hazel frowned slightly before standing up to approach the door. When she opened it, she did not see anybody at the entrance, but felt a slight tug from the hem of her dress.

Hazel lowered her head to meet with a large pair of red, wet eyes like red grapes.

“Little Red?” She called out, surprised.

How did the little one know her chamber?

But she quickly dismissed those thoughts. Finding her chamber definitely won’t be difficult for an intelligent cub like her Little Red.

The fox cub instantly slipped past her leg to enter the chamber like she owned the place. Hazel turned and watched as it climbed her bed and sat there calmly, staring at Hazel as though telling her to close the door.

Little Red was like an empress commanding her subordinate to do something.

Despite herself, Hazel didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

But she still closed the door.

“Welcome to my humble abode, Empress Little Red.” Hazel said as she approached her bed.

A mischievous glint suddenly flashed in her eyes as she moved closer. Little Red noticed it, but it was too late to flee when Hazel caught hold of her and began to tickle her.

Even as a cub, tickling sure works for Little Red she began to wiggle and squirm in Hazel’s hands while whining as though begging Hazel to stop.

“Why should I stop? This is how I welcome those who enter my chambers for the first time.”

Little Red made loud coughing noises as though it was laughing and Hazel only stopped when tears welled in the eyes of the poor cub.

As Hazel released her, Little Red jumped to the side, staring at Hazel cautiously while panting for breath.

Her reaction made Hazel burst out laughing.

“Alright, alright. I won’t do it again.” Hazel promised with a raise of her hands in surrender.

Little Red only approached her after that and jumped into her lap.

“What brings you here?” Hazel asked as she caressed the cub’s fur gently, finding the sensation on her palm quite pleasant and distracting.

Hazel brought a plate of her food over, hoping Little Red would eat. But as usual, it only sniffed the food before turning away.

Then it raised his head and glanced around the chamber like it was looking for something. A second later, her ears dropped and her eyes lost a little bit of its luster.

“What is it?” Hazel asked worriedly, but the cub obviously couldn’t reply to her.

Little Red jumped down from Hazel's lap and walked towards the door, then it sat there quietly like it was waiting for something.

…or someone.