Claimed by the Vengeful Alpha

Chapter 91: Betrayer

"These aren’t my shoes, Zoe," Maya said as the maid placed a strange pair of simple, low-heeled shoes in front of her.

"I know, but I believe they should match the color of your dress better," she said with a polite tone as she dropped to her knees, lightly lifting one of Maya’s legs.

She felt a little unnerved but didn’t argue. She suspected Zoe had noticed her ill-fitting shoes and was discreetly replacing them.

As her foot slipped in easily and the shoes didn’t feel loose, Maya was convinced. She wondered how the maid had figured out her proper size. Was it just by looking at her feet?

"How’s that? Is it comfortable?" She asked after helping her put on the shoes.

"Yes," she admitted.

"Wonderful," Zoe cried and stood on her feet. "I was worried they might be too snug or loose. Do you want to walk about for a bit to see? They are new shoes, so they might feel a little stiff."

New shoes?

She nodded and stood to her feet, stepping around the room. Zoe had arrived only moments ago to tell her it was time for the meeting and that she was to attend.

It was just a short while after lunch, and while she had been in the room the entire time, Keenan had yet to return. Was he going to stay out the whole day? However, she was likely to have her answer soon. Keenan was going to be at the meeting too.

"How does it fit?" Zoe asked.

"Good."

"I am glad," she replied with a smile. "Do you think you’ll be ready to leave for the meeting now? I wouldn’t want you to arrive late."

"I am." Her voice sounded steadier than she felt. "Do you know if my father has arrived?" ƒгeewebnovёl.com

The maid blinked, and her brows furrowed as she thought. "Yes," she replied. "I didn’t see him, but I do recall a maid mentioned that the High Alpha arrived just before lunch."

"Did he eat lunch here?"

"I am not sure. I don’t have kitchen duties," she replied with an apologetic tone.

Maya nodded, indicating that she didn’t have any more questions. If Father had indeed arrived before lunch, he would have joined them for lunch, which meant he would have run into Keenan. She didn’t want to think about what would happen when the two men met.

Zoe walked toward the doors, and Maya reluctantly followed behind her. Zoe held them open until Maya stepped out. Only then did she shut the doors and walked ahead of Maya to lead her to the meeting room.

Maya found herself looking around as they walked. It was more to distract herself than anything else. She hadn’t recovered from last night, and now she had to face Father.

"Well, well, well—if it isn’t the betrayer," a familiar voice pierced through the air, interrupting them.

"Maelle," Maya called as she stopped in her tracks. "What are you doing here?"

Maelle had come from the opposite direction and seemed to be going the same way they were. Maya could barely contain her shock. She had braced herself to see Father but not her sister.

"You’ve got some nerve asking me that," Maelle said with contempt.

Her younger sister had her black hair down as Maya did, and her striking blue eyes stared menacingly. Watching her, it was easy to see why no one questioned whether she was a part of their family.

Maya shook her head and started walking again. It wasn’t that Maelle’s words didn’t have any effect, but she had heard them before, and this time around, like always, she had done what Maelle wanted. Maelle finally had her father all to herself.

So why am I still addressed as the betrayer?

Maya forced her thoughts to focus on the meeting, else all she would be able to think about was her anger. She had grossly underestimated how badly things were between her and Keenan.

Perhaps it wouldn’t have been as bad if Maelle didn’t hate her so much. Perhaps it would even be a real marriage, and she would be proud enough to tell him who she was. Perhaps he wouldn’t leave her alone in bed after...

"I am speaking to you," Maelle yelled as she walked away, refusing to be ignored.

Maya didn’t respond. There was no point. Right now, Maelle was the least of her problems.

However, Maelle didn’t like being ignored and rushed after Maya, pulling her backward. Her eyes bulged as she was pulled further than it should be possible for Maelle.

"Lady Keenan," Zoe cried and rushed to her side. "Are you okay?"

Maya nodded to her and rubbed her arm. She was glad she didn’t fall but it felt like her bone had been crushed. She could move it so it was at least not broken. It was going to be sore for the rest of the day.

Maelle sneered at her and stepped forward. "Father should have sent you away a long time ago. The night you left, I finally got my wolf. Looks like you have been hindering me all this time. Lumping me with your wolfless self all these years—I am nothing like you."

Maya sighed, still rubbing her arm. Maelle finally got what she wanted, but perhaps because she knew her sister better than anyone, she could hear the unhappiness in her voice.

Did things not change? After all, she had her father now. Surely, after blaming her for so long, Maelle must have what she always wanted. Whereas Maya was grasping at straws.

"I am glad you got your wolf. Is there anything you want from me?" She asked as she stared right at Maelle.

Maelle laughed. "Don’t flatter yourself. What could anyone possibly want from you?"

Maya winced; she didn’t like how close to home her words felt. "Since you don’t want anything from me, shall I ask you then: what was it you said to Father about Mother?"

Fear flickered in Maelle’s eyes, and she took a step back. "You heard that? It’s none of your business!" she started speaking again before Maya could reply. "You’re no longer part of the Olsten family. Your concern should be with your marriage and your new Alpha!"

Before Maya could say anything to that, she turned around and left with the maids who accompanied her. She didn’t look back as she sped away.

Maya blinked, surprised that Maelle had left suddenly. She looked ready for a fight. She recalled the look of fear in Maelle’s eyes. Was there something she had missed? She was old enough to remember when their mother died, but she couldn’t quite recall anything suspicious.

"Shall we?" Zoe’s soothing voice reached her ears. She was staring at her with concern.

"Yes," she said. "Thank you."

She was almost certain the maid would have done more in this situation if she could, but Maelle was the daughter of the High Alpha, and technically, this was a quarrel between sisters. All the maid could do was watch.

The rest of the walk was quieter. They didn’t run into Maelle, who had put quite a distance between them. The entire interaction made her lose some of the nerves she didn’t have.

She already had quite a lot to worry about; adding Maelle to it was not something she could afford to do right now. Besides, without realizing it, she had detached herself from her old family.

She was still scared of Father, but she no longer felt like a part of their family, not that she ever was. Blaming her all these years when Father was the one who neglected her—while Maya had stood by her little sister—and even after she left, she couldn’t escape the blame. freēwebnovel.com

"We are here," Zoe announced as she stopped by a pair of doors with a handful of guards standing in front.

Maya stiffened. She wasn’t ready. She wanted nothing more than to turn around and flee rather than face what was behind the door, but Keenan had requested she attend. If she were to decline and things didn’t go his way in the meeting, he was sure to assume she had planned it with Father.

"Thank you," she said and took a deep breath as she braced herself.

The guards started to open the doors, and she clamped down on the screams echoing in her ears telling her to run away. As soon as the doors opened, the entire room turned to look at her.

The meeting room was as big as their bedroom. Different smells floated towards her as she stepped closer. There was a large round table in the middle of the room, and more than enough chairs were placed around it.

The Alpha King was seated at the top of the table. On his right hand was Father, and on his left was Claude. Maelle sat next to her father, and Hilbert sat next to Claude. The rest of the Alphas were spread across the table.

Next to Hilbert was Keenan, and an empty chair lay next to him. His green eyes drew hers through the slew of eyes, and she knew she was to sit nowhere else except next to him.

Maya ground her jaw. Her palms grasped tightly around her dress as she walked towards him. Memories from last night flickered in her eyes and she nearly lost her footing.

She got closer and bowed to the table before taking her seat. His eyes still didn’t leave her but Maya couldn’t dare look at him. She was sure, she wouldn’t like what she would see.