Claimed By The Rival Alpha

Chapter 78: Chapter 78

Kael

Lord Black looked exactly like the kind of man who preferred counting livestock to standing before an Alpha.

He was a thin, middle-aged noble with narrow shoulders and restless hands that refused to stay still. Every few seconds he adjusted his coat, smoothed his sleeves, or cleared his throat. Even his wolf aura felt weak, flickering uncertainly beneath his skin.

Beta Bastian closed the courtroom doors behind him.

"My Alpha," Lord Black greeted, bowing so deeply I thought he might topple over. "It is... it is truly an honor. I must confess I never imagined being summoned so suddenly. I had only just finished settling my accounts this morning, and my steward insisted I postpone my visit to the eastern pasture because one of the bulls had become rather aggressive after..."

I raised a hand and he stopped mid-sentence.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm, Lord Black." His mouth snapped shut. "But we have little time."

"Of course, my Alpha." He straightened immediately.

I gestured toward the chair opposite mine. "Sit."

He obeyed, though he perched on the edge of the chair as if ready to flee at any moment.

"You regularly visit Lord Kavanagh’s manor." I asked as his eyes brightened.

"Oh, yes. Quite frequently, actually. Not every week, mind you, because transporting quality livestock requires careful planning, and the roads become terribly muddy after rain. Last spring, for example..."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Lord Black."

"My Alpha?"

"What business do you have with Lord Kavanagh?"

"Oh." He smiled sheepishly. "My meat venture."

I nodded for him to continue.

"My family has bred livestock for generations. I’ve been trying to convince Lord Kavanagh that our cattle are superior to the imports he usually purchases. He’s... well... difficult to impress."

"So your visits are business negotiations."

"Precisely."

"Has he agreed to purchase from you?"

"Not yet." His shoulders sagged. "But he hasn’t rejected me either. He keeps saying he’ll consider it."

I leaned forward. "I have an assignment for you."

His eyes widened. "For... me?"

"Yes."

He swallowed. "What sort of assignment?"

"I need you to visit Kavanagh Manor."

He blinked.

"I was planning to do that sometime next week."

"I need you to go today."

His nervous expression returned. "Today?"

"You’ll conduct yourself exactly as you always do... You’ll speak about your livestock, you’ll negotiate,you’ll drink tea if they offer it..."

His confusion deepened but I continued anyway.

"And while you’re there..." I held his gaze. "...you’ll pay attention to everything."

He frowned.

"I especially want you to keep your senses alert for creatures of the dark."

His forehead creased. "I’m afraid I don’t understand."

I decided there was no point speaking in riddles. "Vampires."

His entire body froze as the color drained from his face. "...V-vampires?"

His voice came out as little more than a whisper as he looked from me to Beta Bastian before returning his gaze to me.

"My Alpha..." He laughed nervously. "Surely you don’t mean..."

"I do."

His breathing became noticeably quicker. "Are... are there truly vampires inside our pack?"

Before I could answer, Beta Bastian stepped in. "We don’t know for certain."

I glanced at him but allowed him to continue. "We merely suspect Lord Kavanagh may have secret dealings with them."

Lord Black visibly relaxed. "So... this is only suspicion?"

"For now."

He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. "I thought..." He chuckled awkwardly. "...I thought they were already walking among us."

I exchanged a brief glance with Beta Bastian but neither of us corrected him.

Instead, I spoke. "If you help me uncover the truth, I’ll invest heavily in your livestock venture."

His eyes widened. "My Alpha?"

"I’ll ensure your business expands beyond anything you’ve imagined."

He stared at me in stunned silence.

"I only ask one thing."

He nodded eagerly. "Anything."

"While you enter Kavanagh Manor you should give them no reason to suspect you..." I leaned closer. "If you notice anything unusual..."

He swallowed as I added. "Report it to me immediately!"

He sat quietly for several seconds then finally... He nodded. "I’ll do it."

Beta Bastian smiled faintly. "I’ll prepare everything you need."

Lord Black stood. "I should leave before anyone notices a change in my routine."

"Good." After another respectful bow, he followed Beta Bastian from the courtroom then the heavy doors closed behind them.

Silence returned as I leaned back into my chair and rubbed my temples.

Every answer seemed to create two more questions. If vampires truly occupied Kavanagh Manor... How many were there?

Why now? Why Blackbourne?

A hesitant knock interrupted my thoughts. "Enter."

One of the castle servants stepped inside and he looked unusually pale. "My Alpha..."

I lowered my hand. "What is it?"

"The guest..."

I frowned. "What guest?"

"The Beta’s daughter from Nightbane."

My posture straightened. "What about her?"

"She became distressed but the guards managed to calm her." He hesitated. "And... a maid requested an audience."

"Which maid?"

"Selena."

I stood immediately. "Where are they?"

