Chapter 55: Chapter 55
Selena
Evening finally arrived and by the time I finished scrubbing the last wooden table in the servants’ dining hall, every muscle in my body ached.
The past two days had been relentless. Between my duties in the kitchens, organizing the revolution, worrying about Marqee, attending Kieren’s brutal training sessions and trying to stay away from Alpha Kael whenever my heart refused to listen to my head, exhaustion had settled deep into my bones.
Still... I couldn’t afford to slow down. Not when everything was finally beginning to move.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand before placing the cleaning cloth into a bucket.
Around me, the other servants were already talking among themselves as they wrapped up for the day.
"I thought we’d never finish."
"My feet are killing me."
"The harvest supplies doubled today’s workload."
Someone laughed as another complained about the endless dishes.
Normally, I would have joined the conversation but today, my mind was somewhere else.
Sally had managed to get word to me during the afternoon that we have four new members.
A smile threatened to spread across my face. It wasn’t much but it was progress as people were beginning to listen.
If four people could join in just a day, there would be more tomorrow.
By the following evening, we would hold another meeting. This time we would discuss gathering enough coins to secure the abandoned shrine.
One step at a time, that was how revolutions survived.
I untied my apron and folded it neatly. Just as I turned toward the exit, a familiar voice stopped me. "Selena."
I stiffened on knowing it’s the Headmaid. For one terrifying moment, my stomach dropped.
Has someone discovered another meeting? Had one of the new recruits spoken carelessly?
Slowly, I turned around. The Headmaid stood several feet away, a rolled parchment tucked beneath one arm.
Her expression, as always, was unreadable.
"You called for me?" I asked carefully as she walked closer until she stood directly before me.
Without a word, she unfolded the parchment and my eyes moved across the neat columns of names.
The Headmaid lowered the parchment slightly. "For the past two days," she said evenly, "you have completed more assigned tasks than any other maid."
I blinked in surprise. "...What?"
"You heard me." She said and I stared at her, genuinely surprised.
"Out of everyone? Me?"
She looked no happier saying it than I was hearing it. "It doesn’t please me," she admitted bluntly. "Considering the amount of trouble you’ve caused recently."
Despite myself, I laughed softly. "So... this is praise?"
She frowned. "Don’t become arrogant."
"I’m trying not to." I said and stood up straight.
She rolled the parchment shut again. "Your work has been efficient."
I smiled. "Thank you."
The words felt strangely satisfying. Ever since arriving at Blackbourne, I had been trying to prove that I wasn’t merely a spoiled Alpha’s daughter pretending to work.
I’d stumbled, I had complained and I had made a lot of mistakes but somewhere along the way... I’d actually become good at it.
The realization warmed me.
As the Headmaid turned to leave, I spoke before I could stop myself. "You should give yourself a break too sometimes."
She paused slowly, very slowly... as she looked back at me and her brows lowered. "A break?"
"You’re always working, I’ve never seen you rest and you barely eat with everyone else."
I shrugged before adding. "You don’t have to carry everything yourself."
For several seconds, she simply stared at me then her eyes narrowed.
"Or..." Her voice carried obvious suspicion. "...are you merely hoping I’ll relax enough for you to organize more of your clandestine gatherings?"
I sighed dramatically. "You really don’t trust me."
"Should I?"
"...Probably not."
She snorted quietly. "I thought so."
Without another word, she walked away. I watched her disappear around the corridor before shaking my head.
Even after lifting the punishment on our group... She still hadn’t forgiven me.
Fair enough! I couldn’t exactly blame her. Still... today has gone better than expected.
My mood remained surprisingly light as I left the castle kitchens.
Outside, the evening breeze greeted me immediately. The air carried the scent of damp earth and pine.
Servants crossed the courtyard in every direction, eager to finish their duties before darkness settled completely.
As I walked toward the training grounds, Sally’s earlier message replayed inside my mind.
Without money, the abandoned shrine remained only a dream. Without a permanent meeting place, our movement couldn’t grow.
I was already planning who should speak first and who would welcome the newcomers.
How we would encourage everyone without demanding too much from people who barely earned enough to survive.
Lost in thought, I barely noticed I’d reached the training yard as metal clanged somewhere ahead and a loud grunt followed. Then... a thud!
Curiosity drew my eyes toward the sound and Kieren stood in the center of the yard or rather... he stood over someone.
A teenage boy, no older than fifteen, lay sprawled on the dusty ground, groaning as he struggled to catch his breath.
Kieren rested both hands on his walking stick. "You call that balance?" he barked.
The boy shakily pushed himself upright. "I... I almost had you."
"You almost embarrassed yourself." Kieren said and the surrounding warriors burst into laughter while the boy flushed crimson.
"Again." Kieren ordered, the teenager rushed forward while Kieren shifted only slightly.
It was one quick movement and the boy stumbled past him before landing flat on his back once more making dust rise into the air.
The warriors laughed even harder as Kieren pointed toward a nearby barrel.
"Enough! Go fetch me some goblets of ale."
The boy groaned and asked. "Now?"
"Unless you’d rather continue getting thrown around." He said and the teenager hurried away without another complaint.
Only then did Kieren notice me standing nearby. "Ah, you’ve finally arrived."
His sharp eyes swept over me briefly then he chuckled. "You looked worried."
