Claimed By The Rival Alpha

Chapter 104: Chapter 104

Selena

The sound of metal clanking against metal pulled me out of a restless sleep.

I opened my eyes slowly, blinking against the darkness surrounding me. For a few seconds, I lay still, trying to remember where I was.

Then the smell of food reached me so I pushed myself upright.

The guard was standing outside my cell with a tray in his hands. He inserted the key into the lock and opened the small section of the bars where food could be passed through.

"Dinner," he said flatly while I stared at the tray.

So Lady Hawthorne had finally decided I was allowed to eat after she had deliberately kept me from lunch. I almost laughed. Almost.

After what she had seen during my previous visit, she knew I was stronger than an ordinary maid. She had watched me escape through a window, land from a height that should have injured me, overpower a guard, steal a horse, and disappear into the city.

Now she wanted to weaken me.

If I ate only twice a day and spent the rest of my time locked inside this cell, my strength would eventually fade.

It was a sensible strategy.

Unfortunately for her, I was not going to give her the satisfaction of knowing it was working.

I picked up the plate and began eating slowly. Not because I wasn’t hungry... I was starving but I refused to rush.

My mind was already working through every possibility. The cell was still my biggest problem and I needed a way out.

I had already learned that simply overpowering the guards would not be enough. Even if I escaped the cell, I would still have to get through the manor, reach the gates, and somehow avoid being caught again.

There had to be another way.

My eyes moved around the dark cell then an idea came to me

I need someone important... Someone the Hawthornes cared about.

If I could get one of them into my control, I could use them to buy my escape.

I needed to hold someone captive.

My eyes narrowed. It wasn’t an idea I liked, but I was running out of choices.

I continued eating while thinking through who would be most useful.

Henry was arrogant, but he was important to the family.

Lady Hawthorne was even more valuable and then there was the innocent girl.

My stomach tightened at the thought of her. She was trapped here because the Hawthornes had decided her life was expendable.

I couldn’t leave her behind.

I lowered my gaze to the food as something hard struck my tooth.

I froze and slowly, I pulled the small object from my mouth. It’s a stone!

I stared at it in disbelief. "You have got to be kidding me."

Anger surged through me immediately.

I had been imprisoned, starved, and forced to eat food with a stone inside it!!!

I threw the plate toward the bars, It crashed loudly against the metal, sending food scattering across the floor.

"Damn it!" I was breathing heavily when I noticed something.

The door.

I looked toward it and discovered the cell door was slightly open. My anger disappeared instantly on seeing the key wasn’t locked like I had thought and there was no guard standing directly outside.

I slowly rose to my feet with different thoughts. Maybe it was a trap...

I moved toward the door and stopped several steps away. I listened to any sound but I heard nothing.

I reached out and touched the edge of the door for confirmation and it moved.

My heart began pounding as I pushed it open a little farther and still, no one came.

I looked down the corridor and it was empty. I glanced behind me, then cautiously stepped out.

One foot then another. I expected someone to shout but I heard absolutely nothing.

I walked slowly down the corridor, keeping my body close to the wall.

The farther I went, the more confused I became. How had I managed to leave the cell without anyone stopping me?

I eventually reached the open floor of the manor. Servants moved around carrying baskets, trays, and buckets.

No one looked at me twice and I realized why. Most of them probably didn’t recognize me.

To them, I was just another servant walking through the manor.

I could have run as the doors were not far away. I could have reached the courtyard and searched for a horse.

But I didn’t.

Something else caught my attention. Two maids were walking ahead of me, carrying trays.

"The young lady won’t eat unless the food is served hot," one complained.

"She complained about it yesterday too," the other replied. "And Lord Henry will complain if his food isn’t ready at the same time."

I slowed. "Young lady?"

An idea struck me. I quickly brushed the dirt from my garment and straightened my hair.

Then I followed the maid carrying the tray intended for the young lady.

She walked upstairs while I kept a safe distance behind her, making sure she wouldn’t notice me.

When we reached the upper corridor, she stopped before a door. I waited as the maid knocked and entered.

I remained outside.

A moment later, she came back out. I waited until she walked several steps away before approaching the door.

There was no guard and that surprised me but I didn’t waste time wondering why.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Then I immediately locked it behind me.

The girl sitting inside gasped and her eyes widened when she saw me. "What are you doing?"

I raised both hands. "Relax."

She stood quickly. "Who are you?"

"I don’t want to hurt you."

She looked toward the door. "I’ll call the guards."

I took a slow breath. There was no point pretending so I walked toward her and sat beside her. "How are you?"

