Claimed by the Vengeful Alpha

Chapter 93: Officially Over

"Do you feel unsafe in Verlassen? Do you want to dissolve your marriage?" The Alpha King’s voice echoed in the meeting room.

Silence descended, and perhaps because of the silence, she could clearly hear Maelle’s gasp at the questions. Out of the corner of her eyes, Keenan tightly grabbed the arm of his chair.

She was sure her heart was beating loud enough for everyone to hear. Her father didn’t look away; his gaze bore into the side of her face as she looked towards the Alpha King.

She knew she couldn’t take too long to answer, but her answer wouldn’t please everyone, and she was scared.

Should she just go back with Father? She doubted much would have changed between her and Keenan from last night.

Or should she stay? Would Keenan actually see what she was risking to choose him? Would it matter to him? Would it bring them one step closer?

"Lady Keenan," the Alpha King urged.

Maya swallowed and gripped her hands on her legs. "I-I am not unsafe," she started, feeling Father’s glare burrow deeper. "I will stay married."

Maelle let out a loud sigh, and Vilhelm hit his cane on the ground. Despite her fear, Maya was a little proud that she didn’t flinch. She brought her gaze down; she wanted to look at Keenan. What was his reaction? What did he think? But terror made her spineless. What if it was a look she didn’t like?

"There you have it, High Alpha Vilhelm. Your DAUGHTER is fine where she is."

Vilhelm turned his piercing gaze to his brother. "I hear that," he replied. "But that’s not enough for me. Maya has always been selfless. I have every reason to believe Keenan is taking advantage of that and not treating her as she should be treated. She is the daughter of the High Alpha, not some rodent he picked up from the streets. He dragged her out of my territory with only the clothes on her back and has refused to communicate with me since then."

The Alpha King grabbed his temples. "She refuses to leave, High Alpha. Give it a rest."

"Because she considers her father."

"Father," Maelle mumbled, looking on the verge of tears, but she didn’t speak loud enough for anyone to hear.

"What then do you want?" Vaughn asked.

"Only a simple request. No reason for Keenan not to accept if he is intent on treating my daughter as she should be treated."

"It really is a family meeting," Alpha Mason said with a sigh that got him a glare from Vilhelm. He leaned back in his seat and matched the High Alpha’s gaze.

"State your request," Vaughn urged.

"Her personal maid and her personal items that are simply sitting at her home—I’d like to send them to her. Giving her such inferior clothes, surely he doesn’t realize who he married. I wasn’t even invited to my daughter’s own wedding. Can you ima—"

"High Alpha," Vaughn cut in. "Is that all? Any more requests?"

"Yes, I should be allowed to at least send letters to my own daughter, and she should be allowed to send letters to me too. This is a marriage, not a prison. I’d also like arrangements for her to visit me. However, I don’t mind discussing this further down the line, but I want my letters."

The Alpha King turned to Keenan. "Do you disapprove?" He asked.

Keenan tilted his head and glanced toward Maya. She stiffened, feeling his gaze, but didn’t lift her head. She could barely get a grip on herself. Everything felt as though it was spinning.

Maelle was looking at her with accusatory eyes, and she couldn’t help but feel shame. It didn’t help that Father had spoken about her clothes. She thought the clothes were doing a decent job, but they weren’t.

Shame.

That was what it was. It was overwhelming.

Father’s requests did more damage than help. He wasn’t the type to back down, and his requests seemed reasonable, but she had just blatantly gone against him again. She couldn’t help but feel that beneath all his reasonable requests, her punishment was waiting.

"I don’t care what the High Alpha wants to do. However, my mate won’t leave my territory without me. If she wants to write letters to her father, she may, just under my supervision. It isn’t unreasonable, is it? Perhaps if he had been less unreasonable, I wouldn’t have had to—"

"Bastard!" Vilhelm yelled. "Where does he get off speaking like that? Your marriage to her doesn’t change whose daughter she is. Perhaps, having been nothing but a peasant all your life, you don’t understand ethics."

