Claimed By The Rival Alpha

Chapter 57: Chapter 57

Selena

How could I stay angry at an Alpha? No, scratch that! That wasn’t even the right question anymore.

How could I stay angry at my mate? For the past two days, that question had followed me everywhere.

While I swept the castle corridors. While I scrubbed pots until my fingers ached. While I carried baskets through the kitchens.

Even while I lay awake at night, staring at the ceiling instead of sleeping.

Every single time, I arrived at the same conclusion. I had every right to be angry.

Yet somehow... My anger never stayed as hot as I wanted it to.

I sighed quietly as I dipped the cleaning cloth into a bucket of warm water before wringing it out.

The long kitchen counter stretched before me, covered with flour from the afternoon’s baking. I began wiping it slowly, watching the white powder disappear beneath the damp cloth.

Around me, the kitchen bustled with its usual evening rhythm.

Pots clanged, wood crackled inside the ovens while someone laughed loudly near the pantry.

Two younger maids argued over whose turn it was to fetch water from the well.

Usually, I enjoyed the noise but today it barely reached me. Instead, my thoughts drifted back to Alpha Kael.

His face, his voice and his infuriating words. "I can’t risk being seen with a maid."

The sentence stabbed at me all over again as I scrubbed harder.

Was that all I was to him? A maid? Even after everything we’d shared? Even after discovering we were mates?

I understood the danger. I truly did.

My father... his enemies and the spies crawling around Blackbourne.

I understood every reason he gave me but understanding something didn’t stop it from hurting.

Because when he said those words... For one painful moment... It had felt like everyone else saw me exactly the way he did.

Just another servant and not Selena his mate. Just... A maid.

"You’re going to wear a hole through that table." Sally’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I blinked. "What?"

She pointed at the exact same spot beneath my hand. "You’ve been scrubbing that place for almost two minutes."

I looked down and sure enough, the wood practically shone. "Oh."

She laughed. "I’ve never seen someone declare war on a kitchen counter before."

A reluctant smile tugged at my lips. "I wasn’t paying attention."

"I noticed." She said and leaned against the opposite side of the counter, folding her arms. "You’ve been somewhere else all day."

"I’ve just been working."

"Oh yeah... You’ve been pretending to work." Sally said.

I scoffed. "When did you become so observant?"

"When I became friends with someone terrible at hiding her feelings."

"I hide them perfectly."

She raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

She smiled knowingly. "Exactly my point."

I shook my head with a quiet chuckle and returned to wiping the counter as silence settled between us.

After a while, I spoke. "Sally." I called in almost a murmur tone.

"Hmm?"

"Do you have a mate?" I couldn’t help but ask her.

She paused only for a heartbeat then she burst into laughter before answering. "Of course not."

"You’ve never found him?"I asked again.

"I hope I never do." She said with a shrug of her shoulders.

That answer surprised me enough to stop cleaning altogether. "You don’t want one?"

She looked genuinely confused. "Why would I want one?"

"Because..." I searched for the right words. "...because mates are supposed to make life better."

"So they say." Sally said, rolling her eyes.

"They support each other, they’re meant to share burdens and they protect one another." I smiled faintly before adding, "They’re supposed to make each other stronger."

Sally dipped another cloth into a bucket before replying. "That’s the story every pup grows up hearing."

"You don’t believe it?" I asked bewildered.

"I believe it starts that way." She began wiping another section of the counter. "The bond is powerful... it pulls two people together whether they want it or not. You crave each other’s presence, you miss each other and you think about each other constantly."

Heat crept into my cheeks as that part sounded painfully familiar.

"But then," she continued, "real life begins."

"What do you mean?"

"Responsibilities." She shrugged. "Dreams and different ambitions. One mate wants to travel and the other wants to stay. One wants power and the other wants peace."

"They begin relying on each other for everything and when those dreams clash..." She sighed. "So do the people."

I frowned. "I don’t think that’s how it’s meant to be."

"No?" She asked and I shook my head firmly.

"The Moon Goddess wouldn’t bind two people together just to make them miserable." I said.

Sally smiled gently. "You’re an optimist."

"I just believe mates are supposed to encourage each other. If one dreams big, the other should help them. If one falls, the other should lift them."

