Chapter Twenty Two
"You are not seriously staying."
Talia paced back and forth in my bedroom, ice rolling off her in frozen waves so the air was tight with an arctic chill that left our breath coming in gentle puffs.
I sat on the bed, watching as she walked with a frosty fury. Despite the chill, the thin metal collar still burned against my skin. The burning had faded, the white hot pain behind my eyes cooling to a dull throbbing of constant heat, like standing too close to a fire.
"They collared you like a fucking dog, Kiera," Talia spat, continuing her rant with an incredulous anger. "You're not their equal. You're their prisoner." Her voice trembled, unbridled and rash, but I could see the pain that brimmed her eyes.
Pain that I caused. The weight of it was heavier than the collar. Every time she looked at me like that, I felt the cracks in my resolve deepen.
"I know." My voice was hushed, the metal clutching my neck rubbing the skin with an itchy burn as I spoke.
"Then what are we still doing here?" she demanded, throwing her hands in the air.
Her ashy blonde hair was dishevelled, her pale blue eyes frantic, a flush of pink in her cheeks.
"If this is how they treat someone sent to make peace, they didn't want peace in the first place!
Let's go home. We'll send word to the Elders and get out of here. "
My heart sank and I let the frown tilt my lips as I watched the hope flash in her.
"I can't," I answered, my throat tightening around the words. I saw the fight rising in her eyes and rushed to finish before she could speak.
"If I leave now, then their story becomes truth. Northern Circle came in bad faith. We're the real threat. We're connected to these rogue attacks. We're hiding something. That's exactly what they want."
"And what about what we want? What about you? Your dignity? Your safety?" Her finger jabbed towards me with each question. "They've humiliated you, degraded you, undermined you. Dax didn't even help you."
My jaw tensed. "I don't need him to save me," I snapped and the guilt clung to my throat. I pinched the bridge of my nose and attempted a calming breath.
"I didn't come here for comfort or praise. I came here to protect our people. Someone is trying to frame us and if we leave now, we let ourselves become the scapegoat and a reason for war. We play right into their hands."
Talia scoffed and rolled her eyes. "They've already decided that we're guilty."
I nodded slowly, my eyes dropping to my lap. "Maybe. But they've shown their hand by reacting so strongly. Someone doesn't want us digging deeper. That means there's something worth uncovering. And if there's a chance I can expose them, I won't throw it away."
Talia's brows scrunched, her lips pressing into a tight line and she shook her head. "You shouldn't have to wear chains for this."
I shrugged as I met her eyes again and fought the tears that wanted to fill my own. "No. I shouldn't. But if wearing this can buy us time, can stop a war. If it means the north doesn't bleed for someone else's lies, then I'll wear it with my head held high."
Talia swallowed thickly, like the action hurt. "This isn't fair," she sighed, shaking her head. "But I can't complain anymore on an empty stomach. Can you even eat in that thing?"
"Suppose I should try."
I stood from the bed and followed her downstairs, schooling my face again at the sound of voices coming from the dining room.
Lyra was as done up as ever, her honey brown hair in soft curls over one shoulder, her eyelashes batting as she smiled kindly at Dax's Beta, Alec's, story. His boyish smile was bright and his hands moving as spoke with laughter ringing in his voice as he recounted some training mishap.
Dax sat at the head of the table, coffee mug in hand. As we entered, his eyes flickered to the metal choker around my neck.
Talia unabashedly filled her plate with stacks of food, her frosty eyes daring anyone to say anything but when Alec's story finished, an awkward silence descended.
Quiet sips and tense chews filled the room. It was almost entertaining seeing a built guy like Alec squirm in his seat.
"I've heard they adjust to your wolf," Lyra piped up, shattering the quiet with her sickly sweet voice. "I'm sure shifting will take some adjusting. I know you love your runs. Hopefully this won't stop that much."
The table went still.
Talia bristled next to me, her eyebrow rising. "You'd be surprised how much damage she can do even without her wolf."
I kept my face stoney as I met Lyra's faux innocence. "It's not just the runs, it's the company," I answered, my tone cool. "Or lack of it."
Lyra lifted her brows with terse amusement.
"We're not doing this now," Dax said, leaving little room for argument, though that didn't stop Lyra.
She placed her hand on her chest. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said, the venom in her eyes not matching the sweetness of her words. "I thought we were just talking. I didn't know she would be so sensitive about her accessories."
Dax set his mug down with a sharp clink. "That's enough." His gaze didn't leave Lyra's, but the weight of it landed on the entire table. "If you're trying to humiliate her, don't do it under my roof."
I could see his eyes wavering, trying not to look over at me. I didn't look away from Lyra.
"Does it get exhausting always having to put people down to prop yourself up?" I asked her, my words razor sharp. Alec choked on a noise somewhere between a splutter and a guffaw.
If I was going to be subjected to this humiliation, I wasn't letting Lyra add to it.
"Alright," Alec said with a good natured chuckle, though tension drew his shoulders and simmered beneath his smile. "Let's not turn breakfast into a diplomatic incident. We can all be civil."
Talia scoffed, nearly flinging a glob of butter as she waved her knife at him. "Civility went out the window the moment they put a collar on a diplomatic guest."
Dax sighed, the sound soft and tired. "Talia." It was a warning but there was no bite behind it. He wasn't trying to stop her, not really.
"She's not wrong though," Dax continued, his voice low but certain as he glanced at me. "The optics are disastrous for every treaty we're trying to keep intact. Council politics are already teetering. I'm working on it but it's a tight line to walk."