"High Alpha Vilhelm, Alpha Keenan just adhered to your requests. There is no reason for you to keep speaking to him in such an offensive manner."

"Offensive?" Vilhelm yelled. "He has my daughter dressed like a common woman with no maids attending to her, and I am the offensive one? I didn’t hear from my daughter in nearly two we—"

"High Alpha Vilhelm, is that all?" Vaughn asked loudly.

"Yes," he replied and locked eyes with Keenan, who returned his gaze.

"Is the meeting finally over?" Alpha Mason asked with a yawn.

"Is there anything else anyone would like to table?" The Alpha King addressed the question to everyone.

"No, Your Eminence," Mason spoke first.

"High Alpha?" Vaughn called reluctantly.

"No, Alpha King. However, should Keenan go against the agreement made here and witnessed by each of you, I am allowed to react accordingly."

"I’ll take your no," Vaughn said and turned to Claude. "Anything you’d like to share with the table?"

"As I have stated, no strange activities have been noticed from the Mad Witch, and I believe we have no reason to fear her. The war is finally over. However, just because the war is over doesn’t mean I will not uphold my duties. I promise nothing will escape my watchful gaze."

Claude ended his gaze on Vilhelm, who narrowed his eyes at the younger Alpha. Vilhelm ground his jaw as he tore his gaze away first.

"Very well then. I hope that’s satisfactory enough for you all."

"Only Vilhelm cared about the Mad Witch attacking," Alpha Mason said and stood to his feet. "Get up, Elliot. If we leave now, we will make it to Nordhaven before dinner."

"Alpha Mason," Claude called. "The Alpha King hasn’t ended the meeting yet."

Mason scoffed as he stepped away from the table. "I am not as zealous as you. I am sure Your Eminence understands." He gave an exaggerated bow and walked toward the exit.

His beta, Elliot, bowed multiple times as he followed his Alpha while walking backwards. The black scarf around his head looked like it would fall multiple times, but it held.

"The meeting is officially over," Vaughn announced.

Mason stopped just as his hand reached the door. He turned and smiled without revealing his teeth. "Thank you for the consideration. Your Eminence is ever merciful." With that, he was gone, leaving the sound of the doors closing in his wake.

Next, the Alpha King stood to his feet, and the two guards who had stood behind him the entire time followed after him. He was almost halfway to the door when he turned around.

"Alpha Vilhelm," he called. "A word."

Vilhelm’s eyes darkened as he met his brother’s gaze. It was obvious that it was simply to prevent him from being alone with Keenan.

"As the Alpha King wishes," Vilhelm said and hesitantly stood to his feet. He slammed his cane on the ground more than he needed to.

Maelle stood up too and was about to go with her father when he stopped walking and turned to face her. He didn’t speak, but the hurt in her eyes was enough to know what he meant. She nodded her head and sat back down.

Vilhelm glanced at Maya, their eyes meeting briefly, before he turned back around and exited the room with the Alpha King.

Maya felt dizzy. She didn’t think she had caught a break since she left her room and would like nothing more than to lie down, but things weren’t over.

"Maya," it was Claude who broke the silence.

There was relief in her face as she looked at him. It was nice to hear a soothing voice in the midst of the storm.

"Yes, Alpha Claude."

"How do you like—"

"Come with me, Claude," Keenan said and got up from his seat. The poor chair fell back with enough force that it bounced.

Maya looked at him, but he wouldn’t look at her. Claude sent her an apologetic look as he stood to his feet.

"Hilbert, shall we?"

"Yes, Alpha," he said coldly, looking like he was barely containing himself from swinging at Keenan.

"Ladies," Claude did a small bow.

Keenan didn’t glance back; he just kept walking forward. The sound of the doors closing behind them sounded louder than it should.

"Looks like even the man you always choose over the family that saved you doesn’t even want you!"