Hazel's POV
His features softened almost instantly the moment I realized my mistake. It was as if all the frustration he had been carrying drained away in a single breath.
A sharp wave of guilt rushed through me as I began to understand the weight of what I had done. My outburst had been unnecessary, foolish even.
"I'm sorry," I murmured, my voice barely audible as I cowered. "I shouldn't have spoken to you that way. I thought you were the Alpha."
He chuckled, as though he found the situation amusing. But there was nothing funny here—unless he was mocking me.
"Is that how you speak to your Alpha?" he asked, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. "Wouldn't that be a bit too bold… and far too dangerous?"
I cleared my throat. "I'm sorry, it's just that with the way he treats me, I—" The rest of my words stuck in my throat. I lifted my eyes to meet his gaze, but quickly looked away when I saw him watching me too intently.
"It's nothing. Forget I said anything," I whispered, even though it was a lie. He didn't believe me, but he let it pass.
"That's okay, Hazel," he said gently, though his tone carried pity. "But I'll admit, the way you spoke to me worried me. For a moment, I almost thought you hated me." He chuckled, though I knew the sting of my words still lingered in his heart.
I silently berated myself again. I had let my pain and anger spill out without thinking, unable to separate Liam from his brother. After everything Liam had put me through, the trauma had blurred the line between them.
This time, I forced myself to hold his gaze, though it was far from easy. "I could never hate you. You've always been kind to me—and I know that. The only way I'd ever turn against you is if you gave me a reason to."
His smile returned, softer now, and he nodded in quiet approval. Relief eased the tension between us, and for the first time, things didn't feel unbearably awkward.
"Fair enough," he said, leaning against the bars. His eyes darkened as they locked with mine, dilating with something I couldn't name. "I came to check on you." To my surprise, he reached through the bars and brushed his fingers against my hand.
I let him, though uncertainty gnawed at me. Ever since Skyler's betrayal, I had learned to be wary of kindness. And considering he was Liam's brother, I couldn't dismiss the possibility that this was some elaborate trap. Still, I wanted to believe he wasn't like that.
His fingers stroked mine gently, his gaze never leaving my face. I kept my expression neutral, unwilling to reveal too much. We lingered there in silence, until I realized if the guards noticed, Liam would likely have my head before sunrise. I pulled back slightly, fumbling for words to break the tension.
"Thank you for coming. Honestly, I didn't expect anyone would check on me. It's good you're here—at least it keeps me from talking to myself all day." I chuckled lightly as I withdrew my hand.
His brows furrowed. "Do you mean my brother hasn't been here?"
I hesitated, then forced a laugh. "Well… of course he has. I'd just prefer if he hadn't."
He nodded slowly, still watching me with unsettling intensity. My face grew warm under his stare, and I rushed to change the subject.
"You mentioned something about my dress earlier," I said quickly. His brows lifted in surprise.
"What did I say?"
"You said you bought it for me. At first, I thought it was from your brother, but you claimed otherwise."
His smile flickered but soon returned. "Ah. I didn't think you'd catch that. But yes, it was me. Still, it doesn't matter who gave it—as long as it makes you happy."
Something in his tone struck me deeply. He spoke to me like I mattered, with care and gentleness I wasn't used to. It was hard to believe he and Nash were twins; their souls felt like opposites.
The thought pressed on me until I had to ask. "Tell me the truth. All the gifts, the thoughtful gestures… was it you all along?"
He hesitated, his gaze flickering before he finally admitted, "Yes. But none of that matters. What matters is that you're safe—or at least, that you survive. That's why I came." His voice dropped to a whisper, low enough to keep the guards from overhearing.
I shook my head, unsatisfied. "So it was you. But why? Why send me gifts? Why risk helping me escape?"
His throat worked, as though the words were hard to form. "Because I wanted to. I don't have a clear answer. I just knew you needed them… and I knew you couldn't survive this place alone. Liam won't listen, not now."
I frowned. He still wasn't giving me the full truth, brushing aside my questions like they didn't matter.
"It's fine," I said at last, forcing optimism. "I'm alive. That's reason enough to hope for something better."
He scoffed. "Do you really think so? Because I'm here to give you that better future. A chance at another life." His voice was a whisper, his eyes burning into mine.
I glanced at the guards, who were still distracted by their bickering.
"What do you mean?" I asked, my heart quickening.
"I still want to help y
ou escape," he said firmly. "But I can't explain everything now."