Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 15

Betrayed by Blood~

I flinched as the door creaked open. I had been alone for what felt like an eternity, and I was still uncertain about everything—about why I was here, in his room of all places. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

It didn’t make sense. Why here?

The door clicked, and I turned, my stomach twisting painfully as my gaze met his. Cain’s dark eyes landed on me, his gaze heavy. My breath hitched, and I swallowed hard.

"You’re awake," he said, his voice hoarse and deep.

I pushed myself to sit up from the bed, ignoring the sharp pain that shot through my body at the movement. "Alpha Cain..." I said quietly. Xander had told me to thank Cain instead, even though I could never see him saving me, but I did so anyway. "Thank you for saving me."

At those words, Cain’s gaze darkened, his jaw tightening as he clenched his hands tightly, the veins in his arm popping. His body stiffened, and for a moment, I thought I saw something in his eyes.

He took a step toward me, and I froze. Had I said anything wrong? Did I do anything wrong? I couldn’t tell, not like I could ever tell when it came to Cain.

"Don’t thank me," he spat out irritably, taking another step closer. His voice was cold. "I didn’t save you for your sake."

My chest tightened at his words, and I blinked up at him, confusion flashing across my face. "I don’t—"

"You think I care about you?" he cut me off sharply. "You think I couldn’t wait to play the hero? Don’t flatter yourself. The only reason I acted was because no one else has the right to punish you. That’s mine and mine alone."

My breath caught in my throat, and I shrank back into myself. His words were like a slap, each one cutting deeper than the last. Punish me? What had I done to deserve this? I didn’t ask for this bond any more than he did. I didn’t choose this. I didn’t choose any of this, yet here I was, trapped in it. A nightmare.

"I—I’m sorry," I stammered, my voice trembling. "I’ll leave now."

I pushed the blanket aside and swung my legs over, ready to leave. I shouldn’t have stayed. I ignored the little voice in my head telling me Xander had asked me to stay. I had no reason to. I didn’t even know what I was thinking. Just as I stood up to leave, a wave of dizziness hit me, and I almost fell to the floor. I squeezed my eyes shut, ready for the impact, but it never came.

A strong grip caught me, steadying me before I could fall. My eyes flew open, and I found myself inches away from him, his hand wrapped tightly around my arm. His touch was firm, almost bruising, and his scent—woodsy, smoky, and distinctly him—filled my senses.

"Pathetic," he muttered sharply. His grip on my arm didn’t falter, even as he stared at me. "You can’t even stand on your own, can you?"

I looked away, anger burning in my chest. I wanted to pull away, but his grip was too firm.

I swallowed hard. "I said I’d leave already," I whispered. "You don’t have to—"

"Don’t test my patience," he interrupted coldly, releasing my arm so suddenly that I stumbled, barely catching myself on the edge of the bed. "Sit down and stay out of my sight." He gritted out.

He didn’t leave any room for argument, not that I wanted to or could anyway. I sank back into the bed, trembling. I was tired, humiliated, and above all, scared. I didn’t dare look at him and instead kept my gaze stuck on my hands.

I could feel his eyes on me. He stared at me for a long while and then, without another word, he turned and walked out the door. The air shifted when he left, and only then did I realize I had been holding my breath.

I exhaled shakily, my heart still pounding. What is wrong with him?

~~~~~

Kendra~

The vase shattered against the wall, pieces of glass falling to the floor. Kendra stood in the middle of the room, her chest heaving, as if she had just heard the worst news possible. She actually had.

"She survived?" she hissed, her voice trembling with disbelief. She had planned it perfectly, timed it so well, so how? How in the goddess’s name could that weak lowlife survive this?

Maris stood frozen near the doorway, her head bowed, trembling. She had been the unfortunate one to deliver the news. Why did it have to be her?

"Yes, Miss Kendra," the maid stammered. "Alpha Cain brought her back... personally."

Kendra snapped her gaze to the maid, her eyes wide. "Cain did what?"

"He brought her back personally," Maris stammered.

’Personally.’ That single word felt like a slap. She let out a sharp, bitter laugh. Cain had personally gone to retrieve her. Not a guard. Not even Xander. Him.

She had planned it so well. She should be done with Avery’s Chapter by now, but instead, she was being toyed with. Is this a joke? The longer that wretch stayed here, the more Cain would grow softer for her. It had only been a month, and he was already pushing her away. She couldn’t have it.

"Where is she now?" she demanded.

Maris gulped hard, got to her knees, and said, "She’s... she’s with the Alpha."

The room seemed to tilt. Kendra’s eyes widened, her lips parting slightly, her hands clenched into a tight fist, her nails digging into her palm.

"With Cain?" she repeated, almost as if she hadn’t heard correctly. "Cain asked for her so early in the morning?"

Maris hesitated again, as if she were afraid. "No, Mistress... She slept in his room."

The words hit Kendra like a slap to the face. Her lips twitched, her eyes narrowing. For a moment, she just stared at Maris, as if she was waiting for her to take it back, to correct herself.

"She what?" Kendra whispered.

Maris flinched at the calmness that she began to explain, "The Alpha... he told Sir Xander to take her there after she was attacked... It was for her recovery—"

"Enough! That’s enough. Get out," Kendra snapped.

Maris didn’t hesitate. She turned and bolted from the room, leaving Kendra alone.

Kendra took a deep breath and shut her eyes for a few seconds. Then she opened her eyes again, feeling much calmer. She couldn’t afford to act irrationally again. Her stupidity had led Cain to not only save her but have her in his room. If she hadn’t done what she did, Avery wouldn’t know the color of his room. She did that, and so she couldn’t act irrationally again. Now, she was going to work it out better, but one thing was sure: she wasn’t ever losing her stand, not after everything she had done.