Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 115

Betrayed by Blood

Chapter 115

The scratch of his pen against the papers was the only sound in the room. Cain sat still, his gaze flickering through each word written on the papers. He had been at it for four hours already and yet he still wasn’t done. He paused for a second, glancing at the wall clock. Lydia should have arrived already; she had to continue the paperwork.

The door burst open.

Cain’s head snapped up just as Lucas practically rushed in, breathless, his face pale.

"Alpha—" Lucas started but then hesitated, his throat bobbing.

"Speak. What is the problem?" Cain asked, deducing from Lucas’s body language that something was wrong.

"The bloodroot poison seller, Sir Xander, brought into the pack. The one in the dungeon. Ezek, he’s dead."

For a second, everything stilled.

Cain shot up from his chair, the wood scraping against the stone floor. "What do you mean dead?"

"He was found dead—" Linda began, but Cain didn’t allow him the chance to finish. He stormed out of the office, his boots pounding against the floor as he made his way to the dungeon, leaving the man running behind him.

~~~~~

Cain stormed into the dungeon, his footsteps sharp. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and blood. The moment he entered, guards snapped to attention, bowing their heads, but he ignored them.

His eyes locked onto the cluster of warriors crowding around one of the cells. Some were stepping in and out.

"Move," Cain growled.

The guards immediately parted, revealing what lay beyond. Ezek.

The poison seller was slumped against the wall at the far end of the cell, his body eerily still. A dark stain spread across his tunic, centered around the jagged wound in his chest. His lifeless eyes were open, staring at nothing, and his jaw hung slack, frozen in his final moment of shock.

Cain’s stomach twisted. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he looked at the scene. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

"What the hell happened?" Cain’s voice was dangerously low, his rage barely restrained.

A guard stepped forward, swallowing hard. "We—we stepped out for just a moment, my Lord," he stammered. "When we returned, he was already dead."

Cain’s gaze snapped to him, his expression turning deadly.

"A moment?" He echoed, his voice sharp as a blade. "Every one of you stepped out for a moment? No one was here to guard the dungeon?" Cain asked, his gaze flickering between each one of them. The guards all lowered their heads.

"And you’re telling me that in that moment, someone slipped in, killed him, and disappeared—without any of you noticing?"

The guard paled, his throat bobbing. "I—Alpha, we didn’t—"

Cain barely heard him. His gaze shifted back to Ezek’s lifeless body. "Have Lydia access the scene and his body," he ordered before storming out of the place. He was barely aware of the guards flinching out of his way as he reached the guarded room where Xander was being held.

The moment he arrived, he didn’t wait.

Bang!

The door crashed open as Cain forcefully pushed it open. Xander shot up from where he sat on the bed. His muscles tensed, his brows furrowed in confusion as Cain strode toward him, anger burning in his dark eyes.

"Cain, what is—"

Cain swung before Xander could finish. His fist collided with Xander’s jaw, the impact snapping his head to the side. Xander stumbled, his hand flying up to his face, staggering from the force of the blow.

But Cain wasn’t done.

In an instant, he grabbed Xander by the throat and shoved him against the wall.

"Tell me exactly what you did," Cain snarled, his fingers tightening. "Why the hell is the poison seller dead?"

Xander’s face paled at his words. "E-Ezek is dead?" He choked out.

"Don’t patronize me," Cain snarled. He squeezed harder. His voice was sharp, lethal. "You brought him here. And now he’s dead? You had something to do with this."

Xander’s body tensed against the wall, his expression twisting with frustration. "I didn’t kill him," he hissed, his voice hoarse from the pressure around his throat.

Cain’s grip didn’t loosen. His wolf was seething, demanding blood. This was too convenient. Too well-timed.

Xander brings in Ezek. Then suddenly, Ezek is dead?

No. Cain didn’t believe in coincidences.

"Then explain it," Cain growled, his fingers digging in further. "Because from where I’m standing, this looks a hell of a lot like you tying up loose ends."

Xander gritted his teeth, his jaw locking. "I brought him here to prove my innocence!" His voice strained against the pressure. "Why would I kill him?"

Cain stared at him, breathing hard. His wolf was still restless, clawing at him to keep squeezing, to break him. To force the truth out of him.

But there was something about the way Xander’s eyes burned with anger—not the look of a man caught in a lie, but the look of a man who was just as furious as Cain was.

Cain didn’t move. Didn’t loosen his grip. He only stared at him. What if Xander really had nothing to do with this?

Then that meant—

Cain’s stomach twisted.

There was someone else. Someone else who had killed Ezek.

He released his grip from Xander’s neck, the other fell to the ground, rubbing his neck as his eyes watered.

Cain turned, his jaw clenched hard. What was this? First Martha and now the poison seller? Who was the mole in the pack? Someone was going against his rules and doing this.

Xander stared at Cain from where he was, he slowly got up to his feet. "H-how did he die?" He asked.

Cain glanced at the other for a brief second, "Stabbed in the chest," he replied.

Xander swallowed hard, his fists clenched at his sides. He did this. He brought Ezek here forcefully only to get him killed. He might as well have been the one to stab the man in the chest.

