Chapter 204: Take Her Away
Hayley’s POV:
My grandfather nodded and said, “It’s time for her to go home.” I was confused. The year wasn’t up yet, and suddenly, my grandfather showed up today, wanting to take me back. I felt a pang of sadness in my heart. I wasn’t ready to leave this place. Even Hera, sensing she would soon be leaving Benjamin, started growing restless and agitated.
“Can’t she stay a little longer?” Henry asked, his tone carrying a hint of pleading. I felt a tightness in my chest but forced a smile, trying to stay lighthearted. “What, are you going to miss me?”
Without hesitation, Henry nodded. “Boss, if you leave, who’s going to help me with math? Who’s going to play games with me?”
I raised an eyebrow and said, “But I have to go home eventually.” Henry’s face darkened even more. I hadn’t expected this. Since arriving at Midnight Pack, he had been the one most opposed to me, yet he was the one who seemed to care the most about my leaving.
Benjamin hadn’t said a word the entire time. His expression was calm, almost indifferent, as if this whole situation had nothing to do with him. I thought he probably didn’t like me after all. Thank goodness I never told him he was my destined mate. It would have been embarrassing for me.
After a long silence, George spoke up. He turned to my grandfather and said, “Hayz has brought a lot of joy to our home these past few weeks. And now you’re just taking her away so suddenly; I’m really going to miss her.” His tone carried a trace of sadness.
I looked up at George, offering a reassuring smile. “George, I’ll come visit often.” George seemed a little more at ease, but his gaze drifted to Benjamin. When he saw Benjamin’s lack of response, his face tightened in frustration.
At that moment, Benjamin suddenly stood up and said, “Grandpa, Bill, Dorothy, I’m done eating. I’ll head upstairs.” Without another word, he walked out of the dining room. I watched him leave, not a care in the world, and my heart sank. Even Hera, who had always been infatuated with him, seemed to get angry with him.
After dinner, I absentmindedly strolled in the garden with my grandparents. After a while, they exchanged a glance and turned to me. “Hayz, do you not want to go home?”
I was caught off guard by their perception of my feelings. I bit my lip, silent. Grandma gave Grandpa a knowing look, and he stretched lazily before saying, “It’s getting cold. I’ll go inside and grab a coat.” With that, he disappeared into the house.
As soon as Grandpa was gone, Grandma immediately took my hand. She looked at me with kindness and asked, “Hayz, tell the truth—what’s on your mind?”
I looked at her, linking my arm with hers. “Grandma, can I stay here a little longer before I go back?”
Grandma smiled warmly at me and asked, “Is it because of that Southwell boy who’s set to inherit the alpha position?”
I was surprised by how perceptive Grandma was. I hadn’t planned to hide anything from her, so I confessed, “Grandma, I think I might have feelings for him. And Hera confirmed that he’s the destined mate the Moon Goddess arranged for me.”
Grandma was taken aback, but then she smiled in delight. “So why haven’t you told him your real identity? Why are you hiding your scent, so his wolf can’t recognize you?”
“I’m still not sure if he truly loves me or if he’s just interested in my alpha status. So I can’t reveal my rank just yet,” I explained.
Grandma sighed and asked, “My dear Hayz, do you want to know if you truly love him? Or is this just a passing impulse?”
I took a deep breath and said, “Grandma, I’m not sure yet if this is real love or just a fleeting feeling. That’s why I want to stay and figure out what’s in my heart. I also want to see how he feels about me. You’ve always been worried about me picking a mate, right? This time, I want to decide for myself.”
Grandma squeezed my hand and said, “I trust your judgment, but I must warn you—girls are often blind when it comes to love. You may feel confused at times, and I hope you can keep your distance. Don’t rush into anything blindly. Even with a destined mate, don’t give your heart away too easily.”
“I understand, Grandma.” I nodded. Grandma’s expression turned serious again, and she said, “Hayz, if you truly want to stay, I won’t stop you. But I have one condition.”