Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 102

Betrayed by Blood

"What the hell do you think you’re doing?" Cain’s voice was as sharp as a blade, cutting through the air, his gaze fixed firmly on Gerald as the man stood, glaring at Avery.

Gerald glanced at him and smiled, "She ruined my shoes. On purpose, I’m sure of it. The clumsy little wretch just had to spill wine all over them during the Moonlight Festival," he scoffed, motioning to his now ruined footwear. "A simple apology would’ve sufficed, but no, she couldn’t even do that."

He glared down at Avery, a smirk on his face. "Go on then, clean it up. It’s not like you’ve got anything better to do."

Avery’s hands trembled as she moved to comply, but Cain was already taking steps toward her. "Enough!" He snapped. "Get up this minute." He gritted out, stopping her in her tracks.

Avery’s heart skipped a beat as she froze mid-action, her hand hovering over the spilled wine. Her gaze shot up to Cain, meeting his eyes—eyes that were now full of something much darker than usual. She gulped hard, suddenly feeling the thousands of eyes on her.

"I said get up." Cain growled, his hand shooting out and grabbing her up. The entire hall had gone silent now. All of their eyes on the scene unfolding in front of them.

A murmur rippled through the crowd. No one had ever seen Cain interfere like this.

Gerald scoffed quietly, his expression hardening. "What’s this, Cain? She made a mistake and I’m teaching her a lesson." He defended.

Gerald narrowed his eyes at the scene before him. Then he laughed—a short, mocking sound. "What’s this, Cain?" He tilted his head. "Since when do you care what happens to a servant?"

Cain’s jaw ticked. "You were out of line."

Gerald scoffed. "Out of line?" His expression hardened. "It’s called discipline. She’s a servant. What’s she here for if not to serve?"

Cain’s eyes flickered with something dangerous, but he said nothing.

Gerald stepped closer. "You’re taking her side. Over me?" He let out a bitter laugh. "Me. The man who was exiled because of you?"

Cain exhaled sharply through his nose. "Drop it, Gerald."

"Oh, no, I don’t think I will." Gerald said, "Because I want to know—what’s so special about her? Why is she still standing here? Why are you looking at me like that instead of making her kneel like you should?" His voice dripped with taunting amusement. "Don’t tell me you’ve grown soft? That you’ve gone soft for a mere servant."

Cain’s hands clenched into fists. "Tread carefully."

"No. As a matter of fact. I want to know why I can’t discipline a servant who ruined my shoes. What’s she useful for then?" Gerald snapped.

"Beta Gerald—"

"No! I want to know. Why can’t I discipline a maid? I did that a hundred times when I lived here. Is it because I don’t stay here? I’m not beta anymore and now you treat me in such a shallow manner? I took care of you and yet you stand in front of me and take the side of a servant over me!" Gerald said through clenched teeth.

"Because of you, I was exiled from the pack. I sacrificed myself and my family for you but you will humiliate me this way? Is that it? You’re a hypocrite. You say you respect me and yet you do this! You humiliate me this way." The man spat out, scoffing bitterly, his gaze flickering to Avery who stood behind Cain.

He looked at Cain, shaking his head in disbelief, he points a finger at the man. "I made this place with my blood, sweat, and tears. I deserve respect from your servants. I served you and I served your father. I came back to continue serving you. I didn’t ask for a single thing from you but you treat me like this? How ungrateful."

Cain doesn’t say a word, only staring at the man even if the wolf was the opposite. His breathing was slow as he forced himself to remain calm. His mind flashed with everything he’d read in Nathan’s reports. The pictures he saw. His jaw clenched hard as they filled his mind like a dam. Reminding him of it all.

Instead, He doesn’t say a word and grabs Avery’s wrist, pulling her along with him, determined to ignore the former beta.

He doesn’t make it far, of course, as Gerald practically jumps in front of him. "You can’t leave until you tell me exactly what this is about. I gave my life to serving you. Lost my mate, my dear wife because of you. I refuse to let you treat me this—"

"Get out of my way." Cain snarled, his hand shot out and he swerved the man to the side but Gerald fell to the ground with a loud thud. Nora shrieked loudly and ran toward her father, dropping to her knees beside him. Her hands trembled as she grabbed his arm.

"Father?" she gasped, shaking him slightly as if willing him to rise with dignity. But Gerald remained still for a moment, his pride wounded far worse than his body.

A heavy silence settled over the hall, thick and suffocating. The crowd had gone utterly still, as if afraid that the wrong breath would set Cain off.

Cain exhaled sharply, his grip tightening around Avery’s wrist as he turned to leave again.

But then—

"You’re a monster."

The words, quiet but cutting, stopped Cain in his tracks.

"You’re just like your father," Gerald spat, his voice laced with venom. "A disgrace of a man. A tyrant. A butcher."

Cain turned slowly, his expression unreadable, but his eyes—his eyes had gone pitch black.

Gerald pushed himself up, shaking off his daughter’s hand. His breath was heavy, his face red with rage and years of bitter resentment. "You think you’re different?" he sneered. "You think you’re any better than him?"

Cain remained silent, but something in his posture shifted. His wolf stirred, growling.

Gerald took a step closer, eyes gleaming with cruel satisfaction. "You were born from blood and death, Cain," he continued, his voice mocking. "You know what the elders said about you? The day you were born, the region was drowned in massacre. Blood ran through the streets like a dam. It was an omen—a warning."

His lip curled. "You should’ve been sacrificed to the Goddess."

A growl rumbled in Cain’s chest.

Gerald doesn’t stop, far too gone to realize the damage he was doing. "Your father should’ve killed you the moment you took your first breath. Maybe then, the world would’ve been spared from the beast you’ve become."

And then—

Cain moved.

Before anyone could react, his hand shot out and clamped around Gerald’s throat.

A sharp gasp rippled through the crowd as Gerald was yanked forward, his feet barely touching the ground, his fingers clawing at Cain’s grip.

The room had gone utterly still.

Cain leaned in, his voice low, deadly. "You will not speak to me about fate," he hissed, his breath seething with barely restrained rage. "You will not speak of what should or shouldn’t have been." His fingers tightened around Gerald’s throat. "You’re nothing, Gerald. Nothing but a bitter old man clinging to a past that will never serve you again. You think I don’t know what you’ve done these past few years? You lying son of a bitch! What did you come here for, huh? To hide? Drain the pack and sell your daughter to me like a cheap commodity." Cain squeezed harder.

"Tell me, her previous mate that you murdered, has his body even gone cold? The bite on her neck hasn’t healed but you dare stand there and lecture me? Call me a monster? You’re a ridiculous piece of garbage."

Gerald choked, his face reddening.

Cain’s grip slackened, then he shoved him back. Gerald stumbled, coughing violently, his hands flying to his throat.

Cain exhaled sharply, then turned his gaze to Nora. The young woman was shaking, her eyes wet with unshed tears.

His voice was cold when he spoke. "Both of you. Out of Vehiron."

Gerald looked up, wheezing. "You can’t—"

"You have one minute," Cain cut him off, his tone final. His green eyes glowed ominously.

A moment of silence.

Then, Gerald let out a bitter, rasping laugh. He wiped his mouth, spit tinged with blood. "You really are his son," he murmured. "No matter how much you fight it, no matter how much you pretend—you’ll always be his son."

Cain didn’t react.

He simply turned, gripping Avery’s wrist once more, and strode out of the hall.

No one dared say a word.