1

Hazel POV

“Sister, please save me! I’m innocent. I didn’t do anything wrong!”

My brother’s voice hit me like a punch to the gut, hoarse and broken, echoing off the cold stone walls of this underground hellhole. Standing across that narrow, scratched-up table, I felt like my heart was being torn right out of my chest. Lucas looked so small in those dingy prison clothes, his eyes wide and desperate. Tears stung my own eyes, hot and insistent, but I bit my lip hard, trying to hold them back. I couldn’t break down now—not in front of him.

It had been three long, agonizing days since they dragged him away from that concert. Three days of me running around like a madwolf, begging at the Warriors’ station, pulling every string I could think of just to get this visit. Finally, with the help of a lawyer I could barely afford, here I was. But seeing Lucas like this? It shattered me.

He used to be so bright and handsome, my big brother, a sophomore in college with straight A’s and a smile that lit up any room. He was kind to everyone—teachers, friends, even strangers. He was our family’s pride, our hope for something better. Mom and I always said he’d make it big one day, maybe even study abroad like his professors suggested. But now? This nightmare had crushed him.

In just three days, his face had gone hollow, cheeks sunken like he hadn’t eaten. He’d lost weight, and that spark in his eyes—the one that made him seem unbreakable—was gone. Replaced by fear. My chest ached so bad I could hardly breathe. I reached across the table and grabbed his hands, holding on tight, like if I let go, he’d disappear forever. “I believe in you, Lucas! I was there—I saw everything. You didn’t do anything wrong!”

“Miss Hudson, visiting hours are over. Let’s go outside and talk about this.” Luke’s voice came from the side, soft but firm. He was our lawyer, standing there quietly, waiting. I nodded, blinking hard to push the tears away. I squeezed Lucas’s hands one more time. “Don’t worry. I’ll get you out of here. I will, no matter what!”

The guards led me out of that damp, shadowy dungeon, and I kept turning back, my gaze locked on Lucas until the heavy door slammed shut. My legs felt like lead, but I forced myself to keep walking.

As soon as I stepped into the brighter hallway above, Mom rushed at me. Dottie West—my strong, weary mom—grabbed my hands, her whole body shaking. Tears streamed down her face, matting her fur. “How is Lucas? How’s my son? Oh God, Hazel, he’s never been through anything like this. He’s such a good boy—he wouldn’t hurt a fly. You have to save him!”

Seeing her like that, so broken, it was too much. The tears I’d been fighting burst out, hot and unstoppable. I pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back the way she used to do for me when I was little. “Mom, don’t worry,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “We’ve got a lawyer now. Luke will find a way to save him.”

Mom turned to Luke, clutching his hand like it was a lifeline. “You have to save Lucas! He’s always been good, obedient since he was a pup. Every teacher praised him—they said we should send him abroad for more studies. He has such a bright future ahead. He wouldn’t commit a crime, not ever!”

Luke nodded, his face calm but kind. He could see Mom was spiraling, her emotions all over the place. “Ma’am, since you’ve trusted me with this case, I’ll do everything I can to get him free soon,” he said gently. “I’ve been digging into it the last two days. There’s no real evidence for her claim, and we have witnesses who can prove your son didn’t assault that woman. We can fight this charge.”

He paused, and I held my breath. There was a “but” coming—I could feel it. “But this case is strange. It’s moving so fast. Normally, if someone’s detained, there has to be solid evidence linking them to the crime. Here? Nothing. He shouldn’t even be locked up.”

Mom and I stared at him, stunned. We didn’t know a thing about the law—never had to before. Ever since Lucas got thrown in here, our world had been chaos. My head spun with questions.

“What can we do?” Mom asked, her voice small and lost.

Luke held up a hand, trying to calm us. “Don’t panic. I’ll ask around, get more info. We’ll figure this out.”

He stepped aside to make a phone call, leaving Mom and me clinging to each other. Ten minutes felt like forever. When he hung up, his face was pale, expression grave. My heart jumped into my throat, pounding wildly. I hurried over. “What happened?”

He sighed, shaking his head like the weight of the world was on him. “Terrible news. I don’t think we can handle this through normal courts. The victim… she’s connected to the Royal family.”

I froze. “The Royal family? Which one? You mean… THE Royal family?”

“Yes, that one. And the one’s pushing the case? Alpha Asher himself—the Alpha King.”

Another sigh from him, heavy with regret. “I’m sorry, but I can’t get involved. No lawyer will touch this—they’d lose their jobs, or worse. Your only shot is… confronting the Alpha King yourself. Beg for mercy, maybe.”

My mind buzzed, alarms blaring inside my head. The Royal family? They were the wealthiest, most powerful werewolves in the world—direct descendants of Serena, the Moon Goddess herself. Legends said their bloodline was blessed, untouchable. And Alpha Asher? His reputation was ice-cold and ruthless. Stories about him made my fur stand on end—how he crushed enemies without a second thought, ruled with an iron paw.

How could Lucas, my sweet brother, stand a chance against that? Mom couldn’t take it. Her body trembled, she stepped back, and then—bam—she fainted right there on the floor.

I caught her just in time, yelling for help. We rushed her to the hospital, my mind still reeling from the shock. An hour later, she was stable, resting in a bed with monitors beeping softly. I left her there with a nurse, my hands shaking as I pulled out my phone.

I texted my best friend, Brielle Jones. She worked on the Royal Security team—knew things most wolves didn’t. “Brielle, could you help me check Alpha Asher’s schedule?”

I knew it was a long shot. Asher was like a ghost—powerful, distant, someone like me could never even dream of approaching. But for Lucas? I’d do anything. Crawl, beg, fight—whatever it took.

My phone buzzed almost right away. “He’s in a banquet hall on the third floor of the Heavenly Hotel. There’s a charity banquet tonight. I heard Alpha Asher will be attending, but it might just be a rumor.”

Then, another message popped up. “Wait… Why do you want to know about Alpha Asher’s schedule? Do you know him?”