Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Hiding A Mistress
Third POV
Hazel’s heels clicked against the marble floor as she entered the packhouse. Every muscle in her body ached from another long day of cleanup work.
Three more alliance deals had fallen through this week. The neighboring packs were losing confidence in Moonveil’s leadership. Even after running around the conference all day, no pack was willing to partner up with Moonveil. The few packs that had expressed interest previously had all pulled out, claiming that they either needed to think it through or flat-out refused.
She rubbed her temples, trying to ease the tension building behind her eyes. Just then, she heard a woman’s laughter echoing from the living room.
Hazel froze, and her blood froze in her veins. It didn’t sound like the usual staff who lingered around the packhouse.
Rage flooded through her system like wildfire. Had Asher brought another woman home? After everything they’d been through together? After she’d been working herself to death trying to hold his pack together?
Hazel stormed over, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. If she caught Asher with some random she-wolf, she would tear them both apart.
She rounded the corner and stopped dead in her tracks.
Ashley stood by the fireplace, her blonde hair perfectly styled despite the late hour. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and her blue eyes held nothing but contempt.
“Ashley?” Hazel’s voice came out as a croak.
“Hello, Hazel.” Ashley’s tone dripped with fake sweetness. “Still playing house, I see.”
Hazel’s gaze swept the room. Her heart sank when she spotted the second figure standing near the window.
Jessie stood with her back ramrod straight. Her weathered face showed years of disappointment and bitterness.
“Mrs. Daniels.” Hazel forced herself to straighten up. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
Jessie turned around slowly. Her cold eyes raked over Hazel from head to toe. “Clearly. You look like you’ve been rolling around in dirt.”
Hazel glanced down at her wrinkled business suit. Mud stained the hem of her skirt from when she had tripped, running after one of the Alphas she wanted to speak with.
“I’ve been working,” Hazel said through gritted teeth.
Ashley laughed mockingly. “Oh, I’m sure you’re working hard at running this pack straight into the ground.”
Heat rose in Hazel’s cheeks. “Things have been challenging since Estelle disappeared. I’m handling both Beta and Luna duties.”
“Badly,” Jessie interrupted. Her voice cut like a blade. “You truly haven’t changed, have you? Still as shameless as I remember. Coming into my son’s house. Clinging to him like a desperate parasite.”
“I’m the Beta now,” Hazel snapped. “I have every right to stay in the packhouse. Pack business requires my constant attention.”
“Your constant failures, you mean.” Ashley examined her perfectly manicured nails. “If not for your incompetence, maybe we wouldn’t be losing so many deals.”
Hazel’s jaw clenched. “I’m doing my best under difficult circumstances.”
“Your best isn’t good enough,” Ashley continued. “Nigel spends half his time cleaning up your mistakes, and the other half explaining to allied packs why they shouldn’t abandon us completely. If you were a competent Beta, my husband wouldn’t have to clean up after you all the time.”
The words hit Hazel like physical blows because they were the truth. The pack was struggling without Estelle, and as much as she hated to admit it, Estelle left pretty large shoes that Hazel couldn’t fit into. To top it all off, Asher’s family had never liked her from the start. That was why they couldn’t be together even after finding out they were each other’s fated mates.
“At least I’m trying,” Hazel said weakly.
Footsteps thundered down the stairs. All three women turned toward the sound.
Finn appeared at the bottom of the staircase. His small face lit up when he saw Hazel.
“Mama!” He ran toward her with his arms outstretched.
Ashley moved faster than Hazel expected. She swept Finn up before he could reach Hazel’s arms.
“No,” Ashley said firmly. She grabbed Finn’s shoulders and shook him. “Don’t call random people mama.”
Finn’s lip trembled. Tears welled up in his green eyes. “But I want Mama.”
Ashley’s hand connected with Finn’s cheek in a sharp slap. The sound echoed through the room.
“Shut up!” Ashley hissed. “Stop being such a baby.”
Finn began to cry. His small body shook with sobs.
“Don’t touch him,” Hazel stepped forward. “He’s just a child.”
“He’s a confused child,” Jessie said coldly. “And you’re the reason why.”
Ashley bounced Finn roughly in her arms. “I don’t like Estelle. But at least she managed pack affairs properly. You’re making an absolute mess of everything.”
“Mama...” Finn whimpered. He reached toward Hazel desperately.
Ashley tightened her grip on him. “I said stop it.”
Hazel’s heart broke watching her son cry. Every instinct screamed at her to grab him. But she knew Ashley would only make things worse.
“Get your things and scram,” Jessie said dismissively. “I don’t want to see you buzzing around Asher any longer. You have done enough damage.”
“This is my home too,” Hazel protested. “Asher and I are fated mates.”
“Fated mates?” Jessie laughed bitterly. “Even the Moon Goddess makes mistakes, child. And you are definitely one of them.”
The words cut deeper than any physical wound could have. Hazel felt tears threatening behind her eyes.
“You’re unfit for my son,” Jessie continued. “Unfit to be Luna of this pack. Unfit to raise that child.”
“But we’re meant to be together,” Hazel whispered. “The mate bond—”
“The mate bond means nothing if you can’t fulfill your duties,” Jessie interrupted. “Look around you. The pack is falling apart under your leadership.”
The front door slammed shut, and heavy footsteps echoed through the entryway.
“What the hell is going on here?”
Asher appeared in the doorway. His brown hair was disheveled from running his hands through it. His green eyes were wide with surprise.
“Daddy!” Finn cried out desperately.
Asher’s gaze immediately went to Ashley, who was holding his crying child. His expression darkened.
“Give him to me,” Asher demanded.
He strode across the room and lifted Finn from Ashley’s arms.
“It’s okay, buddy,” Asher murmured. He cradled Finn against his chest. “Daddy’s here.”
Then, he looked up and glared at his mother and sister. He hadn’t completely forgotten yet that they were the reasons why Estelle had left so abruptly. If they hadn’t pushed her buttons, none of them would be in this mess right now, and Moonveil would still be a prosperous pack.
“What are you doing here, Mom?” Asher asked, his voice stern.
“I have every right to visit my son,” Jessie snapped. “Especially when I discover you’re keeping a mistress right under my nose.”
“A mistress?” Asher’s eyebrows shot up. “What are you talking about?”
Jessie pointed an accusing finger at Hazel. “That woman! Living in your house! Pretending to be your Luna!”
“Hazel is my fated mate,” Asher said firmly. “Not my mistress.”
“Don’t you dare defend her!” Jessie’s voice rose to a shout.
