Claimed By The Rival Alpha

Chapter 94: Chapter 94

Kael

Night had already swallowed the Redgrave Pack by the time my carriage crossed its outer gates.

The streets were unusually quiet. A few lanterns burned along the stone pathways, their weak flames trembling whenever the night breeze passed through.

Every now and then, I caught sight of a figure standing behind a window or a doorway. But the moment my carriage approached, the doors closed and the curtains were pulled shut.

I noticed. I noticed everything.

The carriage rolled steadily behind two of my warriors, who rode on horseback with their hands close to their weapons. I sat inside with my back against the leather seat, my gaze fixed on the darkness beyond the window.

I had agreed to come here because I needed answers. For months, I had sent letters to the three Alphas whose sons had infiltrated my castle. Every letter had contained the same truth.

Their sons were dead. They had been caught attempting to assassinate my warriors and abduct Selena.

None of the three Alphas had believed me. Instead, they had accused me of lying.

They had demanded that I produce their sons or explain their disappearance. When I refused to change my account, their threats became more direct.

They would accuse me before the High Council. They would call me an abductor.

A tyrant. A criminal Alpha who had taken three young heirs and hidden them somewhere within his territory.

Under normal circumstances, I might have welcomed the opportunity to expose their hypocrisy but circumstances were no longer normal.

Vampires had invaded Blackbourne. Three had already died and a fourth had escaped.

And now an entire race of creatures was likely preparing to descend upon my borders.

The last thing I needed was three Alphas attempting to drag me before the council while I prepared for war.

That was why I had agreed to meet all three of them here in Redgrave.

The carriage eventually stopped and I stepped down first.

Cold air brushed against my face as I looked toward the enormous stone hall where the meeting had been arranged.

One of my guards opened the door behind me and I turned slightly. "Stay alert."

"Yes, Alpha."

The other two warriors nodded and we followed the guards assigned to escort us through the castle.

I kept my eyes moving. The servants were quiet. Too quiet.

The guards stood straight as statues, their expressions unreadable. None of them looked openly hostile, but none looked relaxed either.

That bothered me more than hostility would have.

A hostile man showed his intentions but a quiet one could hide anything.

We eventually entered a large stone hall and the three men were waiting for me.

Alpha Conall of Redgrave stood in the middle. Beside him were Alpha Lorcan and Alpha Cian.

The moment I entered, all three turned toward me. Their expressions told me everything. I saw anger, grief and suspicion.

Alpha Lorcan looked as though he had barely slept in weeks. Alpha Cian’s jaw was clenched so tightly that the muscles along his cheek were visibly tense.

But Alpha Conall was different. He was calm... way too calm.

I stopped several feet from them.

"Alpha Kael," Conall greeted.

"Alpha Conall."

His eyes narrowed as he asked, "Where is my son?"

Alpha Lorcan stepped forward immediately. "And mine?"

Alpha Cian’s voice followed. "My son?"

I raised one hand and the doors behind me opened. Three of my warriors entered, each carrying a large sack.

The three Alphas immediately stiffened.

They placed the sacks on the floor and I nodded. "Open them." I ordered.

My warriors obeyed and the first sack was pulled apart.

Alpha Lorcan froze as his son’s face stared back at him. The man’s complexion immediately drained of color.

"No." His voice was barely audible.

The second sack was opened revealing Alpha Cian’s son.

Then the third revealed Alpha Conall’s son.

Silence consumed the hall then Alpha Lorcan stumbled forward.

He dropped to his knees beside his son’s body and grabbed his face. "No, no, no..." His voice broke. "My boy."

He pressed both hands against his son’s cheeks as though warmth might somehow return to them.

Alpha Cian did not move. He simply stared while his eyes burned with hatred.

Alpha Conall, however, stood perfectly still and I watched him carefully.

"I did you Alphas a favor by preserving their bodies from rotting," I said. "You wanted proof. Now you have it."

Alpha Lorcan looked up at me with tears streaming down his face. "You killed him."

"They came into my territory armed."

"You murdered my son!"

"He came to murder my people." I snapped back at him.

Alpha Lorcan opened his mouth, but no words came.

Alpha Cian finally stepped forward. "You will answer for this."

My eyes shifted toward him. "For what?"

"For murdering three heirs."

"They were assassins."

"They were your prisoners."

"They were intruders in my pack!" I said pointedly.

His nostrils flared. "We should have your head for this."

"Then try."

The room instantly became tense as my warriors moved their hands closer to their weapons.