"They shouldn’t become chains instead, they should become strength."

Sally watched me quietly. "I hope you’re right."

I hesitated before asking, "So... that’s the only reason you don’t want one?"

Her expression softened. "No."

She looked away. "I’ve seen what happens when one mate dies."

My smile faded. "The survivor doesn’t simply move on... they carry that pain for years and sometimes forever."

The kitchen suddenly felt colder as a chill ran down my spine. I imagined losing Alpha Kael and the thought alone made my chest tighten.

I immediately pushed it away.

"No." I whispered. "The Moon Goddess wouldn’t be so cruel."

Sally gave me a sad smile. "Maybe not but life can be."

Silence returned and the only sounds were knives chopping vegetables nearby and cooks shouting fresh orders across the kitchen.

Eventually Sally looked back at me. "Why are you suddenly asking all these questions?"

My heartbeat stumbled. "No reason."

"There is definitely a reason." She said while looking at me in a weird way.

"I was just curious." I said, making sure to avoid her eyes.

She narrowed her eyes and stopped what she was doing. "Selena, have you found your mate?"

Heat rushed straight to my face. "I..." I looked away far too quickly. "No."

The lie came out faster than I intended. "I haven’t."

She studied me for another moment as I still refused to meet her eyes.

Thankfully, inspiration struck before she questioned me further. "I overheard something."

Her curiosity immediately replaced her suspicion. "What?"

"I heard the Alpha discussing preparations against the vampires."

Her expression became serious. "So the rumours are true?"

"I don’t know but I think he’s planning something unusual."

"Like what?" Sally asked again.

"I couldn’t hear everything.I only know he believes there’s a way to stop them before they even enter Blackbourne."

Sally frowned. "Do you really think they’ll invade? Because I see no reason why they would come here."

I shrugged. "Vampires don’t always need a reason. They’re unpredictable."

She became quiet then, slowly... A smile spread across her face. "I’ve got an idea."

I blinked. "What idea?"

"What if we used the invasion rumours to strengthen the revolution?"

I stared at her as she leaned closer, lowering her voice. "If people become frightened... They’ll start looking for protection so they’ll listen and they’ll finally understand why resisting matters."

I considered it carefully.

"Fear might bring them but fear won’t keep them."

"So what will?"

I thought for several seconds before speaking."We help them."

"How?" Sally asked.

"We give them things like weapons."

She blinked in surprise "Weapons?"

"Yes, simple ones like knives, Silver-tipped tools or anything that could help defend against vampires."

Her excitement dimmed almost immediately. "That still costs money."

I sighed. "There it is again... the same coin wall. No matter how many plans we make... we always return to coins."

Before either of us could continue, another maid hurried into the kitchen with flushed cheeks and bright eyes. "You’ll never believe what I just heard!"

Several servants immediately gathered around her to get the full gist of what happened.

"What happened?"

"Tell us!" They all kept answering impatiently.

She grinned proudly. "The headmaid was speaking with one of the stewards... They’re preparing the main hall for a grand ball."

Gasps spread throughout the room. "A ball?"

"So suddenly?"

"Who’s coming?"

The maid puffed out her chest dramatically. "Councilman Cedric... the regional councilman of Vargwyn."

The kitchen exploded into excited chatter. Some of the younger maids immediately began whispering about noble guests.

Others worried about the amount of work the preparations would bring.

I barely heard them because Sally had already turned toward me as her eyes sparkled. "Selena."

"What now?" I asked slightly exhausted.

"This is our chance." Sally grinned.

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Think about it." She spoke quickly, excitement making her words tumble over one another. "A ball means nobles, wealthy merchants, council officials, pack leaders, people with influence, and people with money."

Understanding dawned on me as she continued.

"If we find just one person who believes in our cause... They could finance everything. The shrine, the meetings, the supplies and the weapons."

I slowly smiled. For the first time in days... the impossible suddenly felt possible.

I nodded in agreement. "We can’t waste this opportunity."

"So?" Sally eagerly asked.

I lowered my voice as I looked toward Sally and spoke quietly enough that only she could hear.

"Prepare for a revolution group meeting tonight."

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