"The east wing." Without another word, I left the courtroom.

By the time I reached the east wing, several people had gathered inside Isadora’s chamber.

Selena, two younger maids, the assistant headmaid and two guards. Everyone turned as I approached.

"My Alpha."

I acknowledged them with a nod before walking further into the chamber. "Everyone leaves."

The assistant headmaid looked surprised. "My Alpha?"

"Everyone." I looked directly at the room. "Except Selena."

My gaze shifted toward the frightened young woman sitting on the bed. "And the Beta’s daughter."

The room emptied quickly and once the door shut, I turned toward them.

Selena immediately stepped forward. "Alpha Kael—"

"What happened?"

She glanced toward Isadora before answering. "She told me something. She said there are vampires in Blackbourne."

I didn’t react. Instead, I looked directly at Isadora. "Did you know this from the beginning?"

She immediately lowered her head as tears welled in her eyes. "I..." Her hands trembled violently. "...Yes."

The single word carried immense guilt.

My jaw tightened. "You remained silent until now...?."

"He threatened me." Her voice cracked. "He said..." Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks, "...if I spoke to anyone..." She sobbed. "...he’d hurt my mother."

Anger burned through me at Alpha William. Using an innocent girl’s mother to force her silence was exactly the kind of tactic I’d come to expect from him.

Before I could speak, Selena stepped between us slightly. "She was scared."

I looked at her.

"Alpha Kael..." Her voice softened. "She didn’t stay silent because she wanted to. She was protecting the only family she has left."

I slowly exhaled as my anger eased then I looked back at Isadora. "You should’ve told someone."

She nodded through tears. "I know and I’m sorry."

I walked closer. "No one is blaming you." She looked up hesitantly. "We’ll deal with the vampires. You have my word!"

Relief briefly crossed her face.

Selena, however, wasn’t satisfied. "You already knew, didn’t you?"

I remained silent as she stepped closer. "They’re here because of me." Her breathing quickened. "The vampires wanted me and the fact they managed to enter Blackbourne..."

She shook her head. "...should terrify everyone."

I placed both hands gently on her shoulders. "It won’t come to that because we’ll remove them before you know it."

She wanted more but silence settled between us then Isadora looked at Selena... To me.. and back again.

Her brows slowly knitted together. "I’ve been wondering about something."

Selena glanced at her. "What?"

She hesitated only briefly. "You two..." She gestured awkwardly between us. "...seem very familiar."

Selena’s cheeks flushed while I remained still as she laughed nervously. "It’s nothing like that."

Isadora folded her arms. "It doesn’t look like nothing."

Selena sighed. "Alpha Kael accepted me into Blackbourne...He knew where I came from, he knew why I ran away and he still let me stay."

Isadora looked at me curiously. "Didn’t that affect your rule?"

I remained silent while she tilted her head. "Or..." Her eyes narrowed. "...do you have some other reason? Like an ulterior motive?"

"Isadora," Selena whispered.

"Enough."

"I’m only asking."

Selena gave her a warning look Before either of them could continue, Beta Bastian’s urgent voice rang through my mind.

’My Alpha.’

I straightened immediately. ’Report.’

’Alpha William has departed. His entourage is riding with escorts from the Kavanagh family.

"They’re being followed but our men are already behind them.

I turned slightly toward the window. "What about Lord Black?’

’He’s still inside the manor.’

’Good. Who remains there?’

Beta Bastian answered immediately. ’We never saw Brandon Kavanagh leave nor his wife so we have to assume they’re still inside. Which means Lord Black is likely meeting with them.’

The conversation ended as something twisted uncomfortably inside my chest.

No. Something wasn’t right. Alpha William was leaving too easily and far too easily.

I turned toward the door.

"Alpha Kael?" Selena’s voice stopped me. "What is it? Tell me what’s happening."

"I’ll explain later."

She took a step toward me. "You can’t keep protecting me by keeping me in the dark."

I hated the disappointment in her eyes but there wasn’t time. Not now.

I left the chamber despite her calling after me.

Kieren caught up with me halfway down the corridor."My Alpha."

We continued walking. "What do you think?" I asked.

He hesitated. "If the vampires came for a reason... They may have wanted Alpha William’s daughter."

I looked at him as he quickly added, "I’m only considering possibilities."

I knew exactly what he was doing. He wasn’t simply discussing strategy. He was trying to gauge how much Selena meant to me.

I gave him nothing. Neither confirmation nor denial. We stepped outside into the castle courtyard and almost immediately, every instinct inside me screamed.

Three figures. Three impossible figures. One stood directly before Alpha William’s departing carriage.

Another balanced effortlessly atop the towering battlement above the castle gates.

The third... my blood ran cold as he stood beside a pile of fallen guards.

His teeth were buried deep in the neck of one of them.

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