Claimed By The Rival Alpha

Selena

The walk back to Alpha Kael’s chamber felt longer than it really was.

My mind was still trapped inside the conservatory, replaying everything over and over again. My father’s face. His laughter. The guards falling one after another. Isadora’s terrified eyes.

None of it felt real.

The moment we entered Alpha Kael’s chamber, the guards shut the heavy doors behind us.

Alpha Kael immediately turned toward me. "You’ll stay here."

I frowned. "What?"

He looked toward Kieren and Beta Bastian before returning his attention to me. "I’m going back."

"Back where?"

"To stop your father."

"No." The word left my mouth before I even thought about it.

Alpha Kael stared intently at me but I still repeated it again, "I said no!"

"Selena..."

"He’s here because of me." I stepped closer as I cut him off. "If anyone should tell him to leave, it should be me."

Alpha Kael’s expression hardened as he spoke. "He isn’t listening to reason."

"I’m sure He’ll listen to me! And he’s definitely won’t attack me."

His jaw tightened. "You don’t know that."

"I do."

"You don’t." For several seconds neither of us spoke as the room fell into complete silence.

Even Beta Bastian wisely stayed quiet.

Alpha Kael finally sighed. "I don’t want to take chances with you." His voice became softer. "The way he looked tonight... He isn’t thinking clearly and I don’t want to lose you because I underestimated him."

My heart clenched as I reached for his hand while his fingers instinctively wrapped around mine. "I’m not going anywhere." I squeezed gently. "I promise."

He searched my face for several moments, as though trying to determine whether I truly meant it.

"I’ll stay beside you, I won’t run and I won’t disappear."

His shoulders relaxed just a little. Before leaving, I turned toward Isadora.

She stood awkwardly near one of the chairs, still wearing the elegant gown she’d been forced into earlier that evening. Although she’d escaped the conservatory, fear still lingered in her eyes.

I walked over and embraced her tightly. "I’m sorry."

She hugged me back almost immediately. "I’m so sorry I left you there."

"You came back." Her voice trembled. "You actually came back for me."

I pulled away just enough to look at her. "I always would."

She stared at me in disbelief. "I thought... I thought you were dead."

A sad smile formed on my lips. "I know."

She wiped her eyes. "When I saw you... I couldn’t believe it."

She shook her head repeatedly. "You’ve been gone for months. I buried you in my heart, I cried for you while I kept wondering where you disappeared to."

She laughed weakly through tears. "And now you’re standing in front of me."

I smiled despite everything. "We’ll have plenty of time to talk."

"I want to know everything." Isadora muttered. "How you survived, how you ended up here and what happened after you disappeared."

"I’ll tell you." I gently squeezed her hands. "I promise."

Alpha Kael cleared his throat quietly. "We should move."

I nodded and together, Alpha Kael and I stepped out of the chamber while Isadora remained behind under heavy guard.

We hurried through the upper corridors while the music from the ballroom still drifted faintly through the castle.

It amazed me despite everything happening upstairs... The celebration continued.

As we climbed the last staircase leading toward the abandoned conservatory, we encountered several wounded guards.

One of them immediately straightened upon seeing Alpha Kael. "My Alpha."

Alpha Kael stopped as he ordered. "Report."

"The guests remain unaware." The guard winced while holding his injured shoulder. "The ball continues without disturbance."

Alpha Kael nodded. "Good.Keep it that way!"

"We’re rotating fresh guards around the ballroom." The guard said

"No one is to panic the guests." Alpha Kael ordered.

"Understood." The guard bowed before hurrying away.

We continued toward the conservatory. The closer we got... The quieter everything became.

The hallway that had echoed with shouting only minutes earlier now felt unnaturally silent.

Alpha Kael lifted one hand, signaling everyone behind us to slow down.

Beta Bastian, Kieren and Nearly a dozen warriors... All moved carefully.

The conservatory doors stood half open then Alpha Kael pushed them wider.

My breath caught on seeing different bodies. Guards lay scattered throughout the room. Some slumped against broken pillars while others sprawled across the cracked stone floor.

Discarded weapons lay everywhere. For one horrifying moment... I thought they were dead.

"Oh, Moon Goddess..." I whispered.

Alpha Kael placed one hand in front of me. "They’re breathing."

Only then did I notice the faint movement of a few chests then relief flooded through me so suddenly that my knees nearly buckled.

At the very center of the room... My father knelt calmly. He looked almost peaceful as his hands rested loosely upon his thighs as though he had simply decided to wait.

Around him stood more Blackbourne warriors with weapons drawn.

He slowly raised his head as his eyes settled on Alpha Kael first then on me.

A smile spread across his face. "So... You finally came."

Alpha Kael stepped forward. His voice carried effortlessly through the damaged conservatory.

