Reclaimed By The Alpha King
Chapter 88

Chapter 88: Chapter 88

Everyone stood back, afraid to approach Kimberly. Yet, Elena, summoning all her courage, took slow steps toward her.

The tension was so thick it felt like the walls themselves held their breath.

Kimberly stirred. Her eyelids fluttered open, but the harsh sunlight streaming through the window made her wince. She raised her hand to shield her eyes.

"Kimberly, how are you feeling?" Elena asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Kimberly turned her head weakly toward the sound. Her eyes blinked, adjusting to the light as she tried to focus on Elena’s face.

"I... I don’t know. What’s happening?" Kimberly’s voice was faint, her confusion evident.

The others exchanged wary glances. The sorcerer tightened his grip on his staff, the air around him vibrating faintly as he prepared a spell.

"Do you remember anything?" Elena pressed gently, kneeling beside Kimberly.

Kimberly paused, her brows knitting together as she struggled to recall. "I remember... the ritual... then darkness. Did the sacrifice work? Is everyone safe?"

The group fell silent. The sorcerer stepped forward, his voice low but firm. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes," Kimberly murmured, clutching her stomach weakly. "I feel... so empty."

Relief washed over Elena, and a small smile crept onto her face. "She’s fine," Elena declared, her voice trembling with joy. She turned to the maids nearby. "Bring water and some light food, quickly!"

Mona crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Why should we believe her? What if she’s pretending? She could be a danger to all of us!"

"Mona, enough!" Alpha Derrick snapped, silencing her. "We’ll observe before jumping to conclusions."

Moments later, a maid returned with a tray of water, fruit, and soft bread. Elena helped Kimberly sit up, supporting her frail frame. Kimberly took small bites, her hunger evident but her strength still faltering.

The sorcerer leaned closer, observing her carefully. "If she were tainted by the dark core, she wouldn’t desire food. She’d crave blood, and her thirst would be insatiable. For now, she seems safe."

Mona scoffed, muttering under her breath, "For now."

Elena shot her a glare before turning back to Kimberly. "We’re so glad you’re back. You saved us, Kimberly. You gave everything for the pack."

Kimberly’s brow furrowed as she looked around the room. "Saved? What exactly happened? Why are you all looking at me like this?"

Alpha Derrick stepped forward with a measured smile. "You’ll get your answers once you’ve regained your strength. Rest now. You’ve earned it."

Kimberly nodded hesitantly. "Thank you, Alpha."

As the room emptied, Mona lingered, her eyes cold and calculating.

---

Mohandia, Liza, and Kaitlyn sat beneath the towering oak where the ritual had taken place. Their faces bore the weight of grief, their eyes red and swollen.

"Does this mean we’ll never see Kimberly again?" Liza asked, her voice breaking. "Where’s the peace we were promised?"

Mohandia wiped away a stray tear. "This tree... it holds too many memories. Kimberly didn’t deserve this. She was so kind, so full of life. It’s not fair."

Kaitlyn nodded, her jaw clenched. "Everything feels wrong without her. The pack feels... empty."

Their sorrow was interrupted by Jefferson’s approach. His expression was neutral, but his tone carried urgency. "You’re needed in the canteen. Ma’am Elena has called a meeting."

The three exchanged confused glances.

"What could she possibly want now?" Kaitlyn asked, her worry evident.

Mohandia sighed, her resolve shaky but firm. "Kimberly wouldn’t want us to rebel. Let’s go."

They rose reluctantly, heading toward the canteen, their steps heavy with anticipation.

**Back in the Room**

After everyone left, Elena sat with Kimberly, gently brushing stray strands of hair from her face.

"Do you feel strong enough to talk?" Elena asked softly.

Kimberly nodded. "A little. But I’m still so confused. Why do I feel like I’ve been gone for a long time?"

Elena hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "You were... very brave. You agreed to sacrifice yourself to save us all. But something miraculous happened. You came back."

Kimberly’s eyes widened. "Sacrifice? I don’t understand. Did I... die?"

"Not exactly," Elena replied quickly. "But it was close. The universe must have chosen to protect you, Kimberly. You’re special."

Kimberly looked down at her hands, trying to make sense of it all. "Special? I’m just... me."

The door creaked open, and the chief maidservant entered, her face alight with joy. "Kimberly!" she exclaimed, rushing forward to embrace her.

Kimberly stiffened at first but soon relaxed, a small smile gracing her lips. "It’s good to see you too."

The maidservant turned to Elena, her excitement spilling over. "Everyone’s talking about her return! They’re so happy, ma’am!"

Elena nodded, her heart swelling with pride. "Let’s keep it that way. Kimberly needs rest, not endless questions."

