Claimed By The Rival Alpha

Chapter 80: Chapter 80

Kael

I led the vampires through the castle corridors toward my study, forcing myself to maintain the calm expression expected of an Alpha even though every instinct in my body was screaming at me to turn around and attack.

Three vampires were walking through my home.

Three creatures that had already slaughtered my guards were now following me deeper into my territory, and I was the one leading them.

I couldn’t afford to make a mistake. Not one.

Behind us, I could hear the measured footsteps of Beta Bastian and Garrick. None of them spoke. They understood the danger of the situation, and I could feel their wolves bristling beneath their skin.

I pushed open the door to my study. "Here."

The vampires entered.

I walked toward the large wooden cabinet where the castle records were kept. My fingers moved through several leather-bound ledgers before I pulled out the one I needed.

I placed it on my desk. "This contains the records of every servant who has worked within Blackbourne Castle."

The vampire closest to me stepped forward. "Convenient."

I ignored the sarcasm as I opened the ledger and flipped through the pages until I reached the name I had planted weeks ago.

"Selena Savanov." My finger rested against the name. "There."

The vampires leaned over the desk. One of them studied the page carefully. "She was a servant?"

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"Several weeks."

"Doing what?"

"General household duties."

The vampire continued reading while I watched his eyes move across the page.

Everything had been prepared carefully. The name. The position and the dates.

The records had been created long before I knew I would need them, but I had made certain they looked as though they had always existed.

Now I was silently praying that they were convincing enough.

I reached for another parchment. "This is her travel record."

I placed it beside the ledger and the vampire picked it up.

It showed that Selena Savanov had rented a carriage and left Blackbourne.

The information was false because I had planted it myself weeks ago, anticipating the possibility that one day someone might come searching for her.

Today, that possibility has become reality. The vampires studied the parchment for a long time but no one spoke.

Finally, one of them smiled. It wasn’t a friendly smile. "Why should we trust you?"

I leaned against the edge of the desk. "You shouldn’t."

His eyebrows rose. "I beg your pardon?"

"You shouldn’t trust me simply because I’m standing here telling you something."

I looked directly into his eyes. "But ask yourself this. Why would I lie about Alpha William’s daughter?"

They exchanged glances. "Because you hate him?"

"Precisely." I gave a small shrug. "Everyone knows Alpha William and I are rivals."

"Wouldn’t that give you more reason to keep his daughter?"

I paused as the question caught me off guard for the briefest moment but I recovered quickly.

"I didn’t know who she was at first."

They watched me carefully.

"I accepted her into my castle because I believed the story she gave me and then I became suspicious."

I lowered my gaze slightly, allowing frustration to enter my voice. "I investigated her and discovered her identity."

"Then why did you let her leave?"

I sighed. "Because she escaped."

The vampire laughed. "You lost her?"

His companion chuckled. "The great Alpha of Blackbourne lost a young woman?"

I clenched my jaw. "I didn’t find it amusing either."

"But you knew who she was."

"By the time I discovered the truth, she had already disappeared."

They continued laughing and I let them. If humiliating myself helped them believe the lie, I would gladly endure it.

The coldest of the three remained silent. He hadn’t laughed once and his eyes were fixed on me.

"Who else knew she was here?"

My heartbeat quickened and before I could answer, Beta Bastian’s voice entered my mind.

’My Alpha, should I prepare the warriors?’

I knew exactly what he was thinking. If the vampires wanted witnesses, they might start searching the castle themselves.

Still, I held the command. "No!" I immediately closed the link.

Then I turned back toward the vampires. "Have you noticed something?"

"What?" One of the Vampire asked.

"You haven’t seen a single servant since entering the castle."

The vampire’s eyes narrowed. "Why’s that?"

"Because I ordered them away."

"Why?"

I smiled. "Because my subjects are frightened."

"Of us?"

"Yes."

Vandal laughed. "Why?"

I folded my arms. "They believe vampires are cold, monstrous." His grin widened as I added, "Creatures of the dark."

The three vampires laughed while I shrugged.

"Those are the titles people in my pack have given you."

They simply laughed then I nodded toward the door. "Perhaps it would be better if I brought the headmaid here."

The cold vampire looked at me. "Why?"

"She has worked in the castle longer than anyone. She may have known Selena."

"Bring her." One said and I immediately mindlinked one of the guards to bring her.

Minutes later, the study door opened and the headmaid stepped inside.

The moment she saw the vampires, all the color drained from her face.

She stopped dead with her lips parted while she couldn’t speak.

Vandal’s eyes immediately brightened. "There." He smiled. "She knows something."

The headmaid took a step backward then Vandal disappeared. Before she could react, he was standing directly in front of her.

He leaned toward her face, deliberately exposing his fangs then his tongue slowly passed over them.

The headmaid gasped.

I immediately reached through the mindlink.

"Stay calm." Her frightened eyes shifted toward me. "And do not reveal anything to them."

Before I could say another word, the cold vampire moved then his hand closed around my throat.

"What did you tell her?" His grip tightened.

