Hazel's POV
"I… I'm sorry, did I hear you right? Escape?" I glanced around, making sure no one was close enough to overhear.
"Yes, escape. You heard me."
"And how am I supposed to know you won't hand me over to your brother and brand me a traitor?" My voice was sharp, but the truth was I didn't know him well enough to trust him.
"Is that what you think of me?" he asked, a small chuckle escaping.
"I hardly know you. Why should I believe you? Why would you even suggest something like this?"
A flicker of surprise crossed his face—like he wanted to say something but decided against it. "In that case, I give you my word."
"Not enough," I shot back.
He scoffed. "That's your choice. I could sit back and not give a damn about what he does to you."
My heart thudded faster. Something about him felt genuine, even… familiar, especially in the way he looked at me. Maybe I just had to take the risk. I had nothing left to lose.
Still, disbelief surged through me. If his brother found out, we'd both be in deep trouble—dead meat, as Liamwould say. The punishment for such betrayal would be brutal. Yet, if we pulled it off without anyone knowing… maybe there was hope.
"But… isn't it dangerous? If he finds out, he'll kill me. You've seen how he treats me. I want to trust you—really, I do—but I'm scared."
He shook his head, surprisingly calm and steady. "You can't stay here. I'm not going to let him do this to you any longer. You need rest. You need to be far from his reach until you're strong enough to face him. And you're lucky—his attention isn't on you right now. Use these weeks to recover before you return."
His words struck deep, but the risk loomed large. Could I really escape Liam? He would come for me the moment he realized I was gone. A part of me almost wished I'd been left to die.
"I know it's hard," Colton said, voice low. "Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the greater good. I've seen what he's done to you. And what kind of Alpha beats his queen after she's lost a child?"
The memory hit like a knife. I winced, my chest tightening. Colton hadn't shown an ounce of remorse that day. I wished I could escape him forever, but our souls were tied.
"You have to trust me," Colton whispered, meeting my gaze.
I swallowed hard and nodded, my breath uneven. "Okay," I whispered. "Okay, I'll go with you. But—"
"There are no buts." His certainty caught me off guard. "I'll do everything I can to get you to safety. I'll have my men outside the Pack prepare a place for you."
He rose and stepped out, returning moments later with the Pack doctor, who began checking my vitals.
"I don't know," I murmured when he asked how I felt. I didn't want to talk to anyone except Colton. "I just want to sleep."
The doctor gave me a small smile and pulled out a vial of dark green liquid. "You'll need plenty of rest. This will help heal you while you sleep." He handed the vial to Colton. "Look after her. I'll have the nurses check in shortly."
Colton helped me drink the bitter concoction in one swift gulp. Drowsiness washed over me almost instantly.
As the darkness closed in, I felt a strange sense of relief. For the first time in what felt like forever, I was taking a step toward freedom. I tried not to think about what Liam would do if he found me. Colton's figure at the foot of my bed—smiling softly—was the last thing I saw before my eyes shut.
The next day, the plan went into motion. We slipped out of Pack territory. The journey was tense, and I fell asleep somewhere along the way.
When I woke, I was in a strange room, golden morning light spilling through the window. Disoriented at first, I soon remembered—we'd escaped.
I stretched and was about to gather my thoughts when a knock sounded. Colton stepped inside.
"Good morning. I hope you slept well."
I nodded. "Thank you—for everything."
"You're welcome. Once you're settled, I'd like to show you around. Your maid will be here shortly, and then I'll return."
True to his word, a maid soon arrived, helping me bathe and bringing food. When Colton came back, he showed me the grounds. The woods surrounding the mansion were peaceful, beautiful—so different from the stifling, oppressive Pack, especially when Liam was near.
I thanked Colton again as he walked me back to my room. But in the quiet that followed, thoughts of Liam crept in. If he ever found me here…
A few days later, those fears clawed their way into reality. Colton came to me with news—the Alpha had ordered my brother to lead the frontline against rogues preparing to attack.
Worry tightened in my chest—not just because I'd be left here with only the maids, but because rogues were deadly. Yes, our warriors often won, but many didn't come back. And now Noah wa
s to lead them.
Scared wasn't even close to describing how I felt.