Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 147

Betrayed by Blood

Chapter 147~

Avery stood in the corner of the training field, helping Selena and Millie fold some linens against their will. She could hear the two ladies talking about something but couldn’t be bothered enough to listen. Her gaze was fixed somewhere else entirely.

In the center of the field, Cain was sparring with one of his warriors, his bare torso gleaming with sweat under the midday sun, his muscles tensed and flexed with each strike, and Avery couldn’t look away. It was almost like she was in a trance, watching his sweat glide down his abs, the way he grunted. It was hypnotic. She barely registered Selena’s knowing glance before the woman leaned in and whispered, "You’re staring."

Avery’s face burned bright red, and she quickly looked down, resuming her folding. "I wasn’t," she muttered.

"Right," Selena snickered, brushing past her. "Try not to drool, yeah?"

Before Avery could respond, a deep voice cut through the air. "Avery."

Avery straightened up at the sound of his voice, immediately snapping her eyes towards the man who had drawn her attention. Cain stood at the center of the field, watching her intensely.

The warrior he had been sparring with stepped aside, wiping sweat from his brow. Training was over, and some warriors had already begun walking away while others lingered, chatting amongst themselves. Those who remained turned their heads, curious about why their Alpha had singled her out.

Cain beckoned her forward with a tilt of his head. Avery hesitated for a moment before walking toward him, ignoring the way her heart pounded in her chest. As she neared, she forced herself to keep her eyes on his face and not the sculpted expanse of his chest and failed horribly.

She’d seen him in different contexts but this was different. He didn’t always look like he was just done with four hours of intense training, his body taut with exertion, his muscles practically carved by the gods.

Cain smirked as he caught her staring. "Would you like to touch?"

Avery nearly choked. The murmurs of the warriors left behind reached her ears instantly. She took a step back, her face heating beyond control. "What?"

Cain’s smirk deepened. "My muscles. You were staring."

Avery swallowed hard, looking away and determined not to let him fluster her any further. "I was not."

Cain hummed, clearly amused. He grabbed a length of cloth, wrapping it around her palms. Avery stiffened, suddenly very focused on the ground.

Then, without warning, his hands settled on her shoulders. She tensed under his touch, her breath hitching.

"What are you doing?" she stammered.

He glanced at her, "I saw you staring at me from over there, wondered if you were interested in my muscles or the training."

"I wasn’t staring," she refuted.

"No? So you aren’t interested?"

Avery’s face heated, "I was just watching."

Cain’s smirk deepened, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Watching me."

She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off, stepping closer. "So, which was it? My muscles or the training?"

Avery swallowed hard, trying not to let her gaze drift lower. "The training." frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Cain hummed as if considering her answer. Then, without warning, he reached for her hands, his fingers wrapping around hers as he began adjusting her stance. "Have you ever trained before?" He asked.

Avery blinked at the sudden shift. "I—" She exhaled, willing her voice to steady. "I used to. With my father, when he was alive."

"Good, you know the basics then."

Avery narrowed her eyes, sensing the teasing laced in his words, but before she could respond, he continued, "I want to see what you can do."

She stiffened. "What?"

"Here?" She glanced around at the lingering warriors, suddenly hyperaware of their curious stares. "In front of everyone?"

One glance and Cain instantly caught the hesitation. Without missing a beat, he turned to the warriors and the others in the field. "Leave."

And in a second, the training field was empty, leaving just the two of them alone.

Cain studied her carefully, his intense gaze making her shift slightly on her feet. "Better?"

Avery hesitated before nodding. She hadn’t been expecting him to dismiss everyone. She was still reeling from the way he’d dismissed everyone so effortlessly, as if her comfort was the only thing that mattered.

Cain adjusted the wraps on her hands, his fingers brushing against her skin. "You said you’ve trained before."

Avery blinked up at him. "Yeah... when my father was alive."

He nodded, expression unreadable. "Tell me about it."

She exhaled slowly, trying to focus on the memory rather than the warmth of his touch. "He used to take me to the training fields early in the morning before anyone else arrived. He always said that learning to fight wasn’t just about strength—it was about discipline, reading your opponent, knowing when to strike." Her father, even though he was the alpha, he’d made sure to have time for Avery and that included having her during his training sessions even though she was far too young to be there. Her father was of staunch beliefs that she had to be capable in every way to take over his position as the pack’s leader.

Cain’s lips curled slightly, something like approval flashing in his eyes. "Smart man."

Avery gave a small nod, lost in thought. "I-I was really young but I liked it." She muttered. After her parents’ death and her uncle’s invasion, everything stopped and she could only watch as others were trained instead. She wasn’t allowed to ever be in there.

Cain hummed, stepping back slightly. "Then show me."

She blinked, the memories she was beginning to fondle dropped instantly. "What?"

"Show me what you remember," he said calmly, stepping back.

Avery hesitated. "You want me to fight you?"

Cain smirked. "Afraid you’ll lose?"

Avery’s eyes narrowed slightly. Somehow she wasn’t scared and that had to be one of the most ridiculous things ever. "I didn’t say so."

"Good." He gestured for her to come at him. "Then don’t hold back."