Claimed By The Rival Alpha

Kael

The courtroom fell into a silence so deep that I could hear my own heartbeat.

Every instinct inside me remained fixed on Selena.

Councilman Cedric’s question still lingered in the air, waiting for an answer.

Alpha William stood rigidly across the room, his confidence returning now that the matter had become legal rather than emotional. His hands were clasped neatly behind his back, his expression composed, as though the outcome had already been decided.

I watched Selena. She lowered her head for only a brief moment before slowly shaking it.

My heart skipped. For one terrifying second, countless thoughts crashed through my mind.

Was she denying everything? Had Alpha William found a way to reach her? Was she about to return to Nightbane willingly?

The fear lasted only a heartbeat. Then she lifted her head.

"No." Her voice was steady. "I did not leave because I wanted adventure or because I was kidnapped by Alpha Kael."

She looked directly at Councilman Cedric. "I ran away because I was forced to."

A knot inside my chest loosened.

She continued before anyone else could speak. "My father chose me as Nightbane’s next tribute."

The words echoed around the courtroom. "I didn’t run because I hated my home."

She swallowed. "I ran because I didn’t want to be sold to the vampires."

Councilman Cedric remained silent, carefully observing her while Alpha William’s expression barely changed.

"I feared for my life." Her hands slowly clenched together. "I believed that if I stayed... I would never come back."

Councilman Cedric nodded thoughtfully. "I understand."

He was about to continue when Selena raised a hand. "Councilman..."

He looked at her as she added, "May I say something else before this continues?"

"You may." Councilman Cedric gave her a go ahead,

She slowly turned not toward Cedric but toward Alpha William.

My wolf stirred uneasily.

Selena looked at her father for several long moments. When she finally spoke, the pain in her voice struck harder than any weapon ever could.

"Why?" Alpha William frowned at her question.

She took a slow breath. "Why me?"

Silence met her words.

"You had an entire pack." Her eyes glistened. "So many families... So many daughters." Her voice trembled. "But you chose your own."

My wolf let out a furious howl inside my head as every word she spoke carried years of buried hurt.

"I was your daughter." Her lips quivered despite her efforts to remain composed. "Was I truly worth so little?"

Alpha William remained unmoved.

Selena’s breathing became uneven. "There is something else I need to know."

Alpha William’s eyes narrowed.

"My mother." She said and the room seemed to grow colder. "I’ve always been told by you that she died giving birth to me."

She stared directly into his eyes. "But lately..." Her voice broke. "...I’ve begun wondering whether that’s the truth."

Alpha William’s jaw tightened.

Selena took another shaky breath. "Did my mother truly die from childbirth?" She paused. "...or was it something else?"

The accusation hung heavily between them.

"Something connected to the same vampires you intended to give me to?"

For the first time, Alpha William’s composure cracked. His brows drew together.

"Enough." His voice hardened. "Your mother died and I’ve never lied to you about that."

Selena didn’t look convinced. "Then why..." Tears slipped down her cheeks. "...why would you do to me what you claim never touched her?"

Alpha William’s eyes flashed as she added. "You are being unfair."

"Am I?" He asked with a creased brow.

She shook her head sadly. "I don’t know what to believe anymore."

Alpha William suddenly stepped away from the table.

"Selena." His voice softened. Far softer than before. "You’ve been manipulated."

I immediately bit the inside of my cheek because here it came. The manipulation!

He walked closer. "You’ve been frightened. You’ve been isolated. You’ve been surrounded by people who’ve filled your head with lies."

He spread his hands. "You are my daughter. I raised you, I protected you, and I loved you." He smiled sadly. "So Come home with me."

Selena remained silent, not uttering a word.

Alpha William took another careful step. "Everything can still be repaired, baby. The pack misses you... Our people miss you and I miss you."

He extended a hand toward her. "Come back with me."

I watched Selena closely. She didn’t move and she didn’t answer either.

Every passing second made my stomach tighten because Alpha William knew exactly how to use words.

He always had. He wasn’t shouting.bHe wasn’t threatening. He was simply making himself sound like a wounded father.

Anyone who hadn’t known the truth might have believed him.

Selena lowered her gaze and my fists clenched. Did she fall for his words? Is she going to return back to Nightbane with him? Different thoughts kept running through my head as Selena kept quiet without saying anything.

After what seemed like eternity, she slowly shook her head. "No."

Alpha William froze as she turned away from him and looked toward me. "I want to stay."

The words were quiet yet they carried through the entire courtroom.

She walked until she stood beside me. "I’d rather live as a maid in Blackbourne..."

A small smile appeared despite the tears on her face. "Than remain a princess in Nightbane."

Alpha William immediately exploded in a barely refrained fury.

"This is madness!" His roar shook the room. "You’ve humiliated me!"

He slammed both hands onto the table. "You disgrace your blood! You disgrace your ancestors!"

He pointed furiously toward me. "This is his doing!"

Councilman Cedric simply watched him and so did I. He should continue ranting.

Alpha William paced like a caged beast. "I came here seeking justice! This is what I receive? My own daughter choosing servitude over royalty?"

