Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 95

Betrayed by Blood

Gerald stepped into the room assigned to him, his sharp eyes scanning every detail. The bed frame caught his attention—ornate carvings ran along the dark wood, polished to perfection. He ran his hand along its edge, his lips curling into a faint smile.

"Cain’s touch is everywhere," he muttered to himself. "He’s turned this pack into something unrecognizable... something powerful."

He paced the room, trailing his fingers across the smooth furniture and pausing by the window. The view of the pack’s ground stretched before him. Cain had amassed so many things over the years and grown the pack into such a fortress. Gerald had heard of it, but he never thought it was this magnificent. Cain has amassed such great wealth.

"All of this... built on the foundation I laid," he said, his voice tinged with something Nora was quick to recognize.

Nora leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "It doesn’t feel like the same pack we left behind."

"It’s not," Gerald replied, glancing back at her. "It’s his now. And look what he’s done with it—wealth, power, dominance." He turned fully toward her, his tone hardening. "All of it was made possible because of me. If I hadn’t done what I did and faced Edward’s anger, who knows what would’ve happened." He looked around again, unable to believe just how much the pack had changed over the years. "Cain’s wealth shows in every corner of this place, and it’s all built on the back of the sacrifices I made."

Nora frowned, but she said nothing. She chose to look around the room they had been given and marvel at how it would feel to live in Vehiron.

_____________________________________

"You and you, take the snacks and drinks and take them to their rooms. Alpha Cain has guests over," the head maid ordered, her gaze sharp and voice rough, an irritated sneer on her face as she barked out orders to Avery and Millie.

"Has anyone seen Martha today?" Julie asked, her gaze flickering around the kitchen, but no one responded. Nobody had seen Martha yet. Julie sighed, "I swear she does this every time it’s her turn to work." Julie muttered under her breath then shifted her gaze to Avery and Selena, who were filling their trays.

"Listen, these guests. They’re very important to Alpha Cain, so don’t mess it up. Just drop it, bow, and leave! Nothing more, alright!" She said, making sure they nodded before stepping out of the kitchen to oversee other matters.

Avery and Selena quickly filled up their trays and stepped out too, walking towards the quarters. Avery couldn’t help but wonder who exactly could be so important to Cain to not only have them in the private quarters that she knows were only reserved for dignitaries like the king and queen.

"Aren’t you curious?" Selena’s voice cut through her mind, jolting her from her thoughts.

Avery glanced at her, her eyebrows quirked up. "What?"

"The guests. Aren’t you curious as to who they are? Isn’t this like the first time we are seeing someone important to Alpha Cain?" Selena asked, and Avery chuckled.

"We are? Selena, you just arrived in the pack days ago."

Selena chuckled at that, "Well, you know what I mean."

Avery shook her head with a small smile. "I try not to be curious about anything involving Alpha Cain. It’s safer that way."

Selena smirked, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Safer for who? You or him?"

Avery glanced at her just as they reached the door. "Everyone and you too. We don’t want any trouble." She whispered back.

Selena knocked lightly on the door, and soon the door was opened. A tall, slender, dark-haired woman stood in front of them, a smile stretched on her face. "Oh, I just realized how famished I am. Please come in."

Avery stepped into the room with Selena beside her, the two bowed and greeted the white-haired man. Avery immediately understood that this was the important guest. He had an aura of importance that surrounded him. He stood by the window, his gaze on the two girls, watching as they set the trays on the table.

Avery peeked up at him only to find him staring at her intently. She felt goosebumps appear on her skin and gulped hard. She couldn’t wait to be out of there.

Just as Avery turned to leave, Gerald’s voice stopped her.

"Wait."

She froze, her heart skipping a beat. Slowly, she turned back to face him, keeping her expression blank.

"What’s your name?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Avery," she replied quietly.

He nodded, "Avery... a fitting name."

The way he said it sent a chill down her spine, though she couldn’t explain why.

"You may go," Gerald said after a moment, waving her off dismissively.

