Chapter 2

• 【Jason POV】
• “Stop him!”
• Helena’s most loyal female werewolf friend, Ursula, shouted, pushing two female werewolves forward as human shields.
• I raised my wolf head high, unstoppable like a battering ram, knocking down everything blocking my way.
• “Stop! Or I’ll kill her!”
• Helena screamed, pressing a sharp knife against Lucia’s pale neck.
• I lunged forward in a flash, biting down hard on Helena’s arm. She screamed, and with a fierce twist of my wolf head, I threw her flying.
• Just as I was about to chase her down and finish this vicious woman off, she shifted into a wolf.
• “Arrrrooo!”
• Wolf howls erupted all around. Helena’s noble packmates transformed into wolves too, flooding in like a tidal wave from every direction.
• I was thrown into a brutal fight, my strength draining fast—the power inside me wasn’t mine, and it was tearing my body apart bit by bit.
• Seeing this, Helena and her pack of hyenas went wild, lunging at me with sharp teeth and claws, ripping into my weakened wolf form.
• No! I can’t fall here! I still have to protect Lucia!
• “Grrr!”
• I let out a hoarse wolf howl, smashing through a few wolves with all my might. Using my last ounce of strength, I leapt onto Lucia.
• My legs were shaking, barely holding me up, but sheer willpower kept me standing, creating a final shield around her.
• Bones breaking, muscles tearing, wolves clawing me from all sides—I was ripped to shreds, but I wouldn’t budge!
• “Jason…”
• Lucia’s eyes fluttered open with difficulty. She reached out, gently stroking my bloodied wolf face. No fear in her eyes—only endless pain and pride. “You’ve… gotten so strong…”
• “Lucia, hang on!”
• Pain crashed over me like a wave, my vision blurring.
• Right before I lost consciousness, my only thought was to use my last bit of strength to protect the most precious girl in my life beneath me.
• ……
• “Lucia!”
• I shouted, jolting awake.
• But I found myself in a white space, the faint scent of herbs hanging in the air.
• This is… the witch hospital?
• Where’s Lucia?
• I forced myself out of bed despite the pain, staggering out of the room, stumbling as I called her name over and over.
• “Lucia!”
• I found her in a room, battered and bruised, lying on the bed with her eyes shut tight. Her brow was furrowed, like she was still suffering even in sleep.
• “Lucia, I’m sorry…”
• My heart felt like it was being ripped apart. Clutching Lucia’s hand, tears of pain spilled down without me even realizing it. “You have to get better. I’ll be right here with you.”
• Suddenly, fast footsteps thundered over. Someone yanked me away, and I hit the ground hard.
• “You filthy omega! How dare you show up here!?”
• I stared in shock at Lucia’s father as he rained down furious punches and kicks on me. “You damn trash! Trying to rape my daughter! You’re asking for death!”
• Rape? What the hell was going on?
• My mind went completely blank.
• A middle-aged werewolf in a black trench coat stepped in, stopping Lucia’s father and pulling me away.
• “I’m Francis, an officer with the Order Committee handling this case.”
• He flashed his badge at me. “Jason, you’re accused of attempting to rape Lucia, seriously violating the Werewolf Transformation Code by shifting on campus, and attacking Helena and other noble werewolves… This has stirred up a huge public outcry. You could be sentenced to life in prison by the tribunal.”
• I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “No! This is bullshit! I was protecting Lucia! What I did to Helena and the others was self-defense! I can prove it all! I have letters proving my love for Lucia, and I’ve reported the long-term bullying I’ve suffered to the school and the Order Committee.”
• I would never accept being framed and locked up! If that happened, who would protect Lucia?
• Helena and her crew were the real scumbags! They should be the ones behind bars!
• Following Francis’s advice, I asked my family to bring me the evidence from home. But my brother and parents didn’t even move.
• “The Alpha of the Storm Pack promised that if you plead guilty, the Iron Fang Pack and our Constance family will gain massive resources. You might even take over the Iron Fang Pack and elevate our family to Alpha status.”
• My brother Mark told me this, his voice cold and calculating, completely void of any emotion. “Our family’s been in decline for a long time, about to lose our Beta status. We have to seize this chance!”
• “No! I’m staying with Lucia!”
• I refused without hesitation.
• “Jason, you’ve been a burden to this family for years. It’s time you did your part! Give up your damn love—it’s worthless compared to the family’s interests!”
• Mark scolded me, frowning.
• My eyes went wide, rage flooding through me like a tidal wave. My love for Lucia was the most precious thing in my life. I would never let anyone belittle it like that!
• I was about to roar out, throwing caution to the wind.
• But then my dad spoke up: “Jason, you know how powerful Helena’s family is. If you don’t agree, our Constance family—and Lucia, the woman you love—will face their terrifying wrath.”
• He looked at me, eyes full of complicated feelings. “I know you’ve never accepted your fate since you were a kid. But this world’s brutal. Compared to those big shots, we’re nothing but ants. If you really love Lucia, you should know what the right move is.”
• I glanced around at my family—their eyes cold, calculating, resigned. Not a single one was on my side.
• My anger was crushed instantly by a wave of helplessness.
• Yeah, standing alone against that kind of power, I’m just a speck. Even if I’m ready to risk everything, what about Lucia?
• Do I want her to live her whole life in fear?
• After a long silence, I lifted my head and locked eyes with the ambitious Mark. “I have one condition: Lucia has to be safe and happy.”
• Mark nodded. “You got my word.”
• …
• Bang!
• In the round courtroom with its black dome, the judge wearing a silver badge slammed down his gavel. “Jason Constance, you are sentenced to life imprisonment, to be served at Devil’s Island Prison!”
• The moment the verdict hit, I heard Helena and her crew cheering from the defendant’s side.
• Helena stood up and threw a victorious smirk my way. “Jason, now you finally get what I was telling you, right? If not, no worries—I’ll send someone to remind you!”
• Maybe soon, Helena’s people would come for me and finish me off.
• I thought that.
• But I didn’t care.
• There was nothing left for me to lose.
• “Jason…”
• As the bailiff dragged me away, my mom gave me a long, deep look and shoved a letter into my hand. “Stay alive.”
• It was a yellowed letter, the paper worn to hell because I’d read it a million times.
• Opening it again, Lucia’s familiar handwriting and her smiling face flashed before my eyes.
• Jason, I’m waiting for you to chase your dreams. When that day comes, we’ll have our wedding on the biggest moonlit lawn in Nuremberg. I’ll wear the most beautiful white wedding dress… Don’t rush, I’ll wait for you and help you all the way…
• Tears spilled over without me even trying. My dark, broken heart felt like it was lit up by sunlight. My numb limbs suddenly had strength again.
• How could I give up? Lucia was still waiting for me!
• I had to get stronger! As soon as I figure out that mysterious power inside me, I’ll find a way out—sooner rather than later!
• Lucia, I’ll be back. When we meet again, I’ll have the strength to protect you forever—until the end of time!
• Everyone who’s hurt us, when the gates of Devil’s Island open again, their doom will come with my return!