Chapter 170: Runaway Hazel
*~Lilith’s POV~*
Lilith’s POV
I immediately dropped the babies the moment I realized they knew I wasn’t their mother. Damn it. My grandchildren were smart—too smart. They probably took after me.
Each noble began walking toward us, their gazes lingering, while my eyes stayed locked on the hooded figure seated among them.
One by one, the nobles approached, shaking Cayden’s hand. He remained sharp, alert, ready for a strike at any second. But none came.
Soon enough, they had all passed. That was when one of them leaned in and whispered something to Cayden. His face hardened, and then he stepped away.
When the last hooded figure disappeared, Cayden turned to me.
"They said they want to see us."
"See us?" I hissed. "The audacity. But I don’t think Jonathan is among them. Those are just other Crescents."
"Yes," he replied.
"Are you going to follow?" I asked.
"I’m going," he said firmly. "You stay here. Don’t worry—I became an Alpha for a reason. And I’m not going alone."
I knew he had a plan. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a twist of unease.
A moment later, Caspian came to stand beside me.
"What’s happening? Where’s Cayden going?"
"They requested to see him and me," I explained.
"Then why is he going alone?" Caspian pressed.
"He said he wants to see them," I muttered.
Caspian’s jaw tightened. "What is he thinking?"
"The only thing that can take them down alone," I said softly. "But I know him—he’s not walking in there without a plan."
Caspian gave a sharp nod.
And that was when the lights began to flicker.
The chandeliers swayed, shadows stretching across the walls. Then, without warning—blood. Blood began pouring down from the roof, thick and dark, dripping onto the polished floor below.
Caspian instantly scooped up the babies, his face grim. "We need to go."
He grabbed my hand, tugging me along as we ran.
"We need to find Jonathan and push you to him," he said breathlessly. "If he thinks he has his vision, maybe this nonsense will stop. If we don’t end this now, the pack will look weak. Other packs will sense it... and they’ll strike."
We reached a chamber and quickly set the babies down. Caspian’s hand pressed firmly on my arm.
"You leave," he said. "I’ll stay with the babies."
I swallowed hard, then nodded.
I slipped out of the chamber and made sure to close the door behind me. The hallway stretched ahead, echoing with the chaos of battle. Wolves darted past in frantic motion, claws striking stone, growls and snarls tearing through the air.
My eyes scanned the madness until they locked on a tall, hooded figure with long, raven-black hair.
Jonathan.
No one needed to tell me. I knew him instantly.
I bolted, forcing my movements into Hazel’s frantic, desperate stride. Iza must look like the one in danger. That was the only way this would work.
Jonathan’s eyes fixed on me, and he moved with terrifying purpose, shoving aside wolves in his path. Some hit the walls with sickening thuds, others collapsed outright, but he never slowed.
I led him away from the High House, each step dragging him further from the heart of the chaos. Good. Chase me. Leave them behind.
Downstairs, I caught a glimpse of Cayden locked in combat with the Crescents, other wolves at his side, trying to drive them back. For a heartbeat, his gaze caught mine—and then shifted to Jonathan behind me.
His voice tore through the din: "Iso!" He shouted it with all the force of a mate’s desperation, lunging forward... only to stumble deliberately, falling back with a convincing cry.
The performance sold it. Jonathan’s eyes flared, his focus sharpened on me, and he gave chase with even greater determination.
I burst from the High House into the open night. The grounds were chaos—wolves tearing at one another, carriages overturning, shadows darting. I ducked behind one of the carriages, holding my breath. Jonathan’s steps thundered past... then slowed.
I shoved the carriage hard, toppling it. Wood splintered, wheels screeched, drawing his gaze immediately. I stepped into the open, making myself visible again.
I am the target. Chase me.
And chase me he did.
I sprinted into the night, the cold wind slashing against my face, Jonathan’s presence never far behind. His pursuit was relentless, a predator enjoying the game. My legs burned, my chest ached, but I forced myself onward until the sounds of the High House faded into the distance.
Only then did I stop.
My lungs heaved, every breath sharp, but I turned to face him.
Jonathan emerged from the shadows, calm despite the chase. His raven hair fell wild over his shoulders, his eyes gleaming with possession.
"I told you I’d come for you," he said, his voice silk over steel. He tilted his head, lips curling into a dangerous smile. "Why are you running from me, love?"
