Claimed By The Rival Alpha

Alpha Kael

I had been sitting in my chair for several minutes without reading a single word.

The parchment on my desk remained exactly where I had left it, untouched beneath the faint glow of the candle beside it. My eyes had moved over the same line at least five times, but none of the words had registered.

Eventually, I pushed myself to my feet. I paced across the study then I turned and paced back.

I had been doing that for hours, and every passing minute only made the restlessness inside me worse.

Selena... My wolf stirred at the thought of her, and I clenched my jaw.

Beta Bastian had assured me that the revolution members were doing everything they could to find her and her friend who was possibly missing too. He had told me they were investigating every possible lead and that the group had not abandoned their search.

But reassurance wasn’t enough. Not when my mate was missing.

Not when the last thing I knew was that she had been inside House Hawthorne.

I stopped beside the window and stared into the dark courtyard below.

Where was she? Was she hurt? Was someone holding her somewhere?

My fingers curled against the windowsill. I hated not knowing.

I hated even more that there was nothing I could do without knowing where to look.

A sudden thought struck me. The seer.

I turned away from the window and stormed out of the study.

The guards stationed along the corridor straightened as I passed, but I didn’t acknowledge them. My steps carried me directly toward the room where I had ordered the seer from Redgrave to be kept.

When I opened the door, the man was sitting comfortably as though he were a guest instead of a prisoner.

He had long black locks falling around his face, and his appearance made him look like someone who had spent most of his life consuming intoxicating substances rather than studying ancient prophecies.

His eyes lifted to me. A grin slowly spread across his face. "I was beginning to think you’d forgotten about me."

I didn’t smile. "Tell me everything you know about the prophecy concerning Alpha William’s daughter." I went straight to the point.

His grin widened. "Just say her name."

I narrowed my eyes.

"We both know you are very close to her," he added.

For a brief moment, surprise threatened to cross my face but I buried it immediately.

I refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing his mental reading had affected me.

"Start talking." I snapped at him.

He studied me for a moment before finally speaking.

"The prophecy is ancient. Older than the borders of the packs that currently rule this realm. It speaks of a powerful light being born through a shewolf. A chosen vessel whose divine power, once awakened, will bring light wherever her feet touch."

I folded my arms.

That was almost exactly what Alpha Cian and Conall had told me in Redgrave.

"Is that all?" I asked with creased brows.

"No." He tilted his head. "She is promised to bring prosperity and light, but only after the power within her has been unlocked. Until then, she is merely the vessel."

I stared at him. "If this prophecy is truly ancient, why has no one in my region ever heard of it?"

The seer chuckled. "You still think the realm moves around you?"

My expression hardened but he continued anyway.

"Those in the west, especially the northwestern side, have always been arrogant. Pompous. Anything that does not originate from your lands is ignored or dismissed. Your people believe if they have never heard of something, it cannot possibly exist."

He leaned forward. "And yet the prophecy speaks of the light being born right in the heart of your region."

I remained silent.

There was something irritating about his confidence, but I couldn’t deny that his explanation made sense.

"Fine," I said eventually. "Let’s assume the prophecy is real. Let’s assume Selena is this chosen one you speak of. How do you intend to unlock her power?"

His expression changed. The amusement remained, but something darker entered his eyes. "It will not be simple."

"I didn’t ask if it was simple."

"It will be gory." My jaw tightened as he added. "There will be sacrifices. Loss. Important people will have to die."

I watched him carefully. The more he spoke, the more obvious it became that he was exaggerating.

He didn’t know. He was obviously guessing.

"You don’t know how to unlock it," I said.

The grin disappeared from his face. "I am close to unlocking it."

I turned toward the door. "I’ve heard enough."

"You shouldn’t." He said and I stopped but didn’t turn around.

"The divine ritual was lost decades ago. Perhaps centuries. Those who came before me failed to pass it down because their faith disappeared. But I can find it."

I glanced over my shoulder. "How?"

"I can summon the souls of the ancient ones."

My stomach twisted with disgust.

"I can speak to those who knew the ritual. I can learn the process from them and bring the divine power back into the world."

I stared at him for several seconds then I shook my head. "You will never have anything to do with Selena."

I walked out without looking back and the door shut behind me.

The man was nothing but a madman. A dangerous one, perhaps, but still a madman.

I had wasted enough time listening to him. My only concern now was bringing Selena home.

I had barely made it halfway toward the warriors’ training yard when Beta Bastian’s voice entered my mind through the link.

’Alpha Kael.’

’What is it?’ I retorted.

’A messenger from the Great Council Court is here. He insists on handing you a message personally.’

My steps slowed as I asked. ’Where is he?’

’He is waiting in your study.’ He said and I changed direction immediately.

When I returned, a young male messenger stood beside Beta Bastian. The moment he saw me, he bowed respectfully.

"Alpha Kael."

"What is the message?"

He reached inside his robes and produced a small scroll. The Great Court seal was stamped across it.

"My orders are to place this directly in your hands and wait for your written response."

I took the scroll. "Wait outside."

The messenger bowed and left the room.

I broke the seal and unfolded the parchment. My eyes moved across the words.

The accusation was exactly what I had expected.

The Great Council had received allegations that I had detained the heiress of a sovereign pack and refused to return her upon request.

They wanted to know if the allegations were true. And if they were, they demanded my reasons.

I slowly lowered the parchment.

Beta Bastian was watching me. "So they know," he said.

"They already knew enough to send this."

I looked back at the letter. There was no point denying it because the secret was out.

If I claimed Selena wasn’t here, the Great Council could order an official search of Blackbourne. They could send council representatives, warriors, investigators, whoever they deemed necessary.

And if they found her in my custody, the situation would become far worse.

I had to protect Blackbourne’s reputation. But more importantly, I had to protect Selena.

I looked toward the door where the messenger was waiting. "I’ll need time to consider my response."

Before Beta Bastian could say anything, the young messenger stepped back inside.

"My apologies, Alpha, but I was ordered to return today with your response."

I scoffed. "Of course you were."

I returned to my chair and sat down. For several moments, I stared blankly at nothing in particular.

There was no perfect answer. If I denied the accusation, they would investigate.

If I admitted everything without explanation, they would judge my actions without hearing the circumstances.

So I would give them the truth, but not all of it.

I asked Beta Bastian for a parchment and quill. He placed them before me.

I dipped the quill into the ink and began writing. I admitted that Selena was in Blackbourne and that I had refused to return her.

But I did not make it sound like I had simply stolen another Alpha’s daughter.

I explained that there were circumstances Alpha William had failed to disclose when reporting the matter to the Council.

I made it clear that my actions had reasons beyond personal defiance and that those reasons needed to be heard before judgment was passed.

Then I requested an audience with every concerned party before the Great Council.

They could question me directly... they could hear my side.

And perhaps, if I worded it convincingly enough, they would become curious about what Alpha William had left out in telling them.

I finished the letter and read it once then again and it was enough.

I folded the parchment carefully then Beta Bastian sealed it with the Blackbourne crest and handed it to the messenger.

I held his gaze. "Make sure this reaches Councilman Finn directly."

"Yes, Alpha." The messenger bowed and left. The door closed behind him.

For a moment, neither Beta Bastian nor I spoke.

Then he turned toward me. "What is your plan?"

I stared at the closed door then slowly leaned back in my chair. "There is no more keeping secrets."