Marry to Alpha or Vampire?

Mist swirled, and humidity hung in the air. The car continued its journey, and Hazel glanced at her watch; half an hour had already passed. Trees, so many trees, were the first impression she had of Graymeen Manor. Lifting her gaze, all she could see were thick, ancient trees, shrouding the surroundings in an eerie silence.

Graymeen Manor, a vast and imposing structure, lay not far ahead. Hazel couldn’t help but wonder how Cyril could live in such seclusion.

The car came to a stop at Graymeen Manor’s grand entrance. A signboard captured Hazel’s attention. Two dark oak doors were tightly closed, a shining plaque above them bearing a name in black lettering.

“Alpha Cyril Graymeen.”

Hazel arched an eyebrow, the name sounding sensuous. Everything about Cyril was enchanting, but she wouldn’t let her thoughts show in his presence.

“I love it here,” Rita beamed, her enthusiasm evident.

“I need to explore further,” Hazel replied, her mouth still unwilling to concede. Though she was curious about this enormous estate, she couldn’t let her excitement show in front of Cyril.

It was Hazel’s first time experiencing firsthand Cyril’s astounding wealth. She marveled at the grandeur of the estate, which was exclusively his.

“Miss Moen, please disembark,” a respectful man said as he opened the car door. He bore a courteous smile.

Hazel paused for a moment and then stepped out of the car. She offered a smile to the man and said, “Just call me Hazel.”

The man’s attire suggested he was the butler. Hazel guessed that Cyril had informed the estate’s staff about her arrival.

“Miss Moen, you may call me Berhtulf,” the man replied softly.

“Hello, Berhtulf,” Hazel’s eyes glittered with curiosity.

“Take her luggage inside,” Cyril interrupted their conversation, addressing the man with an emotionless expression.

Hazel found it amusing that she could chat so pleasantly with a butler but couldn’t coax a smile out of Cyril. He appeared stoic, his patience towards her remarkable. It was easy to forget who held the dominant role in their interaction.

“Yes, Alpha,” the man replied obsequiously, his eyes revealing a hint of fear.

“Follow me,” Cyril said, seizing Hazel’s arm and leading her into the estate.

Hazel rolled her eyes at Cyril but couldn’t resist her curious gaze. She immersed herself in the grandeur of the estate, entering through the gates to discover an assortment of exotic flowers and plants. It seemed Cyril was someone with a taste for the finer things in life, which contrasted with his rugged appearance. The garden was filled with various blooms, including Hazel’s favorite cappuccino roses. The entire Graymeen Manor felt like an enchanting rose-scented dream.

Cyril noticed Hazel’s excitement in her eyes, realizing she was quite pleased with his garden.

“I’d like to see my room,” Hazel said with a curious and somewhat eager tone in her voice.

Although Hazel didn’t want to admit it, she was starting to feel less resistant to this estate. In fact, she had a faint sense of anticipation in her heart, though she wasn’t sure if it was for her future life or for Cyril himself. Perhaps both.

Cyril gave Hazel a sidelong glance and led her to a room. “Go take a look,” he said.

Hazel extended her hand to open the door. Inside, she found a room with simple decor and wooden furnishings, giving it a unique design. It didn’t quite match Hazel’s personal style.

“Maybe I should say thank you,” she acknowledged, despite the differences between her expectations and the actual room.

“Hazel, this is my room,” Cyril chuckled lightly. Amid Hazel’s confused look, Cyril opened another small door within the room. “This is your room.”

The spacious bedroom boasted large French windows that offered a view of the garden and distant woods. A beautiful four-poster bed, a plush couch, and wooden decorations adorned the walls. What delighted Hazel the most was the generous bathroom with a large bathtub. She could already imagine herself indulging in long, relaxing baths.

Hazel had expected her room to be in a neighboring section of Graymeen Manor or one of the guest rooms within the estate. However, her room was inside Cyril’s own, which was rather unusual, yet intriguing.

Hazel felt herself growing fond of the estate. She wanted to take back her initial reluctance to move in.

“It seems living with Cyril might not be so bad,” she mused. So far, their interaction had been fairly agreeable.

“Cyril, thank you,” Hazel turned to Cyril with sincere gratitude this time.

Cyril’s scent filled the room, and Hazel licked her lips, unaware of how enticing her actions were.

“Listen, in the future, Carlotta and Viola will come to the estate to train with you,” Cyril informed her.

Hazel reluctantly nodded, having expected this outcome.

An awkward atmosphere settled between them. The unresolved tension and discomfort from earlier still lingered. Cyril remained silent, watching Hazel intently, hoping for her to speak up.

“I want to take a bath. Can you leave?” Hazel attempted to push Cyril out of the room, but his hand blocked the door.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

“Hazel,” Cyril’s voice was hoarse.

“What do you want to say?” Hazel furrowed her brows, not feeling particularly inclined for a friendly exchange with Cyril.

“How long are you going to stay angry?” Cyril pinched Hazel’s chin. Nobody had ever dared to speak to him this way before; Hazel was the first and only.

“Do I not have the right to be angry with an Alpha?” Hazel’s voice grew louder.

“But you indeed are,” Cyril continued, addressing her with an unexpected chill. “You seem to have forgotten the terms of our agreement.”

Hazel glared at Cyril with anger in her eyes. He exuded an aura of frustration, and their conversations often seemed to end in dissatisfaction. Alpha’s strength always surpassed that of regular werewolves, and powerful Alphas had even more extraordinary abilities. Hazel felt like her jaw was about to fall off, but Cyril had no intention of letting her go.

At this moment, Hazel couldn’t help but regret provoking Cyril.

Cyril appeared to possess more patience when dealing with her than others. Deep down, Hazel no longer felt so opposed to living with Cyril. However, she couldn’t accept defeat just yet.

“I haven’t forgotten; I’m just trying to assert my rights,” Hazel raised her head, looking directly into Cyril’s eyes with unwavering determination.

Cyril released his grip on her, noticing the faint red marks on her chin.

“Fine, I’ll go out. I need a shower,” Hazel repeated her words and quickly shut the door behind her, leaving the room in complete silence.

Cyril stood at the door, frowning. Even though he was in his own room, there was now a door between him and Hazel. No woman had ever dared to be so audacious as to push her Alpha out like that. But Cyril had to admit that he was initially drawn to Hazel’s boldness. She didn’t seem to belong in this small town; Hazel had an independent and free spirit.

The more audacious and rebellious Hazel was, the stronger Cyril’s desire to conquer her became.

Cyril lingered by Hazel’s door for a while and then left.

Inside her room, Hazel lit a wooden-scented incense and played music on the stereo. She listened to the music while soaking in the bathtub, quietly enjoying the tranquility of the night.

Hazel recalled the last time she saw Hawthorne during her bath. Ever since he had saved her, she hadn’t encountered him again. A vampire saving a werewolf might sound absurd, but Hazel had a hunch that Hawthorne was something special. It seemed that being around him gave her a sense of security.

She didn’t know why she trusted a vampire, but her subconscious just had that feeling. However, Cyril intensified that feeling even further.

Hazel lay in the bathtub, relaxing and gazing up at the ceiling. Everything around her seemed to blur once more, and she held the bathtub’s edges tightly, her back arching. Her eyes took on a dreamy quality, and if she wasn’t mistaken, Hawthorne’s face appeared on the ceiling.