Claimed By The Rival Alpha

Chapter 85: Chapter 85

Selena

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand as I walked down the corridor toward the maids’ quarters.

I had promised myself I would not cry again.

It was pointless. Crying would not bring Isadora back. It would not change what had happened, and it certainly would not make the vampires release her.

But every time I remembered the way she must have screamed, my chest tightened.

Alpha Kael had allowed them to take her.

I knew why he had done it. He had been trying to protect me. He had been standing between me and creatures that wanted me because of who my father was. I understood the impossible choice he had been forced to make.

But Isadora was still my friend. She had trusted me and now she was with vampires.

I could not stop imagining what they might have done to her.

"Selena?"

I quickly lowered my hand. Niamh stood at the entrance to the maids’ quarters, staring at me.

Her expression immediately changed when she saw my face. "Why are you crying?"

"I’m not."

She gave me a skeptical look. "You have tears on your cheeks."

I quickly wiped them away. "I was just tired."

"Tired people don’t usually cry."

I forced a small laugh. "Perhaps I am an emotionally tired person."

Niamh did not smile. She was obviously not buying the lie. "Did something happen?"

For a moment, I almost told her. I wanted to tell someone. I wanted to scream about Isadora, the vampires, my father, Alpha Kael, and everything that had happened in the last few days.

But I couldn’t. The more people who knew, the more dangerous everything became.

"Nothing happened," I said softly.

Niamh continued looking at me then I quickly changed the subject. "How are things with the group?"

She blinked. "The group?"

"Yes."

Her expression became serious. "Are you sure you want to talk about that now?"

"More than ever." I walked farther into the room. "We have to move quickly because waiting isn’t helping us."

I lowered my voice. "After the ball, some of the nobles showed interest in what we’re doing. I want their names."

She nodded and reached for a piece of parchment. "I remember several."

"Write them down." She began listing the names while I stood beside her.

After a few moments, she added several more names. I looked over the list. "We need to meet them."

Niamh glanced at me. "How?"

"That’s what I’m trying to figure out."

"We don’t know where they live."

"But we know their names."

"That’s not enough."

"I know." She sighed as I added. "We don’t know their businesses either. Some of them may travel constantly. Others may spend most of their time inside their estates."

"Exactly." She muttered.

I rubbed my forehead. "This is going to be harder than I thought. Where is Sally?"

"She was sent on an errand for the headmaid."

I paused. "The headmaid..." An idea suddenly came to me.

Niamh looked confused. "What?"

"The headmaid."

"Why?"

"She knows everyone."

Niamh’s eyebrows lifted. "You think she’ll help us?"

"I don’t know." I folded the parchment. "But I’m going to ask."

I looked at her. "Speak with the other members of the group. Tell them we need another plan. If the nobles cannot all be reached directly, we have to find another way."

"What are you going to do?"

"I’m going to take my chances with the headmaid."

Niamh nodded. "All right."

I left immediately. The headmaid’s study was only a short distance away, but my heart pounded harder with every step.

I wasn’t sure what I would tell her. I couldn’t tell her about the revolution.

I couldn’t tell her I needed the nobles because I intended to ask them to fund a rebellion against the vampires.

And I certainly couldn’t tell her that Alpha Kael was secretly preparing for the same thing.

When I opened the door, I found the headmaid sitting behind her desk.

Sera stood beside her. Several sheets of parchment were spread across the table.

"The servants assigned to the east corridor need to be changed," the headmaid was saying.

Sera nodded. "I’ll speak with them."

The headmaid looked up. "Selena."

"Can I speak with you?" I quickly asked.

She glanced at Sera. "About what?"

"I need to speak to you privately."

"I am busy."

"It’s urgent."

She sighed. "If this is about your duties, you can tell me now."

"It’s about the Alpha."

The room immediately became quiet as the headmaid studied my face. "Come with me."

I followed her into a smaller adjoining room. She closed the door behind us. "What happened?"

I took a breath. "I know about the vampires."

Her expression changed instantly. "What?"

"I know they were here."

She stared at me. "How?"

"I don’t think it matters. I know what I saw." She remained silent as I continued. "And I know you knew about them."

Her eyes widened. "Selena..."

"I don’t need an explanation." I stepped closer. "I simply need your help."

"What kind of help?"

"I need to communicate with some nobles."

She frowned. "Why?"

I hesitated. This was where I needed to lie. "I’m thinking about leaving the castle."

