---- Chapter 24 No.24 Nyx POV: | let out a harsh, bitter laugh. "Equals? You think giving me land and gold makes us equals? You think that erases seven years in a dungeon? You thinkit heals a silver-poisoned kidney?" My voice rose with every question, the rage | had kept bottled up for so long finally beginning to boil over. "You are a fool, Kaelen. A naive, sentimental fool." His face, already pale, turned ashen. He took a staggering step into the room, his eyes pleading. And then he did the one thing | never expected. He knelt. The Alpha of the Blackmoon Pack, the most powerful wolf on the continent, knelt before me on the floor of my temporary quarters. "l am sorry," he whispered, his head bowed. "Stop it!" | screamed, the sight of his submission infuriating me more than his arrogance ever had. "Stop with these empty gestures! This isn't for me! This is for you! You're doing all of this to make yourself feel better, to wash the blood from your own hands! But it won't work!" ---- My fury was a living thing, a wild beast clawing its way out of my throat. | grabbed the nearest heavy object-a solid silver candlestick from the mantelpiece-and hurled it at him. | expected him to dodge. | wanted him to. But he didn't move. He simply knelt there and took the blow. The heavy silver struck him on the shoulder, and he grunted in pain, the fresh wound on his chest tearing open again, staining his tunic a darker shade of crimson. The sight of his blood, of his silent, willing acceptance of my violence, broke something in me. A dam of pain and grief | had held back for years finally burst. He rose to his feet, ignoring his injuries, and stumbled towards me. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a hug. My first instinct was to fight, to push him away. But my body betrayed me. His scent, the familiar pine and storm, enveloped me. His warmth seeped into my cold, trembling limbs. For a split second, | wasn't Nyx, the warrior of the north. | was sixteen-year-old Elara, hopelessly in love with the golden- haired Alpha boy who had been her only friend, her only protector, her only light. Then reality crashed back in. | shoved him away, my hands shaking. "Your embrace is a lie," | hissed, my voice dripping with venom He flinched as if | had struck him. "Elara..." ---- "Get out," | sobbed, the tears finally coming, hot and furious. | pointed a trembling finger at the door. "Get out! Every time | look at you, | remember that dungeon! | remember starving, | remember freezing, | remember lying on that stone floor, praying for a death that wouldn't come! Your presence makes me sick!" He reached for me again, his face a mask of desperation. "The party," he choked out, his voice thick with unshed tears. "That night, with Seraphina... | never kissed her. | swear on my soul, | never touched her. | was always yours." He was trying to absolve himself of a minor sin, oblivious to the mortal wound he had already inflicted. The absurdity of it was the final straw. My sanity snapped. In "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" by CrushReel, the storyline unfolds as renowned photographer Jane finds herself drawn to the charismatic rookie model, Hector. Little does she know that Hector harbors a secret—he is actually the heir to a powerful business empire. As their romance blossoms, Hector grapples with concealing his true identity to capture Jane's heart. However, their love story takes a tumultuous turn when jealousy rears its ugly head, threatening to unravel the delicate balance they've built. This modern romance novel delves into themes of hidden identities, unexpected love, and the complexities of maintaining a relationship shrouded in secrecy. With its blend of sweet romance and suspenseful twists, "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" stands out for its exploration of hidden feelings and the consequences of revealing long-held secrets. For readers seeking a captivating tale that combines elements of romance, intrigue, and emotional depth, this ongoing story is available to read at CrushReel. Immerse yourself in the world of Jane and Hector as their journey unfolds against the backdrop of hidden truths and heartfelt revelations.