Chapter 28 28
Hazel’s POV
The room was then quiet, with every one of them staring at me. I had my gaze fixed on Sam, trying not to allow my fear to take over. What if they do not believe me? "What did you just say?" Sam asked.
"I said I'm with a child. Alpha Draven's child," I said again, but this time my voice was firmer than before. I could see that the other men wanted a chance to speak. The child of an Alpha was a serious issue. One that is not to be taken lightly.
"How did we believe her? She could be lying. She has not made a single straight statement since she has been standing in front of us," someone said. My eyes moved to him, and I sent him a small glare.
Sam thought for a while before speaking, "You are still like a stranger to us. We do not know you. Now you are saying that you carry the child of our Alpha," he paused and continued, "But what if you are lying? What if the child is for someone else?". He asked.
I understood the way he felt this was Draven's child: "At the same time, I won't doubt you. What if you are truly carrying the next Alpha of this pack?" he said. I could see one of the two men nodding in support.
An alpha was given respect even before he was born. When an alpha is conceived, his entire existence commands respect. Sam wanted to be on the safe side, which is why he made such a statement.
My hands unconsciously flew up my stomach, and I rubbed it gently. "But what if she is lying? Alpha Draven already has a mate; why will he go and get someone else pregnant?"The speaker seemed to be firmly against me.
"What if she is his true mate? Your daughter is just an arranged mate. Moreover, Draven is the Alpha of this pack and can choose to be intimate with anyone he wants," Sam said.
It felt good to see someone standing up for me, and I smiled lightly. I was trying to hide the satisfaction on my face. Everyone could see that he was only trying to keep whatever arrangement Alpha Draven had with his family.
"Well, we will leave you for now," Sam began. One of his hands moved to his moustache, and he stroked it gently for a while. "When Alpha Draven regains consciousness, we will confirm if you are really with his child," he said.
"How about preparing to defend the pack?" I asked. I didn't know why I felt a bit of responsibility towards the pack I wanted to help. Maybe it was because I felt guilty within, knowing that I was partly responsible for whatever attack would be faced by them.
"Though you've alleged that the child you are carrying is the child of the Alpha, you can't participate in whatever discussion we will have until we are sure. I hope you understand." His voice was firm, and he held my eyes.
I nodded slowly. I watched as they left. I released the breath I had not realised I was holding. My eyes moved around the room. I didn't have the opportunity to look at it last night because I was trying to get Draven to his room.
The walls were painted white. My eyes move from one painting to the next. There was a frame of Draven on the side. My eyes lingered on it for a while. Draven was truly a handsome man.
My hands moved to my stomach, and I looked down. I was with Draven's child not Adrian’s. I didn't know what life had installed for us. A lot of things were happening; Draven already had an arranged mate, and now Alpha Zac was about to attack the pack.
I heaved a sigh and began walking back to Draven's room, my mind filled with worries.
Draven’s POV
I walked through a path that had no end. One minute I was with Hazel, and the next I was here. "Anyone here?" I kept yelling. I've been walking for over two days.
"Where was this place?" Is it the afterlife? I wondered as I continued making my way through it. The place gave off an eerie feeling. The place was dark. I could barely see. I let out a low growl. I was already feeling frustrated.
Soon, the path started to get colder. I had never been cold my whole life. After all, I wasn't just any werewolf; I was an alpha. I wrapped my hands together. I tried to switch from human to werewolf, but it was not working.
I felt drained of all my power and energy. Fogs soon began to appear. It soon spread and covered the entire path. I wasn't afraid and kept walking forward. The last thing I remember was being in Hazel's warm hands. I wanted to return to her.
I kept walking, and soon the dog seemed to begin to disappear. I saw a figure standing in front of me. She felt close, but as I walked towards her, I noticed she wasn't.
"Hey, can you hear me?" I screamed, trying to get her attention. She may know where this place is. She didn't turn. I screamed louder. Seeing that I couldn't communicate with her or move closer to her, my glimmer of hope that I had seen was extinguished.
Just when I thought it was all over, I saw her walking towards me. She came to a stop in front of me. I couldn't see her face clearly because it was still dark.
