Chapter 24

After a long time of searching, I finally found Landon in the basement playing video games.

I joined in as soon as I could and we had been playing for at least an hour now.

I shot his last player and jumped up with joy.

"I WIN! Whoo hoo!" I jumped up and down with a huge smile on my face.

"Cheater!" Landon bellowed, being a big sore loser.

"You always say that when I win! And I won every time!" I smirked.

"That is because you cheat!" He yelled.

"I do not!" I yelled back, my smirk growing wider.

"Do too!" He said, a grin cracking through his frown.

"Aha!" I pointed at his smile. "You know that I would never cheat!" I said sitting back down next to him.

"I don't know Hazel. You could be a cheating mastermind."He said with a thick Russian accent.

I laughed at his impression. "So do you want to play some more?" I asked.

"Nah, I don't think I could take losing again." Landon said getting to his feet then helping me get to mine.

"Thanks. So what do you want to do then?" I questioned while making eye contact.

"Hmmm well we could just catch up maybe?" He said nervousness evident when he looked at the ground while saying it.

"That sounds great. Want to go to the balcony?" I questioned.

He nodded his head yes.

"Wanna give me a piggy back ride?" I asked

"Can't you just walk?" He whined.

I shook my head no and pouted my lip. It always worked on Landon.

"Fine" He laughed and turned around.

I hopped on his back and giggled as he ran up the stairs, and into the ballroom.

He dropped me off by the door leading out to the balcony, and opened the door.

It had little iron tables with matching chairs which gave it a very relaxing vibe.

We both took seats and I just breathed in the air for a moment.

"Have you found your mate yet?" I asked Landon, cutting to the chase.

I saw him frown for a flash of a second then he was back to smiling. "No, I haven't yet." He said.

"That's ok; we're only 18 after all." I said reaching over the table and grabbing his hand.

"Have you and Archer mated yet?" He asked, this time giving me the sly smile.

"Oh, no we aren't mates." I stated

"Really? You both act like it, well you had me fooled." He chuckled.

"Yeah, we actually just had our one year anniversary. He gave me this promise ring." I showed him the ring with a bright smile on my face.

"That's great Hazel. You really found a wonderful life for yourself huh?" He said.

"Changing packs was one of the best things I ever did. But I still missed you guys. I just want you to know that I mean it." I made eye contact with him.

"You'll always be my best friend Hazel, even when you have to go back to your pack." He said with a genuine smile.

I walked around the small table and gave him a hug. Landon gave me a kiss on my cheek and I went back to my seat.

"Whoever turns out to be your mate, is a lucky lady." I told him.

"I already know that, I am super-hot, but you knew that." He said bashfully.

I just rolled my eyes and laughed.

"How are Marty and Colby doing?" I questioned

"They are doing great. They officially mated last year when they both were 17 and seeing just how much mating changed their relationship was incredible. When you were here they couldn't not be by each other but once they mated they needed to be by each other." Landon told me.

I was happy for my friends, whom I needed to pay a visit, and that they were mates in love. A little bit of jealousy from me but I was still happy for them.

"That's great. I'm so happy for them." I plastered a smile on my face.

"I have a question." Landon stated.

"Shoot." I replied

"Well, not to pry, but what will you do when you and Landon find your mates?" He looked seriously at me.

"I honestly don't know." I said. "I guess we will just have to see when it happens. But Archer and I are going away next week for a week in Hawaii so then we can just be alone, without everyone breathing down our necks." I said without thinking.

Landon's face after I said it left me heartbroken. "I'm not complaining about you asking Landon, jeez, I'm talking about my mom! When I went to see her today all she wanted to know was what I'd do when he found his mate." I brushed it off.

"Oh haha, right." He laughed. "Wait, you said when he finds his mate, what about when you find yours?" He questioned my misstep in words.

"Oh whoops, I meant when either of us find our mates." I said quickly.

"Really Hazel? You're going to try to lie to me? I know when you're lying and you're doing it right now!" Landon said with excitement.

I just looked down at the table, not meeting his gaze.

"Oh my god! You have a mate!" He gasped. "Who is he?! Why didn't you tell me?"

