The First dance
1037 Words
The moment his fingers closed around mine, my heart skipped violently. His hand was warm and strong. He guided me toward the center of the ballroom as every eye followed us. His other hand settled carefully around my waist. Close. Too close. My pulse stumbled again. Even through the layers of emerald silk, I could feel the strength in him. The hard ridges of muscle, the controlled power humming beneath his skin. My petite frame felt tiny against his towering 6’2” build. Heat bloomed low in my belly, unbidden and shameful. He’s the enemy, I reminded myself. But my body didn’t listen. My soft curves brushed against him with every step, sending sparks racing across my porcelain skin.
“You dance well,” he said quietly, his masked face inches from mine. His breath carried the faint scent of pine and storm.
I blinked in surprise. It was the first almost-normal thing he had said to me all day. “Thank you,” I replied softly, my warm brown eyes lifting to meet the piercing blue slits of his mask. The silver streak in my midnight hair caught the candlelight as we turned.
The silence that followed felt strangely different now. Not sharp. Not cruel. Just unfamiliar. Charged. His grip on my waist tightened fractionally, possessive for the briefest moment, and I wondered if he felt it too… this unwilling pull beneath the hate. My cheeks flushed. The music swirled around us, but all I could focus on was the heat radiating from his body and the way my thighs pressed together against a traitorous ache.
For the rest of the evening, nobles approached us with more gifts and congratulations while Kael remained calm and unreadable beside me. But eventually… The celebration came to an end. And it was time for me to leave. For good.
The realization settled heavily in my chest as servants carried my belongings toward the long black car waiting outside the palace gates. I was only allowed to take a few personal things. Nothing excessive. The only item that truly mattered rested tightly within my arms now, a small wooden box, old and worn with age. The last thing my mother ever entrusted to me before she died. My fingers brushed lightly over the faded carvings. This was all I had left of her.
The palace maids stood quietly outside as I prepared to leave. Some bowed respectfully. Others wiped tears from their eyes. But my gaze searched for only one person.
“Lily…”
The moment she stepped forward, emotion tightened painfully in my throat. “My princess…” her voice trembled softly.
I pulled her into a tight embrace immediately. She hugged me just as fiercely. For a moment neither of us spoke. I didn’t want to let go. “What will I do without you?” I whispered weakly.
Lily pulled back slightly and offered me a small reassuring smile despite the tears in her eyes. “You’ll be fine. You’re stronger than you think.”
“I wish you could come with me.”
Her expression saddened me. “You know I can’t.” I nodded slowly. Of course she couldn’t. This was something I had to face alone. Lily reached up gently and wiped a tear from my cheek. “No matter how frightening he seems, don’t lose yourself.”
Fresh tears burned behind my eyes. Then finally… Reluctantly… I let her go.
I got into the car and the door closed behind me with a soft click. And just like that my old life disappeared behind me.
The ride was painfully and awkwardly quiet. The kind of silence where you would hear a pin if it fell. I sat stiffly beside Kael, clutching my mother’s wooden box against my lap while the vehicle moved deeper into the night. He sat across from me, calm and unreadable behind his black mask, the runes faintly glowing in the dim lantern light.
The silence stretched endlessly. My thoughts drifted helplessly between fear and exhaustion until suddenly, he asked.
“What is your name?”
I blinked in surprise and looked up at him. For a moment, I simply stared. Wow. He didn’t even know my name. Not even after marrying me. Not even after standing beside me at the altar reading vows.
A strange disappointment twisted painfully inside my chest. He truly hadn’t cared enough to know.
“Senara,” I answered quietly.
His piercing blue eyes remained on me for a second longer before he gave a small nod. Almost like he approved of it.
“Senara,” he repeated slowly.
The way his deep voice wrapped around my name sent an odd warmth through me, low and forbidden, stirring that same treacherous heat from the dance. Before I could respond… The vehicle stopped suddenly. My body jerked slightly forward. Kael barely moved.
“Beta John,” he said calmly, “why the sudden halt?”
The driver lowered his head immediately. “My apologies, Alpha, but we cannot enter werewolf territory tonight. The Hearthorne border has already been closed. We’ll have to spend the night here until morning.”
Hearthorne. My breath caught softly. I had read about it in books. The legendary neutral city between human, werewolf lands and other magical creatures, it was a place where every creature stood equal under ancient magic. In hearthorne, no one can use their magic or super strength because it is a place of balance. I never knew it really existed. I thought it was only a myth.
As I looked through the window, golden lights glowed across the streets while tall stone buildings shimmered beneath the moonlight. Strange symbols pulsed faintly along the walls, and the streets filled with humans, werewolves, and mystical beings walking together peacefully. It was breathtaking.
“It’s beautiful…” I whispered softly.
Kael glanced at me briefly, something unreadable flickering behind the mask, before turning back toward the driver.
“Find us a hotel.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
The car began moving again slowly toward the glowing city. Then suddenly, a horrifying realization struck me. My eyes widened slightly.
Wait… We’re spending the night here? Together? Alone? As husband and wife…?
- Writer
