Claimed by the Vengeful Alpha

Chapter 99: Safe Trip

Theo bowed as they exited the room. He stood to the side of the path with his hands behind his back. "Alpha," he called. "The carriage is ready."

Keenan narrowed his eyes and turned around to look at her. She froze, and Zoe had to stop abruptly to keep from bumping into her.

There was only a small distance between them; another step forward and she would be in his personal space. She looked up with a confused expression, staring between him and Theo as the two men blocked her path.

"Take the bag, Theo," Keenan finally said after letting the silence drag more than it needed to. "We are leaving now," he said as he sized her up, his eyes ruthlessly looking her up and down.

Maya’s palms felt sweaty at his stare. She didn’t know which felt better—being left alone or having to deal with such incessant stares, not knowing what he thought. He didn’t speak to her and didn’t respond when she spoke.

Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see Theo nod as he received the order. He stretched his hand to the maid without hesitation, and Zoe handed him the bag. He bowed to Keenan and walked away, but not before he sent an odd glance in her direction.

Maya didn’t have much thought toward Theo; if she were to think about it, she might call it indifference. Only because she believed he felt the same way. He would stare at her with a puzzled expression, but she was familiar with his looks now, and she knew they meant nothing.

"Walk."

Keenan’s voice cut through her thoughts, and she tore her gaze from Theo’s back to see him standing sideways as if to let her through.

She swallowed, took two steps forward, and he walked in line with her. She blinked, looked up at him, trying to find something—anything—but he kept his gaze straight and his gait steady.

He didn’t speak as they made their way toward the main doors, and Maya knew better than to try to strike up a conversation. His expression wasn’t welcoming, and even though he wasn’t looking at her, he still had a scowl.

Zoe stayed close, and Maya thought it was a little pathetic that she was glad the maid was seeing her off. She felt a little ungrateful for not having thanked the princess herself, but she would make sure to do so the next chance she got.

She also wondered how Claude fared; she hadn’t seen him since the meeting, and she didn’t know when she would see him again. She trusted he would keep his word and not tell her secret, but more importantly, she would miss the way he was the only one who didn’t treat her like a traitor.

She glanced at Keenan again. Are we a step closer?

Her legs felt heavy as they went down the stairs. She was certainly not leaving the castle as she had arrived. Things had changed, but she wasn’t sure if it was for good or not.

"Leaving without saying goodbye, Keenan?" A loud voice called from the top of the stairs.

Maya immediately turned around at the familiar voice, a smile on her face. It was silly that she was happy he was here to say goodbye. She lost her footing and started to fall off the stairs.

"Lady Keenan," Zoe yelled and stretched out her hand, but she was not close enough.

Keenan, however, reacted quickly. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back, righting her. He pulled his hand away, glaring at her.

"Sorry," she whispered as she grabbed where he had touched her.

"Are you okay, Maya?" Claude asked with concern as he rushed down the stairs.

Maya nodded but didn’t turn around to look at him until she was at the bottom of the stairs. Her smile wasn’t as bright as she looked up, but despite what happened, she was still glad to see him.

"Princess Eleanor," her eyes widened as she saw the princess approaching the stairway. Her two ladies-in-waiting were about two feet behind her.

"Maya," she said with a gentle smile as she reached the stairs.

Claude paused awkwardly in the middle of the stairway as he turned around to face her. He smiled before he bowed dramatically.

She ignored him as she started down the stairs. "I see you’re leaving for Verlassen, Maya."

Claude had a slight, amused expression on his face as he stepped aside for her to go past him on the stairway. It was wide enough to let four people pass comfortably, but he stayed as close to the railing as he possibly could.

"Yes, Princess Eleanor," she replied and glanced at Keenan, wondering if the princess was here for him. Perhaps because the princess had spoken to her first, she had to address her.

"Please, call me Eleanor," she replied with a smile as she got to the bottom of the stairs. "We are cousins, aren’t we?" Princess Eleanor glanced at Keenan as he stood to his full height after bowing to her.

"We are," she replied but couldn’t fully hide her uncertainty.

"Yes," Eleanor stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Maya. "I wish you a safe trip back to Verlassen."

Maya stood stiffly in her arms. Too many things were happening too fast for her to process. Firstly, the princess seemed to be here to tell her goodbye; then she told her to call her Eleanor; and now, she was hugging her.

"T-thank you," she managed to say but couldn’t return her hug.

Eleanor pulled away, still smiling, her hands on Maya’s shoulders. "You can return to the castle anytime."

Maya glanced at Claude, who was still standing on the stairs. He winked, and that singular act seemed to expel some of the tension she was holding.

She returned the princess’s smile while nodding. "I’d love to."

Maya wasn’t sure if she was imagining it or not, but there seemed to be a look of relief in Eleanor’s eyes as she stepped back.

"Safe trip to you too, Alpha Keenan."

"Thank you, Princess Eleanor," he replied stiffly.

"Shall I have a hug too?" Claude asked as he appeared in front of Maya.

Their reactions were instantaneous. Eleanor turned to look at Claude with disgust while Keenan stepped in front of her.

"Joking," he said with a smirk and raised his hands. "Have a safe trip back, Maya."

Keenan’s eyes visibly twitched as Claude called her by her name, but she was already waving back at Claude to notice.

"And you too, Alpha Claude."

"You can visit Grendale any—"

"We have to leave now," Keenan cut in.

"Y-yes," Maya quickly responded. "Thank you again, E-Eleanor." The words felt stiff in her mouth, but the princess’s pleased look made it worth it. "And thank you for Zoe."

"Don’t mention it," Eleanor immediately said as Zoe bowed.

Maya nodded and waved to Claude again as she rushed after Keenan, who was already going toward the doors.

"You know his marriage is for revenge, right?" Claude asked the princess as the doors shut.

She squinted her eyes as she stared at him. It was odd for him to speak to her directly. He mostly avoided her; he didn’t even try to hide it.

"What has that got to do with anything?"

"You were overly friendly, princess." He tilted his head to the side. "Considering you ignored her the entire time when we arrived."

"I didn’t ignore—why am I speaking to you?" She scoffed and started up the stairs.

"Did you speak to His Eminence?" Claude asked with a smirk.

Eleanor ground her teeth and turned to look at him. This part of him infuriated her. He was not only perceptive but smug about it. He bothered her. He was the wrongest person to give any form of power because he knew exactly how to use it to his advantage.

"Speaking to me casually, Claude. You seem to have forgotten your place."

"Apologies, Princess Eleanor. I seemed to have gotten carried away," he said, staring right at her with no apology in his gaze.

Eleanor’s nose flared as anger coursed through her bones. She didn’t like it—the feeling of being prey trapped in the gaze of a predator. She could tell his eyes were locked on her now, and she knew why.

She didn’t know how much he knew, but she doubted it was enough. His past was deeply tied to this. Father had been quite forthcoming and had answered all her questions, even the ones he wasn’t sure of.

She was certain she had a much clearer understanding than Claude did, and if she knew anything about him, he wanted more pieces, and she was the closest for him to get them.

Anger made her calmer, as this was an emotion she was quite used to with him. It annoyed her how easily he used people for his own benefit and how much effort he put into trapping whomever he considered his next target.

She had no intention of giving him any sliver of a chance. She scoffed right in his face and walked up the stairs.