Chapter 2. Cold Shower

??? POV

The midnight was quiet as I watched Hazel paint the night away. Her fingers manoeuvred the brush over the white canvas, connecting dots and mixing colours. Before long, a picture came into view. She settled down on the floor with her legs crossed looking up at her masterpiece, spellbound by its charming appearance. His straight nose, chiselled jaw made up the most perfect face she had ever seen. The face that had been plaguing her dreams for quite some time now. She bit her lips, wishing upon a star that this beautiful man with the captivating green eyes was real. 

She stood up and made her way to her bedroom, dozing off almost immediately as her body hit the plush mattress. 

Many things kept my mind working for the next few hours, but one thing stood out the most. I felt it in my cells that something huge was coming. Something that would affect the shifter world forever. 

I chuckled to myself when I witnessed Hazel's exasperation as her alarm blared loudly. She hated that for the second day in a row, she had forgotten to disable the blasted alarm on her phone.  

"Shit," Hazel ran one hand down her face, then lazily felt for her phone on the night stand.

"There—off," she whispered groggily, as she disabled the alarm that was set for 5:30 am Mondays through to Fridays.

"I'm still so freaking tired," she murmured to herself. She snatched one of her pillows and placed it over her face in hopes it would magically help her back to sleep, but her mind kept going back to that dream she had the other night.

'The way she melted under his every touch.' 

'The way he bit her lips ever so tenderly.' 

'The way his voice sent shivers up and down her spine, and not to mention the way his mint green eyes scorched into her hazel ones, caressing and captivating her heart, all while igniting her soul.'

Hazel felt the heat formulating between her thighs. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as her breathing accelerated.

"FUCK!" Hazel yelled into the pillow before she flung it to the floor and then threw her legs off the side of the bed. 

She worked to relax by doing breathing exercises.

Breathe in—breathe out, breathe in—breathe out.

After a few minutes of doing that, her breathing eventually stabilized. However, the chaos between her legs was still in full effect. Even though she wasn't a virgin she wasn't one to masturbate. 

She closed her eyes and tilted her head, trying to alleviate her desire by pressing her thighs together.

"Oh shit! This is not working," she stated to herself while rubbing a hand behind her tensed neck. 

"A cold shower should fix this." Hazel got up from the bed. She sensed the sweet liquid soaking through her underwear. 

"How the hell can an imaginary guy do all of this to me?" She questioned herself as she hurried to her bathroom.

I found myself smiling. If she only understood what awaited her, she wouldn't be this frustrated. If only she knew how important her destiny was to me and also to the entire world. 

After taking a refreshing cold shower, she wrapped herself in a towel and went to the sink to brush her teeth. She glanced at her face in the mirror and realized her beautiful hazel eyes were looking as tired as she felt. 

"I really need to catch up on some proper sleep." She facepalmed herself. 

Hazel had been going to sleep a bit later than usual, since it was the summer holiday. 

She had also been catching up on her paintings and drawings. Her passion for art was so intense that when she got lost in it, she loses track of time.

Hazel grabbed some concealer and used it to mask the bags beneath her eyes. 

'This thing is magic,' she thought, as she watched the bags vanish before her eyes. 

She decided she was too exhausted to straighten her hair, so she gathered her thick, waist-length curls into a messy bun on top of her head. 

After leaving the bathroom, she made her way to the walk-in closet. She decided on a plain white tank top and a floral skirt that was knee-length. 

She later got dressed and was about to head to the art room when her phone buzzed with a text message from her best friend, Gabrielle. I was weary. With the sun ready to rise, I closed my eyes and quickly fell asleep. 

******

HAZEL'S POV

I was just about to head to the art room when a text from Gabz came in. I hadn't seen her since I left her graduation last Thursday. It was now Tuesday and the past four days had been torture without her. 

Her grandpa was in town, and he made her promise that she'd spend as much time with him as possible since she'd be heading off to college in the Fall. 

*Gabz* Morning Haze, I'm coming over. I need to talk to you about something. It's important.

*Haze* Morning Gabz, what could be so important that it has you up at 6:30 in the morning?

*Gabz* I can't explain this shit over the phone, so I'll be there at around 8:30.

Knowing my friend, I knew she'd be here at least half an hour later than she said she'd be. I swore this girl was never on time for anything.

*Haze* OK babe, see you at 9 then. 🙂

*Gabz* Bitch, you know me so well. 🙄

I rolled my eyes and chuckled in amusement.

*Gabz* I bet your sweet ass, you just rolled your eyes at my last text. 😒

*Haze* And you my friend, knows me so well. 🤗

*Gabz* Of course I do. I am your bestie for Christ's sake. See you in a bit—love ya. 😘

*Haze* OK - love ya 2 😘

Gabrielle Smith had been my best friend since like, forever. Despite me being homeschooled from the age of eight, we found a way to meet up daily—except for the last few days. 

Even our moms were best friends. They met when they were in high school and even went to university together where they met our dads. 

Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to know my mom because she passed away while giving birth to. It was just me and my father for the first eight years of my life. He was the best dad I could have ever asked for. He was so adventurous and full of life, but sadly he died two months after my eighth birthday, from a rock-climbing accident. 

