Chapter 181

Hazel’s POV
I rushed up to my feet, my heart pounding like a war drum. Caspian immediately followed.
“Where are you going?” he asked, and I turned to him, stunned.
“Is that even a question?” I snapped. “France! I’m going to France! My babies need to be found—now!”
I bolted out the room, Caspian trailing close behind.
We ran into Cayden and Leon on our way down the stairs. Cayden immediately stepped in front of me, his face full of concern.
“Why is Aurora like that? She’s bleeding from her nose and mouth!” he demanded. “Did she return your memories?”
Caspian answered for me.
“Yes. She did. Hazel has her memories back now, and she believes we need to go to France—immediately.”
Cayden blinked. “France? Why France?”
“Because Cyrius is there,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “He once moved there with me—and if he’s running, that’s where he’ll go again. That’s the only place that makes sense.”
“Still… why France?” Cayden repeated.
Caspian jumped in again. “Because that’s where we found him the last time. I’m with Hazel on this.”
Cayden’s brows furrowed. “So who’s going with her?”
I turned to Caspian and answered before he could.
“I’ll go. Caspian is coming with me. And we’re taking a full team—at least fifty wolves.”
Worry carved into Cayden’s face. “No—let me come with you too.”
Caspian shook his head firmly. “You’re the Alpha. You need to stay here. I’ve been to France before. I know the area. We’ve got this.”
Cayden looked torn, but finally stepped aside.
Without wasting time, Caspian summoned the pack. Within minutes, fifty trained wolves stood outside the High House, armored and ready.
“Thank you for coming,” Caspian addressed them. “We’re heading to France. Be sharp. Be silent. We move fast.”
He arranged transportation swiftly, and soon after, we hit the road.
I sat beside Caspian in the car, the others trailing behind us in tight formation.
I stared out the window, but I wasn’t seeing anything. My fingers twisted anxiously in my lap, so tight and restless that I didn’t even realize how pale they’d become.
Caspian reached over and gently placed a hand over mine.
“Calm down, Hazel,” he said softly. “We’re going to find them.”
I nodded, then turned to Caspian.
“What if they’re not there?” I whispered. “What if Cyrius didn’t go to France and just wanted me to think he did? What if it was all a trick? He knows we’d expect that. What if we’re chasing the wrong trail?”
Caspian placed his hand gently over mine. “Calm down,” he said, voice low and firm. “Even if it’s a misdirection, we’re trying. At least we’re not sitting still. And Hazel he looked me in the eye, “trust your instincts.”
I exhaled shakily, nodding again, and the car rolled on.
We spent nearly the entire day on the road, exhaustion settling into our bones as night fell. At last, we crossed into France, and I found myself guiding them through familiar paths until we reached the park, Alexander’s Pack.
It looked… different now. Drier. Quieter.
When I had come here with Cyrius before, the entire park had been alive. Bustling. Buzzing. But now… there was stillness in the air. The winds whispered through empty trees. The atmosphere felt haunted, like it remembered too much.
And so did I.
The nostalgia gripped my stomach, twisting it with burning memories—Aaliyah, trying to take Cyrius away from me. Her sly little tricks. Her manipulations. Her desperate attempts to make him fall for her. I could still see the way she looked at him.
I swallowed hard, blinking the heat from my eyes.
“I can’t believe I’m back here,” I muttered.
Caspian moved closer, took my hand, and kissed it gently. “You’re not here alone,” he said, eyes soft. “I’m here with you.”
I turned to him, our hands still locked. I nodded. Just as we were about to approach the High House, a wolf guard stepped out and blocked our path.
“Who are you?” he demanded. Before I could answer, he squinted at me.
“Oh! Mademoiselle… Miss Esther.” His expression shifted quickly. “Your husband, he just left a while ago.”
“He was here?” I asked quickly.
“Yes, of course. I don’t think he’s expecting visitors, though,” the guard added, glancing at Caspian with unease. His eyes widened as he noticed the growing number of wolves stepping out from cars behind us.
He reached toward something—maybe an alarm but Caspian was faster. He snapped the guard’s neck in one fluid motion. The man slumped to the ground.
“I’m sorry,” Caspian murmured, turning to one of his wolves. “Clean this up. Quickly.”
Then he stepped in front of me again, holding my hand tightly.
“I told you he’s here,” he said softly. “You were right to trust your instincts. Even if he’s stepped out, he’s coming back. We wait.”
I nodded, but worry still clouded my heart.
“We have no plan, Caspian. Even if he comes back—what do we do? We can’t just jump him.”
“You try to talk to him,” Caspian said. “You calm him down. And if he doesn’t listen… I strike.”
“Caspian, he’s stronger than you.”
“I know.” His expression didn’t falter. “He’s not just a wolf—he’s a vampire. But he’s not worse than any monster I’ve fought. And Hazel, he can’t kill me. He’s my brother.”
I looked away. “You think you know him. But I knew him before you did.”
“Exactly,” Caspian replied. “And that’s why I know he won’t kill me.”
“That was before, Caspian. Before you stabbed him. Before you locked him in a coffin and buried him alive. Don’t be foolish.”
He didn’t respond. Just looked ahead.
“Let’s focus on him getting back first,” I sighed, signaling the wolves to fan out across the property.
They moved swiftly, surrounding the perimeter quiet but alert.
Then Caspian and I entered the High House.
We walked through the familiar halls until we reached our old room. Mine and Cyrius’s. I paused at the door, frozen.
And then I felt it.
His scent.
A fresh whiff of cologne hit my nose—soft, warm, dangerously familiar. It clung to the air like a memory. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ
He was here.
I closed my eyes. My stomach churned, twisting with emotions I didn’t want to name. All I wanted was to see him. Even if I had no idea what I’d say.
Just… see him. Look into his eyes. Those soft yellow eyes.
Why am I thinking about him like this? Now? When he has my babies?
Even though I know, deep down—he’s only trying to protect them.
Caspian was right. The only way to calm Cyrius down… is for me to talk to him. So let me wait for him to come back.