"Do you still remember him?" Clarissa asked Hazel as they both stared at an old picture.
The picture was from six years ago and in that picture, there was the youngest son of the Alpha, Axel.
"Of course, I remember him" Hazel affirmed.
There was no way she could forget him easily. He had been with throughout her entire childhood and even her teenage years but there was never a pleasant experience with him anyways but then unpleasant memories were harder to get rid of so she did not forget him at all.
"He must be a man now"
"Yeah and a tease like he has always been" Hazel added and Clarissa chuckled.
Hazel was the daughter of the late beta and Clarissa was her best friend, the daughter of the newly installed beta.
"He would have grown out of it" Clarissa guessed.
"I do not think so" Hazel shook her head and flipped the picture book.
"I do not want to stare too much at his annoying face, it angers me" She muttered and Clarissa chuckled once more.
"Everyone found him sweet but he was different with you. I guess he liked you a lot" she added.
"Liked me? He definitely hated me, always ruining everything for me" Hazel groaned.
"No more talks about him" Hazel closed the subject as she felt memories about him rushing into her head.
He was her childhood bully. To others, he did not bully her, he was just a tease to her but Hazel considered it all nothing but bullying.
He had traveled away about six years ago and she was still glad to the heavens for that favor.
"Do you think there is a possibility that he will come back home soon? I mean, the Alpha is getting old, he would be needing someone to take over the position of the Alpha"
"There is Rex, he is the first son of the Alpha, he is good enough. Axel does not need to come back home, ever."
"Well, well. That is what you say because you have a huge crush on Rex" Clarissa remarked.
For years now, Hazel had feelings for Rex, the first son of the Alpha.
Rex was the complete opposite of his brother, Axel. Rex was gentle and calm with her. He never passed unpleasant comments or teased her to no end like Axel would always do.
Hazel could only hope to no end that she would turn out to be the mate of Rex who had not found his mate yet.
" I heard rumors that Axel might be coming back soon." Clarissa mumbled.
"What? Really? Are you joking now?"
Clarissa shrugged.
"I just heard it amongst the others"
"It would better keep being a rumor. But wait a minute... Why do you keep hearing about everything when I barely hear about anything?" Hazel questioned, dropping the picture book and turning to face her friend.
Clarissa sighed.
"You know the reason behind it, Hazel. The others think it is weird that you are 24 and still haven't shape shifted" Clarissa said honestly.
That was one thing about Clarissa, she never bothered hiding the truth even when it was going to hurt.
"They are isolating you, Hazel." She completed and Hazel bit her lips.
She got up from the edge of the bed and walked towards the window, staring out of it blankly.
It had been a long time concern for her, she had not had her shape shift at the age of 24 while others had theirs during their teenage years.
"You do not have to feel too bad. You can always be assured that I will never isolate you." Clarissa assured her, holding her right hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.
"The rumor that I might be a human is still out there, right?" Hazel asked, her voice barely above a whisper.