Hazel's pov
Everyday seemed to bring its own kind of torment, and it hurt so bad, like being branded with a flaming rod. I wouldn't be lying if I said Liam's actions felt like being branded alive, and it just seemed to get worse everyday. I had tried my best to find some solace and hope, but it just wasn't working.
As I watched him parade his mistress yet again, shamelessly, my heart felt like it was being crushed under the weight of humiliation and despair. Even the maids were now complicit with the way they spoke about me derisively.
This particular morning, I was standing on one of the balconies which overlooked the whole Pack. I didn't want to be here, I'd chosen to do so when I walked into Liam with the maid kissing. He didn't give a hoot about me and went on to talk and touch her without acknowledging my presence at all. I was still staring down at the throbbing life beneath me, clenching my jaws and willing myself not to cry. I didn't want to let him see me cry, I didn't want to give him that satisfaction. But my wolf was in trouble, and everytime Liam was on one of his malicious missions, I was thrown into another world of hurt. How easy would it just be to jump down and end it all.
I was jarred out of my thoughts when I heard a voice behind me. It was a feminine, and it was agitated. Quickly dabbing my heavy eyes, I turned sharply to see Skyler with the maid. Liam was gone and she must have walked in on them.
"Enough of that bullshit, you dare not talk back at me when I'm talking to you. Do you understand?!!" She was livid. I guess she had seen it all for herself. I approached them slowly, still choking back the tears. Her eyes were blazing with pure contempt. The maid cowered, paled."Who do you think you are, flaunting yourself like this in front of everyone. That the Alpha has interest in you doesn't mean you have to make it my business. Remember you're just a lowly servant, remember he has a Luna, and you wouldn't be pleased if you saw your man with another woman. You must put an end to this nonsense."
The mistress recoiled, completely taken aback by her outburst. She was about to say something when Skyler interrupted again.
"You have no respect for anyone, least of all for your Luna. Let me make it clear to you, you lowly piece of shit. You may have Liam's favor for now, but mark my words, your time will come to an end. And you're going to wish none of this ever happened. Now get out!" I was in awe seeing Skyler stand up for me, I had only given her a snippet of what was going yesterday, and she was already battling it out.She had been a true friend to me ever since we met at a noble banquet a year ago. And despite her prestigious status as the Alpha's daughter of the Ghost River Pack, she has always been approachable and kind-hearted. She was the only true friend I had in this world of betrayal and deceit. She was the reason I still had some hope left in humanity. Maybe, just maybe, I wasn't alone as I thought.
As soon as the maid was gone, she turned to me with a pitiful grimace.
"I'm sorry." She groaned, before pulling me into a hug, "I'm so sorry for the things you have to face here." I was a sobbing mess when I pulled away from the hug.
"Let's get out of here and clear our heads." She said, handing me a handkerchief. I dried my tears and walked after her.
"I can't imagine what this feels like, Hazel." She voiced her concern as we made our way down the flight of stairs.
"Not trying to scare you, but I've seen terrible things happen to women because their partners decided not to keep their dicks in check. And when this goes on for a long time, I promise it won't look good. Because your wolf doesn't just diminish in size, you might die!" She gave me a pitiful look as I assimilated her words. I shook my head in the end.
"I guess I just have to look at the bright side of things considering my condition. I have a life within me, and I need to be strong. Liam will never stop sleeping around, there is nothing I can do about it, Skyler." I replied.
"Yes, but he needs to be stopped in one way or the other. Do you think you're going to be able to carry your child for months with what he's doing? I fear that won't be possible. He's gone mad, and he needs to be stopped or..." I didn't need her to say the rest of the words before I understood the stakes. She shook her head and continued.
"I wished I could talk with him face to face but I don't think that's possible." Her voice had fallen an octave.
"It's okay" I chuckled, "Thank you for all you've been doing for me."
"What are best friends for then? I wished there was a way out to put an end to this nonsense." She added. We continued to walk until we got to the seaside shores. It was a good spot, since it always soothed my troubled mind. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Isn't it beautiful?"
"Y-yeah..." My voice trailed off. The sea gave me a poignant memory. I remembered the early days of our marriage when Liam brought me here, and each time he did, he promised to give me the absolute best. And each time, he would always ask.
"Isn't it beautiful?" As we continued to walk along the shoreline, she told me stories of her adventures and escapades.
And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I found myself smiling, and my heart felt lighter than it had been in weeks. But I knew that at the end of the day, when I would go back to my room, despair would come upon me again.
"Try to relax and enjoy the moment. You deserve some relaxation from everything that has been going on." I smiled weakly before we settled on the soft sand. She took out a bottle of sunscreen from her bag and offered it to me, beaming.
"Here, make sure you protect your skin from the sun,"
"Thank you." I took it from her but I was struck by the scent. It smelled like Liam!! I quickly pushed the thought away and accepted it gratefully,before rubbing it on my skin.
"You know, this smells familiar." I remarked casually, trying to sound nonchalant. To my surprise, her eyes widened slightly, but she quickly recovered and laughed.
I felt the blood beat in my brain.
"Oh, that's because I made it myself! Yes!... and umm... it's a special formula I learned in a family cosmetics course. Pretty neat, huh?" It was so damn clear from the way she was stuttering that she was lying. I didn't believe her.
"Skyler?" My voice was low as I called her, before tossing back the sunscreen at her. "What are you not telling me?"
Was it just a coincidence, or was there something more to Skyler's homemade sunscreen. She was a well-traveled person but I've never seen her make perfumes or even attempt to, and from the little knowledge I have about Liam, his fragrances were exclusive to him.
"What are you insinuating?!" She replied, unnecessarily loud and jittery.
"Are you lying to me?" I asked, feeling my heart beat faster. I tried to make strong eye contact but she looked away, as if scared, as if she was guilty.
"W-what have you done, Skyler?!" I asked again, I was frantically shaking.
"I'm sorry, Hazel." She growled, before quickly glancing around.
"Sorry?! About what? Don't tell me my suspicions are right-'' Before I had any idea what was going on, she attacked me. She was so fast that I didn't see it coming.
I tried to scream but her firm hands held my throat painfully, and no sound left my throat. My legs were floating about wildly as I fought to breathe. She began to pull me towards the water."I'm sorry, Hazel." She said before slamming my face into the water. I tried to scream, but my head
was underwater, and my airflow was restricted.