Claimed By The Rival Alpha

Chapter 44: Chapter 44

Selena.

Sally had not stopped asking me the same question since we left the Alpha’s chamber.

"What were you doing there?"

Her voice followed me down the corridor, through the quiet halls of the castle, and even when we stepped into our chamber, she still had the same suspicious expression on her face.

I refused to answer.

Not because I didn’t hear her, but because I genuinely didn’t know what answer would make things easier.

How was I supposed to explain that I had stormed into Kael’s chamber angry because he had hidden information from me, only for everything to become more complicated the moment I was alone with him?

My thoughts were already a mess.

The way he looked at me. The way he always seemed to understand when I was pretending to be stronger than I actually was. The way being near him made me forget every reason I had built walls around myself.

I hated that.

I hated that the one person who was supposed to be my enemy was becoming the person I found myself turning toward.

I walked into the chamber and immediately went to my bed, hoping Sally would finally let the matter go.

She didn’t.

"You’re really not going to answer me?"

I looked at her.

"Sally."

"No."

She crossed her arms.

"You can’t just disappear into the Alpha’s private chamber and come back acting like nothing happened."

I frowned.

"I told you. I went to ask about the court meeting."

Her eyes narrowed.

"And you expect me to believe that?"

I sat down slowly.

"Why wouldn’t you?"

"Because that isn’t how things work here."

Her voice became more serious.

"Selena, this is the Alpha’s chamber. Not a common room. Not somewhere servants walk into whenever they want information."

I felt irritation rising inside me.

"What exactly are you accusing me of?"

"I’m not accusing you of anything."

She paused.

"I’m saying you’re not telling us the whole truth."

The words hit harder than I expected.

Because part of me knew she was right.

There were things I couldn’t tell them.

Not because I didn’t trust them, but because I didn’t even understand those things myself.

"You want to know everything?" I asked.

"Yes."

The answer came quickly.

"If we are supposed to be part of this revolution, if we are supposed to follow you and risk our lives, then yes. I want the truth."

I stared at her.

"What truth do you want, Sally?" freeweɓnovel.cøm

"The truth about why you were in his chamber."

Silence filled the room.

Marqee, who had been quietly sitting on her bed, finally stood up.

"Enough."

Both of us turned to her.

She looked uncomfortable.

"You two are going to start a fight."

Neither of us spoke.

Marqee sighed.

"We already have enough problems. We don’t need to turn against each other."

Sally looked away first.

I looked down at my hands.

The truth was, I understood her frustration.

She had followed me into something dangerous. She had believed in my words when most people would have laughed at me. She deserved honesty.

But there were some things I couldn’t put into words.

Not yet.

The silence between us became unbearable, so I stood.

"I have something to do."

Sally looked at me.

"Selena—"

But I was already leaving.

I needed space.

And more importantly, I needed to focus.

I walked through the corridors until I reached Niamh’s chamber.

When she opened the door and saw me, surprise immediately crossed her face.

"Selena? Is something wrong?"

I stepped inside.

"We need to hold another meeting."

Her expression changed.

"Another one?"

"Yes. Midnight."

She stared at me.

"Already?"

I nodded.

"There are things we need to discuss."

Niamh studied my face before agreeing.

"Who should I inform?"

"Everyone."

I hesitated.

"Tell Sally too."

Her brows lifted.

"Sally?"

I looked away.

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"But... she already knows about the meetings."

I forced a small smile.

"She has been busy lately. I just want everyone informed."

It wasn’t exactly a lie.

Not completely.

Niamh didn’t question it further.

"Alright. I’ll tell them."

After leaving her chamber, I walked back through the halls, trying to clear my mind.

But my thoughts kept returning to the argument with Sally.

Maybe she was right.

Maybe I had been keeping too much to myself.

But every time I tried to explain my situation, it became more complicated.

Especially when Kael was involved.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I almost didn’t notice the guard standing ahead of me.

"Selena."

I stopped.

The guard looked at me, and immediately my body tensed.

For a moment, I thought he was trying to stop me.

"What do you want?"

His expression changed.

"I have a message from the Alpha."

My heart skipped.

"From Kael?"

He nodded.

"He wants you to go to the training yard."

The words immediately brought back memories I didn’t want to think about.

My stomach tightened.

The training yard.

Being alone with him.

The way every conversation with him somehow became more difficult than the last.

I swallowed.

"Tell him I won’t be going."

The guard looked surprised.

"You’re refusing?"

"Yes."

I didn’t wait for another question.

I walked away.

Because I knew myself.

I knew that every time I was near Kael, I lost focus.

And right now, I couldn’t afford that.

I had a revolution to build.

A group of people who believed in me.

A purpose bigger than my own confusion.

When midnight finally came, everything was prepared.

The main hall was ready.

The guard who had agreed to leave his position had already been paid.

The plan was moving exactly how I wanted.

Or at least, I hoped it was.

I looked around our chamber.

Marqee was lying on her bed with her back turned toward me.

Too still.

I knew she was pretending to sleep.

Sally was also preparing.

Unlike Marqee, she wasn’t pretending.

She looked serious, focused, but there was still something distant about her.

She left before me.

The moment the door closed behind her, I walked toward Marqee.

"Marqee."

No response.

I sighed.

"Don’t do this."

Still nothing.

I shook her shoulder gently.

"Marqee."

Her breathing remained steady.

She was pretending.

I knew it.

But I also knew forcing her to talk wouldn’t solve anything.

I stepped back.

"Fine."

I grabbed my cloak and prepared to leave.

My mind was filled with thoughts of the meeting.

The people waiting.

The future of the revolution.

The doubts.

The risks.

But then another thought appeared.

Marqee.

Why was she acting like this?

Why did it feel like she was slowly pulling away from me?

I barely noticed the darkness of the corridor until it was too late.

A sudden force moved against me.

My back softly met the wall.

My breath caught.

Before I could react, a familiar scent surrounded me.

Then I saw them.

Glowing red eyes staring directly into mine.

A familiar growl filled the silence.

"Why are you avoiding me?"

It was Kael.

His hand held my waist firmly while his other hand held my wrists above my head, trapping me against the wall.