The maidservant agreed, leaving the room to spread the good news.

---

The canteen buzzed with murmurs as Liza, Mohandia, and Kaitlyn entered. They noticed other maids had already gathered, each face marked with curiosity and unease. The atmosphere was tense, thick with unanswered questions.

"What could this be about?" Kaitlyn whispered to Mohandia.

"I don’t know," Mohandia replied. "But it feels different this time."

Their conversation halted as Elena and the chief maidservant walked into the room. All eyes turned to them, desperate for answers.

Elena’s face was calm as she addressed them. "Greetings to you all. Thank you for coming on such short notice. We have important news to share with you."

The crowd exchanged glances, some growing impatient.

"First," Elena began, "we want to acknowledge Kimberly’s extraordinary sacrifice. Her bravery has saved us from the claws of the Silent Beast. For that, we owe her our deepest gratitude."

At the mention of Kimberly, tears welled up in many eyes, especially Liza, Mohandia, and Kaitlyn.

Elena paused, observing the emotions in the room. "Now, the reason we’ve gathered you here today is to inform you that our days of fear are over. The threat is gone. From this moment forward, life will return to normal. It’s time to celebrate."

The announcement confused many. Though freedom was a relief, it seemed hollow without Kimberly.

"Mohandia, Liza, Kaitlyn—step forward," Elena commanded, her tone suddenly authoritative.

The trio froze, their eyes widening in surprise. Slowly, they wiped their tears and stepped to the front.

Elena locked eyes with them. "If you were given one wish right now, what would it be?"

The three friends exchanged glances, unsure where this was leading. Almost in unison, they replied, "To bring Kimberly back to life."

A flicker of surprise crossed Elena’s face, but she quickly masked it. She stepped closer, her gaze piercing. "Not freedom? Not the chance to live your lives on your own terms?"

Mohandia shook her head. "Freedom is meaningless without Kimberly. She was our joy, our family. Without her, we’re still in captivity."

Elena’s lips tightened, her own emotions threatening to surface. "If Kimberly were to appear now," she asked quietly, "would you embrace her, or would fear drive you away?"

"Fear?" Kaitlyn echoed. "I would hold her tighter than ever, dead or alive."

"Kimberly taught us loyalty and love," Liza added, her voice cracking. "Nothing can replace what she means to us."

Elena took a deep breath. "Then I have good news: Kimberly isn’t dead. She’s alive."

Gasps filled the room. Before anyone could react, Kimberly stepped out from a side door. She stood there, smiling softly, tears streaming down her face.

"It’s me," Kimberly said, her voice shaky but full of warmth. "I survived."

Her friends froze in disbelief. Then, as if breaking a spell, they rushed to her. Mohandia threw her arms around Kimberly, sobbing. Kaitlyn held her hand tightly, while Liza circled her, checking every detail.

"Is it really you?" Liza whispered, her voice trembling.

Kimberly laughed through her tears. "It’s me. I promise. But there’s so much to explain."

The other maids erupted in cheers, rushing forward to hug her. Kimberly was surrounded by warmth and joy.

Elena clapped her hands to regain attention. "Everyone, gather around! There’s more to share."

The room quieted, though the happiness lingered in the air.

Elena’s tone turned serious. "I know some of you felt neglected, like your lives didn’t matter. But I want to say this: you are not just maids to us. You are family. Kimberly’s survival is proof that we will fight for each other, no matter what."

Her words drew applause, and some maids wiped away fresh tears.

The chief maidservant stepped forward. "With Elena’s permission, I’m pleased to announce that our routines will resume tomorrow. But tonight, we celebrate. There’s food and drink for everyone!"

Cheers erupted again, and the celebration began. The maids surrounded Kimberly, laughing and crying with relief and joy. Her three friends stayed close, refusing to let her out of their sight.

---

Meanwhile, in Alpha Derrick’s quarters, rage filled the room.

"How is this possible?" Mona snapped, pacing furiously. "Dead for three days, and then alive again? It defies everything we know!"

Derrick sat on a couch, his expression dark. "Something isn’t right. Her body didn’t decay, and now they say her spirit simply left her? It doesn’t add up."

"Do you think the sorcerer had a hand in this?" Mona asked, her voice low and suspicious.

Derrick shook his head. "No. He seemed as surprised as the rest of us. But Kimberly... there’s something about her. Something powerful."

Mona stopped pacing, her eyes narrowing. "So what do we do now? She’s more dangerous than ever."

Derrick smirked, his gaze cold. "We wait. We’ll watch her closely, and when the time comes, we’ll strike. This time, she won’t survive."

Mona nodded, her lips curling into a wicked smile. "We’ll make sure of it."