Claimed by the Alpha, Bound to the Vampire

Chapter 6: The Vampire at the Gate

Kael's POV

The moment the alarm sounded, every instinct inside me awakened.

Something was wrong.

The entire pack moved with precision. Warriors rushed toward the main gate while guards took their positions along the walls.

No one dared to panic.

Not when I was watching.

Not when the Alpha was standing before them.

But I could feel the tension.

The vampires had arrived.

I stepped onto the stone platform overlooking the entrance and saw them waiting beyond the gates.

Dozens of figures dressed in black stood beneath the moonlight.

Silent.

Motionless.

Deadly.

At the front stood Lucien Draven.

The vampire prince.

My hands tightened into fists.

Of all the creatures that could have appeared tonight, it had to be him.

Damon stood beside me, his expression dark.

"Tell me I'm seeing things."

"You're not."

"Vampires haven't stepped onto our territory in decades."

I didn't answer.

Because I knew this wasn't a coincidence.

Nothing about tonight was.

I looked past Lucien toward the others.

Royal guards.

Not ordinary vampires.

Which meant this wasn't a personal visit.

This was a statement.

"Open the gate."

Damon turned sharply.

"Alpha?"

"I said open it."

The gates slowly moved apart.

The vampire army remained still as Lucien walked forward alone.

A brave move.

Or a foolish one.

"You have five minutes," I said.

Lucien looked around the territory.

Then his eyes met mine.

"I didn't come to fight."

I gave a cold laugh.

"Your army says otherwise."

His expression remained calm.

"They came because I came."

"That doesn't make them harmless."

"No."

He looked toward the mansion.

Toward where Selene was.

"My father believes the girl is important."

The moment he said that, my entire body became tense.

Important?

"What girl?"

Lucien's eyes narrowed slightly.

"You know exactly who I'm talking about."

My wolf growled.

"Choose your next words carefully."

For the first time, Lucien's calm expression faded.

"Kael, listen to me. Whatever you think is happening, this is bigger than you, me, or our hatred."

I stepped closer.

"Why should I believe a vampire?"

"Because if my father wanted her dead, he wouldn't send me."

That answer stopped me.

Lucien had a point.

A vampire king did not send his son unless the matter was serious.

But that didn't mean I trusted him.

It meant I needed answers.

Selene's POV

I couldn't stay in the room.

I tried.

I really tried.

But the sounds outside made it impossible.

The shouting.

The movement.

The feeling that something terrible was happening.

I slowly opened the door.

The hallway was empty.

Everyone was outside.

Against my better judgment, I followed the voices.

When I reached the balcony overlooking the entrance, my heart stopped.

Lucien was there.

Surrounded by vampires.

My first feeling wasn't fear.

It was relief.

And that surprised me.

Why was I relieved to see him?

He was a stranger.

A vampire.

Someone I had met only hours ago.

Yet seeing him made me feel like I wasn't completely alone in this strange world.

Then I saw Kael standing opposite him.

Two powerful men.

Two completely different worlds.

Both looking at each other like they were seconds away from war.

"Selene."

Kael's voice immediately found me.

Everyone turned.

I froze.

I hadn't realized they noticed me.

Kael's expression changed instantly.

The anger disappeared.

Concern replaced it.

"What are you doing here?"

I walked down slowly.

"I heard the alarm."

His jaw tightened.

"You should have stayed inside."

"I wanted to know what was happening."

Lucien watched me carefully.

Not like he was surprised.

Like he was worried.

The vampire guards behind him shifted uneasily.

One of them whispered something.

I couldn't hear the words.

But Lucien's expression darkened.

"Enough."

The vampire immediately lowered his head.

I looked between them.

"What is going on?"

Nobody answered.

That bothered me more than anything.

I hated being the only person who didn't understand.

"I deserve to know."

My voice came out stronger than expected.

Kael looked at me.

Then Lucien.

Finally, he spoke.

"The vampires believe you are important."

My stomach dropped.

"Why?"

Silence.

Again.

I looked at Lucien.

"You know something."

His eyes softened.

"I know that my father wants answers."

"About me?"

He didn't respond.

And somehow, that was worse.

A cold feeling settled in my chest.

Everyone knew something except me.

Kael stepped forward.

"You are staying here."

I looked at him.

"Am I?"

His expression changed.

He wasn't angry.

He was afraid.

"Selene..."

"No."

I shook my head.

"Since I arrived, everyone has been making decisions about me."

I looked at Lucien.

"You saved me."

Then at Kael.

"You found me."

"But neither of you has told me the truth."

The silence that followed was heavy.

For the first time, both powerful men looked uncertain.

Kael's POV

She was right.

And I hated that.

My entire life, I had commanded others.

My pack followed my orders without question.

But Selene wasn't one of my warriors.

She wasn't someone I could control.

She was my mate.

And she deserved honesty.

Before I could answer, a messenger rushed through the gates.

His face was pale.

"Alpha."

Everyone turned.

"What is it?"

He swallowed.

"The northern border..."

His eyes moved toward Selene.

"The rogues have returned."

My blood ran cold.

"How many?"

The messenger hesitated.

"Too many."

A terrible silence filled the courtyard.

Then he added the words that changed everything.

"They aren't attacking the pack."

He looked directly at Selene.

"They're demanding that we hand her over."