Page 12

H azel

The room they’ve put me in is larger than any I’ve slept in for years, but it might as well be a cell. The four walls press down on me; their pristine white paint mocks the chaos in my mind. A thick rug muffles my footsteps, and a heavy oak bed looms in the corner, its blankets perfectly folded.

The scent of cedarwood and pine lingers faintly in the air, a reminder that this is Moonfang territory—Kieran’s territory.

I’ve never been here. Other than my brief interactions with him at the pack alliance negotiations, there's nothing else that tells me of his character outside of official settings…

and when he's making me squirm with lustful passion. For all I know, he’s a ruthless warrior, a bloodthirsty Alpha who pillaged everything in his path that threatened his pack.

And I witnessed it when he rejected me—the cold detachment in his eyes. And now, in the hallway.

I feel violated. And the rage that boils in my chest is hotter than lava. My wolf is constantly growling, her rage at how our Mate treats us fueling frustration that physically rattles my bones.

How dare he?

There was no soul in his eyes as he said those things to me. And for a moment, I am grateful that he rejected me. Because if this is the man the Goddess has destined for me, I should have torn his head from his body while he slept.

I pace the room, my steps quick and uneven as I figure out my next move. It’s silent except for the faint hum of the estate’s central heating and my breathing.

My wolf is restless, her pacing matching my own.

Every few minutes, she growls softly, the bond tugging at her in ways I wish I could ignore.

My heat is starting to settle in my body.

That mind-numbing need for my ate that incapacitates me with desire.

He took advantage of that. He took advantage of what he knows about me, of this connection that we are cursed with.

Kieran.

Even thinking his name makes me clench my fists.

I glance at the door, knowing Kieran must have placed a wolf there to watch me.

I saw the sentinel trailing behind us as Damon threw me into the room.

The sentinel looks like a stoical man with sharp eyes and a sharper sense of duty—no chance of slipping past him, at least not without causing a scene.

How did I get into this mess? When I thought I had gotten away from the worst time in my life, Kieran reappeared. He’s the reason my life was ruined in the first place.

I sink onto the edge of the bed, my head in my hands. My chest tightens at the thought of Ayana, who’s been my constant these last two years.

Is she safe?

The memory of Eldon’s men circling her flashes through my mind. Her wide eyes, shaking hands, the faint bruise on her cheek she tried to hide. She escaped once, but Eldon doesn’t give up that easily. And now that I will be nowhere to be found, they will come for her to get to me.

My nails dig into my palms as my stomach twists with worry. I need to talk to her. I need to know she’s okay.

My eyes dart toward the door again, and an idea forms. It’s risky, but it’s my only option.

I force myself to lie back on the bed. I need to relax even though it feels unnatural. My body is stiff and my mind is racing, but I have to wait to execute my plan.

Minutes pass, maybe more, before I hear the faint rustle of movement outside the door. The sentinel’s pacing is rhythmic, his boots scuffing lightly against the floor.

Perfect.

I get out of bed and walk to the door. My fingers curl around the knob, and I twist it gently. It’s unlocked, just as I’d hoped.

I crack the door just enough to see the guard standing a few feet away, his back to me.

“Excuse me,” I say, my voice soft but firm.

He turns, his expression blank but watchful.

“Yes?”

“I’m thirsty,” I say, holding his gaze. “Could you get me some water?”

“There’s a tap in your bathroom. Drink from that.”

Shit. I didn’t think this through. I have to think fast. He raises an eyebrow at me, waiting for me to go back in before he forces me back.

“I’m allergic to the metal in the water. I need some fresh water.”

“And what makes you think I should care?”

The only other option is to use the one thing I have going for me to get what I want. I open the door a bit more and stand my ground. They can't deny me basic things just because I'm kept here against my will.

“I'm the key to making sure you find your enemies. So, whatever you feel, your Alpha has you here to protect me, and I'm sure you will not want to report to Kieran that you watched me die of poisoning or dehydration.” I cross my arms and raise a brow, urging him to refute my reasoning.

His brow furrows slightly, but he nods. “Stay in the room. And if you try anything funny, there are guards posted at every corner of this floor.”

