Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 100

Betrayed by Blood

Cain stood silently at the edge of the training grounds, arms crossed tightly over his chest. His eyes were narrowed, watching as the warriors moved through their drills. They were training hard for the festival. Usually, most packs would be attacked by rogues during times like this, and Cain was nothing if not meticulous. He hated surprises and weakness even more, so the guards were training 20 hours a day. He wanted no surprises on the day of the festival.

The sound of clashing swords, the thud of feet hitting the ground, and grunts filled the air, but Cain was unfazed by the noise. His gaze was focused, calculating. Every movement, every shift in stance, he took it in, analyzing every move and mistake. Ready to step in when someone wasn’t getting it right or when they were being foolish.

Beside him, Gerald’s footsteps crunched against the dirt as he approached. Gerald paused next to Cain, his eyes scanning the scene with a knowing look.

"These are the new recruits?" He asked, and Cain hummed, glancing at the man. "This is very impressive for new warriors. They have improved so well, one wouldn’t tell they were still in training," Gerald remarked, his voice low, but there was a hint of pride in it. "You’ve done such a great job, Cain. I can see how well they’re trained."

Cain’s lips barely curved into a smile as he glanced sideways at him. "Thank you! You always had a good eye for strength," Cain replied.

Gerald’s gaze flickered across the field, his eyes settling on a particular group of fighters. His lips curled slightly upward, as if he were seeing something only he recognized.

He looked at Cain. "You know, I remember suggesting that same move to your father years ago, but he never listened to me," Gerald said. "The way that warrior just swept his opponent’s feet from under him... I taught you that when you were just starting to learn control. I can’t believe you still know that move."

Cain smiled, his eyes drifting to the same warrior who executed the move with precision. He couldn’t deny the truth of Gerald’s words. His father, Edward, was an adamant, obsessive man, and what that meant for the warriors was that they could only move in one particular way. There was no room for change, so when Gerald had suggested the move, it was immediately shut down. His father had labeled it weak and foolish. ’What can a beta know about fighting? Sit here and calculate the losses and gains, will you?’ he had spat out.

But when Cain began to learn fighting and had to train almost every day without a break, Gerald had taught him this move. freeweɓnovel.cøm

"You always had the best ideas," Cain replied calmly, remembering how highly he had always held the man and how much his respect for him tripled when the man covered his mistake and made it his own, only for him to be exiled from the pack.

Gerald nodded in satisfaction. "It’s good to see you’ve kept some of the lessons, Cain. I knew you would."

Cain remained silent, his eyes now lingering on the warrior as well. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to think back to the countless lessons he’d learned from Gerald—strategies, insights, even the way Gerald had shaped him in those early years. It was strange, really. For how tough he had it with trusting people, Gerald had been one of the few people Cain had ever truly trusted.

"I knew you’d become a great leader, Cain. It’s in your blood," Gerald said proudly. Just then something caught Gerald’s eye. There, in the far corner of the field, one of the warriors, his movements a little too calculated, too precise, was practicing a defensive maneuver that seemed oddly familiar.

Gerald raised an eyebrow. "I never thought I’d see the day you would teach one of them your signature move."

Cain’s jaw tightened slightly. He knew exactly which move Gerald was referring to. It was the same technique he had once taught him—an advanced defense technique meant to counter an opponent’s attack. It had been a key part of his early training, and a move Cain had perfected under Gerald’s watch.

"I didn’t teach it to him, but I suppose some lessons stick," Cain replied, and for a moment, it felt like old times where Cain was the eager student, and Gerald, the proud teacher. But then the moment passed just as quickly as it came.

Far off in the distance, Lydia watched them, her arms crossed over her chest. She felt someone stop beside her and glanced up to see who it was. Callum stood beside her, looking worn out.

"You’re back," she said, and he hummed, his gaze stuck on the two men from the fields.

"What’s going on?" Callum asked instead, and Lydia looked back at the men. She sighed internally.

Callum tilted his head, his brow furrowing as he watched Cain and Gerald. "I’ve never seen Alpha Cain look so... content," he remarked softly. "It’s almost like he’s actually... happy."

Lydia, standing beside him, glanced at the two men. She knew well enough how important Gerald was to Cain, even if now she questioned the man’s intentions. It’s been years, and he’s had all of these years to return but didn’t... she’s not stopped wondering why he’s chosen this exact time to return.

"Gerald’s like a mentor to him," Lydia said quietly. "He’s the closest thing Cain has ever had to a real father figure." Lydia said quietly, watching the smile on Cain’s face wane off. "He was jailed and exiled because of a mistake Cain made. Gerald took the blame so Cain wouldn’t get punished... so be careful what you say," she paused, glancing at the two men still talking. "And how you relate to him. Cain might not show it, but Gerald’s important to him." She said and walked off.

_____________________________________

The day had slowly waned off, the sun dipping to rest. Cain found himself back in his office, his eyes flicking through the many things he needed to approve before tomorrow. A tired sigh escaped his lips, and for a second, he contemplated calling Lydia to do it all but no. He didn’t want to be left idle either.

A knock jolted him out of his thoughts, and he paused the work. "Come in," he called in.

The door opened, and Nathan stepped in, quietly shutting the door behind him. Cain’s remained of the task he’d given to the man, his gaze shifted to the white file in Nathan’s hands, and he leaned back against the chair, ready to hear what Gerald and his daughter have been up to.

Nathan bowed then dropped the file on the table. "Forgive me for taking time with it, Alpha. I needed to get the facts right, but I have compiled everything into the file," he said.

Cain nodded, grabbing the file off the table and opened it. He took out some of the documents and pictures. His eyes scrambled through every word written, and when he finally looked up, his jaw was clenched hard, eyes red.

"And these are one hundred percent real? They’re true?" Cain asked. Normally, he wouldn’t ask twice about the truth, but this was different. He had to be sure.

Nathan nodded curtly. "Yes, Alpha. Everything in there is the truth."