Councilman Cedric calmly folded his hands. "Alpha William."

He waited until Alpha William looked at him before speaking. "Lady Selena’s statement appears consistent."

Alpha William scoffed but still, Councilman Cedric continued.

"You have already admitted before witnesses that she was indeed intended to become Nightbane’s annual tribute."

Alpha William’s silence confirmed even more again.

Councilman Cedric nodded. "In that case... There exists no law empowering either this council or another Alpha to force an adult daughter back into the custody of a father against her expressed will."

Alpha William’s face darkened. "She is still my daughter."

"She is." Councilman Cedric agreed. "But she is also an individual capable of choosing where she resides."

Alpha William’s breathing became heavier. "I reject this."

"You may." Councilman Cedric answered evenly. "It changes nothing."

Something snapped inside Alpha William and without warning, he lunged toward Selena.

"I’m done asking! I am taking you home!"

I instinctively stepped directly between them before he could reach her.

Alpha William stopped only inches away as his eyes burned with fury. "Move!"

"No." I said through gritted teeth.

"I said move."

"I heard you the first time." I retorted, not making any effort to leave his sight.

He glared at me. "This does not concern Blackbourne."

"It concerns Selena and Selena is my business!" I throw it at his face.

Alpha William’s fists clenched. "Stay out of this."

"I won’t." His wolf pushed against mine and the air grew heavier.

Councilman Cedric immediately stood. "Enough!!!"

Neither of us looked away from each other’s faces.

Alpha William spoke through gritted teeth. "I am warning you."

"So am I." My voice remained calm. "You will not touch her."

For several dangerous seconds neither of us moved while the courtroom seemed ready to erupt.

Then... A warm hand slipped into mine. I glanced sideways to stare into the face of Selena.

She gently squeezed my hand. "It’s alright." Her voice was soft.

She stepped forward until she stood beside me instead of behind me.

She looked at Alpha William one final time. "I’m staying."

Nothing more and nothing less. Just three words. "I’m staying."

Alpha William stared at her as the anger slowly faded. Not into acceptance but Into defeat.

He lowered his head and when he looked up again, there was nothing left in his eyes except disappointment.

"You’ve disgraced me." His voice sounded tired now. "You’ve disgraced our family."

He shook his head slowly. "You’ve disgraced Nightbane." He looked at her one last time. "And our ancestors will never forgive what you’ve done today."

Without another word, he turned. The courtroom doors opened then closed behind him.

I waited only until the sound of his footsteps faded before instantly mindlinking my Beta. "Beta Bastian."

"Yes, Alpha." He responded immediately.

"Follow Alpha William discreetly until he is completely outside Blackbourne territory."

"Understood." He said and the mindlink ended.

I turned toward Selena, she looked exhausted, relieved, broken and victorious all at once.

Neither of us spoke as we didn’t need to. I met her eyes while she smiled faintly.

A silent conversation passed between us. We had survived not everything but one battle.

She gave me a small nod before quietly excusing herself and leaving the courtroom.

I watched until the door closed behind her and only then did I turn back.

Councilman Cedric was standing there watching me with suspicion.

He slowly approached as his expression had become strangely thoughtful.

When he reached me, he rested a hand on my shoulder like an old friend.

"You handled yourself well today."

"Thank you." I said with a straight face.

He smiled, then lowered his voice. "Tell me honestly, Alpha Kael."

My heartbeat slowed as he went on to ask. "Is Alpha William’s daughter..." He studied my face carefully, "Your mate?"

—

Less than an hour later, I sat inside my study with Beta Bastian standing opposite my desk.

A hesitant knock came from outside.

"Enter." The door opened and one of our informants stepped inside.

His clothes were dusty and there was dried mud along his boots, and dark bruises marked one side of his jaw.

Beta Bastian frowned. "You were supposed to report before dawn."

The man bowed apologetically. "I tried."

"What happened?"

"I was caught."

Both Bastian and I straightened as he added, "At Kavanagh Manor and the guards seized me before I could leave."

"So how did you escape?" Beta Bastian asked with a creased brow.

"They believed I was nothing more than a hay thief looking for food." He gave a tired smile. "I bribed one of them with the last silver I carried."

Beta Bastian folded his arms. "So you escaped."

"Yes."

I leaned forward before asking. "What did you see?"

The man’s expression changed immediately as every trace of relief disappeared.

"My Alpha..." His voice became noticeably quieter. "I believe Alpha William and Lord Kavanagh are hiding something inside that manor."

"What do you mean?" I asked with a frown.

"I discovered a concealed passage beneath one of the storage halls."

My eyes narrowed as he continued speaking.

"I thought I’d found hidden werewolves warriors." He swallowed then continued. "There were only four of them and were too few for an ambush."

"Then I saw them properly." His face had gone pale simply remembering it.

"Their skin..." He shuddered. "It was unnaturally pale. Their eyes... they weren’t werewolves."

A chill crept through my body.

"They weren’t from any region of Caelresth." The informant looked directly at me.

"My Alpha... they were vampires."