He walks away, his boots echoing as he disappears around the corner. Of course it works. Kieran's dogs are loyal to his orders. But I still can’t run.

I move quickly, stepping into the hallway and scanning for anything useful. My eyes land on the jacket draped over the back of a nearby chair, the telltale outline of a phone bulging in the pocket.

My pulse quickens as I grab it, the sleek device warm in my hand.

I retreat into the room, closing the door quietly behind me. My fingers tremble as I unlock the phone, the screen lighting up with the default interface.

I dial Ayana’s number from memory, my heart pounding with each ring.

“Hello, who is this?” Her voice is cautious, almost breathless, as if she’s already regretting taking the call.

“Ayana,” I whisper, relief flooding me. She’s safe. That’s more than I could have asked for.

“Hazel?” she asks, her tone sharpening with worry. “Oh, Hazel. I’ve been so worried. Where are you? Are you safe? Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine.” The knot in my chest doesn’t ease, and the gash along my arm throbs. “I’m…at the Moonfang estate.”

There’s a beat of silence, and then she exhales sharply. “Moonfang? How the hell—”

“It’s a long story,” I interrupt. “Listen, I need to know. Are you okay? Has Eldon—”

“He’s looking for you,” she says, her voice dropping to a whisper. “His men have been tearing through Broadstone, asking everyone if they’ve seen you. They came by the pub last night.”

My stomach drops, the weight of her words pressing down on me like a boulder.

“Did they hurt you?” I swear I’ll have Eldon’s balls if his men so much as snapped a strand of her hair.

“No, no. I stayed out of sight. But Hazel…they’re not going to stop. I’m really scared.”

The air in the room feels colder. Eldon is relentless, his obsession with control bleeding into every corner of Broadstone.

“You need to leave,” I say, my voice shaking. “Get out of the city. Go somewhere safe.”

“And where would that be?” she asks, her tone bitter. “We don’t exactly have lots of choices open to us, Hazel. ”

I press my hand to my forehead, trying to think. My wolf growls softly, a low rumble of frustration and helplessness.

“I’ll figure something out,” I say finally. “Just…stay out of sight for now, even if it means avoiding the pub. Promise me.”

“I promise,” she says, though the hesitation in her voice makes my chest ache. She needs the money. There’s no other way for her to survive. It would be hell for her, and all because of me. All because she stayed by my side.

“Good. I’ll call you when I can.”

“Be careful,” she says softly.

“I will.”

I end the call, staring at the phone before slipping back into the room. I need to find a place to hide it, but everywhere is within view. I hear the guard’s footsteps coming down to the door.

Shit, where do I hide this?

I turn the phone off, lift the edge of the bed, and slide it under the mattress just as the guard comes in with the pitcher of water and a cup. He puts it on the table in the corner. I offer him a sweet smile despite my panic, and he leaves after throwing me a suspicious glare.

But just as I try to settle, I hear the guards talking right outside the door. My ears perk up, trying to hear what they say.

“You think Eldon is using her?” one of them says.

“Yeah, I think Eldon must have known who she was before all this began. He must have put a target on her when he learned that Alpha rejected her two years ago,” the other replies with obvious amusement in his voice.

“Way to be obsessed with our indomitable Alpha,” the first one adds. They both burst into laughter.

It now starts to make sense. It was probably after investigating my life in detail that Eldon found the balls to use me as a pawn in his quest for power.

Just like Kieran is doing now. I'm the perfect piece to move around in these pack politics, just an object for power play.

It was never about me, yet now I'm dragged into it.

Now, it's all about me. And on both sides.

I glance around the room, the polished wood and soft fabrics suddenly feeling less like a cage and more like a sanctuary .

As suffocating as it feels, this estate is the safest place I could be.

For now.

And I hate all the ways that, even in his cruelty, Kieran has saved my life.

The estate is quiet in the mornings. I watch the sun creep over the treetops from my window, spilling gold onto the manicured grounds.

The light cuts through the mist, casting long shadows that stretch across the lawn.

Everything here is pristine, so carefully controlled, like nothing, and no one, can disturb its balance.

Except me.

I lean against the windowsill, my breath fogging the glass as I peer down at the courtyard below. It’s early, but the estate is already alive with movement.

And then I see Kieran in the courtyard.