Claimed By The Rival Alpha

Chapter 41: Chapter 41

Selena

The sound of metal cups clinking against each other filled the kitchen, mixing with the low murmurs of servants moving around the busy room.

I stood near the edge of the kitchen, pretending to focus on the work in front of me, but my attention was somewhere else.

The courtroom and more specifically, the meeting happening inside it.

My eyes remained fixed on Niamh as she carefully filled goblets of ale, her movements calm and practiced. The tray in her hands would soon be carried through those large courtroom doors where the Alpha and the council members were gathered.

And she was my only chance of finding out what was happening.

Ever since last night, whispers had spread through the castle. Guards talking quietly and Servants exchanging worried glances.

Everyone seemed to know something was wrong, but nobody knew exactly what.

The only thing I had managed to hear was that the Alpha was preparing for an incoming attack.

An attack. The word alone made my stomach tighten. I didn’t know who it was from but a part of me feared the answer.

My father! I hated that the thought still frightened me. I hated that even after everything, the idea of Alpha William finding me still made fear crawl through my body.

Because I knew what would happen would be bad. I would not be this free Selena anymore. I would become a possession again.

A bargaining piece and a daughter to be traded to the blood sucking vampires.

I quickly pushed the thought away and focused on Niamh. She lifted the tray and started walking toward the courtroom.

I watched her carefully. "Don’t make it obvious," I whispered to myself more than to her.

If anyone noticed what we were doing, everything we had built would collapse before it even started.

Sally wasn’t here today. She had gone to the market to speak with her friend about finding a possible outside base for our group meetings.

That was another thing constantly sitting in my mind. The revolution was no longer just an idea.

There were people involved now. People have begun trusting me and they are expecting me to lead them right and I couldn’t fail them.

My eyes moved around the kitchen then I saw Marqee. She was working among the other kitchen servants, but the moment our eyes met, she quickly looked away.

My chest tightened slightly at such an act from her. Since the meeting last night, things between us have become so different. It has become colder and farther.

I hated this new development between Marqee and myself. I never expected this to be happening.

Before, Marqee was the first person who worried whenever I did something reckless. She was the person who followed me even when she was afraid.

But now? She barely spoke to me and I understood my part in it.

I have been busy.Constantly planning with writing letters, meeting people and trying to convince them into joining the revolution, and at the same time; I’m thinking about the next step.

Maybe I had been too busy with those things to give her more of my time but I never planned to ignore her.

Still, I couldn’t understand why she was acting like this. Was she angry about the revolution? Did she regret helping me?

I wanted to ask but every time I looked at her, I felt like I already knew the answer.

Perhaps she didn’t want to be part of my revolution plans. So instead, I decided to focus on what mattered.

I decided to focus on getting more people, more information and then getting the revolution to happen. fгeewebnovёl.com

I spotted Jett and Ash nearby. Grengy’s friends... The same two men who had once been ready to kill me because their friend had a fight with me or because I had beaten up their friend.

I approached them carefully. "Hey guys, Good morning."

Neither of them answered. They simply looked away from me like I didn’t just speak to them.

I frowned before asking, "Are you both planning to pretend I don’t exist?"

They continued working while I insistantly crossed my arms. I wasn’t going to let them get away with ignoring me.

"That’s interesting considering you both were the ones who tried to kill me. The least you can do is show me some respect because I do deserve it."

That finally got a reaction as they exchanged a glance before Jett sighed. "Just leave us alone, Selena. We are just here minding our own business."

I raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Excuse me?"

Ash looked uncomfortable as he spoke. "We don’t want to get into problems because of you. Just let us be."

"What problems? Why would I want to get you into trouble?"

He lowered his voice. "Talking to you alone is a problem for us and we don’t want it."

I stared at him in disbelief. "You’re afraid of talking to me?"

He looked away before saying. "Look what happened to Grengy because of you."

My expression hardened. "Grengy was imprisoned because he attacked me. He definitely tried to kill me."

"You know how servants fight," Jett interrupted. "People argue. People get angry. But nobody gets punished like that."

I narrowed my eyes. "So you think he was treated unfairly?"

They didn’t answer and I took a deep breath because this argument wasn’t why I came here. "I’m not here to argue about Grengy."

"Then why are you here?" Ash asked with a sharp tone.

I looked between them. "To ask you to join us."

They both stared at me. "Join what?" Ash asked. freewebnovёl.ƈom

"It’s a revolution."

A small laugh escaped Jett. "You’re still doing that?"

"Yes."

"And you think servants like us can change anything?" He asked in a mocking tone

I ignored the mocking in his voice. "Why not?"

"Because we are servants." He pointed out again.

"No." My voice became firmer. "Because people like you have been convinced that you are powerless."

They looked at me silently as I continued. "The vampires have controlled our lives for centuries because everyone believes there is nothing they can do."

I stepped closer. "But what happens when people stop believing that?"

Neither spoke as I asked, "Don’t you have anyone that has been taken away from you by those vampires?"

They shook their heads before simultaneously saying "No."

I studied their faces. "Then you’re lucky."

They frowned. "Lucky?"

"Yes. Because some people wake up every day knowing someone they love was taken from them."

My voice lowered. "Some people had their families destroyed." I paused. "Some people lost their mates."

Their expressions changed slightly as I continued trying to reach them but they remained stubborn.

Eventually, Jett sighed. "Fine."

I looked at him. "You guys are in?"

"We’ll consider joining but on one condition." He added

My eyes narrowed as I asked. "What’s the condition?"

He looked at Ash then back at me before stating it. "You must Get Grengy out of prison."

I blinked. "What? Is this some joke?"

"You heard me."

"That’s impossible." I muttered.

"Then we’re not joining." He said and I felt irritation rise inside of me.

They were making this harder than it needed to be but I also understood something.

I needed more men. Many servants were women, and while that was not a weakness, convincing the males would be more difficult.

If some of them joined, others would follow. So I swallowed my frustration. "I’ll see what I can do."

I didn’t promise anything but it was better than nothing.

When Niamh returned, I immediately noticed her expression. She wasn’t smiling so I pulled her aside. "What happened?"

She shook her head. "Nothing."

"Nothing?"

She sighed. "I tried everything. I stayed longer. I listened carefully."

"And?"

She lowered her voice. "They barely spoke."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"The Alpha, the Beta, the warrior general, the captain of the guards, the merchant master, the head healer..." She shook her head. "They barely said anything all the while that I was there."

I thought about it, then I smiled slightly. "I’m sure that was intentional."

Niamh looked confused as I continued. "He knew people might try to listen so he made sure nobody could hear anything."

For someone like Alpha Kael, it made sense. He was always thinking ahead.

—

Later, I found the guard who had allowed us to use the main hall.

I approached him carefully. "I need information about the council meeting from you."

He looked at me. "And what do I get in return? Information is not for free."

I stared at him before asking. "What do you want?."

He smiled before saying. "Coins."

I hated how often people demanded payment for simple things but I reached into my pouch and handed him a silver coin.

He accepted it immediately and started speaking. "At the council meeting, they’re preparing for a possible vampire attack."

My entire body froze. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe on hearing the word vampire attack.

The same creatures my revolution was created to fight. The same creatures who had controlled our race for centuries.

They were coming here to Blackbourne. They were coming to my new home and Alpha Kael knew.

Anger replaced my shock. How could he keep this from me? Without thinking, I turned and walked toward his chamber.

I needed answers but before I reached the door, a guard stepped in front of me.

"You can’t enter."

I opened my mouth to respond but then another voice responded. "Let her through."

I looked up to find Alpha Kael standing there.