Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 176

Betrayed by Blood

Avery stood on the balcony, the cool breeze brushing against her skin as she stared out at the landscape. The moon hung high, shining bright across the pack. It was a calm, peaceful night. Well, it should have been peaceful, yet it wasn’t. Avery couldn’t shake off the things she’d heard earlier.

"Be careful. You must be ready, child. You possess two great abilities, and you must learn to wield them and hide them properly because there will be those who seek to take them from you. And they will stop at nothing to do so."

Elda Loris’s words rang in her mind endlessly. Cryptic, unsettling, and refusing to leave her alone. What had she meant? Careful of what? Or who?

She sighed, gripping the railing as she tried to clear her thoughts. That was when she heard footsteps behind her.

"A word, my Lady?"

She turned, surprised to find Orin standing a few feet away. The middle-aged warrior had always been a quiet but steady presence in the pack. He was a man of duty, rarely speaking unless necessary, and never overstepping his place.

"Orin, what brings you here? What’s the matter?" Avery asked, her eyebrows pinched in worry.

Orin hesitated for a moment before taking a step forward. "Nothing urgent, my Lady. But there is something I wish to speak to you about."

Avery’s brows pinched in concern. "Go on."

He stepped forward, his eyes searching hers. "Are you sure about this?"

Avery frowned. "Sure about what?"

"Forgive me, but I want to speak candidly to you. May I?"

She nodded. "Of course."

Orin cleared his throat. "I know that much has changed since your father’s reign, and I cannot pretend to know all that you have endured. But I must ask...are you truly certain that giving Alpha Cain full authority over Blood Moon is what you want?"

Avery stiffened, caught off guard. "Cain is my mate. That makes him Alpha."

Orin tilted his head slightly. "Does it?"

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Your father left this pack to you, my Lady. Not to him."

Avery opened her mouth, then closed it, taken aback. Of all the things she thought he might want to talk about, she never once thought of this. "Cain is strong. He’s capable. He’s—"

Orin cut in gently. "Forgive me, my lady, but that is not the question. No one disputes Alpha Cain’s strength or capability. But he is not of Blood Moon. You are." He stepped closer, his voice lowering. "You were raised to lead, not to stand beside someone and let them lead in your stead. I trained under your father, fought by his side. I watched as he prepared you to take his place. Do you think this is what he envisioned?"

Avery’s heart pounded. She didn’t know how to answer that. "I am leading," she insisted. "I lead with Cain."

Orin studied her, his expression unreadable. "Are you certain that’s what you’re doing? Or are you simply following?"

The words struck deeper than she wanted to admit.

"I..." she faltered. She was leading, wasn’t she? She would lead with him, right?

Orin sighed. "You were raised to lead, not to stand beside someone and let them lead in your stead." His gaze held something... concern? Frustration? "You are the rightful Alpha. Not just a Luna."

"I still am the rightful Alpha of Blood Moon."

The man studied her for a long moment before saying, "Then why does it feel like you are trying to convince yourself?"

Avery blinked, as if she wasn’t expecting that question. She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by the door creaking.

She turned to see Cain stepping in. He paused by the door, his eyes immediately locking onto them. The head warrior stiffened immediately and lowered his head in submission. "Alpha," he greeted smoothly.

Cain’s gaze flickered between them before settling on Avery. "Everything okay?"

Avery forced a small smile. "Yes, everything’s fine."

Cain’s eyes lingered on her, as if sensing she wasn’t telling him everything, but he didn’t press.

"Please excuse me, My Alpha, My Luna. I’ll go tend to those that need my attention," Orin said, bowing yet again before walking away.

Cain stepped closer, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against him. His warmth, his scent, filled her, grounding her in ways she didn’t expect.

His lips brushed against the side of her neck as he whispered, "I missed you."

Avery exhaled softly, her body instinctively leaning into him. She smiled. "I was gone for a few hours."

"Too long," he murmured.

A small laugh escaped her lips, but it was cut short when he pulled back slightly, just enough to look her in the eye. His hands rested on her hips, his thumb tracing slow circles against her dress.

"You good?" He asked again, quieter this time. The head warrior’s words immediately filled her mind, but she quickly shoved them down. She then nodded, "Yes, everything’s good." She replied.

Cain didn’t look convinced. He tilted his head slightly, studying her. "You’re thinking about something."

Avery hesitated. Should she tell him? Should she ask him what he thought about what Orin had said? But then again, she was reminded of what Cain could do to Orin, so she shook her head. "I’m just tired."

Cain hummed, unconvinced but unwilling to push. He glanced over her shoulder, toward the landscape beyond the balcony, before looking back at her.

"I’ve been thinking about something," he said.

She tilted her head. "What is it?"

Cain’s gaze softened. "I think it’s time we make our mating official."

Avery’s breath hitched, her eyes widening as his words settled in her head. "Official?" She choked out.

He nodded. "When we return to Vehiron, I want to start preparations for our mating ceremony. I think it’s long overdue. What do you say?"

For a moment, she could only stare at him, stunned. Cain wanted to make their bond official. Permanent.

Her mind raced with what that truly meant. It wasn’t just a simple ceremony. It would be a declaration to the world that she belonged to him. That she would forever be tied to him, in every way.

His thumb continued tracing soothing patterns on her waist as he waited for her response. "What do you say?"

She smiled, this time genuine and bright. "Good," she said, her voice steady. "Very good."