Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 117

Betrayed by Blood

The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting long golden streaks across the open courtyard where the servants had been gathered. The head maid stood at the front, reading from a parchment, her voice echoing through the courtyard.

Avery stood at the back, her eyes on the woman speaking as she listened to whatever it was the woman had to say. It wasn’t unusual for the maids to be called together like this. What was unusual, however, was Kendra. Kendra stood behind the head maid, her arms crossed over her chest. She wasn’t speaking. No. She wasn’t even pretending to look at the other servants.

She was staring. Staring directly at Avery.

Avery could feel the weight of her gaze hot against her skin, like a sword against her throat. It was unnerving. Avery kept to herself this whole time, not like she’s never not done so, but she’s made extra effort to keep to herself and not step out of line for even a second. The pack was in constant chaos, especially with the return of Sir Xander. Everyone has been on their tippy toes, and that included Avery.

"Okay, is it just me or is Miss wanna be the next Mrs. Cain Knight staring at us? At you especially," Selena whispered as she leaned closer to Avery. "It’s so creepy. I swear I have goosebumps on my skin from how she’s staring."

"Selena, you’re gonna get us in trouble. Quit it," Avery gritted out lowly. If there was one thing she’d come to know about Selena, it was that the other didn’t know how to mince her words. It was a wonder how a person like her could be a slave.

"Stop freaking out. What trouble can I possibly get us in?" Selena whispered back.

Avery chose to keep silent, letting her words flow by. Although she was right, Kendra was staring at her creepily. It was getting uncomfortable.

Selena muttered something under her breath but didn’t press further, letting the conversation die.

Finally, the head maid finished speaking. "You are dismissed."

The servants began to break apart, some murmuring to themselves as they headed back toward their duties. Avery was about to follow when—

"Not you."

Kendra’s voice sliced through the air. Avery froze, and so did Selena and Millie, their eyes darting between the three of them.

Even the head maid had paused; she turned back to Kendra, hesitated slightly. "Miss...?"

Kendra didn’t even acknowledge her. Her gaze stayed locked on Avery, cold and sharp.

"I said, leave everyone. Except Avery," Kendra ordered.

The courtyard fell into silence. One by one, the other maids scurried away, leaving Avery with Kendra.

The courtyard wasn’t empty—not completely. There were still some warriors passing by, a few lower-ranked pack members moving between duties. It was just open enough that anyone who wanted to watch would.

Avery straightened her shoulders as Kendra approached. She then lowered her head in a bow. "What can I help you with?" She chose to ask instead. The last time she had a conversation like this or at least stood face to face with Kendra like this was the day she was banished from the pack. Of course, she had to come running back in less than a month.

"What can you help me with?" Kendra repeated, an amused smirk on her face. She stepped closer, looking at Avery from her feet to her head. "What can you help me with?" She repeated. "Fine, let’s get into it. How about you help me with getting the hell out of Vehiron."

Avery was taken aback, her eyes widening at Kendra’s words. This was the first time she would be this direct with her and that too in front of the little people that remained in the courtyard.

"What do you mean?" Avery asked.

The smile, of course, was gone from Kendra’s face, her arms crossed over her chest. "Didn’t you ask what you can help me with? I just told you. You can help me with getting out of Vehiron."

Avery’s breath hitched, her fingers twitched at her side. "I don’t understand—"

"Oh, don’t play stupid," Kendra snapped, stepping even closer. "Ever since you showed up, this pack has been in chaos. Everything was fine before you. Before Cain found you. Before you ruined everything."

Avery clenched her jaw. "I haven’t done anything."

Kendra scoffed. "You really believe that, don’t you? That you’re some helpless little victim in all this? Then answer me this, Avery—why is it that ever since you arrived, everything has gone to hell? Why is it that Cain is constantly at war with himself? Why is it that Xander’s arm was cut off because of you? Xander, a man who has been with Cain for years, his best and right-hand man, and yet Cain didn’t think twice before getting rid of the man all because of you. Why is it that Cain had to humiliate Gerald because of you?"

Avery flinched at that last one. She looked around quietly, knowing people had heard all what Kendra said and maybe they would also start to think she was the cause of it all.

Kendra didn’t stop. She stepped closer, her eyes as dark as the words that left her mouth. "Tell me, you love it, don’t you? Having to watch a man as mighty and powerful as Cain do all of these things just for a nonentity such as yourself. Did you think I forgot? For you, I was banished from this pack." Kendra spat out, her face filled with rage.

At first, she hadn’t planned on stopping the other, but she couldn’t hold this in any longer. Watching Avery walk around and act like all was well when she was the architect of the many problems in Vehiron. She’s tried already, many times to get Cain to understand the game Avery was playing. The victimization and abuse she pretends to get in the pack was all a ploy. She has tried to tell him that Avery wants nothing to do with him. She wants to break their bond, and that meant he didn’t have to act or consider her feelings any longer. Avery didn’t deserve it, but then, every time she tried telling him. He’s suddenly busy with something or he’s out of the pack for another thing. It’s been three days that Kendra has kept this secret, and it was slowly running her mad.

Kendra’s voice turned venomous. "You’re a curse. A bad luck. Ever since you stepped foot in this pack, you’ve brought nothing but bad luck. And Cain—" she shook her head, lips curling in disgust "—he lets it happen. He lets you happen. He should’ve taken you out a long time ago, but he didn’t. He instead left it up to me, and I can say I’ve lacked so dearly to fulfill my duty. Not anymore, though."

Avery gulped, and she took a step back. This was what she was trying to avoid. After Martha’s death, life has been relatively easier for Avery not until Kendra’s return. Until now.

"I don’t know what you want from me," Avery said.

Kendra’s jaw tightened, she took a step forward. "I want you gone. I can’t stand the sight of you." Kendra spat out bitterly. The more she spoke, the more it felt like her insides were burning. Kendra loathed the sight of Avery.

"Why don’t you get every scrawny dirty thing you own and get the hell out of this pack!" Kendra screamed, and before Avery could say another word, Kendra shoved her hard.

Avery barely registered it before she was stumbling back, her boots scraping against the stone. Gasps rippled through the courtyard.

Avery squeezed her eyes shut tightly, her heart pounding hard in her chest as she waited for the impact. Only that there was none. Instead of the hard, rough floor she should’ve hit, she was instead held steady by a rock-hard and sturdy body.

"What the hell do you think you’re doing, Kendra?"

Cain’s voice was a low, dangerous growl. His grip was firm around Avery’s waist, steadying her. The sheer heat radiating from his body sent a shiver through her, but she didn’t have time to process it—Kendra’s expression made sure of that.

She looked angrier if that was even possible, her gaze flickered down to the hand Cain had wrapped around Avery’s waist, and Avery could’ve sworn Kendra turned red.

"What am I doing? I should be asking you! What are you doing, Alpha Cain? Since when did you start involving yourself in servant squabbles?" She spat bitterly.

Cain’s gaze narrowed dangerously. "Kendra." He drawled out, but she continued.

"I have tried. I have tried my hardest to make you see me. Hear me, but what have you done every single time? You’ve ignored me. You’ve overlooked me and all for what? Her!" She spat out, her finger pointed towards Avery.

"All for the same woman who would do nothing but break her bond with you?" She screamed, panting hard. Her gaze shifted to Avery’s shell-shocked face, and she grinned. "Yes! That’s right. I know it all." Her gaze shifted to Cain’s.

"Avery wants to break her bond with you. She wants to reject you, finally."