Chapter 4

I did not know how but Missandre made is possible. Next day, the heavy iron gates of the guest wing didn’t groan like the dungeon doors, they clicked with a predatory, silent precision.

Perhaps it was Missandre’s frantic bribing that I was being escorted through the gold-leafed corridors of the upper palace. My wrists were still bound, and I was being directed by a royal guard who looked as nervous as me.

Every second that passed felt like a brick being pulled from the foundation of my disguise. My scent—usually masked by the bitter, pungent testosterone potions—was beginning to sharpen, turning from heavy musk to something softer, sweeter.

"You have ten minutes. One more second and you are dead meat,," the guard grunted, stopping before a set of double doors carved from white oak. "And Prisoner 402, keep your hands where I can see them. Lady Thorne is under the King's personal protection."

"If I was not in a debt, I would never have helped a rapist like you!" He smirked. "You must be really hard that time to dare laying your hands over King's woman, weren't you?"

For the first time in my life, my head was low in shame and embarrassment. And, that's for the most heinous crime, that I would tolerate on anyone myself, the crime I was unable to do.

However, I was advised not to explain anything to anyone by Missandre. Anything that I say before trial could be used against me.

The doors opened, and I was pushed inside.

The room smelled of lilies and expensive silk. Rosemary Thorne sat by the window, sipping tea, the moonlight catching the delicate curve of her neck. She didn't look like a victim; she looked like a cat that had just finished a bowl of cream.

"Tell the King, I'm still terrified and don't want to see anyone right now. Send my apologies for ghosting him on our first date." She said while turning back, expecting her maid standing behind her.

Her eyes widened in shock as soon as they landed at me.

"You-" she stuttered, "Wh-What are you doing here, Alexander?"

"Stop this act, Lady Thorne." I spat, "The act of being bullied and terrified, doesn't suit you anymore."

"Alpha Alex, please leave... or else I'll call the guards inside." She requested, looking down at my feet, avoiding eye contact with me.

I stepped into the light. "You have a lot of nerve, Rosemary."

I lunged forward, stopping just inches from her table, the shackles clinking dangerously.

"Why? Why lie about the assault? You know I never touched you. If I’m convicted, the Lycan King doesn't just exile people. He uses the Executioner’s Moon. Do you have any idea what that kind of death feels like? Your lie is a death sentence."

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Alpha Alex. Please stay away from me or my Dad... " She paused, as if afraid of talking too much.

"I know the fact that you know more than you are showing, Lady Thorne. You clearly know the consequences of framing me but what you don't know is-"

"I'm going to demand for the Truth-Revealing Hunter in the trial," I hissed, leaning down until our faces were level. "When that beast enters the courtroom, it doesn't care about your status. It will peel back your mind like an onion. When it shows the King you lied—that you framed an Alpha for ulterior motives—he won't just break the engagement. He’ll have your head."

I threw away my last move. The truth-revealing hunter. Though I could not use it in the trial, but I could definitely use it to scare her off.

"Save yourself, Rosemary. Tell them you were confused by the trauma. I’ll walk away, and you get to keep your crown."

"I-I can't! Dad won't agree. Lycan King... He will still kill me." She blurted out, her eyes spoke terror and for the first time I saw her speaking truth.

She was afraid. Really afraid.

I clicked the broken pieces in my mind and finally spoke, "Is it because... your chastity is broken?"

"You love someone else and have lost your virginity to him? And, you and your Dad want me to take a bait?"

"H-How do you know?" She blurted out.

"I guessed." I replied, "I assume the rogue attack was also a set up by Alpha Thorne to fool the Lycan King."

She did not reply. But her silence said it all..

I grabbed her shoulder and looked down at her. With a new profound energy I said, "Listen to me Lady Thorne. I can save you only if you follow my lead."

"You say in the trial that you were traumatized and could not speak but the person who ruined you... was a rogue wolf, not me."

"I'll say I reached slightly late and could not save you."

"No one demands the Truth-revealing hunter. You will not be accused of cheating the King and I'll not be accused of the crime I never committed. This way, we both will be saved." I said.

Rosemary's eyes widened. But then a curve appeared on her forehead. "My Dad... He won't listen to me. He is already very mad at me and if-"

"That's your problem, Lady Thorne. But, if you don't want to get beheaded for your crime, you will not tell anything to your father and listen to me quietly. That's all that I can tell you now." I added in haste before the guard pushed inside and dragged me back to the dungeon where Missandre had been waiting for me.

"How did it go?" She asked as soon as she saw me.

"The seed has been planted, Missandre. Now, let's wait for the trial."