Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 151

Betrayed by Blood

The morning started off quietly. Avery sat with Millie and Selena in the servant quarters. Even though she had been moved to Cain’s quarters, she just couldn’t stop coming. Her friends were here, after all.

"So, how is it?" Millie asked.

Avery arched an eyebrow, her lips pressed into a thin line as she folded the linen carefully. "How’s what?"

"Living in the same quarters as Alpha Cain. How is it?"

Avery looked away, not knowing what to say. How was living in the same quarters as Cain? It was nerve-wracking actually and weirdly exciting, but Avery couldn’t admit that, so she gave a tight-lipped smile. "It’s okay," she mumbled.

She glanced at Selena, seeing her with a handful of sheets. "Selena, hand me that one," Avery said, reaching for another sheet.

Selena didn’t move. She was staring into space, lost in thought. Avery frowned, reaching out to touch her arm. "Selena?"

Selena flinched so hard that the linen slipped from her grasp. Her sharp movement startled both Avery and Millie, making them exchange a glance.

"Are you okay?" Avery asked, leaning into Selena’s space. Her eyebrows furrowed in concern.

Selena blinked rapidly before forcing a weak smile. "Yeah, I’m fine. Just—" she exhaled, pressing her fingers against her temples, "just been feeling weird lately."

Avery tilted her head, watching her friend closely. "You’ve been acting strange since yesterday. Are you sure nothing happened?"

Selena hesitated. "It’s nothing, really. Just... time of the month," she mumbled, quickly gathering the linens as if to distract from the conversation. "I’ll be fine."

Before Avery could say anything more, Selena stood up abruptly. "Excuse me," she said before walking off, leaving Avery staring after her retreating figure with growing suspicion.

Millie let out a low whistle. "Something’s definitely up."

"You think?" Avery muttered.

Millie shrugged. "I don’t know what it is, but Selena’s been different for days now. It’s like she’s in her head too much. She won’t talk about it, though."

Avery sighed, her gaze flickering towards the door Selena had just walked out from. There wasn’t much she could do if Selena didn’t want to talk, so she decided to drop the matter, at least until she was ready to talk about it. "Maybe she just needs space."

Millie didn’t look convinced but nodded. "Can you pass those sheets?" She asked, and Avery passed them, continuing her conversation with Millie.

An hour after she was done helping Millie with the sheets, she left the servant quarters. Selena didn’t return after she had left, making Avery believe something was truly wrong. Avery had barely taken a few steps away from the servant quarters when Lydia found her.

"Exactly who I was looking for," Lydia said, beaming excitedly like she had just hit the lottery.

Avery barely had time to react before Lydia grabbed her arm and started leading her away.

"Lydia?" Avery frowned, trying to keep up with the older woman’s quick strides. "Where are we going?"

"The library. There’s something important you need to see," Lydia said, practically dragging her along.

"In the library?" Avery asked. What could she possibly need to see in the library? Whatever it was had to be good, seeing how excited Lydia was about it.

Avery found herself in the library with Lydia. The older woman placed a thick, leather-bound book in front of her with a smirk.

Avery eyed the book as if it would bite her. "What is this?" She asked quietly, looking at the beta.

"Everything a Luna needs to know," Lydia said, tapping the cover, a proud grin on her face.

Avery nearly choked on air. "W-What? Why would I need this?"

Lydia arched a brow. "Because you’re marked by the Alpha, and that means—"

"No, no, no," Avery said, shaking her head. "That doesn’t mean anything! Alpha Cain hasn’t said anything about Luna duties or anything like that!" Avery rushed out, panicking fully now.

"You’re wearing his mark, aren’t you?" Lydia pointed out. "That already tells us what direction things are going in."

Avery’s heart pounded. "But—but he never—" She shook her head. "He hasn’t asked me to do anything like that! I can’t just assume—"

"Assume?" Lydia sighed, stepping forward. "Avery, you might not be Luna today, but one day you will be, whether you like it or not."

Avery opened her mouth to argue but found herself at a loss. A cold weight settled in her stomach. She hadn’t even thought that far ahead...

Before Avery could respond, a knock at the door interrupted them. A maid stepped in, bowing slightly. "Beta Lydia," she greeted, then looked at Avery.

"Lady Kendra has woken up," the maid said, her voice careful. "She’s asked to see you."

Avery stiffened. The name alone sent a shiver down her spine.

Lydia scoffed. "Oh, great. She’s awake, and the first thing she does is call for you? What does she want now?"

"Is she okay?" Avery calmly asked the maid, who nodded in return. Relief pulsed through Avery’s bones. When she heard of Kendra’s attack, she felt guilt, even though she knew she shouldn’t. After all, if Kendra hadn’t attacked her, she wouldn’t be where she was.

"If she’s awake and well, then why isn’t she back in the dungeon? That woman should be thrown right back in her cell," Lydia gritted out, irritation flashing on her face.

Avery hesitated, fingers twisting in her lap. "Maybe I should see her."

Lydia gave her a pointed look. "See her? Why?"

"I don’t know," Avery admitted. "I just— I’m curious, I guess."

"Curious about what? How she plans to manipulate you next?" Lydia crossed her arms. "Avery, come on. Kendra doesn’t do anything without a reason."

Lydia was right, of course. Kendra had never done anything without a reason, so everything she did was suspicious, but still...

Avery looked away, not saying a word. Lydia was right.

Lydia stared at Avery for a couple of seconds, seeing the forlorn look in her eyes. It was almost like she was battling with herself internally.

She sighed. "You want to see her, yeah?" She asked, and Avery nodded.

"Fine, but I’m coming with."

Avery walked into the infirmary, her heart pounding in her chest. Lydia was next to her.

Kendra lay on the bed, her red hair tangled and unkempt, her face paler than Avery had ever seen it. The bruises from the attack were fading, but there was still a hollowness in her cheeks.

Avery wasn’t sure what she expected—anger, spite, maybe even more spiteful words, but when Kendra’s eyes met hers, none of that was there. Instead, her gaze was unreadable, her expression strangely calm.

Kendra carefully sat up, her gaze on Avery. The silence stretched between them before Kendra finally parted her lips, her voice hoarse.

"I’m sorry, Avery."