"First calm down! Jeez it looks like your head is about to explode!" I murmured

"Ok tell me now!" Landon whisper yelled.

I sighed, realizing that I couldn't hide my mate from him any longer.

"Ok, but pinky promise that you won't tell anyone." I said, holding out my pinkie.

He wrapped his pinky around mine as he said he promises.

"Well he rejected me, which is why I am with Archer and everyth" Landon cut me off mid-sentence. "Tell me already!" He said.

"It's Knox." I said, looking into his eyes.

"My Alpha? Your former Alpha?" He said, unable to comprehend what I just told him.

I just nodded my head yes and stayed silent.

I could tell that Landon's imagination was running a mile a minute judging by the facial expression he was making.

"Knox is your mate?" He asked slowly.

"Yea" I said simply.

I felt the heat rush to my cheeks as Landon kept staring at me with a blank expression. I felt embarrassed because Landon probably thought I was pathetic now.

"Why aren't you with him?" He asked once he got back to reality.

"He rejected me." I said then went on to tell him how I figured out Knox was my mate, how he rejected me, and most important that Knox was a prominent reason why I left.

"What an asshole!" Landon yelled, saying the same thing I had heard numerous times. "And I have hung out with him before!" Landon said while his face grew red.

"Dude, chill out. I'm over Knox; he means nothing to me now." I said calmly. Relaxing Landon a little bit. But kind of scaring myself at how fake my words felt to me. He did mean nothing to me, right?

"Well I don't like him! What a pathetic pig! I'm sorry; no one deserves such a horrible mate." Landon said squeezing my hand.

"It's fine Landon. And thanks." I smile gratefully at him for being such a great friend. "Now let's change the subject. How are your parents doing?"

Landon and I stayed on the balcony for another hour just talking. Then decided to go see Martie.

Since I "forgot" to give Knox back the keys to the Aston Martin, I decided to drive us.

Landon told me where Martie and Colby were living. In Martie's parents basement. The same place that many of our slumber parties were held.

I drove there like I remember doing so many times before and pulled into the small house's driveway.

Martie was a lone child so they didn't buy unneeded space when they bought their house.

"I'm so excited Landon!" I said grabbing his hand and squeezing.

"I'm excited to see their expression when they see you!" He said back, smiling.

We walked up to the front door and I think I was about to barf with excitement.

My hand darted to the doorbell and Martie's mom, Olivia, opened the door.

"Hazel!" Olivia said her face pulled into a toothy grin.

"Yup!" I yelled pulling Olivia into a hug. I had known Martie and her family for so long that they were basically my second family.

"Where the heck have you been!?" Olivia jokingly yelled as soon as we pulled away.

"the Farkas pack! I joined after I left." I said back with the same grin that she wore, on my face.

"Unbelievable! That's where you've been the past two years?! Without even a word to me! No connection at all!" She yelled with humor.

"I'm sorry!" I said dramatically.

"I'm sure you are." She smiled. "Well come in! The lovebirds are downstairs." She ushered us in.

"Oh and hey Landon." Olivia said as soon as he stepped over the threshold.

"Hey Olivia." Landon laughed.

"I'll be back up later to chat!" I said to her as we neared the stairs to go down.

She just laughed and nodded

We walked down the stairs and I heard a TV going and assumed that they were watching TV.

I got to the bottom of the steps and saw Colby and Martie watching TV and they looked over as soon as I came into sight.

"OHHHMYYYGOOOODDDDDD!!!!!" Martie yelled as she came running toward me and almost knocked me over with her hug

"MMMAAARRRTTTIIIEEEE!" I yelled back with tears of joy running down my cheeks. I had missed my bestest friend so bad.

"I can't believe my eyes! It's really you!" She said as she pulled away. I noticed tears on her face too.

We both laughed at our crying.

"It's really me!" I said looking at her.

She didn't look all that different; maybe her hair was longer than before.

I felt a slap on my arm and looked at Martie with shock

"That is for leaving for two FREAKIN years!!!!" She laughed and mocked angry.

"I'm sorry! But I'm here now! I missed you guys so much!" I laughed, looking at Colby after I finished my sentence.

"Hey Colby!" I waved as he was walking over toward me.

We pulled each other into a hug.

