The Alpha's Hunt Chapter 128

We stood in the room, his eyes on mine as a deep guttural groan escaped his lips and his hands tightened around me.

But just like I knew that I wasn't ready to forgive him, so did he and though I loved being in his company for reasons I couldn't understand myself, I couldn’t see a future with a man who caused me that amount of pain- not yet.

Darian looked past me, his lips pulled back in a smile and his eyes lit up, the earlier dark lust and the urge to swallow me whole were wiped from his face.

“Come on,” he grabbed my hand, slowly and carefully, as though he was afraid I'd pull it back.

His skin touched mine. His skin was touching me and he was smiling but why was I sweating? My ribs were pressing inwards and the air went- I don't know- it went somewhere completely useless because there was no inhale, no exhale, there was nothing. Just sweat. And Darian’s hand around mine. 

“Hazel?” 

He turned his head but it kept getting stuck on the way and a halo flashed over his face- and his voice…his voice was further away than he was. He was close, but his voice was on another floor. 

“Hazel, you’re face is turning white,” 

Is he saying I'm pale?

Why are the walls spinning?

“Hazel!” 

I was standing, staring at Darian’s face just one second ago but the view’s different now. There are crown moldings that sweep around the ceiling and beautiful patterns that twist into stems and sweep around daggers. 

I leaned back and tried to see what was under me but when I pressed my head down there was resistance. 

The more I looked at the crown molding the further away it went and now I'm just staring at the royal blue ceiling.

My toes were tingly and when I tried to move my legs I began to wonder if Darian had strapped them down again- that thought made the little bit of air that returned to my lungs, disappear into a vacuum of panic and pain.

“Stop,” I screamed. At least I thought I screamed. In my head my voice was louder than an angry pup screeching at the top of his lungs because he couldn't get a popsicle, but why did that noise not enter my ears?

I kicked my legs and moved my arms, I flung my head and tried to stand but the spot in the ceiling wasn't moving.

“Hazel!” 

My throat closed up and the thoughts slowly stopped when he yelled my name.

In his voice it sounded like his throat was closing up as well, it was a choking sound, the way my name came out in a loud plead.

I turned my head and his face was slowly coming into view. The eyes that had made me feel more than I thought I would in a single lifetime. Every emotion known to man had flushed through my body at the hands of Darian. 

The words fell from my lips in a soft hum, “Please don’t hurt me, I'm tired,” 

How words can change a person's eyes will always be a mystery to me but here is the proof. Just like that, I saw his heart breaking from the window in his eyes, if I listened closely I could probably hear it shatter. 

Darian’s lips parted, as though his last breath left his body and nothing else followed. 

It was his hand that my head was laying on, I saw his arm stretched out from his body and his hand tucked under me.

His rough features suddenly softened, it was like a shower washed away all the covers that he used to hide behind and his jaw relaxed.

His throat bobbed and the tip of his fingers moved against my scalp.

“I will never, ever, hurt you again,” he said slowly, hoarsely.

Pain and regret were noticeable across his face. Tell me how I can believe him, please, because his actions and his words are contradicting.

Please show me a way for his words to become my truth so I can replace this picture of him that I have in mind. The picture of a monstrous King who feels nothing for me. 

Nothing but a sense of pleasure in causing me torment and rejoicing in my pain. He forced me into submission once and I couldn't let that happen again. I felt a smidge of the strength I used to have, slowly scraping against the surface of the cage it was locked in.

He grabbed my hand and helped me up on my feet. Darian held me for a moment to make sure that I wouldn't fall and if he let go I wasn't sure if my balance would allow it. 

But I couldn't rely on him, even if it meant falling and having to crawl until I could stand. That’s how we learn in the beginning right? I could learn that way again but not if I lean on him.

I’d rather fall.

“Thank you,” I said and stepped back. He looked at our hands while my fingers graced his and fell to my sides. 

“Hazel-“ 

“I’m okay,” I said. 

His foot moved, he wanted to come closer, to reach out and touch me. It was painfully obvious but he stood back and let there be a distance between us. 

It was scary how appreciative I was of that small gesture.

“I’ll win it back,” he said quietly but with a fierce determination burning in his eyes that visibly hardened.

“Your trust, I will win it back,” he continued.