"Is that how you treat all your students?" I glanced toward the retreating boy. "You were tossing him around like a sack of grain."
Kieren laughed loudly. "Don’t worry, I could never treat the Alpha’s chosen that way."
I tilted my head. "The Alpha’s chosen? What exactly does that mean?"
He simply waved the question away. "It means the Alpha specifically assigned me to train you and that makes you different."
Different? The word lingered in my thoughts. Different how? Because Alpha Kael had chosen me? Or because Kieren knew something fishy?
Before I could ask another question, he struck his walking stick firmly against the ground. "Enough talking! Training begins."
I released a quiet sigh. Somehow... that sentence always sounded terrifying.
Kieren pointed toward a heavy set of metal armour resting on a wooden stand. "Wear it."
With considerable effort, I lifted the armour piece by piece as the breastplate alone felt unbearably heavy.
By the time everything was secured, I already felt exhausted.
Kieren nodded approvingly. "Good."
He pointed toward a wooden post planted far across the field. "You see that marker? Run to it and back?"
He lifted his walking stick. "I’ll be timing you."
I inhaled deeply then started running but the armour dragged against every movement.
Each step felt heavier than the last and behind me... I kept hearing the ’Tap. Tap. Tap.’
Kieren struck the end of his stick against the ground steadily, counting the time it took me to reach the marker.
By the time I returned, breathing hard, he nodded once. "Again."
I stared at him in disbelief. "I just finished."
"You also just started." He pointed forward once more. "Again."
By the time I reached the post, my lungs were burning but Kieren nodded saying, "Again."
I stared at him in disbelief. "Again?"
He smiled. "Again."
The second run felt easier but the third was still easier. My wolf stirred beneath my skin as Strength flowed through my limbs.
Without thinking... I allowed it just a little bit but not enough to reveal myself.
Only enough to keep moving as each attempt became faster. Each return took fewer taps.
By the eighth run... The heavy armour barely bothered me anymore. By the tenth... I was almost enjoying myself.
When I crossed the line for the twelfth time, Kieren lowered his stick slowly. "Hmm."
He walked around me thoughtfully. "Interesting."
"What?" I asked with a creased brow.
"You improved too quickly."
"Yes, I’m a fast learner." I said while hoping he didn’t notice anything suspicious.
"So I’ve noticed." His gaze lingered on me longer than before and it was almost suspiciously.
I forced myself to breathe heavily despite recovering much faster than any ordinary maid should. "I’ve always been good at physical work."
"Mmm." He didn’t sound convinced.
Thankfully, he changed the subject. "Strength alone won’t keep you alive."
He motioned toward two waiting warriors. "Time for something practical."
The two men stepped forward. One broad and the other one lean. Both are much larger than me.
Kieren planted his stick into the dirt. "Imagine you’re walking through the market, and you’re alone. Then two men decide you’re easy prey... What do you do?"
I didn’t hesitate before saying, "I hit first."
"Show me." He said and the warriors charged towards me.
I darted toward the closest one as my fist drove straight into his stomach and he doubled over instantly.
Before I could turn, the second man slammed into me and I hit the ground hard.
"Dead," Kieren announced calmly.
I groaned in annoyance. "I wasn’t dead."
"You were." He said and the warriors helped me up.
"Again." He said but this time I aimed higher. My fist connected with the first man’s jaw.
I spun toward the second, His leg swept beneath mine and I crashed onto my back.
"Dead." Kieren said again.
I sighed dramatically. "I don’t like this game."
Kieren smiled. "You shouldn’t." He limped closer. "Listen carefully, When you’re surrounded... Don’t rush because people expect panic. So... don’t attack first."
"Plant your feet, make them commit then when one attacks... you dodge and their own momentum becomes your weapon. While they’re recovering, you strike and move immediately to the next."
His words settled in my mind as he raised his stick. "Again."
The warriors approached once more but this time... I waited.
At the first swing, I stepped aside as his body carried him forward and I struck his side before pivoting toward the second.
He lunged at me but I ducked beneath his arm using his own balance against him, I twisted sharply.
He stumbled as I reacted instinctively and a loud crack echoed across the yard.
The warrior screamed and everyone froze as my heart almost stopped.
I looked down and discovered his leg bent at an unnatural angle.
"Oh..." My voice barely came out. "I... I didn’t..." I stuttered.
The injured warrior cried out again as several others rushed over immediately while Kieren knelt beside him.
The healer stationed nearby hurried over while other warriors carefully lifted the injured man while guilt crashed into me.
I’d forgotten. I forgot I wasn’t an ordinary servant. Forgotten who I really was. Forgotten the strength of an Alpha female.
"I..." I gulped down nothing. I’m sorry." I said as nobody answered because everyone focused on the injured warrior.
My wolf, however Purred and the sensation startled me.
As though she approved. As though taking down an opponent felt natural. I hated that feeling so I forced it down immediately.
Trying to steady my breathing, I lifted my head as something kept tugging at my instincts that someone was watching me.
I turned slowly toward the castle, one of the upper windows stood slightly open and behind the curtains... stood a familiar figure.
Alpha Kael stood behind the blinds, watching everything in silence.
Even from that distance... I knew it was him behind the curtains.
Our eyes met and without thinking... I smiled openly at him.
