Chapter 20 20
Third Person POV
Draven walked out of the priestess's house. He got into his car and saw Hazel sitting at the passenger seat, staring off into space. He didn't know what to say, nor did he have anything to say; all that mattered was that she would help him break his curse.
He started the car engine and began driving away from the house. He remembered the last words that the witch had told him; he needed to make sure everything was alright and hoped nothing went wrong.
They drove in silence till they reached the house. Hazel came down from the car and followed behind Draven as they both got into the mansion.
"Why didn't you say anything like this?" Hazel asked him as soon as he got into his room; she knew to expect at least this much when dealing with women.
"Because I'd rather not," he replied to her. He didn't feel the need to have a conversation like this when everything had already been settled.
"Does Adrian know about this?" She asked him; for the first time Draven thought about it, he was sure Adrian didn't know about it and just felt I left to abandon him and the pack.
Not knowing I was chasing my revenge and protecting them, because Adrian too was also royal blood. "No, I didn't tell him anything," he responded calmly.
"Why? Don't you think he deserves to know this much?" She asked him. "It's been more than ten years, Hazel; what use is he knowing about it going to do now?" He questioned her.
"Because he never understood the reason behind why you left; he felt you abandoned him; you never loved him; he never felt enough," she complained.
"He doesn't need to know Hazel; sometimes ignorance is bliss," he replied to her while he held out a hand. Hazel stopped talking as she saw his hand.
"Enough about these things; our marriage is already being planned," he said, changing the subject.
"Wait, what?" She asked confusedly, and Draven smiled inwardly. "You are to be the Luna of my pack, and as such, a mating ritual must be held; the other ritual will also be held on that same day," he said to her.
Hazel stood there completely at a loss for words. Draven went through some pieces of paper; he placed them on the table. "Here are the invitations; I'll deliver them myself or send them across."
"Ooh, and I'll be inviting your family; they won't know it's you until they see you," he said as he left that random to her.
"What? Why?" She asked abruptly; she wanted nothing to do with that family anymore. She looked at Draven, a bold scowl etched on her face.
"Because the best revenge is the success you become," he replied calmly and said nothing more. After that, he took some of the invitation cards in a small envelope and left the room.
"Where are you going?" Hazel called out; she didn't want to be left alone now, but she also couldn't follow him to wherever he wanted to be.
"A friend's," he replied and left. She stood watching him, and he walked off, leaving her alone once more. She found her way to her room and kissed on the bed.
She was tired and exhausted, but she had finally learnt the truth today about Draven. She never would have thought he was that kind of person in his past, that he had killed and murdered just to get his revenge; he had the will and conviction that she lacked.
Although she didn't want anyone from her family dead, she wanted to see them suffer for how they treated her. She understood the main difference between the both of them: Draven got revenge for his family, while Hazel wanted revenge on her family.
They were two colliding beliefs, and yet she couldn't understand what had made her give out her consent so easily. Maybe because she felt even more assured that Draven would keep his promise and avenge her.
Or maybe she felt being with a man who would kill an entire pack of rogue wolves, no matter how far they ran or how much time it took. She felt a certain assurance knowing that she was going to be with a man like that.
She would finally be protected and kept, not flung away or discarded. She was sure which answer it was but wouldn't admit it.
After all, who would claim to be in love with a cold-blooded killer that was cursed by the moon goddess herself, who took his revenge on his dead wife, protecting his child?
The more she thought, the more exhausted she got; she was tired mentally. While she was lost in thought, sleep slowly came; she tried to fight it but later gave in to it's warm embrace.
Draven drove with casual speed; there were things that he had to take care of first before he married Hazel tomorrow; he also had to be careful with his invitation, making sure he never reveals the name of his mate to be
He smiled at himself knowingly, the chaos it would cause to see him, the Alpha getting married to her, making her Luna and increasing her status, giving her more power and wealth.
He wondered how it affected the Stone family and what they would do after that. But even more importantly, he thought about how his son would be affected.
Robin had called him and told him how Adrian asked him for advice, and he told the boy to go for the woman whom he had his eyes on. Ever since then, he hadn't tried to maintain any form of communication with Hazel, which was good.
He realised that his son would be hurt, hate, and despise him, but he needed to break from his curse no matter what, or he would do something that he would regret for years to come.
Shortly after he arrived at Robin's house, he hoped to kill two birds with one stone, so he called Adrian to come over to Robin's house, where he could easily settle the score and remove all doubts before the mating ritual.
Draven walked into the house to see his friends draped in robes. "To what do I owe the visit, Draven?" Robin asked with his usual countenance.
Draven smiled back, which made Robin pause. "You're smiling; why are you smiling?" he said gradually. Robin knew Draven well enough that if he smiled with no cause, then something unpredictable was about to happen.
"To your room," Draven said to Robin as he walked into one of his private suits. He dropped the envelope before Robin. "What's this?" He asked as he took the envelope, opened it, and brought out a card.
Robin's eyes were wide with shock. "Surely you, my dear friend," Robin said with a chuckle. "And why would I, dear friend?" He said the last words a little bit more forcefully.
Robin looked at his friend and began laughing. He was beyond surprised; he was shocked. Never had he expected Draven to pull off something like this.
"Why?" He asked Draven. "I'm getting old, aren't I?" He responded.
"Oohh shit it, amongst all your peers, you're the only one with the strength of ten wolves." Robin snapped back; he knew Draven was looking for companionship; neither was it love; the man was too serious for that.
"At least give me a reason, Draven; why now, after so long, after her?" Robin said he knew he touched a sore spot, but he needed to know what his friend had been up to; he saw his jaw muscle clench for a moment.
"Well, Robin, if you must know, I made a promise with someone that I have to keep, and why you may ask, for entertainment," Draven said with a dark smile.
Robin looked back at the volume of invites. "I'm sure you didn't bring them all for me, right?" he asked. Just be sure.
"I brought them for you; I need you to give them to all our associates, Robin. Everyone who thought I was gone or disappeared, I need to make them understand that I am back," he said with a smile.
Robin shook his head slowly as he chuckled, "You're a sly man, Draven, pronouncing your return at the same time as solidifying your status as a true alpha through the mating ceremony." He said.
"I'm impressed, and I'll make sure to send these all out."
"Just one more question, Draven, who are you getting mated with?" Robin asked; it had been the question on his mind ever since he had seen the contents of the document.
"Can't give you the spoilers, my dear friend," Draven replied, as soon as he said that Adrian came through the door.
"Yes, father, you said it was very urgent," Adrian said. He looked like he had run a bit on his way here. Robin patted Adrian's back as he handed him an invitation.
"Rejoice, Adrian; uncle’s getting remarried," Robin said gleefully.