RAGE OF A BROKEN KING
The world came back in fragments.
Sirens.
Voices.
Lights flashing too bright.
"Hazel! Stay with me! Hazel—look at me!"
Mira's voice trembled, her hands shaking as she knelt beside Hazel's still form on the cold pavement.
Hazel's body felt heavy… distant…
Her hand was still resting protectively over her stomach.
Blood.
Not much—but enough to send fear crashing through Mira's chest.
"AMBULANCE!" someone shouted.
The Rush Against Time
The hospital doors burst open as Hazel was rushed in, doctors and nurses moving with sharp urgency.
"Possible trauma, pregnant patient!"
"Get her into emergency—now!"
Machines.
Monitors.
Controlled chaos.
Mira stood frozen outside the emergency room, her chest rising and falling too fast, tears streaming uncontrollably.
Her hands were still trembling.
"She… she pushed her… I couldn't—" she choked.
Then—
The air shifted.
Lucian Black had arrived.
His presence alone silenced everything.
Dark.
Terrifying.
Uncontrollable.
His eyes locked onto Mira.
"What happened?"
The question was quiet.
Too quiet.
Mira swallowed hard. "Selena… she drove straight at us… she tried to—"
Her voice broke.
"To kill Hazel… and the baby…"
Silence.
Deadly silence.
Lucian didn't react immediately.
That was what made it worse.
His jaw tightened.
His hands slowly clenched into fists.
And when he finally spoke—
His voice was no longer human.
"She touched what is mine."
The Breaking Point
Lucian turned away sharply, pulling out his phone.
"Find her," he said coldly to his assistant. "Now."
"She's already been taken into custody," the assistant replied quickly. "The police intercepted her before she could escape."
Lucian paused.
Then smiled.
But there was no warmth in it.
Only darkness.
"Good."
Inside the Emergency Room
Time stretched endlessly.
Every second felt like a lifetime.
Finally—
The doors opened.
Lucian was there instantly.
"Doctor."
The doctor removed his gloves, expression serious—but not hopeless.
"She's stable."
Lucian exhaled slowly, but didn't relax.
"And the baby?"
A pause.
Too long.
"…The baby is safe. But it was close. Very close. She needs complete rest. No stress. No shock. Or next time…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
Lucian's eyes darkened dangerously.
"There won't be a next time."
Hazel Wakes
The room was quiet when Hazel finally opened her eyes.
Soft light.
Steady beeping.
And…
Lucian.
He was sitting beside her, head lowered, his hand wrapped tightly around hers—as if letting go would destroy him.
"Lucian…" she whispered weakly.
His head snapped up instantly.
Relief.
Fear.
Rage.
All at once.
He stood quickly, leaning over her. "Hazel… don't move."
Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach.
"The baby…"
Lucian covered her hand with his.
"Safe."
Tears slipped from her eyes immediately.
Lucian's composure shattered.
He pulled her gently into his arms, holding her like she might disappear.
"You scared me," he whispered, voice breaking for the first time.
"I'm sorry…" Hazel murmured weakly.
"No." His tone turned firm instantly. "You don't apologize. Not for surviving."
The Rage Unleashed
Later that night—
Lucian stood outside the hospital, staring into the darkness of Ravencrest City.
His assistant approached carefully.
"Selena is in custody. The police are preparing charges."
Lucian didn't look at him.
"Attempted murder."
"Yes."
Lucian's voice dropped lower.
"Add everything. Every past crime. Every violation. I want her buried under the full weight of the law."
"She won't walk free again," the assistant said.
Lucian finally turned.
And his eyes were terrifying.
"She tried to take my child."
A pause.
"She tried to take my wife."
His voice became ice.
"She doesn't get a second chance at life."
Back in the Room
Hazel lay quietly, exhaustion pulling her under again.
Lucian returned, his expression softening the moment he saw her.
He sat beside her, brushing his fingers gently across her hair.
"I'm here," he whispered.
Even in sleep, Hazel's hand found his.
And this time—
Lucian didn't just hold it.
He guarded it.
Like his entire world depended on it.
Because it did.