Alpha Cian took one step forward towards me.

"Enough!" Alpha Conall’s voice stopped him from taking another step towards me.

Everyone looked toward him as the Redgrave Alpha stared down at his son’s body.

Then he slowly exhaled. "We have been exposed."

Alpha Lorcan turned toward him. "What are you saying?"

"The truth." Alpha Conall finally looked at me. "I believed your first letter."

My eyebrows lifted slightly. "Then why did you accuse me of lying?"

"Because I hoped you were." He looked down again. "My son would have returned if he had survived. He would have reported to me."

I said nothing.

Alpha Conall’s expression hardened as he added. "I knew you were telling the truth."

"Then perhaps you can finally answer my question." I stepped closer. "Why were your sons in my territory?"

Alpha Lorcan immediately snarled. "We sent them to retrieve her."

"Retrieve who?"

He glared at me. "Selena Vale!"

My claws slid halfway from my fingertips. "What did you want with her?"

Alpha Conall answered before Alpha Lorcan could. "Don’t pretend you don’t know."

My claws extended fully. "You have one opportunity to explain yourself."

Alpha Cian’s eyes narrowed. "We had evidence that Alpha William’s daughter was inside your castle."

My expression remained cold as he continued. "We knew you were harboring her."

"That gives you no right to enter my territory."

"We had reason."

"You had no right."

Alpha Cian stepped closer. "We could bring the evidence before the High Council."

I smiled without humor. "And I could report all three of you for forceful entry into a foreign pack."

His expression tightened as the room fell silent again.

I wanted to know why Selena mattered so much to them. "What do you want with her?" I asked again.

Alpha Conall sighed. "She has become valuable."

"Explain what you mean by that."

"Selena Vale is no longer merely Alpha William’s daughter. She is now a realm’s treasure."

The words irritated me. "What does that mean?"

"The vampire lord who demanded her has promised great rewards to anyone who delivers her."

My eyes narrowed in surprise. "Rewards?"

"Favor. Protection. Wealth. Influence." Alpha Cian folded his arms. "We only wanted our share."

There it was. Greed! There was no justice, no loyalty... It’s all about being greedy.

"You sent your sons to abduct a woman because you wanted a reward from vampires."

Alpha Conall did not deny it. "They were capable."

"They’re dead."

His jaw tightened. "I know."

I looked between the three men... Alpha Conall had been too calm from the moment I entered.

Alpha Cian had spoken too much about laws and councils while Alpha Lorcan was consumed by grief.

Something was wrong. I did not yet know what but I could feel it.

"Fine," I said and all three looked at me. "I’ll accept that explanation for now."

Alpha Cian frowned. "For now?"

I turned away without responding.

Then Alpha Conall spoke behind me. "You should stay for the night. We can arrange a resting chamber."

I ignored him and kept walking toward the doors while my warriors followed.

Just before leaving, I glanced toward one of them and he understood immediately.

Without a word, he separated from us and disappeared into a darker corridor while the other two followed me outside.

We had barely crossed the courtyard when a Redgrave guard approached. "Alpha Kael."

I stopped to hear him speak.

"Where is your third warrior?" He asked, staring suspiciously at us.

I stared directly into his eyes as I responded. "There were only two warriors with me."

The guard blinked. For several seconds, neither of us spoke, then his expression changed to confusion and then hesitation.

Finally, he lowered his head. "My apologies, Alpha."

I nodded once. "Good." We continued walking and I did not look back.

An inn had been prepared for us nearby. Despite everything, I could not deny the quality of it.

The room was warm, spacious and comfortable. Food had been prepared, fresh clothes had been laid out and the beds were far more luxurious than anything I expected from an inn.

It was too generous.

I sat down while my two warriors remained standing. "What did you notice at the castle?" I asked, watching both of them.

He exchanged a glance with the other before speaking, "The guards were unusually quiet and stoic."

"Anything else?"

"They watched us." The second warrior nodded. "Not openly but they were watching."

I leaned back. "Anything that suggested hostility?"

"No."

"Fear?"

"Not exactly."

I looked toward the window. That was what I had sensed too while speaking with the Alphas.

The guards, the servants and the three Alphas... Everyone had been hiding something.

I had spent enough time around political figures to know when silence meant peace and when it meant concealment.

This was concealment.

I stood up. "Keep your weapons close."

"Yes, Alpha."

I walked toward the window and looked out at the quiet streets.

Somewhere inside that castle, my third warrior was searching for answers.

I only hoped he would find something tangible enough for me.

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