Adrian’s Pov:
“Adrian, where have you been all day?” my mother asked as I walked into the house with Hazel trailing awkwardly behind me. She was seated on the couch, her face lighting up with surprise when she saw me. She rose to her feet; her eyes then shifted to Hazel, and her surprise deepened.
“Oh, Hazel, hi there.”
“Mum, I’m not a child. I’m a twenty-year-old adult who can take care of himself,” I hissed in irritation, feeling my earlier anger build up. But then I felt a soft hand touch mine and met Hazel’s eyes. The rage within me died down instantly.
My mother’s gaze shifted to Hazel’s hand holding mine, and she raised an eyebrow. Hazel noticed my mom’s gaze and blushed, quickly removing her hand from mine as if it had burned her.
“Luna, you asked me to take Alpha Adrian to the tailor shop, remember?” She muttered shyly, and my mother nodded with a large smile on her lips.
“Yes, I remember. Thank you, Hazel. And while you’re at it, make sure you get a dress for yourself as well. I told every young omega who will be turning eighteen to get clothes for the mating ball in case they find their mate. Don’t worry about the cost; it will be added to your salary.” My mom grinned, and I smiled, looking at Hazel.
“I already got the perfect dress for her,” I stated proudly. Hazel blushed deeply, her eyes darting to the floor.
“Yeah alpha Adrian got me a beautiful dress,” she said softly, and my mother smiled warmly.
That’s very thoughtful of you, Adrian. Hazel, make sure you enjoy the ball. It’s a special occasion for everyone, not just for Adrian and his sisters.”
“Yes, Luna,” Hazel replied, still blushing.
“Alright,” my mother said, turning back to me. “Adrian, go get cleaned up for dinner. And Hazel, thank you for your help today.”
“Of course, Luna,” Hazel said, giving a respectful nod before heading towards the kitchen. I smiled as I watched her go. I could feel my mom’s heated gaze on me without meeting her eyes, and I knew she had a lot of questions for me that I wasn’t sure I had answers to yet.
“Later, Mom,” I said, not waiting for her reply, and quickly hurried up the stairs. As I got into my room and closed the door, I took a deep breath, savouring the quiet. I had just begun to unwind when I heard a knock on the door.
“Come in,” I called out, half-expecting one of my sisters. Instead, it was my mother, giving me a suspicious look as she stepped into the room. I rolled my eyes. She can’t let it go, can she?
“Adrian, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about, and sorry, I can’t just help my curiosity,” she began, closing the door behind her. “I didn’t want to say it in front of Hazel to avoid hurting her feelings.”
I sighed in frustration, feeling a knot form in my stomach. “What is it, Mom?”
She walked over and sat on the edge of my bed, looking at me intently. “Do you like Hazel? What’s going on between the two of you?”
I was taken aback by the directness of her question. “Mom, Hazel is a wonderful person. She’s kind, hardworking, and… yes, I do like her. But it’s complicated.”
My mom’s expression softened. “Complicated how?”
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to find the right words. “I’m the future alpha. Hazel is an omega. I know rank shouldn’t matter, but it does in our society. And besides, I don’t want to do anything that would make her feel uncomfortable or out of place.”
She nodded slowly, understanding dawning in her eyes. “I see. It’s true that rank plays a role in our pack, but it doesn’t have to define your feelings or your choices. Hazel is a sweet girl, and from what I can see, she cares about you too.”I sighed, knowing she was right.
I looked down, my fingers nervously tapping my knee. “I just don’t want to follow my heart yet so that I don’t put her in a difficult position. She deserves better than that.”
“Adrian, sometimes following your heart means facing difficult situations head-on,” my mom said gently. “If Hazel is the one you care about, then you need to be honest with her and yourself. Don’t let fear hold you back.”
I took a deep breath and asked, “Mom, what if I find my mate and she’s someone else? I’d have no choice but to break Hazel’s heart. That’s why I don’t want to pursue the relationship yet.”
My mom’s expression softened even more, and she shifted closer to me. “Adrian, I understand your concern. Finding your true mate is a powerful bond, one that can’t be easily ignored. But life is unpredictable. You can’t always plan for what might happen in the future. Sometimes, you have to take risks and follow your heart, even if the outcome is uncertain.”
“I just don’t want to hurt her, Mom. I will hate myself for that.”
“I know you care about her, and that’s why you’re worried,” she replied gently. “But if you let fear of the unknown dictate your actions, you might miss out on something truly special. Hazel is strong, and so are you. Whatever happens, you’ll both find a way to deal with it.”I nodded slowly, absorbing her advice.
“Thanks, Mom. I appreciate it. I just need some time to think,” I hummed. She kissed my cheek softly before walking to the door. As she opened it, she paused, her eyes widening slightly as she saw Anna standing there with an unreadable expression. My mom cleared her throat.
“Anna,” she greeted, but Anna only glared at her with so much hate in her eyes that it hurt me to watch.
“Ruby!” Anna smirked, stepping closer to my mom. “Why do I have a feeling that you’re pushing Adrian towards that unworthy omega just because you are scared and think that I might end up being his mate?” She whispered in my mom’s ear. Thanks to my heightened senses, I heard every word, and her last comment made me furrow my eyebrows in confusion. How could she be so confident about being my mate?
My mom’s eyes widened at her words, caught off guard. “Anna, Adrian is your brother, and you should try being respectful to me,” she scolded, but Anna stepped back a little and crossed her arms, her eyes burning with disgust.
“Brother? Really? We have no blood connection, so it’s not impossible. It looks like you’re scared of me being the Luna of the pack and Adrian’s mate. Are you afraid of finally losing your position and it coming back to Ava’s daughter?” she sneered.
“Anna!” my mom yelled with her fist clenched, and I could see Anna’s words were getting to her. “If you truly become his mate, then I am sure it’s the will of the Moon Goddess. Besides, Adrian is capable of making his own choices. And as for you, I will always consider you my daughter, whether you like it or not.”
Anna scoffed, her gaze flicking past my mother to where I stood inside the room, watching the exchange speechless.
“I can’t wait for the mating ball, Adrian,” Anna said to me, then turned to glare at my mother again. “You can try desperately to get that cheap omega to cling to Adrian, but if he ends up being my mate, then this war is over. I won.” Anna smirked confidently.
My mom sighed, clearly trying to maintain her composure. “Anna, I wish you could live your life and stop your obsession over a woman who never wanted you. Ava died because she couldn’t have the man she wanted. You are young and beautiful, and it will be a shame if you waste your youth hating me.”
Anna shook her head, her expression hardening. “I will get my revenge for what you did to my mother,” she sneered and turned on her heel, storming off down the hall.
My mom watched her go, a troubled look on her face, before turning back to me. “Adrian, please think carefully about what you want. Don’t let anyone else’s issues cloud your judgement.”
I nodded, unsure, as it was the first time I was finally beginning to understand why Anna hated my mother so much. One thing that came to mind was that I would never let anyone who hated and disrespected my mom be my mate. I could only hope that the Moon Goddess agreed with that.