Our Surprise Mate
28-Grieve

**Valentina~**

Hazel has been back home with us for a month now, but she isn't the Hazel I used to know. It took three weeks after Eden passed away for her to move back here because she wasn't ready to leave the cabin. She went through her first heat a few days after arriving home but refused to allow Tae or me to touch her to help relieve the pain. Honestly, we haven't been able to touch her at all since she came back home. My pregnancy hormones are already making me an emotional wreck, but it's even worse since Hazel decided to move into a different room by herself.

I know losing Eden crushed her, but I also know for a fact, Eden would be pissed off if she knew Hazel was shutting everyone out and refusing to be involved with my pregnancy. I have no more tears left to cry, and her rejection is beginning to make me feel more pissed off than sad as the days go on. I have officially reached my breaking point.

I hear the shower turn on, and I know it's Hazel because she locks the bathroom doors when she takes her shower so neither of us will bother her. She eats her meals in her room, only speaks to us when she has to and cries herself to sleep most nights. My heart hurts for her, but she's breaking mine and Tae's at the same time. There are healthier ways of coping, so I'm no longer making excuses for her toxic behavior. I can't believe Tae hasn't spanked the attitude out of her by now, but I know he wants to. If this wasn't such a delicate situation, he would have.

Once I know she's in the shower, I go to her room and begin moving her clothes back into our room. Thankfully, she hasn't personalized the bedroom with anything special, so the clothes and shoes are the only things in there that need to be moved.

By the time she turns off the water, I already have the clothes put away in the large dresser we share in our room. I bite back a smile when I hear her cussing from the other room when she realizes all her clothes are gone, and she comes storming into the room.

"Where are my clothes?" She looks livid, wrapped up in a towel and her hair dripping water onto the floor.

"They're in our dresser where they belong. I know you're hurting, and need time to grieve, but that doesn't mean you have to treat Tae and me like we're nothing to you. This is not the reunion I thought we would have once you got back home, Hazie. I miss you so much it hurts. You didn't go with me to our first ultrasound, and you won't touch me or even look at me unless you're mad about something and want to complain! All I want is to love you and feel loved back! Did you even miss me when you were gone?" Just when I thought there were no more tears left, my eyes betray me. The floodgates open, and I let the tears flow. Hazie guides me to our bed to hold me as I cry.

"I'm so sorry, Val. My heart is in a million pieces, and I don't know how to handle it. Of course, I missed you. Please don't cry, baby. I'll do better, I promise." Hazie pulls back the comforter, gets between the sheets, and pulls me down with her. It's been so long since we've held each other that I almost forgot how good it feels being wrapped in her arms. The tears finally stop, but I feel horrible for getting angry with her. Maybe I'm being too hard on her. She did lose her best friend, so maybe I should be more patient.

"I didn't mean to yell at you. I'll move your stuff back so you won't have to come in here to get dressed." I start to get back up, but she holds me tighter against her body.

"No, I'm glad you put your foot down. I was acting so selfish because I'm terrified to get close to anyone again. I wouldn't survive if something happened to you or Tae, so I thought I could put distance between us. It sounds so stupid when I say it out loud, but there is no better way to put it." Now more than ever, she's wearing all of her emotions on her face. Her eyes are not only sad but tired. This grief is so exhausting. It's slowly chipping away the little strength she has left. As much as I hate to admit it, I have no doubt Eden was one of her fated mates. Their bond has severed. Now Hazie is dealing with the pain of losing an important piece of her soul. There is no mending this pain, but Tae and I could help make life worth living if she would allow us. Eden never claimed her or challenged us to win Hazie over, so I believe there is still hope for her.

"You have to let us help you. Isolating yourself is not only making things harder on you, but it's damaging our bond. We need you just as much as you need us, especially now. This baby needs you too, Hazie." For the first time, she gently rubs against my belly. I may not be showing yet, but knowing our baby is right beneath her palm sparks hope in my heart. Everything is going to be okay, one day at a time.

"I'm hurting so much, Val. How could Eden leave me behind like this? She chose to leave me." Her voice is barely above a whisper. I can't even begin to understand how she must feel. Guilt? Abandoned? In a way, rejected?

"You have to understand; Eden lived a very long life, Haze. She was exhausted, and she knew you had a family to come home to. I don't think Eden left you at all. She's with you every day, watching over you and wanting nothing more than for you to be happy. We'll see her again one day, but in the meantime, you have to live your life. You can be hurt. You can scream, break things, and cry as much as you need. Just don't do it alone. I'll scream with you. We can break things together and hold each other while we cry because I'm hurting for you too." With teary eyes, Hazie gives me a weak smile. I tighten my arms around her as she buries her face into the crook of my neck and places tiny, soft kisses over my racing pulse. Any other time, this would feel sensual. Instead, it feels vulnerable and reassuring. It's a fresh start, and I couldn't be more proud to call her mine.