Chapter 74 Apples
ADRIANA
Hazel looked exhausted when we ended practice. She even let us go an hour before the usual time.
When we walked out of the training grounds, I hoped Elijah wouldn’t come in and tell everyone to continue practicing.
I went back to my room to take a quick shower and get breakfast. I was starving because I had skipped dinner last night.
Elijah and I had gone for a long walk that lasted until one in the morning. By the time we got back, the maids had already gone to sleep and we were the only ones walking around the house like thieves in the night.
I decided to just go to bed while Elijah said he had some work to catch up on in his office.
The doctor for Leo’s speech classes was coming by today and Elijah was nervous about it. He didn’t want a repeat of what happened last time when Leo had gotten so upset.
He didn’t want Leo to become scared of the doctor. The doctor could actually help him make real progress.
I really looked forward to hearing Leo’s voice one day, so I assured Elijah that I’d be there with Leo when the doctor came for the session.
I felt good that Leo felt more at ease when I was around. At least, even though he was scared or hesitant, my presence would make him want to try the exercises.
I entered the kitchen and found Hazel there waiting for me.
“I knew I’d find you here.”
I feigned hurt dramatically.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“This is your usual breakfast time. Besides, you didn’t eat anything last night.”
“And how do you know that?”
She smiled and popped a grape in her mouth.
“I wasn’t asleep by the time you guys got back from your walk.”
“Why not? Hi, Betty,” I greeted her as she stood over the stove cooking something that smelled delicious.
She didn’t turn to look at me, so I didn’t know if she responded. Also, Hazel’s answer distracted me from pursuing it.
“I can’t go to sleep without Elijah sleeping first.”
I frowned in confusion.
“Is that your thing with him or what?”
She laughed.
“How ridiculous would that be? It’s a rule for all Betas. The Alpha’s pleasure and safety before ours.”
That was the most ridiculous thing I’d ever heard. Back in my pack, it was actually worse because my father turned his Beta into basically a servant.
His Beta did everything for him and it was quite pitiful to watch. But knowing that Elijah was more laid back, I was surprised to hear this was still in practice.
“He doesn’t know about it, of course. When I became his Beta, he told me I didn’t have to follow any of the traditional rules because of how ridiculous they were, but I’d been trained to follow them my entire life. Every single day of my life, my father told me how I must put the Alpha before myself, so it’s hard for me not to follow them. I feel like I’m disappointing my father if I don’t.”
This was the first time Hazel would say anything personal about her family or herself, and I was glad she was able to tell me things like this. It made me feel closer to her.
“Speaking of my duties, I’m going into town today to get some things for the alpha. Would you like to come with me?”
I’d noticed that she didn’t call him by his name when we were around other people. It was always “the Alpha.”
“Sure. What time do we leave?”
“After breakfast.”
“Okay, because I have to get back in time for Leo’s appointment with the speech doctor.”
We got our food and walked to the table to sit down together.
“Right, how’s he doing with the sessions?”
“Well, he’s had only one session and it didn’t go so well, but we hope that the rest will be better. Elijah really can’t wait to hear him speak again.”
She smiled and was about to say something when she looked at something behind my shoulder.
“Well, hello ladies.” It was Aiden.
He seemed to have fallen off the face of earth because I rarely saw him now. He was busy with pack security after my crazy sister’s unwanted visit.
“You know when you’re somewhere you’re not supposed to be, it’s called stalking, right?” Hazel rolled her eyes when he smiled brightly at us.
Aiden held his chest and scoffed dramatically.
“Well, I don’t mind being called anything as long as it’s you and it comes from those beautiful lips.”
She gagged and laughed.
“You are so cheesy and it’s almost unbearable to listen to.”
“You said almost. You didn’t say it was unbearable.”
He winked at her before walking away, and I could see that she was still smiling even after he left.
“He likes you.” I blurted the words out.
Her smile dropped a bit.
“What?”
“I said he likes you. It’s obvious.”
She didn’t look surprised at all. She definitely knew.
“Don’t be ridiculous. He’s just my friend and nothing more.”
For whatever reason, she was denying it.
“Do you like him back?”
She snorted.
“Not a chance.”
I didn’t think so, though. Maybe she didn’t know it herself, but she was still smiling. I didn’t want to tell her and make her self-conscious, so she wouldn’t bother to pretend otherwise.
We finished breakfast and I rushed to Leo’s room to kiss him goodbye, telling him I’d be out for a while but I’d definitely be back for his appointment.
He wanted to come with me, but I didn’t want Elijah to have my head, so I told him I’d get him ice cream as a treat.
I thought of telling Elijah I was stepping out too so he wouldn’t look for me and worry, but he wasn’t in his office when I checked.
“Let’s go.” I followed Hazel and we got into the car and drove off into town.
The last time I’d been to town was when Elijah showed me around. It was such a wonderful day as it brought back so many happy memories.
“So what is it you need to get for him?”
She turned to me for a moment before looking back at the road.
“Well, he only eats apples from a particular woman in the pack and he has me pick them up every three weeks. He’s very careful about what he eats. His father was poisoned at one point and since then, he’s been very skeptical about eating just anything from anyone.”
I had no idea Elijah was like that. It made sense given his position.
“So he really likes apples?”
“Likes? He loves them. He’s basically obsessed with them.”
I laughed. That was good to know for future reference. I ignored the voice that asked why I was even storing that piece of information.