<h4>Chapter 5: Hell Be Damned!</h4>


    Hazel’s POV


    <i>Hell yeah, I’m ready.</i>


    I stood in front of the cracked, dusty mirror in the corner of my cramped room, taking in my reflection like it was thest thing I’d see. My curves were perfect, the shape that most girls dreamed of—but the brown dress I wore was old, faded, and torn in ces underneath.


    But then I remembered,when something is worn with confidence, it bes the best thing in the room, right? I consoled my raging heart with that thought, clutching it like a lifeline.


    I smoothed my dress, lifting my chin higher. I was done feeling invisible.


    Just then, a sudden chuckle cut through the quiet like a jagged knife. I spun around, heart mming, and my gaze locked onto the devil incarnate herself Natasha. That smug, sick smile stered on her face was worse than any venom she could spit.


    "Isn’t that my dress?" she mocked, stepping forward with calcted ease.


    I clenched my fists but held my ground.


    "Omg! Yes, it’s the one!" Sophia chimed in with wicked delight, joining Natasha like two poisonous vipers ready to strike. "The one you wore when you had your first kiss with Alpha Cayden."


    The name sent a cold shiver down my spine. I hadn’t even met him, but the mere mention gave me chills he was legendary in these circles. And Sophia’s next words sliced even deeper.


    "And now I’m going to be his mate," sheughed loudly, eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.


    They joined in, theirughter echoing through the small room like a sinister choir,ughing at the sickest reasons—as if my life was some twisted joke.


    I refused to let them see me falter.


    "You gave it to me," I spat out, my voice sharper than I intended, before they couldunch another barrage of insults. Theirughter only grew louder in response.


    "Oh, can I forget that?" Natasha sneered, tossing her head back as if the memory itself was hrious.


    Suddenly, Lilian’s eyes flicked to my hair, narrowing with interest.


    "What did you use on your hair?" she asked suspiciously.


    I shrugged, smirking. "Urm, nothing."


    Secretly, I peeked at Natasha’s hair, noticing how she’d cleverly covered it with a huge ck hat that matched her ck dress perfectly. <i>Nice idea.</i>


    But then Natasha pushed forward like a viper striking, eyes wide and voice sharp.


    "How... huh... when?" she stammered, disbelief writ clear on her face. "Within a day your hair has grown back? And mine’s still this miserable mess?"


    She was about to say more when the door mmed open.


    Father stepped in, his presence like a dark thunderstorm rolling through the room. He snapped his fingers sharply.


    "It’s time, darlings."


    Like clockwork, Natasha, Sophia, and Lilian rushed outside giggling, leaving me rolling my eyes at their childish disy. I followed silently behind them, already exhausted.


    Downstairs, Selene looked like she was trying to steal the spotlight, overdressed and overly proud as if she was the one hoping to be chosen tonight, not her daughters.


    Ariel crept up behind Father, giving me a sweet nod that melted a little of the bitterness inside me.


    We moved outside, the cold evening air biting at my skin. The car waited, sleek and shiny, the kind of luxury my sisters unted like badges of honor.


    They opened the doors and climbed in without a second thought.


    Except me.


    "No," Father said coldly, pointing toward the bus behind the car.


    "You’re entering the maid’s car."


    My chest tightened, every breath shallow and sharp. I saw the maids pile in, carrying emergency dresses for my sisters, ready to patch up their fancy gowns if ruined.


    Once again, I was an outcast.


    Damn it.


    I just wanted to belong.


    I wanted Father to look at me with love, to kiss my forehead, to treat me like his darling angel—not like a mistake he hoped to hide.


    I swallowed the lump rising in my throat and climbed into the bus.


    Hours passed in a haze of drowsiness, the bus rocking me in a numb luby. When the maids finally finished their work, the bus rumbled forward, carrying us toward the High House.


    The High House—the seat of power for the Blue Moon Pack. The leaders of New Orleans. The strongest werewolves in all thends.


    This was my second time here.


    The first was when Father brought me to prove why I had no scent—that haunting truth whispering I had no wolf.


    The High House was huge and ethereal, like something out of an ancient myth. ck stone walls soared to the sky, crowned with spires that pierced the clouds. Inside, the architecture was both perfect and haunting—a castle carved by the hands of ten thousand werewolves, each stone whispered a story of sacrifice and power.


    People milled about, dressed in exquisite elegance, their presence radiating strength.


    Next to them, I looked like a shadow—a mere maid slipping between the giants.


    My heart pounded hard.


    I remembered Beta Caspian—the warm smile he once gave me when our paths crossed. I wanted to see him again, more than anything. <i>For onest time at least.</i>


    The maids herded me deeper into the pce, past endless crowds of wolves from other packs.


    Tonight, Alpha Cayden and Beta Caspian were to pick their mates.


    My family was seated right in front, honored with a shining name tag: The Gilberts, alongside our family crest.


    My heart burned with longing.


    <i>Was I not supposed to be seated with them?</i>


    <i>Was it because I was human?</i>


    Instead, I took a seat beside random wolves, careful to stay where Father’s eyes couldn’t find me.


    So I could slip away, with my bags packed, if I didn’t wolf out by the end of the night.


    The lights dimmed, and silence fell.


    The Current Luna...the Alpha’s mother glided onto the stage, her presencemanding reverence.


    "Thank you all foring to theing of age ceremony of my sons..." Her voice wavered as she paused, tears welling. "...Alpha Cayden and Beta Caspian, and also in loving memory of their triplet brother, Cyrius."


    The rumors were true.


    <i>Cyrius was dead.</i>


    Whispers had swirled for months some said he was rogue, others that he was sick and hidden inside the High House.


    But now the Luna herself confirmed it.


    A hush settled.


    The Luna finished her speech and left the stage, tears shimmering on her cheeks.


    Then the next figure entered, and something inside me shifted.


    I lifted my head, heart hammering.


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    There he was—Beta Caspian.


    Beside him stood another figure, exactly the same height but with an aura that made everyone shiver.


    His eyes..red like burning embers—scanned the room with a predator’s grace.


    <i>That had to be Alpha Cayden.</i>


    Some called him devil. Some, monster. Others whispered far worse.


    And yeah, it fit him perfectly.


    He looked so hot dark hair cascading past his shoulders, hands shoved casually into the pockets of his tailored ck coat.


    His eyes suddenly stopped on me.


    Red, glowing, perfect.


    His sculpted face loomed inches from mine through the crowd.


    And in that instant


    Something hot shifted inside me.


    <i>My wolf?</i>