Chapter 3

Soon after I was thrown into the dungeon of the Lycan Palace. The shackles on my wrists hummed with a low-frequency pulse, a specialized magic designed to suppress the wolf. To me, it felt like a thousand needles pricking at my skin, threatening to unravel the "masculinity" spell that kept my true nature hidden.

I sat on the edge of the narrow cot, my head in my hands.

"Prisoner 402, you have a visitor," a guard barked, his voice echoing against the obsidian walls. "Legal counsel."

The heavy iron door groaned open. A woman stepped in, her sharp heels clicking with a rhythm that screamed authority. She waited for the guard to leave before her professional mask shattered.

"Alex, you absolute idiot," she whispered, rushing to the bars.

"Nice to see you too, Missandre," I rasped, leaning my forehead against the cold metal.

Missandre was the daughter of our pack's lead physician. She was the only person outside my family who knew I was a woman.

She had been the one to help me manage the side effects of the testosterone-heavy potions the witch forced me to swallow. Now, she was my only hope.

"Your father sent you to build connections not to... rot in prison. My Goddess! What brought you here? what crime have you committed other than following your father's ridiculous commands?"

"I'm accused of... assaulting Lycan King's consort." I said. For a moment we only stared each other and then Missandre could not hold her laughter.

She laughed until her stomach ached before she said, "You are innocent, my friend. I can vouch my life for that, even before the Lycan King."

"Can you do that without revealing my true identity?" I asked, looking deeply into her eyes. Her laughter came to an abrupt halt as she said, "Let's get serious now!"

She opened her briefcase, spreading papers and then studied the case provided by the royals.

"The report says you feign rogue attack and assaulted Rosemary Thorne."

"Could it be that she misunderstood you, Alex?" She asked, "I mean she is young and was terrified."

"She’s lying, Missandre. She looked me in the eye and chose to frame me," I hissed, my knuckles whitening as I gripped the bars.

"Why? Why would she risk her reputation and mine?"

"If what you are saying is right then she must be a fool to do that. Does she not know that Lycan King has a unique method of finding out the truth, his Truth revealing Hunter? Everyone knows about it." Missandre said before rubbing her forehead, "Is she really stupid to frame you like this?"

"I wouldn't have thought this way if you haven't mentioned it. The Truth revealing Hunter, it can solve the issue within seconds if I demand it in the trial." I said excitedly.

"Don't be foolish!" Missandre turned me down, "The Lycan King would definitely not use it on a woman, specially his fiance. He will use it on you."

"And, the hunter will break all the charms, expose you naked before him. He will know that you are innocent. But, he will also know that you are a woman, Alex." She added.

"It means I'm doomed in either way. It's either I confess the crime I never did or reveal my true identity and got my whole pack screwed up for fraud." I said.

"As much as I'm disheartened to say that. But, it's true, Alex. You have to choose between yourself and your pack."

"I can't choose, Missandre. I'm not in that condition," I said,"And I can't wait for a trial. The spell is weakening. If I’m here for more than forty-eight hours, the King won't be executing an Alpha. He’ll be executing a girl."

Missandre’s face turned pale. "What do you want me to do?"

"I don't need a lawyer right now. I need arrangement," I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous, low pitch. "I need you to use your credentials. Tell the guards you need to conduct a physical 'compatibility check' or some legal nonsense. Find out where they’re keeping Rosemary Thorne."

Missandre shook her head. "Alex, no. If you’re caught near her, they’ll kill you on sight."

"She’s the only one who can undo this," I insisted, my eyes flashing amber for a brief, flickering second. "She thinks she’s playing a game with a boy she can bully. She has no idea who she’s actually dealing with."

I leaned closer to the bars, the intensity of my gaze making Missandre step back.

"Set the meeting, Missandre. Get me ten minutes alone with the 'victim.' I’m going to make Rosemary Thorne tell the truth—even if I have to show her exactly who I'm."