Claimed By The Rival Alpha

Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Selena.

I wanted to push him away. That was the first thought that crossed my mind when I felt Kael’s grip tighten around my waist, keeping me trapped between him and the cold stone wall.

I should have been angry. I should have reminded him that this was exactly why I had been avoiding him since earlier.

But then he lowered his head, his breath brushing against my skin, and my thoughts became a mess.

The confidence I always carried seemed to disappear whenever he was this close. It was frustrating because I hated feeling like I had no control over myself around him.

"Kael..." I whispered.

My voice came out weaker than I intended.

His eyes remained fixed on mine, his expression unreadable.

"I’m sorry," I said quietly.

For a moment, his face changed slightly, like he hadn’t expected those words from me.

"I wasn’t trying to anger you," I continued. "I just... I needed space."

"Space?" he repeated.

I swallowed.

"Yes. Because what happened earlier shouldn’t have happened."

His jaw tightened.

"Shouldn’t have happened?"

I looked away from him.

"You know what I mean."

Silence stretched between us.

The corridor was dark and empty, yet somehow it felt like the entire castle could hear the tension between us.

"We made an agreement," I reminded him. "We both agreed that we wouldn’t let this go further."

Kael stared at me for a long moment.

Then his voice dropped.

"What if I don’t want to follow that agreement anymore?"

My heart stopped for a second.

I looked back at him, wondering if he was only trying to provoke me.

"You’re joking."

He didn’t answer.

That was when I realized he wasn’t.

My expression changed.

"Kael..."

"You think I don’t know what this means?" he asked. "You think I haven’t thought about the consequences?"

I stared at him.

"You are forgetting something very important."

"What?"

"Who I am."

His eyes darkened.

"I know exactly who you are."

"No, you know who my father is," I corrected. "You know what he represents. You know what he has done."

I took a shaky breath. freewebnoveℓ.com

"I am his daughter. The daughter of the man you hate."

Kael said nothing.

"And I’m not just some random person you can protect without consequences. If my father discovers where I am... if he discovers what is happening between us..."

I paused.

"He won’t just come for me."

The realization settled heavily between us.

"He will come for you."

Kael’s expression remained firm.

"My father would bring the vampires themselves to your gates just to make sure I don’t become yours."

The words hung between us.

For a moment, I saw something flicker in his eyes.

Something like anger.

Not at me.

At the situation.

"You think I don’t understand that?" he asked.

Before I could respond, he moved closer.

The argument I had prepared disappeared.

I expected another warning.

Another reminder of why this was impossible.

Instead, he kissed me.

Everything inside me froze.

Then slowly, against all the reasons screaming in my head, I stopped fighting.

For a moment, there was no Alpha, no rival packs, no vampires, no war waiting beyond the castle walls.

There was only him.

My fingers tightened around his shirt without thinking.

I hated how easily he made me forget everything.

I hated that part of me wanted to stop worrying and simply accept what was happening.

But then, just as quickly as it started, he pulled away.

I opened my eyes.

Kael looked at me like he was fighting a battle inside himself.

His voice was low.

"Think about what you just said."

Before I could ask what he meant, he stepped away.

And then he left.

I remained standing there, completely still.

My mind replayed everything over and over again.

His words.

His expression.

The way he looked at me like he was afraid of what we could become.

I don’t know how long I stayed there before I finally forced myself to move.

By the time Sally found me, I was still trying to pretend my thoughts weren’t completely chaotic.

"What are you doing here?"

I quickly looked up.

Sally stood at the end of the corridor, studying me suspiciously.

"Nothing."

Her eyes narrowed.

"You’re terrible at lying."

"I’m fine."

She didn’t believe me, but thankfully she didn’t push.

Instead, she motioned for me to follow her.

The moment we entered the storeroom, I forced myself to focus.

Whatever confusion I felt about Kael had to wait.

The group needed me.

Two new women had joined that night, and I greeted them before beginning the meeting.

"Before anything else, we need to remember why we are here."

Everyone became quiet.

"This group isn’t built on anger alone. Anger disappears. Fear disappears. But purpose remains."

I looked around the room.

"We are here because we believe things can change."

After introductions, I gave each person a piece of parchment.

"Write your reason for joining."

Some looked confused.

"Why?"

"Because one day, when things become difficult, you need to remember why you started."

They slowly began writing.

When everyone finished, I explained the next steps.

"We haven’t achieved much yet, and I won’t pretend we have. Building something like this takes time."

A few people looked discouraged.

"But we cannot stop because progress is slow." freewebnoveℓ.com

I turned to Sally.

"Tell them about the outside location."

Sally stepped forward.

"I spoke to someone I know in town. There is an old shrine that belonged to his grandmother. It has been abandoned for years."

"That sounds useful," someone said.

"It would be," Sally replied. "But there is a problem."

Everyone looked at her.

"The owner wants payment."

"How much?"

"Forty silver coins."

The room immediately erupted.

"Forty?"

"That’s impossible."

"We barely earn enough to survive."

I raised my hand.

"Quiet."

The room slowly settled.

"I understand why you’re upset."

I looked at them.

"The average servant earns fifteen bronze coins a week. Forty silver is not a small amount."

Ryuiji shook his head.

"That isn’t just difficult. It’s impossible."

Several people agreed.

Later, I pulled Sally aside.

"Can your friend reduce the price?"

She sighed.

"That is already after bargaining."

I frowned.

The problem was bigger than I expected.

So I faced the group again.

"Then we start smaller."

Everyone looked at me.

"This week, every member here must bring two more people."

A few immediately complained.

"We can’t just keep bringing people!"

"We need resources."

"I know."

I tried calming them.

"But we need numbers first."

The arguments continued.

Everyone was afraid.

Everyone had doubts.

And I understood.

They were risking everything.

But before I could say anything else, the door suddenly opened.

The room went silent.

Everyone turned.

Standing there was the headmaid.

"Does she know?"