Her expression became suspicious. "What do you want?"

"I told you. I don’t want to hurt you."

"Then why are you here?"

I studied her face... she looked young. Too young to carry the burden the Hawthornes had placed on her.

I softened my voice. "We both know you’re not who they’re pretending you are."

Her expression changed. "I don’t understand what you mean by that."

"Yes, you do."

She shook her head. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"You aren’t the real Sophia Hawthorne." I uttered and her face went completely still.

"I don’t know what you mean."

"You were put in this position because it benefits them."

She looked away before speaking, "They told me they only wanted a replacement for their daughter who died."

I stared at her. "They told you she died?"

She nodded. "They said they couldn’t bear losing her completely. They said they wanted someone who could take her place."

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. "They told you that?"

"Yes."

"And you believed them?"

Tears began gathering in her eyes. "I didn’t have anywhere else to go."

My chest tightened on realizing she wasn’t pretending. She genuinely believed the lies they had fed her.

"They told me I could have a home here," she whispered. "They gave me clothes. They taught me how to speak like her. They told me I was helping a grieving family."

I stared at her. The Hawthornes had poisoned her mind so completely that she didn’t even understand she was being used.

"You’re being used."

She shook her head. "No. They’re good people."

"They aren’t."

"You don’t know them."

"I know enough!!!"

Her breathing became shaky. "They said people would try to hurt me if they knew who I really was."

I leaned closer. "They are the ones putting you in danger."

She stared at me. "You don’t understand."

"I understand more than you think."

I lowered my voice. "They are planning to give you to people who want the real Sophia."

Her eyes widened. I could see fear spreading through her face.

I reached for her hand, but she pulled it away. "I don’t want to hear this." She snapped at me.

I looked at her carefully. "When was the last time you saw your real family?"

She said nothing.

"When was the last time you were allowed to see them?" I asked again.

Her eyes dropped but still didn’t utter a word.

"You’ve asked to see them, haven’t you? How many times?"

She still uttered nothing. I watched tears slowly gather in her eyes.

"You’ve been asking to see them again," I said softly. "And every time you asked, they refused, right?"

A tear slipped down her cheek. I didn’t need her to answer because I already knew.

I moved closer to her. "They don’t see you as their daughter. They see you as something they can use."

The girl lowered her head and just then the door exploded open.

I jumped away from her as a guard stormed inside and behind him came Lady Hawthorne.

She was dressed in an extravagant nightgown that looked far too expensive for the late hour, with layers of fabric flowing around her body and jewelry glimmering at her neck.

Her eyes immediately found me then they moved to the girl. "What are you doing here?"

I straightened and the fear that had tried to rise inside me disappeared. I would not let this woman see me afraid.

I stood between her and the innocent girl. "Release this innocent girl. What you’re planning to do with her is evil!"

Lady Hawthorne stared at me. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

The guard stepped forward but Lady Hawthorne raised a hand, stopping him.

She looked me over from head to toe. "What do you know? You are a mere nobody."

I smiled. "A nobody who knows what you’re doing."

Her expression darkened. "You know nothing about the pressure people like me face."

"Pressure?"

"Yes." She stepped closer. "You have no idea what it means to carry the reputation of a noble family. You have no idea what we are expected to protect."

"Is that what you call this?" I gestured toward the frightened girl. "You call using an innocent woman to replace your daughter pressure?"

Lady Hawthorne’s jaw tightened. "You should watch your tongue because you know nothing!"

I looked directly into her eyes. "I know enough to know that you won’t get away with it."

The guard shifted closer but I still didn’t move.

"Word will get out," I said. "People will learn what House Hawthorne has been doing. They will learn about this girl. They will learn about your evil deeds."

Lady Hawthorne’s eyes narrowed. "And who exactly do you think will listen to you?"

"The Alpha will."

A strange silence followed as Lady Hawthorne studied me.

Then she smiled coldly. "You speak of the Alpha with remarkable confidence."

I shrugged.

She tilted her head then suddenly asked. "Who are you to him?"

I said nothing.

Her smile faded. "Who are you?" She asked again but I simply shrugged again.

Lady Hawthorne’s eyes hardened. "Take her." She ordered.

The guard stepped toward me but I remained where I was. Then, suddenly, a voice came from outside.

"My Lord!" The shout echoed through the manor.

Everyone froze as another voice followed. It was deep, authoritative and commanding.

Lady Hawthorne’s expression changed immediately. The confidence disappeared from her face and her eyes widened.

Her look immediately told me what I needed to know.

Lord Hawthorne had arrived!

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