Her eyebrows rose. "Leaving? Why?"

"I want to find work somewhere else."

The headmaid stared at me. "Are you unhappy here?"

"No."

"Then why leave?"

I looked down. "You once advised me not to depend completely on my bond with the Alpha."

She slowly nodded. "I remember."

"I’ve been thinking about it." I looked back at her. "You were right. I shouldn’t build my entire future around one person, no matter how important that person is to me."

She studied me carefully.

"I want to take control of my life while I still can."

The headmaid’s expression softened. "That is a wise decision."

"Will you help me?"

"I could look into noble households that need maids."

"I already have some listings." I uttered.

"Then what exactly do you need from me?" She asked with creased brows.

"I need introductions."

She frowned. "That is not as easy as you think. Some noble families will refuse to speak with you."

"Then help me find the ones who won’t."

She sighed. "You are stubborn.I can make a few inquiries."

"Thank you."

"When do you need this?"

"As soon as possible."

"I’ll see what I can do."

I nodded. "I’ll return in a few hours."

"Very well."

I left the study. When I returned to my chamber, Marqee was already there.

She looked worried. "Where have you been?"

"Working."

"All day?" Marqee asked, staring weirdly at me.

"Almost."

She studied my face. "You look exhausted."

"I am."

"Did something happen?"

I shook my head. "Nothing I can’t handle."

She didn’t seem convinced, but she didn’t press further.

I sat down as my thoughts immediately returned to Alpha Kael.

Should we tell everyone? Should we reveal that we were mates?

The answer should have been simple but nothing about our situation was simple.

If people knew,Alpha William would have another reason to claim I had been taken from him.

The council could accuse Alpha Kael of interfering with another Alpha’s daughter. And the vampires might create a scene.

I didn’t know whether we had reached the point where hiding our bond was more dangerous than revealing it.

I was still thinking when the door suddenly flew open. "Selena!"

I jumped as Sally rushed inside. "What happened?" I asked, looking behind her to know if she was being chased.

"Come with me. I have something to show you." She grabbed my hand before I could object.

"Sally, slow down."

"I can’t." She was grinning. "You won’t believe what happened."

She pulled me down the corridor until we reached a quieter section. Then she turned toward me. "I got the shrine."

I stared at her in disbelief. "You what?"

"I got the shrine!"

"You actually got it?"

She nodded excitedly. "Yes."

I immediately thought about the money she had been making from her secret venture. "How much did you pay?"

"Nothing."

I frowned. "Nothing?"

She laughed. "Not one coin."

"Then how did you get it?"

Sally’s excitement softened. "The man I was speaking to wasn’t the real owner."

"What?"

"I thought he was. Apparently, he had only been handling matters concerning the shrine."

"So who owned it?"

"The priest."

I blinked. "The priest?"

She nodded. "He is very old and very sick. I’ve helped him many times." Her voice softened. "He also helped me once when I lost someone."

I didn’t ask who but I could hear the pain in her voice.

"When I told him I wanted the shrine, he told me it belonged to him."

"And he gave it to you willingly?"

"Yes." She pulled a rolled parchment from her clothes. "He handed me this."

I unfolded it as my eyes widened. "The ownership scroll."

"Yes."

I smiled. "Sally, this is incredible."

She laughed. "I knew you’d be happy."

I hugged her but when I pulled away, my smile faded slightly because I don’t know if we’ll still use it with Alpha Kael now in the picture.

I looked down at the scroll. "We have to be careful now and thank you for this"

Sally nodded. "It’s nothing, Selena."

She became quiet for a moment then she spoke. "I’ve also decided something."

"What’s that?"

"I’m stopping."

I looked at her. "Stopping what?"

"My secret venture."

I stared at her in disbelief. "You’re serious?"

She nodded. "I never liked doing it."

"Then why did you?"

"I thought it was the only thing I could do to survive." She looked at me. "But after you found out, I realized something."

"What?"

"It was always a choice." Her eyes filled with emotion. "I chose it because I thought I had no other choice."

She shook her head. "But now I know I do."

I smiled. "I’m proud of you."

She stepped forward and hugged me. I wrapped my arms around her.

For a few precious seconds, we simply held each other then I suddenly heard my name and we separated.

Sera stood there. "Selena."

I looked at her. "What is it?"

"The headmaid sent me."

She glanced at Sally before looking back at me. "You need to get ready." Her expression remained serious as she added. "To leave the castle."

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