Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 104

Betrayed by Blood

The walls of Kendra’s room barely muffled the sounds of the ongoing celebration outside. The people had continued with the festival after Gerald and his daughter were thrown out of the pack. Kendra, however, was not in the mood to celebrate. Not after all that had happened. Her nails dug into her palms as she paced back and forth, her rage spilling over with every passing second. freёweɓnovel.com

Cain had defended Avery. In front of everyone.

She clenched her fists, her jaw tight with frustration. He had chosen Avery over everyone. He had humiliated Gerald in the worst possible way, defied the traditions, and worst of all, he had taken Avery away afterward. To his room.

Kendra felt sick with rage. How had things spiraled so far out of her control?

How had she let things slip so far out of her grasp? She ran her hands through her hair frustratedly, images of Cain holding Avery’s wrist to pull her up, Cain pushing her behind him as he insulted Gerald, Cain walking out of the grand hall with her. They all came flashing in her head.

Kendra screamed, grabbing a photo frame off the table and threw it against the wall. The frame shattered instantly.

Kendra heaved heavily, unable to control the anger that swirled inside her. How could he? How could he do that to her? How could he leave with Avery? Why did he have to defend her? Why couldn’t he just look away like he’s always done?

She stormed to her vanity, gripping the small glass vial she had tucked away earlier. The oil inside swirled darkly under the light. She should have slipped it into Cain’s food yesterday, but she had been blocked at every attempt, so she postponed it to today, but now...

Now, that stupid girl is in his room while she—

The door to her room burst open, and her mother, Carol, walked in, her face tight with anger clouding her features. She slammed the door harshly behind her, the anger on her face mirroring Kendra’s own.

"You reckless, brainless child," she hissed out, "What in the hell were you thinking?"

Kendra scowled, barely holding back her irritation. "What are you talking about?"

Carol’s eyes flashed with even more annoyance. "What am I talking about? You might as well have pushed her into his arms. Do you think I wouldn’t see your little stunt? Pushing Avery to make a mess of Earle’s clothes? Making such a mess at the festival? Have you lost your mind?" She snapped.

Kendra’s chest burned with frustration. "I wasn’t thinking! I- I saw that bitch go up to Cain and dance with him, and I lost it, okay! I lost it. Gerald made her go up to him to dance. I just- I just wanted him to be embarrassed. I didn’t think Cain would actually defend her. Not like that. He embarrassed Gerald, Mother! He humiliated him in front of everyone—"

Carol rolled her eyes, "Yes, you didn’t think. If you had, you wouldn’t be in this mess that you are in. Can you see the damage your stupidity has caused? If you wanted to teach that old hag a lesson, why did you choose the servant? Why Avery of all people? You drew attention to her and have now made her the victim."

Kendra dragged her hand over her face. "You think I didn’t know that, Mother? I do, okay! I know that. It’s not like Cain has always defended the bitch, so I didn’t think anything of it. To me, it was like killing two birds with one stone. I embarrass Avery and I embarrass Gerald. It was supposed to be simple, easy." She groaned frustratedly.

"Well, look who the stone hit. You!" Carol’s eyes flashed snickered.

Kendra’s lips pressed into a thin line. "It doesn’t matter. He’s still not letting her in. She’s nothing."

Her mother scoffed. "She’s in his room. You’re still outside like a fool."

That stung. Kendra’s fingers curled around the vial tighter. "I still have this," she spat. "I just need to get close to him again."

Carol scoffed; she had absolutely no faith in that oil Kendra kept parading around. Kendra is a desperate mess, and anyone can see that. It doesn’t take much to trap her into believing an engine oil had some potential to make Cain fall for her. It was disappointing, really. Carol was a smart woman, but this is what she could produce. "You had two days, Kendra! Your two days are up tomorrow, and you better pray that thing in your hand works, or we are done for."

"We are not and will not be done for, Mother. This will work, have some faith."

Carol stared at her for a second longer then turned around to leave. She paused by the door. "Kendra—" she called, and her daughter turned around, all ears.

"You are running out of time, Kendra."

And with that, she turned and left.

Kendra stood there, breathing heavily. She wouldn’t lose. She couldn’t lose.

Her grip on the vial tightened.

I’ll find another way.

____________________________________

Avery stirred as the first rays of morning light filtered through the curtains. The warmth pressing against her side was unfamiliar, a heavy weight draped over her waist.

Her brows furrowed as she slowly blinked her eyes open, adjusting to the morning light. Her breath caught in her throat the second his scent wafted into her nose.

Cain.

He was beside her. His arm wrapped securely around her waist, his breathing slow and steady, still deep in sleep.

Avery’s body went rigid. Her mind raced as she tried to piece together how this had happened. The last thing she remembered was sitting stiffly on the bed, unsure if she should sleep at all. Did she drift off? And did Cain... did he pull her close in his sleep?

She swallowed nervously. Carefully, she turned onto her side, her gaze landing on his face.

This close, Cain looked different. The ever-present frown he always seemed to wear was softened by sleep. The clenched set of his jaw had relaxed, his dark lashes fanned against his cheekbones. He looked so peaceful—something she never thought possible for a man like him.

Her bottom lip caught between her teeth, Avery hesitated before lifting her fingers, hovering just above his face. A part of her knew this was reckless, but another part of her ached with curiosity. What did it feel like to feel his skin?

She traced the air above his brow, the bridge of his nose, the scar near his temple. Had anyone ever seen him like this? This soft and peaceful. She dared to wonder what Cain Knight had been like as a boy before the world hardened him.

She heard the stories when Gerald was in the pack. How the man had somehow saved Cain. How Cain had been a joy to have around when he was much younger. Much much younger.

’What had he gone through? What had shaped him into the man he was today?’ Her chest tightened at the thought.

She was so lost in thought that she didn’t notice the subtle change in his breathing.

A sharp inhale.

Then, his eyes snapped open.

Avery gasped.

His piercing green eyes met hers instantly, locking her in place. There was no grogginess in them, no confusion—just sharp, focused intensity, as if he had been awake the whole time, waiting.

Avery’s breath hitched, her heart stuttering.

Oh, no. Oh no.

She flinched hard and scrambled back, only for Cain’s grip on her waist to tighten, pinning her in place.

"I—I wasn’t—" she stammered, heat rising to her face. "I didn’t mean to—"

She moved to pull away, but Cain didn’t let her. His hold remained firm, his fingers pressing lightly into her waist, not enough to hurt, but enough to keep her still.

"Stay," he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.

Avery’s breath caught in her throat.

"Just for a minute longer."

Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it. But as she looked at him—really looked at him—she saw something else in his gaze. Not the sharp, cold Cain she had come to know.

Something quieter. Something almost... vulnerable.

Just for a minute longer.

Avery hesitated. Then, slowly, she stopped struggling.

And for the first time in a long time, she let herself breathe.