Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 154

Betrayed by Blood

The two rode around on their horses for a bit and soon they stopped. They were now walking, the quiet crunch of gravel beneath their boots as Cain and Alaric walked through.

Cain kept his steps measured, his expression impassive, but he knew there had to be something else behind Alaric’s visit. It couldn’t all be about Silvermoon. The man hadn’t mentioned anything about it ever since Cain told him he didn’t ask for his permission. He knew Alaric wasn’t a man who came without reason.

Alaric walked beside him, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze flickering over the sights of Vaheeran as if committing them to memory. His silence was deliberate, the kind that made men uneasy. But Cain wasn’t like most men. He let the quiet stretch, waiting.

Finally, Alaric spoke. "You found your mate."

Ah, there it was. The real reason why Alaric came to Vaheeran. Cain didn’t react immediately, though he knew the king was watching him. "Yes."

Alaric hummed, as if considering. "And won’t you introduce me to her?"

Cain barely stopped himself from frowning. He wasn’t sure why the request irked him, but it did. Actually, he knew why. Alaric was a man who couldn’t be trusted, and who knew what he heard to have him coming to Vaheeran without notice. Still, he nodded, glancing ahead.

His gaze landed on Avery.

She was seated with a few pack members near the garden’s edge, a small plate of meat in her lap. She laughed at something one of them said, the sound light and unguarded. The setting sun bathed her in warm hues, catching in the soft strands of her hair. It was one of the few times Cain had seen her let loose and laugh. She was mostly shy or nervous around him, understandably so.

Cain didn’t realize how long he had been staring until he felt Alaric’s gaze trace his.

The king smirked. "Is that her?"

Cain’s shoulders tensed, his jaw locked hard at the man’s words.

"I’d like to say hello."

Cain glanced at the king, whose gaze was already on him, as though waiting to see if he would refuse. Cain nodded before turning to one of the guards. "Bring her to me."

The guard bowed and moved swiftly.

Avery noticed them before the guard even reached her. The laughter drained from her face, replaced with confusion, then something more guarded as she stood. She nodded once at the guard before making her way over.

When she reached them, she stood slightly behind Cain, her fingers brushing against the hem of his sleeve. "Alpha," she murmured in greeting.

Cain looked at Alaric, whose gaze was already on Avery. "Your Majesty. This is Avery Jae. My mate."

Avery tensed up, swallowing hard, knowing she was in front of the king. She bowed her head quickly, "Your Majesty," she greeted softly.

Alaric smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "So this is your mate." He studied her closely. Too closely, it made Avery’s skin crawl.

Cain felt the shift before Avery did—the way her shoulders tensed, the way she subtly shifted her weight as if resisting the urge to step back. But the king’s stare had her uncomfortable. She stepped back, just slightly, her body angling behind Cain.

Cain shifted, stepping in front of her just enough to block Alaric’s line of sight.

Alaric chuckled under his breath, clearly noticing. He lifted his gaze to look at Cain. "She’s very pretty. You found yourself a beautiful woman."

Something in his tone, in his choice of words, had Cain stiffening. Cain’s voice was calm when he spoke. "She’s mine."

Alaric held his gaze for a moment longer before finally stepping back. "Of course." He flashed a smile at Cain then turned to one of his guards.

Cain glanced at Avery, who he could tell was very much uncomfortable. "You can go back. I’ll see you soon." He said, nudging towards the garden where she was just coming from.

Avery nodded and stepped back, walking as quickly as her feet could carry her. A second later, Alaric looked back at Cain, a small frown settling on his face when he noticed Avery’s retreating figure. "She left already? Not a single word to her king?" He said.

Cain held Alaric’s gaze, unwavering. "She’s busy. I excused her. You’ll have to forgive her."

Alaric’s smirk didn’t fade. If anything, it deepened. "Busy, hm?" He cast another glance toward Avery, who had already returned to her seat in the garden. She wasn’t laughing anymore, though. Her shoulders were tense, her posture a little more rigid.

Cain clenched his jaw. He didn’t like the way Alaric was watching her.

Alaric sighed, as if the moment had passed, and turned back to Cain. "I must admit, I am... surprised."

Cain arched a brow. "By what?"

"That you took a mate. And so soon." Alaric clasped his hands behind his back. "I never took you for a man who would settle so easily."

Cain bristled at his choice of words. "I don’t consider it ’settling.’"

"Of course not." Alaric hummed, "She is quite beautiful. And young. I imagine she must be... very eager to please you."

Cain’s grip on his belt tightened. His wolf rumbled beneath his skin, but his voice remained calm. "As I am with her."

Alaric exhaled, rolling his shoulders back as if brushing off the conversation. "Well, I suppose I’ve taken enough of your time. I’ll be on my way now."

Cain didn’t speak, only nodded.

But then Alaric paused. His head tilted slightly, eyes glinting with something unreadable. "Before I go... there is one thing."

Cain didn’t react, though he could already tell he wouldn’t like whatever came next.

Alaric’s voice was light, almost casual. "It’s unheard of, you know. A man leading two packs in the same region." He clicked his tongue. "You’re breaking the rules, Cain. Rules exist for a reason. Balance must be maintained. The moment you disrupt that, the moment you show your hand too boldly—" He shook his head. "It mostly doesn’t end up well."

Alaric took a slow step closer. "It may have gone unchallenged so far, but make no mistake—it won’t last. You may have taken Silver-Moon, but that doesn’t mean the other packs will simply accept it. It sets... a dangerous precedent."

Cain’s expression hardened, his wolf snarled beneath his skin, he stepped forward, "If any of the other alphas has a problem with my taking over Silvermoon, then they can say it to my face instead of hiding behind their king. I make my own rules, King Alaric, and I have Silvermoon in my grasp now."

Alaric smirked. "That’s exactly what I’m afraid of." He turned then, walking toward his horse, his guards falling into step behind him. "I hope, for your sake, that you’re ready for what comes next."

Cain watched him go, his muscles wound tight. He knew a threat when he heard one.