Chapter 56

                                    

                                          
AMORA'S POV 
The palace was supposed to be a place of safety, a refuge from the horrors of my past. Yet, as I stood in the lavish halls, surrounded by strangers and suffocated by the weight of Zale's absence, I couldn't shake the unease settling in my chest. His departure had been abrupt, and though he said nothing, the tension in his jaw and the urgency in his steps told me something was wrong.
  
  I tried to push the feeling aside, reminding myself that Zale could handle anything. But even as Zora introduced me to her friends, I felt a growing sense of discomfort. Among her circle was a man whose gaze lingered far too long, his eyes following me like a predator sizing up its prey. I pretended not to notice, laughing along with their conversations, but his presence was suffocating. My skin crawled under his unrelenting stare, and I knew I had to get away.
  
  "I'll be back in a moment," I said to Zora, forcing a polite smile. "I need to use the restroom."
  
  Without waiting for a reply, I slipped out of the room, my footsteps quick as I sought the sanctuary of solitude. The bustling sounds of the party faded behind me as I wandered the palace halls. I needed a moment to breathe, to collect myself, to calm the unease gnawing at my insides.
  
  But my solitude was short-lived.
  
  "Luna," a voice called from behind me. I turned to see a palace guard bowing respectfully. "The Alpha has sent for you."
  
  My heart leapt. "Zale? He's back?"
  
  "Yes, Luna," he replied, his expression neutral but his tone firm.
  
  Relief flooded through me. If Zale was back, everything would feel right again. "Can you give me a moment? I'll meet him soon."
  
  The guard shook his head, his voice resolute. "The Alpha insisted you come immediately."
  
  There was something strange about his tone, something I couldn't quite place. But I nodded, brushing off the odd feeling. Zale was waiting for me. That was all that mattered.
  
  I followed the guard as he led me through the palace, but the farther we went, the more unfamiliar the surroundings became. The lively chatter and warm glow of the party faded, replaced by silence and dimly lit corridors. My unease grew with every step.
  
  "Excuse me," I said, stopping in my tracks. "Are you sure this is where Zale asked me to come? I've only been here once during the palace tour."
  
  "Yes, Luna," he said, his confidence unwavering. "Don't worry."
  
  But I did worry. Something felt wrong.
  
  "I think I'll wait here," I said, turning to face him. "Can you bring Zale to me instead?"
  
  The guard's demeanor shifted in an instant. His polite mask fell away, replaced by something dark and menacing. "Why are you disrespecting the Alpha, Luna?" he snapped, his tone laced with mockery.
  
  "Disrespecting?" I repeated, confusion and fear intertwining in my chest. "I'm not—"
  
  "Tsk, tsk," he interrupted, his voice dripping with malice. "You're such an innocent thing, aren't you?" He stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with a predatory light. "You've followed me this far. Why stop now?"
  
  I took a step back, my pulse racing. "I'm going back," I said firmly, spinning on my heel to leave. But before I could take a step, his hand clamped over my mouth. Panic surged through me as he dragged me into a nearby room and locked the door behind us.
  
  "Oh, my dear Luna," he sneered, his voice thick with malice. "I thought about taking you straight to the Alpha, but..." He licked his lips, and I felt bile rise in my throat. "It doesn't hurt to have a little fun first."
  
  "What do you mean?" I whispered, trembling as the reality of the situation sank in.
  
  "Don't play dumb," he said, his voice a sickening mockery of tenderness. "Just be a good girl, and it'll all be over soon."
  
  "Don't you dare come near me," I hissed, my voice shaking but defiant. "Zale will come looking for me."
  
  He laughed, a cruel, mocking sound that sent chills down my spine. "Don't worry, Luna. I've kept your precious mate busy. How stupid of him not to mark you yet. But no problem—it works in my favor."
  
  Panic consumed me as he closed the distance between us. My back pressed against the cold wall, and I felt utterly powerless. "Let me go!" I screamed, thrashing against his grip.
  
  His hand moved to tear at my dress, and suddenly, memories I had long buried came rushing back. My father. His betrayal. The night I had forced myself to forget. The night I lost everything.
  
  Tears streamed down my face as I froze, paralyzed by fear and the weight of my past. The man before me was a monster, but the memory of my father's actions felt even more suffocating. Why me? Why had I always been the one to endure such horrors?
  
  And then, a roar. A voice so fierce and commanding it made the walls tremble.
  
  "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
  
  It was Zale.
  
  In an instant, the room was a blur of motion. Zale's presence filled the space, his fury radiating like a storm. I barely registered what happened to the man who had trapped me; my focus was entirely on Zale. He was here. He had found me.
  
  "Amora," he said softly, his voice a stark contrast to the rage I had just witnessed. "It's me."
  
  I couldn't hold back anymore. I threw myself into his arms, my sobs wracking my body as I clung to him. "I'm here," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. "I'm so sorry, Amora. I'm so sorry I was late."
  
  He lifted me as though I weighed nothing, cradling me against his chest as he carried me away from the bathroom. His warmth and scent enveloped me, but the tears wouldn't stop. The weight of everything—the attack, the memories, the fear—was crushing.
  
  "Why me?" I choked out between sobs. "Why does this keep happening to me? I'm his daughter. How could my father—" My voice broke, the words too painful to say aloud.
  
  Zale's arms tightened around me, his voice low and fierce. "Amora, look at me. You're safe now. He'll never hurt you again. No one will."
  
  He placed me gently on the bed and knelt beside me, his eyes filled with guilt and anguish. "Can you tell me what happened?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
  
  Through trembling lips and choked sobs, I told him everything. The guard's betrayal. The horrible things he said. The memories that had resurfaced. Zale's face grew darker with every word, his anger palpable.
  
  "He'll pay for this," he growled. "I'll make sure you never see him again."
  
  "Zale," I said hesitantly, "I remember... everything."
  
  His gaze softened, concern replacing rage. "What do you mean?"
  
  "The night I lost my memory," I whispered. "It was my father. He tried to..." My voice faltered, the words too painful to finish.
  
  Zale's jaw clenched, his entire body radiating fury. "Your father did this to you?" he asked, his voice deadly calm. "Amora, I swear to you, he'll never hurt you again. Never."
  
  He pulled me into his arms, holding me as though his embrace could shield me from the world. "You're safe with me," he promised, his voice steady and unwavering.
  
  I clung to him, my tears soaking his shirt. "Zale, can you stay with me tonight?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
  
  "Anything you want, Amora," he said without hesitation. He slipped under the quilt beside me, pulling me close. His warmth and steady presence began to chase away the lingering fear.
  
  "What about the party?" I murmured, exhaustion heavy in my voice.
  
  "Forget the party," he said firmly. "You're more important."
  
  He kissed my forehead, his hand running soothingly through my hair. His steady heartbeat and calming scent lulled me into a fragile but much-needed sleep. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe.