Latibule s. clearwater

Chapter 8

Hazel bit back tears, picking up beer bottles and going to place them into the trash. The light beside the door began blinking, indicating that someone was ringing the doorbell.

"Seth," Hazel's eyes widened. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see if you wanted to do something. Are you busy?" He tried to come through the door only for Hazel to put her body in front of him in hopes of blocking his sight of the mess but it was too late; he could smell the alcohol.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Seth's voice was filled with worry, and he tried his best to contain any emotion he felt as to not scare his imprint away.

A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye and he was quick to catch it, wiping it away gently before cradling her face. "Hey, talk to me. Is Bruce here, Haze?"

She shook her head, burying her face into his warm chest. Seth was confused, but wrapped his arms around her nonetheless.

"I'm fine. I was in Elliot's room all night." Hazel pulled back, rubbing her face as a blush of embarrassment started to develop. "I didn't want you to see this."

Seth bent down so she had to look at him, making sure she could understand him clearly. "One day I'll make sure you won't have to clean up after him again. I promise."

Together, they silently gathered up the empty beer bottles and scrubbed the floors free of any alcohol spills before Hazel led Seth out into the woods.

"Uh, where are we going?"

Hazel giggled, making his heart beat faster. "Whenever I'm sad or upset I like to go for a walk. I'm showing you my favorite trail."

And so they walked, Hazel still holding the hand she had originally led him out with. Truthfully, she felt safe with him. His hand wrapped around hers made her insides feel warm, and she had never felt so comfortable in someone's presence.

"Watch this."

Beginning to climb a nearby tree, Seth's eyes widened. His protective imprint instincts starting to kick in.

"Hazel!" He called out before stopping. She couldn't hear him, and she was too focused on climbing to look down and see what he had to say.

"I used to climb all the time when I was a kid," she laughed breathlessly, before leaning down to see a pale looking Seth. He was terrified she was gonna hurt herself.

And he was almost right.

As she began to step up further, a branch underneath her foot broke, sending her tumbling down towards the ground.

"Hazel!"

Seth had never ran so fast in his human form before, barely making it in time to feel the weight of her body collide with his arms.

"How did you-"

"You scared me!" Seth set her down carefully, looking over her for any injuries.

She stopped him, grabbing his face to look at her. Seth stopped, his hands still holding her waist as they somehow seemed so much closer than before.

Their brown eyes shifted back and forth between each other and their lips, before slowly moving forward and connecting them.

All at once it felt like fireworks exploded in their stomachs, Seth's wolf howling happily in the back of his mind and Hazel's body tingling at the feeling of his lips against hers.

Seth pulled back slowly, looking at her dazedly.

"Happy Birthday, Hazel."