"Alpha William, You’ve trespassed into another Alpha’s territory. You’ve assaulted my guards, you’ve disrupted a gathering protected by the High Council and you’ll answer for every one of those actions."

My Father laughed and the sound echoed coldly. "You speak of penalties?"

He slowly rose to his feet. "You stole my daughter and now you lecture me?"

Alpha Kael remained perfectly still. "Selena walked into my territory of her own free will!"

"Liar." My Father spat the word. "You expect anyone to believe she’d abandon her own family willingly?"

"I expect them to believe the truth."

Before either of them could continue... I stepped forward. "He isn’t lying."

Every pair of eyes turned toward me as I swallowed hard. "I came here myself after running away and I wasn’t kidnapped."

My Father stared at me as his expression became darker with every word.

"I fled because you intended to hand me over to those monsters!"

Silence filled the room as no one moved nor spoke.

My Father slowly pointed one finger toward me as his voice was no longer calm. "When we return home... You’ll learn what happens to daughters who disgrace their fathers."

A chill ran through me. Instinctively, I stepped backward then Alpha Kael immediately moved in front of me.

His broad shoulders shielded me completely. "She isn’t going anywhere."

His voice had become dangerously quiet while the surrounding guards advanced with their weapons rose.

My Father merely smiled. "As if your guards could stop me."

Alpha Kael never looked away from him. "Take Alpha William into custody."

Several warriors stepped forward cautiously. Just before anyone could reach him— Another voice echoed from the doorway.

"Enough." Everyone turned as Councilman Cedric entered the conservatory.

His elegant robes looked strangely out of place amidst the destruction.

His eyes swept across the unconscious guards before settling on Alpha William.

"What happened here?"

Beta Bastian stepped forward immediately. "My Councilman... Alpha William attacked our guards and he forced his way into this area after attempting to seize Lady Selena who chosed to stay in Blackbourne herself."

Councilman Cedric’s brows drew together. Only then did he fully look at me then back toward Alpha William.

"Lady Selena... So this is your daughter."

My Father folded his arms as Councilman Cedric slowly approached me.

His expression remained solemn. "I’ll ask only once."

His gaze remained steady. "Did you choose to remain in Blackbourne of your own free will?"

The entire room seemed to stop breathing while I looked directly into his eyes. "Yes! I chose to stay... I wasn’t forced and I came here willingly."

Councilman Cedric studied my face for several long moments then finally, he nodded once.

He turned toward both Alphas. "This matter cannot continue here. It has to be handled democratically.

Before he could continue, My Father scoffed loudly. "There is nothing to discuss."

He glared at Alpha Kael. "I won’t negotiate with this boy who thinks himself king over my own daughter."

Without waiting for anyone’s permission, he strode toward the doorway and no one attempted to stop him.

The room remained tense until his footsteps disappeared down the corridor.

Councilman Cedric released a slow breath before facing Alpha Kael then me.

"What happens now?" I asked quietly.

Councilman Cedric answered without hesitation. "A formal hearing." His words made my stomach tighten. "There will be a meeting. I’ll be present, Alpha William...Alpha Kael and then you."

He paused briefly. "Your future will be determined there."

His eyes shifted toward Alpha Kael. "And depending upon what is established...Alpha Kael may face significant penalties."

Those words lingered in my mind long after everyone dispersed.

Much later... After the castle had begun growing quieter... I sat beside Isadora inside the guest chamber Alpha Kael had graciously arranged for her at my request.

The room was warm with a small fire while fresh blankets had been brought in.

I held her hands between mine as neither of us spoke for a while.

Then she finally broke the silence. "My father is dead." I slowly looked up as she added. "The vampires killed him."

Her voice cracked as she lowered her head. "They chopped his head off."

My chest tightened painfully. "I’m so sorry."

She nodded weakly. "After that... Alpha William treated our family like we no longer mattered."

Her eyes became distant. "We survived But we never truly lived."

I squeezed her hands gently as she asked softly, "And you? How did you survive?"

I smiled faintly. "It began the night I overheard My Father’s conversation."

I told her about my escape.. The forests and the fear.

Then finding my way into Blackbourne, working as a maid and learning to survive without anyone recognizing me.

She listened without interrupting once.

There were still things I carefully left unsaid. I never mentioned my revolution and I never mentioned the bond between Alpha Kael and me.

Those secrets still weren’t mine alone to reveal.

When I finished, Isadora leaned back with a long sigh. "You’ve endured so much."

"So have you." I said as silence settled between us again.

Finally I smiled gently. "Everything will be alright." I wanted to believe my own words. "You’re safe now."

She looked toward the window where dawn would arrive in only a few hours.

Her expression remained troubled. "What about the meeting?"

She looked back at me. "What will become of us after that?"