Claimed By The Rival Alpha

Chapter 38: Chapter 38

Selena

For the entire week, every time I looked at the small pile of folded letters hidden beneath my mattress, my heart raced between excitement and fear.

It was finally happening. Not just an idea, not just words spoken in frustration about changing the world.

It’s the beginning. A real beginning.

Although the gathering had not even happened yet, I already felt like something had shifted. Like the first stone of a massive wall had finally been pushed into place.

Of course, getting to this point has not been easy. Every day had been filled with planning, whispering, and carefully watching every person around us.

One wrong move, one careless word... One person noticed something they weren’t supposed to notice, and everything would collapse before it even started.

That was why I had spent the past week making sure every single detail was planned.

I had to because there was no room for mistakes.

Now, standing in line outside the headmistress’ office with Sally, Marqee, Niamh, and Ryuiji, I could feel the tension between us.

It took the whole of the previous weeks to convince Ryuiji’s brother Ren, who works with the headmistress, to help us put in the papers I had prepared into the coin pouches of each servant without the headmistress finding out.

I directed everything; how the letters should be, when they should be placed inside the pouches that morning and even the mechanism of the secrecy so the whole mission wouldn’t be caught by unwanted eyes.

I had fears but despite the fear, I couldn’t bring myself to stop.

Not after everything I had seen. Not after knowing how many people in this castle lived believing they had no choice but to accept the world as it was.

The vampires had taken away more than freedom. They had taken away hope and that was what I wanted to return.

The servants around us were too many, and even though most of them were busy collecting their coin pouches, I had learned that danger didn’t always come from obvious places.

Sometimes it came from the person standing right beside you.

I looked ahead as the headmistress’ office doors remained open and servants entered one after another to receive their payments.

No one knew that hidden inside some of those pouches were letters. Letters carrying a message.

A message that could either become the beginning of something powerful... Or the reason we all ended up punished.

The past week has been exhausting. After Ryuiji had introduced us to his brother, Ren, I had spent days explaining my plan to him.

At first, he was hesitant. Anyone with common sense would be because helping us meant risking everything.

His position, his safety and possibly even his life.

"You understand what you’re asking me to do, right?" Ren had asked me when we first spoke.

We were hidden away in a quiet corner where no one could overhear us. "I do."

"You’re asking me to go against the headmistress."

"Yes."

He studied me carefully. "You’re not afraid?"

I almost laughed. Of course I was. I was terrified but fear had already controlled enough of my life.

"I am." That seemed to surprise him. "But I’m more afraid of doing nothing."

Ren had been quiet after that and eventually, he agreed. From then on, we worked carefully.

"Selena." I turned to find Sally was watching me.

"You’re doing that thing again." She said and I was taken aback.

"What thing?" I asked, confused as I didn’t even understand what she was saying.

"Thinking so hard your face looks like you’re fighting someone."

I almost smiled. "I’m making sure everything goes right."

Sally sighed. "You know, sometimes I wonder if you ever relax."

"I do."

She looked at me with a creased brow. "When do you relax?"

I opened my mouth then closed it and she smirked. "Exactly."

Marqee looked between us nervously. "Can you both stop joking around? This isn’t the time for jokes."

Sally looked at her. "You’re nervous."

"No, I’m not."

"You’ve said that three times to me." Sally argued with a small smirk playing on her lips.

Marqee looked away before saying, "I just think we should be careful."

"We are careful," I assured her but I understood her fear because I had it too.

One by one, the servants collected their pouches then finally, it was our turn.

I kept my expression calm as I received mine and the others also received theirs before we all walked back to our chamber without speaking much.

Only when the door closed behind us did everyone release their tension.

"We did it," Marqee whispered, still looking nervous.

Sally immediately shook her head. "We shouldn’t celebrate yet."

I almost rolled my eyes as I placed my pouch on the table. "We need to check."

Everyone opened theirs and my heart beat faster as I pulled out the folded letter.

It was there... Exactly where it should be.

Everyone found the letters inside theirs then Sally opened hers and found nothing.