Behind me, I heard weapons being drawn. Garrick and Bastian immediately moved forward but the other two vampires intercepted them.

One grabbed Garrick by the throat while the other held Beta Bastian against the wall.

The entire room froze.

"What did you tell her?" the vampire repeated.

I struggled to breathe. "Nothing."

His fingers tightened. "You spoke to her through your mind! What did you say?"

I forced the words out. "I told her..." I swallowed painfully. "...to stay calm."

His eyes remained locked on mine. "Nothing else?"

"Nothing." He stared at me for several seconds then he finally released me.

I dropped forward, coughing as I rubbed my throat.

Vandal turned toward the headmaid. "Do you know a woman named Selena Savanov?"

The headmaid’s eyes widened. "Yes."

Vandal smiled. "Good." He walked closer to her. "We searched the castle."

The headmaid trembled. "And we were told Selena went to the market."

He tilted his head. "When will she return?"

The cold vampire’s eyes immediately locked onto mine. Giving me a warning which I understood.

He was watching me closely. If I attempted to mindlink the headmaid again, he would notice and I couldn’t risk it.

My mind immediately began calculating any escape route.

The distance between the vampires and my warriors. How quickly I could reach Garrick. How many blows it would take. How many people could die before I managed to kill them.

I shouldn’t have brought them here. I had trapped myself inside my own study.

Then the headmaid shook her head. "No."

Vandal frowned. "What?"

"She didn’t go to the market."

His expression changed. "What did you say?"

"She left." The headmaid swallowed. "A long time ago, she fled the pack."

For one brief moment, relief washed through me. She had done it. She had understood the lie.

But the vampires suddenly reacted violently. Vandal grabbed the nearest chair and threw it across the room and it smashed against the wall.

Another vampire swept several books from the shelves as Papers flew across the floor.

I kept my voice calm as I expressed myself. "I regret allowing her to escape."

Then I slowly turned the situation back toward the person who had brought it upon himself.

"But now I have a question." They all looked at me. "Why did Alpha William tell you she was still here?"

Silence met my words as I continued. "If Selena had truly remained in my custody, why would I hide her from you?"

The vampires exchanged glances. "He lied."

The words came from Vandal and I nodded slowly. "Exactly."

His face darkened. "That bastard."

Another vampire cursed under his breath. "He knew! He sent us here knowing she was gone."

The cold vampire’s eyes narrowed. "That’s why he left Blackbourne in a hurry."

"Exactly! He wanted to get out before you discovered the truth." I gestured toward the door. "I can order my guards to stop him at the border."

They looked at one another then Vandal nodded. "Do it. We’ll deal with Alpha William."

We rushed out from the study. I moved quickly through the corridor, the vampires following behind me.

I had barely stepped into the courtyard when one of them suddenly stopped.

"Wait." I turned as his eyes were fixed toward the eastern wing. "The girl."

My stomach tightened as I asked. "What girl?"

"The one Alpha William brought, we should take her."

I stared at him. "Why?"

"She could be useful to us. We can use her to lure Alpha William out "

"But Alpha William doesn’t care about her." I immediately uttered.

The vampire looked amused and suspicious. "How do you know?"

"Because he brought her as a replacement for his daughter Selena."

I watched their expressions carefully. "He had already lost his daughter. So he brought another girl to fulfill the tribute."

Vandal’s eyes narrowed. "Then she can still serve a purpose."

My jaw tightened as I added. "She means nothing to him."

"Perhaps, she could be of a better use later on."

I knew what he meant.

My hands curled into fists. Isadora was important to Selena and If I allowed them to take her, Selena would never forgive me.

But if I refused... The vampires would continue searching and sooner or later, they would find Selena.

I couldn’t allow that. Not when her life was at stake.

Vandal looked toward me. "Bring her."

I remained silent.

"Alpha." The cold vampire’s voice was firm. "Bring her."

I closed my eyes briefly then opened them before giving out the command. "Bring Isadora."

Minutes later, Isadora was dragged into the courtyard. She fought desperately against the guards.

"No! Let me go! Please!"

Then she saw me and her eyes widened. "Alpha Kael!"

I couldn’t look away as she was crying.

"Please!" I remained still. "Alpha Kael, don’t let them take me!"

Every part of me wanted to step forward but I couldn’t. Not if I wanted Selena to live.

The vampires took hold of her as she screamed again. "Alpha Kael!"

I forced myself to remain where I was. I reminded myself why I was doing this. For Selena, for my pack and for everyone who would suffer if these vampires discovered the truth.

The cold vampire looked at me. "You know..." He smiled. "I think I like you."

I said nothing.

"You’re certainly more reasonable than Alpha William." He glanced toward Isadora. "I’ll put in a good word with our Lord."

He smiled as he added. "Perhaps our alliance should shift from Alpha William..." He looked back at me. "...to you."

My eyes widened but I didn’t even have time to respond as Isadora was dragged away.

I forced myself to remember why I had made the choice and I forced myself to remain still.

The vampires left.

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