Strangely, his body was never recovered. 

I was then left in the care of my mother's younger sister, Julia, and her husband, Pastor Abraham. 

After checking the time on my phone, I noticed I had two and a half hours before Gabz would arrive, while breakfast would be ready in an hour and a half.

Rather than going to the art room, I took my gym bag from the closet and made my way to our home gym.

Did I mention my aunt and uncle were completely loaded? 

Uncle Abe's father came from a wealthy background, having owned several restaurant and hotel chains across the United States, while his mother ran a successful real estate business. As their only child, Uncle Abe succeeded his father, and Aunt Jules took over his mother's company after they both retired. 

I didn't know how uncle Abe still found time to preach on Sundays.

After my workout, my muscles felt at ease and I felt energized. A good workout will do that to you, I thought. 

I went to the bathroom to wash my hands. Feeling extremely hungry, I decided not to change from my workout clothes and headed straight for breakfast. 

The moment I entered the large dining hall, I saw aunty Julia eyeing my outfit in disapproval. 

Aunty Julia was highly polished. She was a tea-drinking, pinky out, pearl wearing, handheld paper fan, white glove-wearing kind of lady.

I mean, I had nothing against her etiquette, but the fact that in the ten years that I've lived with her, I've never seen her let loose and really laugh or even cry. One had to stop and wonder if she was a robot. 

Her hair was invariably styled in a bun, and she always wore skirt suits. Even then, at breakfast, she looked as if she belonged in the company of Queen Elizabeth. 

I didn't know if that's how she was raised or if it's something she adopted later in life because she never spoke about her past. Whenever I'd ask her about my mom or what they were like as children, she would shrug it off, so eventually, I stopped asking.

I gently pulled out my chair and sat with a smile on my face.

"Good morning," I sang, cheerfully. 

"Good morning, Hazel," they spoke in unison.

"How was your workout, Sweet Pea?" Uncle Abe lowered his morning paper to get a better look at me.

"It was great, thank you for asking," I nodded my head politely.

He went back to reading his paper when I felt aunt Jule's piercing gaze on me. I took a glance and our eyes instantly connected. 

I plastered an innocuous grin on my face.

"Don't you dare smirk at me, young lady!" She barked as she squinted her eyes in exasperation, "What in heaven's name are you wearing?" she asked, gesturing with her hands at my sports bra and gym tights.

"For God's sake, aunty, it's just my workout clothes," I said, rolling my eyes involuntarily.

"Just your workout clothes? JUST YOUR WORKOUT CLOTHES!!!"

I cringed a bit at her indignant tone. She rested her palms down on the expensive mahogany dining table and closed her eyes to try to alleviate her anger.

"Now, now honey, let's not get angry at the breakfast table," uncle pulled himself closer to her. He lightly brushed his fingers over her back and gave her a peck on the cheek, all in an attempt to soothe her. 

She instantly relaxed.

I saw a ghost of a smile grace her face. Look how gorgeous she looks! I thought to myself.

Aunt Jules was an extremely attractive woman. She had a bodacious body with a natural and curvy buttocks that not even money could buy. 

"You're right, darling," she sighed and gave uncle a butterfly kiss on the lips before she shifted to me and offered me an apologetic smile.

"So does that mean you're not angry at me anymore Aunty?" I questioned, offering her my most angelic pout.

"You know your aunt loves you and just wants the best for you—right?" her voice cracked at the end, as she struggled to blink back the tears that now threatened to fall from her eyes.

I quickly got up from my chair and knelt at her side. I lay my head on her thigh as I spoke, "I know that aunty, and I love you too, so please don't cry—I will go and change—I will cover my body from now on. I'm very sorry I upset you," I was rambling on and on. 

Aunt Jules took my face in her palms and planted a modest kiss on my forehead. She looked me in the eye and for the first time, I saw emotions dancing behind her chocolate coloured ones. 

"It's not about the clothes—Even though I do not approve of such attire," she sniffled, "It's just that you're leaving us in the next couple of months, and we're just going to miss you. We're going to miss you so much."

When I heard those words coming from my aunt's mouth, I couldn't stop the waterworks that were now gushing from my eyes.

"I'm not leaving you guys, it's just college and I promise I'll visit every chance I get."

"I know you will, honey," Aunt Jules sniffled. We stood and embraced each other tightly. She stroked my cheeks lightly with the side of her thumbs, "I also know that it's a way for you to feel closer to your mom since it's the same university she attended." 

Uncle rose and hauled both of us to his brawny arms and kissed us both on the forehead. "I don't like it when my girls cry," his voice was quick to soothe our tears.

Before I pulled away, I whispered to them, "I'm going to miss you guys, too."

After drying our eyes and resuming our seats, the servers presented our breakfasts.

"Let's bow our heads as I say grace," my uncle said. We obliged and after a heartfelt prayer, we ate our breakfasts in comfortable silence.

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[Please note the ??? POV belongs to someone special that will be revealed at the end or book 2. I hope you guys enjoy this story.