Claimed By The Rival Alpha

Chapter 82: Chapter 82

Selena

I sat on the wooden steps of the old cottage, staring blankly at what remained of the vampire.

The flames had died down several minutes ago, but the smell of smoke still hung heavily in the air. Thin trails of gray smoke curled upward from the charred remains before disappearing into the evening sky.

I couldn’t look away as my mind felt completely numb. I had replayed everything so many times that the sequence had almost become detached from reality.

The chase, The vampire catching us, Sera falling, The cottage, The strange black wood, Sera stabbing him, His body refusing to fall, The barrel, The fire and the explosion.

I swallowed hard. I had never imagined that vampires could be killed so easily.

Of course, I knew they were dangerous. Everyone knew that. Stories about their cruelty had been passed from one generation to another, especially among the werewolf packs bordering their territory.

But no one had ever told me that something as simple as fire could destroy them. And that strange wood... Vaelthorn.

I glanced toward the piece that had fallen beside the vampire’s remains.

It was still black, its silver veins catching the fading light. My eyes narrowed.

If Sera hadn’t known about that wood, I would be dead. There was no doubt about it.

The vampire had been playing with me the entire time. He could have caught me whenever he wanted. He had simply enjoyed watching me run.

I wrapped my arms around myself. What if there were more of them? What if Alpha Kael was facing several vampires inside the castle?

My stomach tightened. Alpha Kael... I had almost forgotten.

My head snapped up. "Kael."

I immediately stood. I needed to return. I needed to know what had happened. I needed to know if Isadora was safe. I needed to know if Alpha Kael was safe.

Before I could move, the sound of approaching hooves reached my ears.

I turned toward the forest as a carriage emerged between the trees.

It was the same massive metal carrier I had seen earlier, but this time it looked much heavier.

Sera climbed down while looking so exhausted. When she saw me standing near the cottage, she immediately glanced toward the charred remains.

She frowned. "I didn’t know they didn’t burn completely."

I looked at her. "Neither did I."

She walked closer, studying the remains then she looked at me. "Are you all right?"

"I think so." I rubbed my arms. "I’m not sure."

She sighed. "Neither am I."

I stared at her before asking, "How did you know fire would kill him?"

Sera looked at me. "Because I know."

"That’s not an answer." She gave me an exhausted look as I added. "And what exactly was that black wood?"

"Vaelthorn."

"What is Vaelthorn?"

"You ask too many questions."

I stared at her. "You nearly got your throat ripped out by a vampire."

"So did you."

"I know."

"Then perhaps we should both relax before interrogating each other."

I opened my mouth but she lifted a hand. "Let me ask first."

I frowned. "What are you asking?"

"Why was a vampire chasing you?"

My heart dropped. For a moment, I said nothing then everything came rushing back. I need to get to Alpha Kael and Isadora.

I stepped away from her. "I have to go."

Sera blinked. "Go where?"

"Back."

"Back where?"

"Back to Blackbourne."

Her expression changed. "Now?"

"Yes."

"The sun is already setting."

"I don’t care."

She glanced toward the carriage. "But I need your help unloading this first."

"I can’t help you right now."

"What?"

"I have to get back to the castle."

"Selenа, you can’t just walk through the forest at night."

"I have to."

"Why?"

"Because Alpha Kael is there."

Her brows pulled together. "Alpha Kael?"

"Yes."

"Why do you need to tell him anything?"

"Because he was protecting me." I took a breath. "He needs to know I’m alive."

Sera stared at me suspiciously before asking. "What exactly is happening?"

I looked away. "You don’t know?"

"Know what?"

I hesitated then I finally said it. "There are vampires in the castle."

Sera’s expression immediately changed. "What?"

"Everyone probably knows by now."

"How many?"

"I don’t know how many vampires there are..." I said with a small shrug.

"What do they want?" She suddenly asked.

I bit the inside of my cheek. "I don’t know."

It was a lie because I knew they wanted me but I couldn’t tell Sera that.

Not now. Not when I had spent so long hiding who I truly was.

Sera stared at me. "You do know."

I remained silent as she folded her arms, staring intently at me. "Selena."

I looked at her and she suddenly shook her head. "No."

"What?" I asked with creased brows.

"I think I finally know exactly what this is."