~~~~~~

Cain stood in his office, his steps restless as he paced the length of the room. His mind was a storm. First Martha, now Ezek. Someone was moving against him from within, and he had yet to uncover who.

His fingers curled into fists. He didn’t like not knowing. It made him restless.

The door creaked open, and Cain’s head snapped up, his dark gaze sharpening as Callum stepped in. The warrior wasted no time before dropping to one knee, bowing his head.

"Alpha Cain." Callum’s voice was tight. "I have failed you."

Cain’s eyes narrowed. His body went rigid, his instincts sharpening. "What are you talking about?"

Callum exhaled, his jaw tightening. "I am incompetent," he admitted, his shoulders stiff. "I failed to capture Xander before he reached Vehiron’s borders. I was unaware he had returned—I should have known. I should have been faster."

Cain stared at him, his expression unreadable.

Callum clenched his fists where they rested on his bent knee. "If I had done my duty properly, none of this would have happened. I will accept whatever punishment you see fit."

Silence stretched between them.

Cain wasn’t a man to tolerate failure. He didn’t accept excuses, nor did he waste time with men who could not do their jobs. But Callum wasn’t just any warrior. He was one of Cain’s most trusted fighters—one who had rarely failed him before.

Cain’s jaw tightened. His voice was cold when he spoke. "You were careless."

Callum flinched at his words.

Cain took a slow step forward. "You should have known the moment Xander stepped foot in the border."

Callum swallowed. "I’m sorry, Alpha. I take full responsibility."

Cain stared at him for some seconds longer. He turned away, his mind buzzing. "Get up."

Callum hesitated before rising to his feet.

"You are not incompetent. But you were reckless. And if you fail me again, Callum, I will have no use for you," Cain said, his voice sharp.

Callum stiffened but nodded. "Understood, Alpha," he replied.

Cain nodded. "Good. You may leave."

Callum bowed again before walking towards the door. Just as he was about to step out of the door, Cain stopped him.

"Callum—" Cain called out, and the man paused, turning to look at the Alpha.

"When did you return?" He asked.

"Yesterday night, Alpha," he replied, and Cain nodded, finally dismissing him.

Cain waited until Callum had fully left before turning back to his desk. He braced his hands against the surface, his fingers pressing into the wood. The tension in his shoulders that hadn’t eased in hours.

His pack was slipping into chaos.

First, Martha was Martha. Then Ezek was murdered in his own dungeon. And now, Callum, who should’ve never failed him only to do so now.

Cain exhaled sharply. He needed answers. And he needed them now.

He strode to the door, pushing it open with force. The guards stationed outside immediately stood to attention.

"Find Lydia. Tell her to come to my office. Now," he ordered.

Cain turned on his heel, his jaw clenching.

He had only given Lydia a brief order at the dungeon, but she was smart. She would have already begun examining Ezek’s body, trying to piece together exactly what had happened. If there was a single clue, a single mistake the killer left behind, she would find it.

Because if she didn’t—Cain would have to make an example of someone soon. He was running out of patience.