Selena

For a moment, neither of us moved. I could feel the warmth of his hand around my waist, steadying me, keeping me from falling down the narrow staircase and I hated how easily my body reacted to him.

How easily my heartbeat changed whenever he was close.

The silence between us stretched, and for one dangerous second, I thought Alpha Kael was going to lean closer. I thought he was going to kiss me and run his hands all over my body while I moaned out his name.

My breath caught slightly as I looked at him, unable to stop myself from wondering what would happen if he did but then he pulled back and the moment disappeared.

His expression returned to that calm, unreadable one he always wore. "Where are you going?"

His question immediately brought me back to reality. A reality I don’t want.

I blinked, trying to get myself together. "Going?" I asked, trying to think of a perfect lie.

Alpha Kael looked at me. "Yes, Selena. Where were you heading?"

I opened my mouth but no words came out immediately because telling him the truth would mean admitting I was trying to sneak into the training yard he had specifically told me I could only enter with him.

And somehow, I did not think he would appreciate that so I thought of something else. "I was just..." I started.

His eyes narrowed slightly waiting for me to finish my words.

"I was just going to practice."

"Practice?" He asked with a creased brow.

I nodded quickly. "I needed to practice some combat moves."

He stared at me, I hated how he could look at me like that and somehow make me feel like he already knew I was lying.

"Why the training yard?"

I stayed silent and that was enough to answer his question because I had nothing else to say.

Alpha Kael sighed. "You cannot go there."

My brows pulled together. "Why can’t I? I just want to practice."

"Because it is not a place you can access whenever you want." He said and I almost rolled my eyes.

"I thought it was just an abandoned training area." I pressed on, not ready to drop it unless I knew the reason.

"It is."

"Then why can’t I use it?"

His expression remained firm. "Because I decide who enters."

I crossed my arms. "That sounds unnecessarily controlling." I said with a loud scoff.

"I can’t let you or anyone go in there."

"I am not a prisoner! Plus you showed that place to me."

"You’re not a prisoner." His voice softened slightly. "But you are someone people are trying to kill."

That immediately silenced me. I hated that he had a point, I refused to give in easily. "I can take care of myself."

"I know you can." The answer surprised me. Alpha Kael looked at me for a moment and added. "That is not the issue."

"Then what is?" I pushed again.

"You do not know this place. You do not know what paths are safe, what areas are protected, or what could happen if someone follows you there."

I frowned. "I can learn every path... It’s not that hard."

"You will." His words caught me off guard. "You will learn. But not by sneaking around."

My lips parted, that I almost stuttered. "I was not sneaking."

His brow lifted. "You were walking down a hidden staircase alone at night."

I looked away. "Fine. Maybe a little because I didn’t want to be stopped."

A faint amusement crossed his face, but it disappeared quickly. "You are not going there alone. If you’re ever going there, I’ll have to be there too."

I wanted to argue. I really did but the certainty in his voice made me realize there was no point.

Alpha Kael was not asking, he was telling me and somehow, that annoyed me even more.

"Fine." I stepped away from him. "I will leave."

His eyes stayed on me as I walked back down the stairs and I refused to look back mostly because I knew if I did, I would see him watching me.

And I was tired of how easily he affected me. When I stepped into the hallway, I immediately noticed how busy it was.

Servants moved around carrying baskets, cleaning supplies, and different items needed around the castle.

The noise filled the once quiet corridor. I had barely taken a few steps when Alpha Kael appeared behind me and immediately, every head turned.

The servants stopped whatever they were doing, Some bowed in greetings, others quickly looked away but I noticed something else.

They were looking between us because they must have noticed how Alpha Kael had followed behind me into the hall.

I tried ignoring them but then I felt Alpha Kael’s eyes on me, I looked back for a brief second, our eyes met and that was when I noticed Sally.

She was standing among the servants while watching and studying. Her expression told me she had noticed everything so I quickly looked away.

Later, when Marqee and I were in our chamber, we sat on the floor playing a simple board game.

For once, I was trying to enjoy a peaceful moment but Sally ruined that as she walked in and asked, "What did you find?"

I looked up. "What?" I asked.

She leaned against the wall. "I thought you went scouting?"

I immediately knew what she meant. "Oh, the training yard?"

"Yes."

I moved my piece on the board. "I couldn’t reach it."

Her expression changed. "What do you mean?"

"I was stopped."I said, a strange silence filled the room then Sally laughed.

Not because something was funny but because she obviously does not believe me.

"You expect me to believe that?"

I looked at her. "What exactly are you implying?"

She pushed away from the wall. "You have been pretending to build this group with us, but maybe your real plan was just finding excuses to meet with the Alpha."

My face hardened. "What are you saying?"

"You heard me, Selena."

"Sally..."

"No, because think about it. It’s obvious the Alpha gives you special treatments."

Marqee stood up. "That is enough." She snapped at Sally.

I quickly stopped her. "No Marqee." I looked at Sally before saying, "Let her speak."

Sally crossed her arms. "If you are just playing with us and giving us fake promises, Selena, it will not end well."

Something about her words bothered me not because they hurt because they showed how little she understood.

I took a breath and stated the fact. "I am not promising you anything. I am not promising you that this revolution will succeed."

The room became quiet. "I am not promising you that everything will change."

I looked at both of them. "Do you think I don’t know that people must have tried before?"

My voice lowered. "Do you think I don’t know there have been rebellions before? People who wanted freedom? People who wanted justice?"

I shook my head. "Many have tried and many have failed."

Sally said nothing as I continued. "I am not here because I think I am some hero who will fix everything."

I paused. "I am here because people need hope."

My voice became firmer. "They need to believe they are not powerless."

I looked directly at Sally. "That is all I am trying to give them and I only want people beside me who believe that too."

"As for whatever you think about me and the Alpha..." I shook my head. "Forget all about it."

She looked away as I added. "Because whatever you are imagining is not true."

For a moment, nobody spoke then Sally quietly turned and walked away.

Marqee looked at me. "That was actually inspiring."

I sighed. "It was not meant to be."

"It sounded like it."

I smiled slightly then her expression became serious. "But Selena..."

I looked at her. "You are still taking a huge risk." She said and I knew she was right but I also knew I could not stop.

That night, the castle became completely silent. The kind of silence that felt unnatural like the entire building was holding its breath.

I eventually fell asleep but my mind did not give me peace.

I was running... My feet moved across a dark, unfamiliar hill covered with thick bushes as something was chasing me.

I could hear the growls, the heavy footsteps, the sound of something hunting me as I ran faster and my breath became harder as my chest burned.

I looked back and saw too many dark figures following behind me.

I tried moving faster but my foot caught something and I fell. The world spun as I rolled down the hill and pain exploded through my body when I hit the ground.

I tried standing, I tried running but my body refused and the creatures surrounded me.

Their eyes glowed in the darkness, their teeth snapped as they came closer and closer until one opened its jaws straight toward my neck.

I gasped awake but before I could even breathe properly, a hand wrapped tightly around my throat.

My eyes widened as horror filled me because standing above me was one of the Alpha princes.

One of the assassins who had tried to kill me before.