Her brows pulled together. "Mine is empty."

I looked at her. "I know it’s empty."

"You didn’t put one in mine?" Sally asked with a frown.

"I didn’t."

Her expression changed. "Why would you do that?"

"Because I wanted to test it first." I explained. "If something goes wrong, I need to know what caused it before we put more out."

Sally nodded slowly before saying. "That’s actually smart." ƒreewebɳovel.com

Marqee suddenly looked horrified. "Wait. What if someone finds theirs?" Her voice became more anxious. "What if they tell the headmistress?"

I looked at her as I called out, "Marqee..."

"No, think about it. What if someone knows it’s Selena who put in these papers? What if they ask questions? What if they know?"

Sally rolled her eyes. "Here we go again."

Marqee looked offended. "I’m just being realistic."

"You’re just panicking."

"I’m trying to keep us alive!" The room became tense.

I stepped between them. "Enough."

They both quieted and I looked at Marqee. "You helped write those letters."

She looked down. "I know I did."

"You believed in this and that’s why you helped."

"I was just stupid."

"No."She looked at me. "You weren’t stupid."

I softened my voice. "You were brave."

Marqee didn’t answer as I continued. "And if something happens, I’ll handle it and take the blame."

Sally immediately looked up. "No."

"I mean—"

"No." Her voice was firm. "You’re not doing this alone."

I looked at her, for someone who acted cold, she cared more than she admitted.

She crossed her arms. "Now we wait till later."

—

By dusk, I approached the guard whose shift would cover the middle floor of the castle during the night.

He looked slightly surprised when he saw me. "Selena"

I smiled as I went closer to him. "Remember our arrangement?"

His expression changed, indicating he indeed remembered. I pulled out one of the five silver coins Alpha Kael had given me.

For a moment, I stared at it. I still didn’t know why he had to give them to me but right now, it was useful.

I handed one of the silver coins to him. "Your payment."

He looked at the coin. "You’re serious about this?"

"Yes." I said. He hesitated, then accepted it.

"The hall will be empty."

"Until the second night shift?" I asked to be sure.

"Yes." He said.

I nodded before saying, "Thank you."

When I returned to my chamber, Sally was already waiting as she quickly asked, "Did he agree?"

"He agreed." I said with a wide smile while Marqee sat nervously on her bed.

I paced around the room, repeating the speech I planned to give.

Not because I wanted to sound impressive. It’s because these people needed to believe. They needed to understand.

A disagreement suddenly broke out. "You’re acting like this is nothing," Marqee said to Sally.

Sally looked at her. "And you’re acting like we’re already dead."

"You’re heartless." Marqee said and Sally scoffed.

"And you’re always scared of everything." Sally retorted back.

"Cold-hearted bitch." Marqee fired back and the words made the room freeze.

I stepped forward immediately. "Enough you two."

They both looked at me. "We cannot destroy ourselves before we even begin."

Before anyone replied, a knock suddenly sounded on the door.

The door opened to reveal the informant boy standing there. "Three people are currently in the hall."

Sally immediately stood. "Let’s go."

"No." I quickly said.

She looked at me. "Why?"

"Three people aren’t enough." I turned to the boy. "Come back when there are fifteen of them."

He nodded and left.

Time passed, then the door opened again. This time, the boy looked surprised. "They are Eighteen now."

My eyes widened. "That fast?"

He nodded and I looked at Sally. "You should go first to give them calm and anticipation."

Sally understood and left while I prepared to follow but Marqee stopped me. "Selena."

I looked back to find her eyes were filled with fear.

"Things like this..." She swallowed. "People like us... servants... lowborn..." Her voice lowered. "We aren’t meant to do things like this. Things like this are meant for Alphas and conquerors."

I stared at her and deep inside, I knew she was wrong because I wasn’t lowborn.

I walked away and when I reached the main hall, I saw a small group was waiting for me.

Then suddenly... We heard the echo of slow and steady footsteps approaching.

Everyone became silent and from the edge of the stairs... Alpha Kael’s face appeared.