Claimed by the Vengeful Alpha

Chapter 67: The Only One

Maya couldn’t quite explain how she felt, but she could tell something was off, and it didn’t feel as though it came only from Asher.

Keenan’s beta made her feel nervous, but she could easily say it might be because she hadn’t spent too long in his presence. He felt like an intense version of Theo. He wasn’t rude or mean, but like his brother, he didn’t acknowledge her presence.

"The main house isn’t so far away from the orphanage. Surely, you could come around for breakfast or dinner easily. Why won’t you?"

Maya lifted her head as Claude started to speak, just in time to see Asher glance past her and lock eyes with Winnie.

Winnie’s reaction was instantaneous; she dropped the cutlery, and it hit the plate with a loud sound. In her bid to catch it, she nearly hit the cup of water and had to hurriedly grab the cup to keep it still.

"Are you okay?" Alaina asked condescendingly.

"I am fine," she managed to force out as she kept her head down. Her gold hair framed her face and hid it from view. "I j-just got distracted."

"Are you injured?" Theo asked, peering at her with concern.

Winnie almost lifted her gaze but stopped herself and just shook her head. She lifted the cup with shaky hands and brought it to her lips.

"Are you sur—"

"Alpha Keenan," Alaina interrupted Theo, moving attention from Winnie. "You really should come to the beach with us sometime. Alpha Claude had a swell time. Isn’t that right, Alpha?"

"Did you know the sea connects the two kingdoms?" Claude asked Keenan.

Keenan stopped eating and slowly raised his head. "Isn’t that why Verlassen was abandoned?"

Claude smiled. "You’re not wrong. But with the war over, visitors wouldn’t hesitate to visit."

"Verlassen is off limits to outsiders."

"Outsiders is a bit cruel. We are all of the same kingdom."

Keenan scoffed. "They wanted no part of Verlassen then. They don’t deserve access now that the war is over. No one batted an eyelid when Vilhelm took control and did to us whatever pleased him." ƒreewebɳovel.com

Maya froze as she felt everyone at the table look at her, but Keenan’s glare was particularly intense.

"True," Claude replied. "I shouldn’t bring up a sensitive topic during dinner."

Keenan ground his jaw as his eyes moved from Maya to Claude. "Whatever," he said and returned to his meal.

Hilbert adjusted in his seat and glowered at Keenan. "You should know better than to speak to Alpha Claude in that manner."

Claude didn’t say anything to stop Hilbert this time; he just stared at Keenan, who paid him no mind. Keenan was sick of his presence.

The rest of dinner went rather drab and awkward. Alaina tried to speak multiple times, but only Theo humored her; not even Claude paid any attention to her.

"I will take my leave, Alpha," Asher announced as soon as he was done eating.

"Alright, Ash—" Keenan started to say.

"Beta Asher. I hear you patrol every night. While we are here, you may utilize Hilbert as you wish. Regardless of his stature, my Beta has the best eyes there is."

Asher stiffened and turned his eyes toward Keenan, whose expression didn’t change. Asher understood the message immediately: he could respond however he liked.

"I appreciate the offer, Alpha Claude, but you are guests in Verlassen. I cannot accept your offer."

"I insist," Claude pestered. "It would be no trouble. Hilbert welcomes the exercise."

Hilbert didn’t look pleased about this assignment, but he didn’t dispute his Alpha’s words as he met Asher’s eyes.

"Very well, I’ll take any help I can get."

"Wonderful," Claude replied. "Hilbert, go along with him."

"Yes, Alpha." He stood to his feet and bowed before walking toward the doors with Asher.

"Bye, Beta Asher, do drop by for breakfast or dinner another time!" Alaina yelled at the top of her voice as they exited the room.

Maya adjusted in her seat as she realized Asher had protected her from Claude’s eyes. As soon as the seat between them was empty, Claude zoned in on her.

She noticed that he didn’t speak directly to her, nor did he greet her in the exaggerated manner he usually did. Hilbert had bowed at her when they walked in, but that was all.

She glanced at Alaina, and Alaina smiled in her face. Maya knew they had spent the entire day together; she didn’t think Alaina would miss the chance to turn Claude against her. Not that he was on her side to begin with, but she was almost certain there was a change.

She turned her gaze back to Claude, but he was looking away with an unreadable expression. He was a puzzle she couldn’t figure out.

"What are you doing?" Maya nearly jumped out of her skin at the familiar question. Why was there always so much accusation in his tone?

She turned to look at him and he was staring at her with blazing eyes. Maya let out a smile for a very odd reason. Keenan was the only one she wanted to figure out.

Her expression seemed to anger him, and his eyes darkened. He was up on his feet in an instant and marched in her direction. Maya’s smile quickly faded, and horror filled her gaze.

"N-nothing," she mumbled. "I-I don’t understand the question."

Keenan’s brows furrowed, and he grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her off the chair. Maya winced; she instinctively moved her other hand to try to ease his tight grip on her shoulders.

"Are you taking her to your room again?" Claude asked with a raised brow. "Isn’t she the reason you have the scar that still hasn’t fully healed? Isn’t that dangerous, lying in the same bed as her?"

Maya’s heart dropped to her stomach. Claude knew. It wasn’t that she was trying to hide it, but she couldn’t help but feel intense guilt.

"Alpha, are you taking her to your room again?!" Alaina yelled, startling Theo sitting next to her. "She should spend the night in the cellar. The marriage isn’t that kind."

Maya’s stomach knotted at Alaina’s announcement. It was worse when Keenan had no reaction. He didn’t reply to either of them; he just pulled her toward the exit, ignoring the look of pain on her face.

"Alpha!" Alaina yelled and tried to stand on her feet, but Theo lifted his hand to touch her.

She shot him a look of disgust and he pulled his hand away. She scoffed and sat back in her seat. Winnie shot Theo a sympathetic look as he kept his head bent like a wounded dog.

Maya knew it was useless to struggle, and regardless of what they had said, none of their assumptions were true. They were not sleeping in the same bed. It wasn’t even like that.

She could barely contain her sigh of relief when his hand moved from her shoulder to her wrist. It still hurt, but at least it didn’t feel as though he might dislocate her shoulder.

His back was broad as he pulled her onward. A memory of them in this exact manner popped into her head. She would always run behind him with her little legs, but his hands never let go despite her slow pace.

But now, there was no such care as he pulled her now. It was obvious he didn’t care if she tripped, and he would drag her over the ground if she did.

We aren’t married!

She tried to ignore this as he dragged her to his room, but each step only seemed to amplify it. By the time they arrived at his room, Maya was ready to scream.

He pushed her onto the carpet, and before she could even look at him, he went toward the side door and went out of the room.

Maya watched him as she sat on the ground. Was this it? Was this how it was going to be? How much longer before he threw her out? If this was no marriage, was he going to send her off when he was satisfied?

The marriage had given her hope. Even if it was irrelevant, she couldn’t help but feel that she was tied to him in some way, even if it was nothing but humiliation.

Without any ties, she could easily be severed. Or was that the whole point? Was that the reason for the fake marriage? Did she never stand a chance to make amends?

Maya was on her feet before she thought about it. It was a bad idea, but she didn’t exactly have any good ones. Everything she had done had blown up in her face. Another explosion wouldn’t make any difference, but at least she would have an answer.

She placed her palms on the side door. Fear made her sweaty. Her legs shook, and it took her multiple tries before she could knock.

Finally, she knocked twice, and in only a few seconds the door opened in her face.