Chapter Twelve

BROKEN ME

LUCIEN 

I heard the drums before anyone reached my chambers.

I was lying on my bed with my arm over my eyes, trying to breathe through the pain in my chest after what my father said. The sound hit the walls hard and sharp.

Punishment drums.

I pushed myself up. My leg ached, but I stood anyway. A guard ran to my door and knocked fast.

“My prince! Captain Rolkan has called a public gathering! He says it is for Bren!”

My jaw clenched. I felt heat rise in my blood.

“What happened?”

“He says your actions yesterday were wrong,” the guard said. “He wants the pack to see Bren and—”

I did not let him finish. I grabbed my coat and left the room, ignoring the throb in my leg.

I stormed outside, letting the drums guide me. I passed guards, servants, and warriors who bowed but looked confused. I didn’t slow down for any of them.

I only stopped when I reached the clearing and saw the people gathering. I saw Bren standing up there.

I saw Darius walk forward and apologize in front of everyone on behalf of the royal family.

And I felt something cold settle inside me. Then I saw Erwin slipping away from the back of the crowd. Quietly, fast and almost running. 

For a moment I didn’t know why I followed.

But I did.

I followed slowly, careful not to limp too much. I kept my eyes on his back until he disappeared into the trees. When I reached the stream, I heard movement and stepped closer.

And there he was.

Kneeling by the water, washing blood from his hand.I didn’t hide on purpose. I just didn’t know what to say.

When he finally turned to look at me, he looked surprised.

Then cold.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

I swallowed. “I heard the drum. A guard came to me and told me what Darius was doing. I… I didn’t want to be there.”

Erwin turned his face away. “Not my problem.”

I felt something twist in my chest. “I followed because I saw you leave.”

“And why does that matter?” he asked sharply.

His tone hit harder than he knew.

I looked down at the stream water. For a moment I didn’t speak.

“My life is… complicated,” I said finally.

He didn’t answer, so I kept going.

“I used to be able to walk normally. Run. Fight. I wanted to be a warrior like the rest of them. I trained every morning. Father said I had a promise.”

Erwin didn’t look at me.

Then he said, “And?”

“And then I lost my leg,” I said. “Everything changed.”

He stayed silent. My throat tightened.

“After that, Father stopped looking at me the same. He stopped… believing in me. Darius got stronger, and I got weaker. At least that is what Father believes.”

I let out a slow breath.

“The rest of the pack looks at me the same way he does. A burden. A mistake. A man who cannot protect anyone.”

Erwin’s eyes narrowed. “So because you have a hard life, you thought punishing Bren was the right thing?”

“He stabbed you,” I said.

“I told you not to interfere,” he snapped.

I blinked. “I was helping you.”

“I didn’t ask for help,” he said. “I don’t want you to fight my battles.”

“But he hurt you—”

Erwin turned toward me fully. “And you let your father hurt you.”

The words hit me harder than any lash ever could. I stared at him, shocked. He continued, voice steady and sharp, “You stand there telling me what is right, but you can’t even stand up for yourself. You let your father say whatever he likes about you. You let your brother speak for you. You let them walk all over you.”

I felt the air leave my chest.

He kept going.

“You want to protect someone? Protect yourself first.”

He turned to leave.

I stepped forward quickly. “Erwin—wait.”

He didn’t stop.

My hand moved on its own as I grabbed his wrist.

The moment I touched him

The world shifted.

Something pulled inside my chest so hard I stumbled. My heart slammed against my ribs. For a moment there was nothing else. No sound. No forest. No pain.

Just him.

And then I saw a  vision. Of a wolf.  Tall. Strong, and standing  in front of me with glowing eyes.

My breath caught.

My lips moved before I could stop them.

“MATE.”

Erwin jerked his hand away fast. “Your… your majesty?”

I blinked hard as the vision vanished and the world came back. I stared at him—really stared—and my mind tried to make sense of what I saw.

He looked like a boy.

Everyone said he was a boy.

He lived like a boy.

Acted like a boy.

Everything about him should have said boy.

But my wolf…

My wolf didn’t care.

And he stepped away from me, confused and tense.

I forced my face still. “I… I’m sorry.”

He didn’t answer.

He just stared at me for a moment, then turned and walked away through the trees.

I stood there alone, feeling the pull again.“It can’t be.”

I whispered to myself