Chapter 30 Chapter 30
ANNA’S POV
I sat in the darkness for what felt like forever, my back pressed against the wall. The cell was silent except for the faint dripping of water somewhere behind me. Every second felt heavy—slow, dragging, and endless.
But then… nothing happened.
Minutes turned into what felt like hours.
No one came.
I hugged my knees tightly, staring at the iron door. Maybe they’d forgotten about me. Maybe my stepmother got distracted. Maybe the kings didn’t care about some stupid dance anymore.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my trembling hands. My head ached, my cheek still burned from her slap, but at least I wasn’t going to be standing half-naked in front of those men. Maybe this was my punishment instead—sitting in a cell until they left. I could survive that.
I closed my eyes for a moment, imagining freedom—imagining the night sky again, the stars, and the cold air against my skin.
But then… the sound came.
Heavy boots, getting closer to the cell.
My heart jumped.
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “No, please, no.”
The footsteps stopped right outside the cell.
And then, the door opened.
Two guards stepped inside. They were the same ones from before.
“Orders from the head maid,” one of them said flatly. “You’re to come with us.”
I shook my head, stumbling backward until my back hit the wall. “No, please. Please, not there. I can’t—please.”
They didn’t answer.
The taller one reached for me, his gauntlet brushing my arm. I jerked away, pressing my palms against the wall like I could melt into it. “Please don’t take me there. I’ll do anything else.”
“Don’t make this harder,” he said quietly. “We’re under orders.”
Tears spilled down my face. I didn’t even remember when I started crying. My throat ached, my voice breaking. “You don’t understand! They’ll— They’ll—” I couldn’t even finish the sentence.
The shorter guard sighed, stepping forward. “We don’t have a choice.”
They each grabbed an arm. I kicked and struggled, but it was useless. They were far stronger than me.
“Let me go!” I screamed, twisting, clawing at their armor. “Please, I’m begging you!”
But they didn’t stop.
The cell door slammed behind us with a deep, final thud. The sound echoed down the empty hallway as they dragged me forward. My feet barely touched the ground.
Every step made my heart pound harder.
I already knew where they were taking me.
The grand doors were ahead—tall, gold, carved with wolves and crowns. Beyond them, I could hear laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the deep hum of music.
The feast had already begun.
My stomach twisted painfully.
I could still smell the roasted meat and spiced wine even from here. The scent made me sick. I didn’t want to go in there. I didn’t want to see what waited inside.
I didn’t want to see the Alpha Kings.
“Please,” I pleaded again, my voice barely audible now. “Please, don’t make me go in there.”
Neither guard answered.
They just kept walking, and the closer we got to those golden doors, the smaller I felt.
But the doors opened anyway.
Fifteen Alpha Kings sat around a long golden table. Some were laughing loudly, some drinking, and some whispering to each other. Plates overflowed with food, and red wine dripped like blood down the edges of their cups.
I had never seen so many powerful men in one room. Their presence alone was overwhelming. The moment I entered, the atmosphere shifted. It grew heavy—thick with arrogance and pride.
Every head turned toward me.
The guards shoved me forward, and I stumbled onto the cold floor.
“Bow!” one of the guards ordered behind me.
I didn’t.
I just knelt there, breathing fast, my eyes fixed on the floor in humiliation.
My stepmother walked in gracefully behind me, her voice calm, almost proud. “Your Majesties,” she greeted with a small bow. “The maid has arrived for your entertainment.”
Entertainment…
The word made me sick.
Laughter rippled across the room.
“She’s a bit innocent for our taste...” one of the kings remarked, his voice deep and cruel.
“Pretty enough,” another chuckled. “Though she looks frightened.”
“She should be,” a third added. “Fifteen kings. One girl. She should be trembling and shaking with so much fear.”
The laughter grew louder.
I bit my lip hard and refused to look up. I refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break down in front of them.
The drums started first—slowly—and then the strings followed. The rhythm was low and sensual, the kind that made your hips move before you even realized it.
My stepmother turned to me.
“Stand up!” she ordered.
I didn’t move.
Her tone hardened. “Anna! Stand up and dance!”
I still didn’t move.
My hands clenched into fists on my lap. My body shook, but I stayed still.
“Dance!” she repeated.
“No!” I snapped.
The room went silent.
Even the musicians hesitated.
The kings looked at each other, surprised. Then one of them—tall, with a scar across his face—laughed loudly.
“She refuses to dance for us?” he questioned, grinning with amusement. “Oh, this is entertaining.”
Another king leaned forward. “Maybe she needs a little… encouragement.”
“Or maybe she’s just stupid!” someone else shouted.
Their laughter came again, and I could feel their eyes crawling over me like insects. Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away. I wouldn’t cry for them. I wouldn’t give them that pleasure.
I lifted my head slowly and scanned the table. Their faces blurred through my tears, but I didn’t see who I was looking for.
Elijah wasn’t there.
I searched again—every face, every seat.
He wasn’t among them.
My chest tightened.
Did he not know? Did no one tell him?
Would he have stopped this if he knew?
He said he wanted to protect me. He said Damon wanted to kill me. But where was he now?
Was he just another liar?
But even if he knew, he wouldn’t have saved me—because I was just a maid. He wouldn’t have saved me, just like how he didn’t choose me to be his Luna.
“Your little maid is stubborn,” one of the kings growled with anger, interrupting my thoughts. “Perhaps she thinks she’s above us.”
“Above?” another mocked. “She’s on her knees. She knows her place as a stupid maid.”
Their laughter echoed through the hall—loud, cruel, and sharp enough to slice through my chest. I felt my hands tremble, my tears slipping quietly down before I could stop them.
It was disgusting.
Every single thing about them—about this—was utterly disgusting.
And that was it.
Something inside me cracked open.
I lifted my head slowly, my hair falling back from my face as my eyes met his—the one who’d spoken last. He was still smirking, his lips curled like he’d already won.
But I didn’t feel small anymore.
I didn’t feel scared.
“You think I’m beneath you?” I said, my voice cutting through the silence like glass. “Trust me, I’ve seen pigs with more grace than you.”
The hall froze.
Every breath seemed to stop.
And then I realized what I’d just said.
I didn’t even know why those words left my mouth—only that it was too late to take them back. And maybe, just maybe, I’d gotten myself into even deeper trouble.