My stomach twisted. "How?"

"Alpha William." I froze as Sera continued. "I saw what happened at the ball a few days ago."

My heart began beating faster.

"He stood before everyone and announced that he was going to give a girl to the vampires."

I looked down as she continued. "He said his daughter had disappeared."

My fingers tightened around my dress while Sera’s eyes narrowed.

"The vampires are here because they’re searching for her."

I said nothing.

"And you definitely know who she is."

My heart was pounding so loudly that I could hear it.

Sera took one step closer. "Don’t you?" She asked in an intimidating tone.

I looked away while she kept staring at me. Then realization slowly crossed her face as her lips parted. "No way..."

I closed my eyes. "Sera..."

"You." I opened my eyes as she added. "You are Alpha William’s daughter."

She looked as though the ground had disappeared beneath her feet.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke. I couldn’t bring myself to deny it because she already knew.

"Sera, please."

Her face hardened. "You lied to me."

"I never wanted to hurt you or anyone."

"You lied to me."

"I was protecting myself."

"From what?"

"The same thing everyone is running from."

Her eyes filled with something I couldn’t immediately identify.

I stepped closer. "I need you to understand something."

"Don’t you dare come any closer." She snapped at me.

"You can’t let anyone else know about this, please..." The moment the words left my mouth, Sera’s hand struck my face.

The sound echoed through the clearing while I stumbled sideways.

My cheek burned as I stared at her in disbelief. "Sera..."

"Don’t say my name." Her voice trembled.

I touched my cheek while she was breathing heavily. "You know what your monster of a father did?"

I shook my head slowly.

"He murdered my entire family."

My blood went cold. "What?"

"He murdered them." Her voice wasn’t loud anymore. That somehow made it worse.

Sera stared at me with eyes filled with pain. "My father wanted to do a little business with that monster." She laughed bitterly. "Alpha William."

I remained frozen.

"He thought he could trust him." She swallowed. "Your father promised him an agreement."

Her fingers curled into fists. "But Alpha William double-crossed him. He wasn’t satisfied with ruining the deal." Her voice cracked. "He killed them."

I could barely breathe.

"That monster fucking killed all of my family!" I stared at her still in shock.

She wasn’t crying. There were no tears rolling down her face but I could hear the pain in every word.

"I am so sorry." She turned away from me as I added. "I didn’t know about any of these."

"Of course you didn’t. You are his daughter and I’m supposed to forget that?"

"No." I shook my head. "I’m not asking you to forget." I stepped closer. "But I am not him."

She looked at me sternly.

"I didn’t choose who my father was." She remained silent. "If you give me just one moment, I can explain why I came to Blackbourne."

"I don’t want to hear it! You can shove it down your throat!"

"Please Sera..."

"Leave!" She yelled instead. "Leave my property this minute!"

"I can explain everything."

"I don’t care." She turned her face away. "I said leave."

My throat tightened. I wanted to tell her everything.

About why I ran. About what Alpha William had planned. About why Alpha Kael had protected me.

But she wasn’t listening and I couldn’t force her to.

I took a slow step backward. "I’m sorry." But she said nothing.

I looked at her one last time then I turned and walked away.

The forest had become darker. Much darker as the sun was already sinking beyond the trees.

I hurried forward. I didn’t know where I was going and that was the problem.

I had no carriage. No guide. No path I recognized. There were only trees while branches scratched against my arms as I pushed through them.

Shrubs caught against my clothes and every direction looked the same.

I turned left then right and I still wasn’t getting it right. I stopped as my chest rose and fell rapidly. "Where am I?"

There was no answer as silence met my words. I still continued walking regardless.

My legs were beginning to ache. Every step felt heavier than the last.

I stumbled over a root and caught myself against a tree.

"Keep going." I whispered the words to myself. "Just keep going."

The forest became darker as the final trace of sunlight disappeared then the moon rose.

I looked upward through the branches and my breath caught.

A full moon. Tonight was a full moon. Under normal circumstances, I would have felt the pull immediately.

The strange stirring beneath my skin. The power. The wolf But tonight, I was too exhausted.

My body had reached its limit. I took another step then another as my knees weakened.

I tried to steady myself but I couldn’t. My legs finally gave out and I collapsed onto the grassy, dirt-covered ground.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!