Avery quickly turned and left the room, her steps quick. Selena caught up with her in the hallway. "That was weird," Selena whispered.

~~~~~~~

Back in the room, Gerald leaned back in his chair, his smile now entirely gone. He stared at the door Avery had just walked through, his mind working quickly.

"That girl," he said, his voice low.

"What about her?" Nora asked as she rummaged through the snacks brought for them.

"She’s Cain’s mate," Gerald stated matter-of-factly.

Nora stiffened, snapping her head up. "How can you tell? There’s no visible bond—"

"It hasn’t manifested yet," he interrupted sharply. "Which means Cain hasn’t accepted her. And that means there’s still a chance."

"For what?" Nora asked, her voice rising slightly.

"For us," Gerald replied. "Cain owes me. Everything he has. His wealth, his power, his position—it all exists because of me. I endured Edward’s wrath, suffered for his mistakes, and now it’s time for him to repay the debt. He’ll marry you, Nora."

Nora frowned deeply. "And if I don’t want this? What if I’d rather live without a mate than force this? The goddess gave him his mate already. Why would you want me to ruin what they have?"

Gerald’s hand slammed down on the table, making her jump. "Don’t speak of the goddess’s plan to me. The goddess gave me nothing but suffering. The goddess took away your mother, my mate. Cain will marry you, Nora, because I will make it so. This is my reward—our reward—for everything we’ve endured." He spat out bitterly.

"Don’t forget, Emilia is dead because of Cain. If I hadn’t stood up for him then I wouldn’t have had to run away from here with your mother, and she certainly wouldn’t have died in such a horrific manner. This is the least he can do for us."

Nora said nothing, her jaw clenched as she stared at the floor.

~~~~~~~~

Cain stood by the window, a cup of coffee in his hands. His mind went through the events of the day. Now, he not only thought of Callum’s silence but also Gerald’s return. Never in his life did he think he would see the man alive. He still remembered how his father had forced him, practically pulled his eyes open and forced him to stare at Gerald’s supposed mauled body. The body had been beaten beyond recognition, and yet the only thing Cain could remember was the eyes. Gerald’s eyes stared at him, lifeless.

He ran his fingers through his hair. Was he losing his mind? He saw him! He saw his dead body and was forced to memorize every part of the man’s face. How could Gerald be alive? His father wasn’t even someone to let anyone live. He spared no one, so how?

A knock at the door jolted him from his thoughts, and he turned around just as Nathan stepped in. The man bowed, "Alpha, you called for me?"

Cain nodded, motioning for the man to step closer, and he did. "I have a job for you, and I want you to carry it out properly. I want results quick. I’m trusting you with this." He said, and Nathan straightened up. This was the first time Cain would have him do something. It’s always been Lydia and Xander and more recently, Callum, but never him. Not until now, anyway.

"I swear on my life, I will carry out the task diligently with my life."

Cain gave a curt nod, "Find out everything there is to know about Gerald and his daughter Nora. Where they’ve been, who they’ve spoken to. What they’ve done. Everything." Cain wasn’t stupid. As much as he respected the man, he owed it to the pack and the people he led to ensure that Gerald and his daughter posed no danger. It’s been twenty years, and as much as he would love to believe Gerald could never change from the man Cain knew, time also changed people, and he wasn’t about to learn the tough way. It’s better this way.

Nathan’s eyes widened at the mention of the man, Gerald. No one has spoken of the beta in a very long while. He had questions but didn’t dare voice them out, so he nodded. "Yes, Alpha."

He turned to leave, only to be called back. "Not a soul must hear of this," he warned, and Nathan nodded curtly.

He pulled the door open to leave, only to find a lower-ranked guard standing outside the door, about to knock. He bowed quickly at Nathan, allowing him to step out before rushing in.

"Alpha Cain. Forgive my insolence, but I’m afraid we have a problem," the guard rushed out.

Cain furrowed his eyebrows, "What problem?" He asked.

"A guard on patrol just found a body within the pack grounds."

At this, Cain stiffened. Finding a body within the pack ground was serious. Someone was bold enough to kill even with the hundreds of warriors and guards present. Cain’s fist clenched, his jaw hardening.

"Whose body was found?" He asked.

"Martha, the former head maid."