"Hey Hazel. I missed you!" He said with happiness.

"Note to self- Never come with someone who has been gone for two years to see friends. You will turn invisible." I heard Landon say behind me, which made me crack up laughing.

"Hi Landon." Colby and Martie said at the same time, laughing with me.

"Well come and take a seat." Martie said grabbing my hand and leading me to the couch.

Colby turned off the TV as we all got comfortable.

"Now can you tell us what pack you've been in?" Martie asked.

"Farkas pack" I replied, happy that I was able to tell my friends where I'd been the past two years.

"Never even heard of it. Are they close?" Colby questioned, wrapping his arm around Martie.

"Yea actually. They are close to your border." I stated.

"And they just took you in?" Martie asked with surprise.

"Yep, everyone there is so friendly. You will all have to visit sometime. Maybe you'll like it so much that you'll change packs." I winked.

"Maybe! Oh I missed you so much Hazel!" Martie pulled me into another hug, which I gratefully accepted.

"Now tell me, why are you here?" Martie asked. "Not to sound rude, I'm just curious."

"Well, I'm the top protector in my pack." I was cut off by Martie.

"No shit! You are a protector!?" Martie yelled with her mouth wide open.

"Yup! I started training about a month after I joined the Farkas." I said.

"That is so great! So you're all badass now huh?" Martie said giggling.

"You could say that." I said with a fake cockiness.

"Wow, you seriously just blew my mind Hazel. Two years ago I would have never guessed that you'd be a protector. Top ranked would've just been impossible, no offense." Colby laughed.

"I agree. It was tough, but I got through training, and now it's just normal life now." I said. Then remember that I was telling a story before they interrupted.

"Anyway, so the Light Moon pack needed the Farkas help so I, and some others, was sent here." I said finishing my story.

"And out of those people is Hazel's boyfriend." Landon said, obviously enjoying telling something juicy. He always did, ever since I knew him. He was a secret drama queen.

"A boyfriend! Who!?" Martie excitedly yelled. She liked to hear good gossip. Which made Martie and Landon the perfect match, he liked to tell and she liked to hear.

"His name is Archer." I stated, not offering more details.

"C'mon Hazel! Tell us more!" Martie whined.

I rolled my eyes and smiled. I went on to tell them all about Archer and the details that they wanted to know. By the end Martie was seeing stars.

"So romantic! I love him already!" Martie squealed

"You would all really like him." I smiled.

"Well enough about me, what about you two? What has happened in your life's?" I questioned.

"We moved in together, obviously. And we're getting married!" Martie said excitedly.

"Really? When?" I said with excitement.

"We don't have a set date, but it'll happen." Colby said while smiling at Martie.

At that moment a pang of jealousy stabbed me. They were happy mates who loved each other. And I would never have that all because of a stupid Alpha.

A hand waved in front of my face and I looked to see Martie chuckling.

"Wow, sorry zoned out. Continue." I laughed.

"We bored you quickly huh?" Colby said while chuckling.

"No, I'm just tired. I went and saw my parents today and stuff." I said.

"Or maybe it's that boyfriend of yours." Martie said, wiggling her eyebrows.

I just laughed and shook my head.

We sat and talked for a long time and then noticed the time. It was 6 o'clock.

"I better get going guys." I said, getting to my feet.

"Awww Ok, well I'll be coming to the pack house soon. So I'll see you then." Martie said as she and Colby walked Landon and I to the front door.

"Good." I turned around and gave them each a hug.

"Bye guys" I said as I opened the front door. Landon stepped out first.

"I'm so glad that you are here Hazel." Martie said.

"Me too." Colby added.

"I'm glad I'm here too" I giggled then stepped outside.

I waved at them and walked toward the car.

"Hazel!" I heard Colby yell.

"Yea!" I yelled back.

"Is that Alpha Knox's car?" He said.

"Yup. He let me borrow it for the day." I said.

A shocked face went on Martie and Colby's face.

"You must be special! He never lets anyone drive his car, especially this one." Martie said.

"So I've been told!" I replied and then waved and got in the car and drove away.

I was planning on telling them about Knox, since I had told Landon might as well tell them, but it just wasn't the right moment. I'll just do it another time, it wasn't that important.

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