Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 180

Betrayed by Blood

Kendra stormed into the room, slamming the door behind her angrily. Her breaths came fast, her fingers twitching at her sides as she paced, the rage bubbling beneath her skin. She could still hear the murmurs from the training grounds, the way the warriors whispered about Avery’s skill, about how she had won.

This should’ve been her moment to shine. She was the one they should be talking about. She had come all this way for what? How humiliating.

She scoffed, shaking her head. She won.

She had been taking hits back to back, and now people had even begun to laugh in her face. Maids had begun to talk about her. How insulting was this? Kendra couldn’t contain her anger any longer. She grabbed the nearest thing, a water bottle, and threw it across the room. It smacked against the wall with a sharp crack, bouncing to the floor.

A slow clap sounded from the corner.

"See?" Carol’s voice was smooth, unimpressed. "I told you. Whatever you were trying to build, it was never going to work."

Kendra turned to see her mother staring at her with her brows arched up. "I wasn’t trying to be her friend, Mother!"

Carol arched a brow, lounging in the chair near the fireplace. "No?"

Kendra clenched her fists. "I can’t believe how much she’s improved. She was nothing when she got here, weak, useless, and now suddenly, she’s holding her own against me? That doesn’t happen overnight. What is she learning? Who is training her?"

Carol scoffed, "Who else would train her if not Cain?" She stood up, walking towards Kendra. "She’s his soon-to-be Luna, after all."

"Yes, but should she be this good already?" Kendra snapped. She resumed pacing, shaking her head. "Something’s different. She’s sharper, stronger, and even faster. This isn’t just training. It’s like..." She trailed off, lips pressing together.

Carol exhaled slowly, touching Kendra’s shoulder. "You’re frustrated."

"I’m more than frustrated, Mother. Everything I’ve done so far has been futile. Do you realize how much damage has been done already? Before, nobodies would shiver at the sound of our footsteps, but now...they have the audacity to stand still while we walk by. I’ve taken way too many hits in the past month. Cain no longer looks at me or even attempts a conversation with me. I can’t continue like this. I can’t sit still while he mates that...thing."

"Whatever it is you’re planning in that head of yours, cool it. We only have one chance as it is, and I cannot afford you ruining it all for us. If not for the doctor who told him you needed a lot of rest, you’d be back in that filthy dungeon. Don’t ruin this for me, Kendra, and leave it alone. I’m already taking care of it as it stands."

Kendra’s eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, Mother? What are you taking care of?"

Carol rolled her eyes, "You think I’m really going to stand and watch this pathetic thing you’re doing? Hell no! I have plans, Kendra. Plans that will set things right. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll sit back and let me handle it. Or—" she met Kendra’s eyes, her gaze hardening, "—you’ll get in my way and ruin everything. And I will not clean up your messes anymore."

Kendra exhaled sharply. "Fine, Mother. Fine. Whatever it is you’re planning, it better work. I can’t stand seeing Avery happy and that too with Cain. I would rather die than—" the words died down her throat when she saw Carol’s deadly glare. She snapped her mouth shut and looked away, her hands clenched into tight fists as memories of Avery slamming her on the floor flashed through her mind yet again.

~~~~~~~~~

"Tell them to get rid of those corpses and have all of them gone from there. I won’t be this lenient next time," Alaric ordered, the glass of wine in his hand still swirling. He had just finished breakfast when he got the news.

"Yes, my king," Finn bowed, ready to leave, but the two of them were interrupted by a knock on the door. A guard stepped in, bowing his head so far it almost touched his knees.

"My king, you have a visitor."

Alaric didn’t bother looking up. "Send them away. I’m not entertaining guests."

The guard hesitated, his hands tightening behind his back. "It’s...Sir Callum from the Vehiron pack."

Alaric’s swirling slowed, looking up at the guard. There was a flicker of intrigue before his lips curled into a slow, knowing smirk. "Well, well. That is interesting." He waved a lazy hand. "Let him in."

The guard hurried out, and seconds later, Callum entered the room. He paused a few feet from the king and bowed his head slightly. "Your majesty."

Alaric rested his elbow against the armrest, leaning his cheek against his knuckles. "What unfortunate news has Cain’s right-hand man coming to my palace?" he asked, his voice laced with mockery.

Callum didn’t flinch; instead, he straightened up. "Alpha Cain has not sent me here for anything, my king. I came here of my own accord."

That made Alaric pause. He studied Callum for a long moment before chuckling. "Your own accord? Pray tell, what brings you here, Callum?"

Callum took a slow step forward. "I bring you information."

Alaric arched an eyebrow. "Information? What makes you think I care?"

"Because it concerns Alpha Cain and his mate."

Alaric hummed, not moved. "And what do you want in return for this information?" he asked, and at this, Callum visibly shook. He didn’t say a word for some seconds as though gathering the courage. "I—"

Before Callum could continue, a sharp movement cut through the air.

Fin was on him in seconds.

The man slammed Callum against the wall, his claws pressing into the side of his throat. Callum grunted but didn’t struggle.

"You think you can walk in here and offer the king your scraps?" Fin growled, his fangs bared. "What makes you think we don’t already know whatever it is you’ve come crawling to say?"

Alaric sighed as if bored. "Yes, do explain." He lifted his goblet again. "Because it seems to me that Cain’s right hand is either a fool or a desperate man."

Callum’s breathing was steady despite the pressure on his neck. "I only want the same thing you want, my king. To live."

Alaric stared at him for some seconds longer then exhaled, "Fin, let him speak. But if he wastes my time, rip out his throat."

Fin hesitated for only a second before releasing Callum.

Alaric leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming. "Go on, then. Make this worth my time."

Callum’s heart pounded hard in his chest, but he knew it was now or never, and he couldn’t miss this opportunity. "My king, I know of your animosity against Alpha Cain. I know of his insolence, and I know you want to see him out of power as Alpha of Vehiron. I will assist you in everything you might need to usurp him as pack Alpha. All I want in return is my position as head warrior."

Alaric chuckled quietly, "So, let me get this straight. You are willing to betray the very Alpha you swore loyalty to... all for a title you claim to already have?" His eyes gleamed with amusement.

Callum swallowed but held his ground. "A title means nothing if it’s only in words. Loyalty means nothing when it is not reciprocated. Alpha Cain doesn’t regard me as the head warrior."

Alaric tilted his head. "And why is that?"

Callum hesitated before answering. "Because he sees me as disposable."

Alaric laughed, "Aren’t you?"

Callum clenched his jaw. "Not if I prove my worth to you."

Alaric hummed, whatever the man was here offering, he had heard more already, and his was useless. Still, he leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees as he studied Callum. "And what exactly do you think you can offer me, aside from whispers and half-baked treachery?"

Callum straightened, his mind flashing back to seeing Xander and Nathan lead the pack while he was pushed to the side like he never existed. "I know every in and out of Vehiron. I know Vehiron’s weakness."

At this, Alaric’s smile dropped. "Betraying one’s Alpha is not something taken lightly. If you fail, you will have nowhere left to run."

Callum’s hands curled into fists at his sides. "I won’t fail."

Then, Alaric grinned, reaching for his wine again. "Very well. You have my attention. But if you’re going to play this game, Callum..." He swirled the liquid lazily then glanced at Callum. "You’d best not lose, or Cain will have your head like he had your friend."