CHAPTER 36. Anyone but Dominus.

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Akira froze, her lips parting slightly, but no words came out. Her gaze darted to the oak table, then to the goblet she was holding, and finally anywhere but his eyes. The last thing she had expected anyone to ask her was about the pack she had come from—anyone but Prince Dominus.

Her fingers tugged at her dress, twisting it with each passing second, only to grip it tighter again. She had never thought of a lie when asked which pack she was from. She didn’t expect anyone to care or ask her such important questions, especially someone like Prince Dominus.

Meanwhile, Captain Zain shifted at the back of Dominus, his shoulders stiffening. He stood in place, trying not to move so he wouldn't raise suspicion. He didn’t move or do anything, but his jaw clenched and unclenched, grinding back the urge to speak. His hands, once dangling loosely, were now folded tightly behind his back. Prince Dominus didn’t ask questions out of the blue.

He must have suspected something for him to care so much about a slave’s pack, Zain thought.

Akira's chest rose and fell too quickly. She licked her lips, letting out a nervous chuckle. “I don’t know my pack, my lord.”

Dominus didn’t blink. His silence was worse than any threat. Akira’s heartbeat doubled; she thought he didn’t believe her. That silence was louder than any words being spoken.

“Your father never mentioned the name of your pack?” he finally asked.

“No, my lord. I never got to meet my father or mother.” Akira started, and a wide grin stretched across Zain's lips while she continued. “I lived with my aunt, who has always been a rogue all my life. I was born a rogue; I have no pack.”

“I am a rogue.” The single syllable caught in her throat as her fingers slipped against the fabric of her skirt, damp with sweat.

At the back, Prince Dominus, Zain adjusted his stance again, one boot scraping softly against the floor, grinning from ear to ear that she was smart enough not to give any hint that might point to which pack she was from.

Dominus stared at her for a while before nodding his head in approval of her words.

A deep wave of relief washed over her once he nodded, hopeful that he would close that chapter right then and there, and there would be no need for him to continue the conversation. Her lies might have stuck for now, but she wasn’t sure how she would handle it if he pressed further.

“No father, no mother?” he picked up his questions again. “What of siblings? Do you have any?”

Akira swallowed hard. The room felt too small, too tight. Her gaze darted once more to the goblet, wishing she could drown inside it. Just when she thought she was done with his questions, here he was again. She grumbled under her breath, wishing he'd let her go right now; she needed to find Beth and see if she was okay, and also ask for clarity on what happened to Thalia.

“M-my lord, I have none,” she answered quickly, forcing her lips into a small, pitiful smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“It was only me and my aunt, with other rogue kids around.” Her stomach twisted; she had nearly said brother.

His stare lingered for a split second, his silence dragging out. He wasn’t convinced yet, even if he had nothing to argue about. Madam Estelle had already said she was a rogue who was picked from the woods after crossing into Northern pack territory. But somehow, he still didn’t believe whatever tales they were telling him. He wished those tales were all lies and that she had come into the pack weeks ago so he could trace her to be his Akira.

Akira raised her gaze and met Zain’s, who was scolding her with just his eyes. If only she had agreed to leave the pack that night he caught her in the woods, she wouldn’t be here answering Dominus. He wanted to smack and scold her for being stubborn. Knowing Dominus, Zain knew he must have seen some loopholes in Akira's story for him to ask about her pack and family. He didn’t care about the slaves.

Akira looked down, managing to tear her gaze away from Zain, her fingers curling against her skirt until the fabric wrinkled. “I'm not leaving with him until he tells me everything I need to know,” she reminded herself, deciding to pay Zain no attention.

Zain’s boot scraped softly against the floor, his jaw tightening again and his teeth gritting in anger. He didn’t dare lift his head, but the muscles in his temple twitched.

After a couple of minutes of awkward silence, she took the last sip and stood up. “M-my lord, I need to leave. I have some work to do…”

Before she finished her words, her feet were already dragging outside.

He gave her a nod, even if he didn’t want to. He just didn’t wish for it to be awkward in front of Zain, so he let her go.

The moment she stepped out of the room, she felt the longest wave of relief wash over her. She was free from him—for now.

Her mind immediately snapped to Beth. She needed to find her, she hadn't seen her since morning, which was a little unusual.

Her feet slapped against the floor as she quickened her pace, and then she broke into a run, even though her skirt was dragging her back. The first place that came to her mind was the senior slaves’ quarters. That was the only reasonable place Beth might have gone since she had complained about not feeling strong in the early hours of the morning.

Moments later, she reached the door. It creaked as she pushed it open, and the first thing her eyes caught was Beth.

Beth was curled up on the narrow bed, knees drawn tight to her chest, her thin arms wrapped around herself as if something were coming to rip her apart. Akira paused, surprise plastered over her face. Beth's shoulders shook; her sobs were muffled, and her fingers trembled against the fabric of her dress.

Akira froze at the doorway, shocked. For a split second, she couldn't move.

Then she quietly shut the door behind her, leaving it to make a soft thud, and hurried across the room.

“B-b-b-beth…” her voice broke as she sat beside her on the bed and wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug.

Her fingers pressed into Beth's trembling back, her cheek burying against her hair, and Beth's sobs only increased. Akira's hug wasn’t soft ,she held Beth very tightly, almost restricting her breath, while continuing to squeeze her arms tighter.