Quiet rebellions
Leah’s POV
The moment they finished their meal. Alpha Keal short me one last fierce look before he stood up from his seat and strode away with the commanding presence of someone who owned everything and everyone in his path.
Aria trailed behind, her gaze flickering to me filled with a mix of guilt and frustration. Liam, of course, was the last ti leave, still licking his fingers like the barbarian he was.
I waited until they were all gone before moving, quietly gathering the plates and cups, my hands shaking slightly from exhaustion and frustration. Each clang of the dishes resonated in the empty dining hall, the sound only emphasizing how alone I felt.
This wasn’t my job. It wasn’t made to be my burden. Yet here I was, cleaning up their mess, both literally and figuratively.
By the time I took the plates to the kitchen, my arms throbbed, and my mind was spinning with too many thoughts to focus on any single one. Rosa was there, standing near the sink with her arm in a sling, her face brightening with surprise immediately she saw me.
“Leah?” she asked, her brows furrowing. “Why are you carrying the plates? This isn't your job. ”
I placed the stack down gently, wiping my hands on the edge of my dress. “Alpha Keal told me to do it,” I said with a sigh. “Apparently, kneeling with my hands raised wasn’t enough for him. Aria tried to intervene, but... you know how that went.”
Rosa shook her head, clicking her tongue. “That man. He doesn’t have a single ounce of mercy in his soul.”
“You’re not wrong,” I muttered, taking a cloth to wipe down the plates.
Rosa’s gaze lingered on me for a moment.
“Where are the other cooks, I asked? They should be helping you with this.”
She glanced toward the door, shaking her head. “They’re cleaning the palace,” she said. “Apparently, every corner of this place needs to shine, or it’s another punishment waiting to happen.”
Rosa sighed heavily, muttering under her breath about the absurdity of it all. Then her face softened, and she moved closer. “Are you okay, Leah?”
I nodded, forcing a small smile. “I’m fine. What about you? How’s your arm? Is it improving?”
She glanced at her sling and then back at me, her eyes warm. “It’s much better, all thanks to you. Honestly, Leah, I don’t know what we’d do without you. You’re a blessing to us.”
The sincerity in her voice made my chest tighten. I didn’t feel like a blessing. If anything, I felt like a prisoner, just like everyone else in this cursed palace. But I didn’t say that. Instead, I reached out and squeezed her good arm lightly.
“I’m just doing what I'm supposed to do,” I said softly.
Rosa smiled, but the sadness in her eyes was clear. “I truly mean it, Leah. You’ve done more for us than anyone else has ever done. And I don’t even bear to imagine what will happen when you’re done treating Alpha Keal and have to go back to your parents.”
I stiffened at her words, my grip tightening on the cloth in my hand. “Don’t say that, Rosa. We’ll find a way out of this place. All of us.”
Her face became serious, and she shook her head. “It’s not possible, Leah. Not with him watching our every move. You’ve witnessed what he can do. Do you really think he’d let us go? Even if we somehow managed to escape, he’d track us down. And if he caught us...” She paused, her voice quivering with dread.
I swallowed hard, the weight of her words pressing down on me. She was right. Alpha Keal was ruthless, and the thought of what he’d do if we defied him sent a shiver down my spine.
“We have to try,” I insisted, my voice firm despite the doubt gnawing at me. “We can’t just stay here forever, Rosa. This isn’t a life. It’s... it’s a nightmare.”
Before I could continue, Rosa glanced at me with concern and asked, “Have you eaten anything today, Leah?”
The question caught me off guard, and I hesitated before replying. “No, I haven’t had the time.”
Her expression hardened with disapproval. “You can’t keep skipping meals like this. Here.” She motioned to the table where a plate of leftovers were kept. “There’s some food left from earlier. Sit down and eat.”
I wanted to argue, but the look in her eyes told me it wasn’t up for discussion. I sank into a chair, the exhaustion I’d been ignoring finally catching up to me. Rosa set the plate in front of me, her movements careful with her injured arm.
“Eat, Leah. You need your strength,” she said gently.
I nodded and took a bite, the warm food offering a small comfort amid the chaos of the day. Rosa sat across from me, watching me with a mix of worry and gratitude.
After a few moments of silence, I set the fork down and looked at her. “Rosa, we can’t give up. There has to be a way out of this place.”
She sighed, her shoulders drooping. “I understand, Leah. Trust me, I really understand. But trying to escape would be too risky. He’d kill us without a second thought. And I can’t—I won’t—put anyone else in danger because of me.”
Her words cut deeper than I expected. The fear in her voice, the defeat in her eyes—it made me question everything. Was I being foolish and stubborn at the same time, thinking we could somehow break free? Or was it better to accept the reality of our situation and survive the only way we knew how?
I placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to share the strength I didn’t possess.“We’ll talk about this later, Rosa. It’s very important. We’ll find a way, I promise.”
She nodded reluctantly, her gaze darting toward the door. “You should be going Leah, before someone sees us talking. You know how they will react.”
With a heavy heart, I stood up from the chair, giving her a final glance. “We’ll talk about it later,” I repeated, the determination in my tone hiding the doubt I carried inside. Then I left, the weight of the conversation pressing down on me.