As I squinted my eyes to see her clearly, the path suddenly brightened a little, and fireflies flew in the path. I could finally see clearly.
When I finally made out her face, a loud gasp escaped my lips. "Jasmine, what are you doing here?" I asked. This was Adrian’s mother standing in front of me.
Seeing Adrian’s mom stand in front of me, different emotions overwhelmed me. "Hey," she called out. She was happy to see me. "Where am I? Is this the afterlife? Did I die?" I asked.
"No, Draven, you didn't die," she replied.
"Then where is this place?"
"This is a place in your mind. Your innermost thoughts," she said. I squinted my eyes. I didn't understand what she was saying.
"I don't understand," I stated.
"This is your mind," she repeated.
"How is that possible? I've been trapped here for some time now. How could I possibly be trapped in my mind?" I was confused. "If this is on my mind, what are you doing here?" I asked her.
"I was called by you." She said. "How? " I don't remember calling her.
"Your longing. You unknowingly longed for me," she said, and I nodded. It was a bit clearer now.
"But why am I here?" I asked. Though it was clear, it didn't make sense. "You were sent here by your body," she said, taking a step closer to me. I wanted to touch her, but I knew this was not the time to do so.
I should figure out a way to get out of here. "I have been waiting for you. I've been waiting for the time you'd long for me and call me," she said.
"Why is this happening? What led to my being brought here?" I asked. "Do you remember the last thing you did before losing your energy?" She asks.
"I tried to perform a ritual. What does that have to do with this?" I asked.
"Well, that was what activated your mind, Draven. You. Are not just any wolf or Alpha. You are a ghost wolf." She said.
"What is that?" I asked. I have never heard of a ghost wolf. "A wolf, which is regarded as the strongest," she said. Her eyes moved to the side, and I followed them.
The fireflies were all gathering by the side. In a circular motion. She moved forward, and I followed her. "There have been three ghost wolves in the history of werewolves, and you are the third."
The fireflies turned into a mirror that was as bright as the sun. I blinked, trying to adjust myself to the light. I looked in the mirror but couldn't see a thing. We walked around me, my mom at the front and me behind, moving slowly.
"They are strong." She paused and looked into the mirror as if there was something in it. When I looked inside, I could only see my reflection.
"What does this mean?" I asked.
"You can't see the wolves in here?" She was surprised.
"No," I replied. She nodded slowly.
"Is that a problem?"
"Not really. When you performed the ritual, you used your energy for the first time. Your ghost wolf was first used at that time." I nodded. She paused and continued, "Your ghost wolf will not be able to come out anymore for now." She said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because you can't see what is happening in the mirror," she said, and we began to walk away from the mirror.
"What's happening in the mirror?" I asked.
"That's for you to see yourself."
"How can I see it? How can I get my ghost wolf back?" I asked. I had never been so curious in my entire life. "When your child is born, you will be." She said. The mirror began to lose its light.
But I knew fully well the child Hazel was carrying wasn’t mine. I do not have a child, so what is she talking about. "That should be nine months from now," I said. Thinking about what she just said.
"Then you will have to wait. But note that you will face a lot of obstacles, but you must protect the child with all you have. It means your life and the life of your pack," she said.
"How do I get out of here?" I asked. "Think about what matters most to you," she said. Before I could say any other word, she disappeared. The path went back to being dark.
"Jasmine!" I yelled. My voice echoed loudly in the path. I wished I could keep her. I didn't know she was going to disappear soon. I'd have hugged her for the last time.
I sighed. This was not the time to suck; it was time to get out. Her words resounded in my mind. Think about what matters most to me. It was my pack. I thought about my pack. I was thinking about how big it was.
I remember all the good times I had there, but I was not able to go back. I groaned in frustration. Why wasn't it working? Was I going to be stuck here forever? What about Hazel, my mate, and her child? I wanted to see Hazel.
I had already found out she was my mate, but I knew now wasn’t the right time to tell her. She needed revenge and that’s what I’ll give her. For some weird reason I wanted to hold her in my hands again.
My mind went back to the time we met. I had wasted no time fighting for her. I didn't mind losing the relationship I had with my nephew; as long as I had her, I could lose everything. Everything but her.
Everything shifted. The surroundings blurred and twisted before fading.