Chapter 18

Keira’s POV

“Is she… dancing?” someone whispered.

“She actually knows how to move,” another voice said, surprise woven into their scorn.

I lifted my arms, letting them flow with the rhythm. My feet glided across the cold marble floor, every spin and step telling a story words could never capture. Each movement was a silent scream of pain, hope, love, loss. My body became my voice, my tears became my song.

I closed my eyes, letting their voices fade into a dull roar. Slowly, I let the music guide me. I imagined I was back home, on the grassy hills under the silver moonlight, my mother’s laughter in the breeze, my father’s soft hum beneath it. I let their memory carry me.

When I stopped, the hall was silent. My chest heaved as I bowed low, refusing to meet anyone’s gaze. I felt their eyes crawling over me like insects, judging, hating, envying.

The Alpha King’s voice broke the silence. “Take her away.”

That was all he said. No praise. No insult. Just dismissal.

Strong hands grabbed my arms, dragging me out of the throne room and into a deserted hallway. They shoved me against the wall, and I sank down, my knees unable to hold me up any longer. My shoulders shook with silent sobs, my chest burning with shame and exhaustion.

“Keira.”

I looked up sharply, my tears blurring the face crouching in front of me. “Dax…” My voice cracked on his name.

My wolf howled loudly inside me. I…I missed him. 

His brows were furrowed, his green eyes shimmering with something that almost looked like pain. “Why are you crying?” he asked softly, his voice breaking with restraint.

“Why do you think?” I snapped, hugging myself tightly. “Your father just humiliated me in front of everyone. He called me a mongrel. He made me dance like I was nothing but entertainment. I…” My voice cracked again, and I swallowed the sob that rose in my throat. “I used to dream of dancing, you know. Before everything… before my life became… this.”

He lowered his gaze, his fists clenching on his knees. “I know.”

“No, you don’t,” I whispered bitterly. “You don’t know what it’s like to have your dreams stripped from you. To be turned into nothing. To be forced to smile when your heart is breaking.”

“Keira…” He reached out a trembling hand to touch my cheek, brushing away my tears with his thumb. “You don’t have to do this alone.”

I laughed softly, the sound empty and broken. “Don’t I? Who do I have, Dax? Your brothers hate me. Your father despises me. Alia… she never cared. Who do I have?”

“Me,” he whispered.

I froze, staring at him through tear-blurred eyes. “You…?”

“You have me, Keira,” he said again, his voice trembling. “I know I don’t deserve to say this. I know my brothers and I… we’ve hurt you. But… I don’t want to see you suffer. I want to help you.”

My chest tightened painfully. “Why?” I whispered. “Why would you help me?”

“Because…” He sighed, dropping his gaze to the floor. “Because I care about you, Keira. More than I should.”

I shook my head violently, tears spilling down my cheeks again. “Don’t say that. Don’t… don’t make this harder than it already is.”

“It’s the truth,” he insisted, his voice breaking. “I care about you. And I want to support you through these trials. Let me help you.”

I sniffled, wiping my tears away with shaking hands. “No.”

His brows drew together in confusion. “What?”

“I said no,” I whispered, my voice shaking but firm. “I appreciate it, Dax. I really do. But I have to do this alone. If I let you help me… if I let anyone help me… it wouldn’t be fair.”

“Fair?” he echoed, his voice rising slightly. “Fair to who? Keira, this isn’t about fair. This is about survival.”

“I know,” I whispered, my voice breaking again. “But… if I survive this… if I make it through these trials… I want to know it was because of me. Because I was strong enough. Not because someone took pity on me.”

He closed his eyes, his shoulders sagging in defeat. “You’re stronger than any of us, you know that?”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “No. I’m just… desperate. Desperate to survive and get the hell out of this place.”

He opened his eyes, his gaze locking with mine, and for a moment, everything else faded away. The palace, the trials, the pain… it all disappeared, leaving just the two of us in that quiet hallway.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “For everything.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing a small smile onto my lips. “I know.”

Suddenly, we heard the sound of footsteps coming from the throne room. Before I could think, Dax got up, pulled me by the arm and pushed me into the storage room just behind me. The space was cramped, but it fit us both. We stood silently, waiting for the footsteps to pass. 

His scent wrapped around me like a comforting hug. I resisted the urge to lean into him. 

“Keira,” he breathed, and I looked up. His eyes were glowing as his wolf clawed to the surface. 

My breath hitched, but the only thing I could understand was how close he was to me, and just how much desire filled his eyes. I felt like I would have let him take me there and then. 

He reached out, his hand brushing against mine for the briefest second before he pulled away, standing up. “I should go. Before they notice I’m gone.” His voice was dripping with restraint. 

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

He turned to leave but paused, looking back at me with eyes so sad they made my heart ache. “Remember… you’re not alone. Even if you feel like it.”

And then he was gone, leaving me alone in the storage room, my chest heaving with silent sobs. I closed my eyes, pressing my forehead against the cold marble wall.

Maybe I wasn’t alone.

But I had never felt so lonely in my entire life.