Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 113

Betrayed by blood

Chapter 113

Xander lay on the stiff mattress, one arm crossed over his face, blocking out the light in the room. His leg throbbed with a dull, persistent ache, but he ignored it. He had expected the pack doctor to arrive by now, yet all he got was silence and his own frustration gnawing at him.

Then, the door creaked open.

Xander exhaled sharply, removing his arm from his face, expecting to see a doctor—only to find Lydia standing there instead. His eyes flashed with annoyance and his jaw tightened, and without a word, he turned his head away, staring at the cracked ceiling.

She sighed, stepping inside and shutting the door behind her. "You’re angry."

A bitter chuckle escaped him. "Angry?" He scoffed, still not looking at her. "I should be furious."

Lydia sighed, her gaze flickering to his injury. Her eyebrows furrowed. "You got shot?" She asked.

Xander scoffed, "Wasn’t that what you wanted? To have me killed?"

"You don’t mean that. You know I would never-" she was cut off sharply.

"You would never what, Lydia? You literally thought I did it, didn’t you?" He barked bitterly.

"Not for a single second did I think you did any of these things you were accused of. I fought to have you exonerated of everything but I didn’t—I couldn’t find anything to exonerate you."

Xander rolled his eyes, "Yeah, right. I asked you for one thing and you couldn’t do that for me. It took me days before I could find the poison seller. All you had to do was help me with those assassins and you refused!"

"I didn’t refuse. I wasn’t allowed in there. What did you expect me to do? Sneak in there and risk Cain’s wrath? He and I were not on good terms, Xander!" Lydia gritted out.

Xander glared at her, "I was going to die if I didn’t find the seller but you’re more interested in avoiding Cain’s wrath? Yeah, you get sister of the year." He hissed out.

Lydia flinched at his words, "You think I didn’t try?" she asked, her voice low. "I spent every damn second trying to find a way to help you without making things worse. You think Cain wouldn’t have known if I made a move? You think I had a choice in any of this?" fгeewebnovёl.com

Xander sat up slowly, wincing as his injured leg protested the movement. "I don’t know, Lydia. Did you? Because from where I’m sitting, it is all the same. I was the one out there fighting to prove my innocence. I’m still fighting but all I’ve seen you do is stand behind Cain, trying not to trigger his wrath." His voice was low, filled with bitterness.

Lydia winced but didn’t back down. "You’re alive, Xander. And now that Cain is doubtful about everything, we have a chance to clear your name. But you need to stop pushing away the only person who actually gives a damn about you."

Xander’s lips pressed into a thin line. He wanted to stay angry, to hold on to the bitterness that burned in his chest, but he was tired, exhausted. "What do you want to know?"

Lydia exhaled slowly, stepping closer to him. "Everything. Everything you couldn’t tell Cain. Tell me."

Xander stared at her for a second longer. Regardless of everything, Lydia was the only one he could trust, and so he began.

Lydia sat still, listening to every word that came out of his mouth. Her hands clenched into a tight fist the more he spoke, and when he was done, she stood up. "I’ll find the proof," she said quietly. "And when I do, Cain will have no choice but to see the truth."

Xander didn’t reply. He just stared at the ceiling as she left, the sound of the door clicking shut was the only thing that could be heard.

~~~~~~~~

The dungeon was eerily silent. Too silent.

Ezek’s breathing was shallow, his body weak from the injuries he had sustained. He lay on the cold, damp floor, staring at the ceiling, waiting for the shuffle of guards outside his cell. But there was none, no footsteps. No murmured conversations. No sign of life.

His brows furrowed, his gaze darting around. Something was wrong.

Then, he heard it.

A soft creak of the cell door opening.

Ezek’s heart stuttered. His body tensed, muscles locking in place as he forced himself to look. His eyes widened, and his breath caught in his throat.

A man stood in the doorway.

No. Not him.

Terror surged through Ezek’s veins as he pushed himself back against the cold wall, his entire body trembling. "I—I didn’t say anything," he stammered. His hands shook violently, his nails scraping against the rough floor as he tried to distance himself. "I swear! I didn’t mention your name—I didn’t—"

The man stepped forward, his face unreadable. He tilted his head slightly, as if considering Ezek’s pathetic display. Then, he chuckled.

"I know," the man said simply.

Ezek froze.

The man crouched, leveling his gaze with Ezek’s. "But you allowed yourself to be caught by Xander, didn’t you? And I won’t take chances."

Ezek’s mouth opened, panic clawing at his throat. He wanted to beg, to plead, to—

But the man moved too fast. Cold steel plunged into his chest, straight through his heart.

Ezek gasped, his body convulsing as pain exploded through him. His mouth fell open in a silent scream, blood bubbling up his throat. His hands clutched weakly at the man’s wrist, but there was no strength left in him. "P-please." He choked out.

The man twisted the blade, and Ezek choked. His entire body shuddered violently before going completely still.

The man stood, pulling the blade free with ease. He wiped the blood off on Ezek’s shirt before stepping back.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked out of the cell, disappearing into the darkness.

Ezek’s lifeless body slumped against the wall, his dead eyes wide with fear.