I fought back the surprise that wanted to show. Dax had promised me that he would fix it but making the same assertion in public was different.
Lyra didn't keep the same composure. Her eyebrows flew up and plastered a fake smile on her lips. "You're working on it? What does that mean?" The optimism in her voice was strained.
I could have laughed.
"Now's not the best time," Dax answered, brushing her off in a way that made her left eye twitch.
The argument between them was silent as we all continued to eat, a disagreement of glances and gestures. I didn't know what Dax was planning but it was clear that Lyra was not on his side with it.
I scarfed a few slices of bacon before taking my leave. The collar was bad enough, I was not about to willingly put up with Lyra anymore than I needed to. Talia was quick on my heels, swiping a few slices of toast on her way out.
My appetite was a mess but I appreciated her dedication to taking everything she could from Dax.
The rest of the day was spent on the training grounds in a blur of growls, scraps and burning, testing the collar's limits.
Each shift was excruciating, the collar tied like a leash to every bone. Every attempt sent a shockwave of pain down my spine, my muscles twisting and burning as every instinct screamed to stop.
Over and over, even as my knees buckled and sweat dripped down my back. Talia didn't leave my side once, her face contorted in an attempt to keep it straight but the pain leaked through.
By the time the sun dipped low behind the trees, painting the forest in blazing oranges and molten golds, I was sweaty and bruised and could count on one hand the amount of times I managed a full shift.
I wiped the sweat from my brow as we walked back to the house. Or rather Talia walked and I hobbled behind. The cool evening air kissed my neck, giving a sliver of relief from the band of every hot metal that sat there.
A figure strolled from the trees, hands slung in the pockets of impossibly soft and silky pants with a half unbuttoned shirt tucked in.
There was no charming quip or ridiculous nickname as Lucien approached us. The swagger was gone, replaced by something more obnoxious - pity.
His eyes lingered on the band of silvery metal that thrummed against the base of my throat. "I wasn't sure you'd still be here."
"Rather hard to sneak away when you're leashed," I answered, ignoring the sharp look Talia shot me.
Lucien's crimson eyes flashed with guilt, his brows furrowing as his jaw tightened. "I didn't think it would come to this, Kiera. I shouldn't have pushed you into this I'm-"
"Stop." I cut him off with a shake of my head. Hearing him say my name made my skin itch, it sounded so foreign and strange from him now. "You didn't push me into this. I jumped. Don't apologise."
"You're not going to let this slide, are you?" He asked, something akin to hope in his words.
"The collar isn't a punishment, it's a warning. They're scared so I'm not backing down now."
"You shouldn't have to fight to prove innocence you already have," Lucien argued and earned a sarcastically muttered 'amen' from Talia.
I didn't hide my exasperation from her but schooled my face when I looked back at Lucien. "And yet this is where we are," I answered him, trying to keep my cool even as my body screamed and ached.
"Someone is orchestrating this and trying screw me over in the crossfire. So I'll play their little games if it means I can keep pushing buttons. But if you don't want to risk it, I understand."
Lucien shook his head as a slow grin spread across his lips. "Even collared, you're playing the long game," he said, sounding impressed. "I play to win so I'm not bowing out now. But for what it's worth, if they push you too far, I won't just watch."
With a nod at me and a wink at Talia that had her blinking in surprise, Lucien ambled into the growing darkness.
I tossed my head towards the house and Talia hesitated before giving me a look that said 'don't stay out too long' before she disappeared inside.
I lingered alone, letting the chill evening breeze seep into my bones and cool the subtle burning in my neck. I couldn't take the oppressive tension of the house, not yet, when my body was yearning to shut down. I felt too vulnerable, exposed nerve endings anxiously waiting for the next blow.
I slipped in the back door, hoping to avoid any interaction but voices drifted from the dining room and I hesitated at the bottom of the stairs when Dax's velvety voice rumbled.
"You're risking our alliance over what?" Lyra asked, her high voice muffled behind the door. "Her?"
"That collar isn't about safety. It's a power play. Dirty politics. It's not right," Dax answered, his voice remaining calm even as hers got more shrill.
"And speaking against it makes you look weak, like she's swaying you. They'll question your judgement."
"Then let them." Dax's words were snapped and harsh. "I let them treat her like an enemy. I stood there while they bound her like she was dangerou, llike she hadn't bled to keep the peace. I won't do it again. I'm not going to stay silent when they're doing something so clearly wrong."
The bond thrummed low in my chest. Not a tug, not a pull, but a flare of heat, warming and alive. It wasn't just instinct. It was him. Defending me. Choosing me, if only for a moment.
"This isn't about right or wrong, Dax," Lyra said with a sneer in her voice. "This is risking everything we've built. Our pack. Our future. Risking it for her."
There was a moment of silence and my hand tightened on the stair rail, my legs already groaning at the thought of sprinting to my room if either of them walked out.
"If defending Kiera puts it all at risk then this wasn't strong enough to begin with."
A chair scraped against the wooden floor with a shriek.
"Then you'll do it without my help."
I crept up the stairs with careful footsteps.
"Then I will."
I hope you're having as much fun reading this as I am writing it! Thank you so so much for taking the time to read and vote and comment on this story, I seriously appreiciate it xx
If you were in Kiera's position, would you stay and fight or run while you had the chance?
What do you think Dax's next move is? How far will he go to write his wrongs?