"Why are you chasing me?" I demanded, my voice trembling, though inside my wolf seethed with the urge to rip his throat out.
Jonathan’s lips curved in a slow smile. "I told you I would come after you. You want to know the truth, don’t you? Then come."
"No." I staggered back a step, feigning fear. "Stay away from me. I was told you should stay away from me—that you’re dangerous."
"Dangerous?" His laugh was low, mocking. "Who told you that? Who dares feed you such lies?"
"Just—just keep your distance!" I raised my hands, as though in helpless defense, though every fiber of me screamed to strike. Deep down, I wanted nothing more than to tear his head clean off his shoulders, to scatter his body across the dirt. But I couldn’t—not yet. Not here.
Jonathan tilted his head, his raven hair sliding over his shoulder. His eyes glowed with cruel amusement. "Ah, Hazel. Your head is still filled with lies, isn’t it? Come to me. I’ll strip them away. I’ll give you the truth."
My chest rose and fell. "What truth?"
"The truth," he said, voice deepening, "that I am your true mate. That your so-called mother stripped you away from me and bound you instead to those pathetic triplets. That the life you think you’ve built—the bonds you cling to—are nothing but chains she forced upon you."
My breath hitched, but I held my ground.
He stepped closer. "And those babies you bore?" His eyes darkened, venom spilling into every word. "They were never meant to be. They are mistakes. Distractions. Interferences keeping you from me. Keeping us from our destiny."
My heart pounded in my chest, though not from fear. Rage boiled inside me.
"They are not mistakes," I whispered, my voice deliberately shaky, trying to capture Hazel’s fragile tone. "I have a mate already. I love them. And my babies—they are not mistakes."
Jonathan’s gaze sharpened. His smirk faltered, just slightly, before twisting into something more dangerous.
"Are you so sure?" he whispered, voice dripping with false tenderness. "Are you truly blind to what we are? To what we could be?" He extended his hand, palm up, waiting. "Come to me, love. Feel what is real for the first time in your life."
I shook my head, forcing tears into my eyes, letting my lip tremble as Hazel would have. "No... I will never go with you."
"Then I’ll have to force you," Jonathan hissed. "I’ll take you with me—whether you want it or not."
Before I could react, his body rippled. His frame convulsed, bones cracking, skin tearing until fur burst forth. In seconds, his massive wolf loomed over me, fangs bared, eyes gleaming with hunger.
He lunged.
I tried to dodge, but his paw struck me hard across the chest, sending me sprawling into the dirt. The impact stole the air from my lungs. Before I could recover, his massive weight crashed down on me, pinning me to the ground.
My muscles strained against him, but he was stronger. Overwhelming. His bulk pressed so heavily against me that my limbs felt weak, my vision darkening.
And then, suddenly, he shifted again. Flesh reshaped, fur receded, and Jonathan’s human form hovered above me, sweat slicking his chest, his eyes feral.
He wrapped his hands around my throat.
Air choked from me as his grip tightened. I clawed at his wrists, desperate, but the pressure crushed harder. My vision blurred, dizziness sweeping over me until my body sagged, barely clinging to consciousness.
At the last second, he released, grinning wickedly as I gasped for breath, coughing violently.
Before I could gather strength, he swept me into his arms, lifting me like a bride.
Bridal style.
The insult made bile rise in my throat, but I forced myself limp. If Hazel’s role meant helplessness, then I had to wear it.
Jonathan carried me with ease toward the dark carriage waiting nearby. His stride was steady, confident, as if nothing could stop him now.
At the door, he tilted his head and whistled sharply. From the shadows, cloaked figures stirred, responding instantly to his call.
"Israel has been taken," he barked. "Good. Our plan has worked."
Their murmured approval buzzed faintly in the night as Jonathan slid me into the carriage.
Inside, I pressed my hand to my stomach, breathing hard. How long can I keep this up? How long can I pretend to be Hazel before Jonathan sees through me?
But then... A white wolf appeared.
Massive, towering, its sheer size dwarfing even Jonathan’s form. Yet it wasn’t monstrous—it was radiant. Its fur gleamed pure, unmarred white, glowing faintly under the moonlight. Its eyes—striking, icy blue—locked onto us with a force that made the ground seem to tremble.
Jonathan froze mid-step, his head snapping toward the apparition.
Even I couldn’t breathe.
This wolf was not ordinary. Not Crescent. Not anything I had ever seen.