Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 158

Betrayed by Blood

Cain stirred awake before the sun had fully risen. His arm was draped over Avery’s waist, her body pressed against him, her steady breathing filling the quietness of the room. He didn’t move at first, only staring at her.

His fingers brushed a stray strand of hair from her cheek, his touch light, almost hesitant. She looked peaceful like this, unaware of the way he watched her, taking in the softness of her expression.

Her eyes fluttered open suddenly, a small smile coming to rest on her face. "What were you doing, Alpha Cain?" she asked.

He merely arched an eyebrow, "Why? Can’t I look at my mate now?" he asked, and she ducked her head shyly. Her eyes still heavy with sleep. She had felt his presence even in her sleep, and when she opened her eyes, she wasn’t too surprised to see him staring at her.

Cain watched as she stretched, the soft morning light accentuating the graceful curve of her body. His gaze lingered for a moment before he sat up, running a hand through his hair.

"Are you teaching those kids again today?" he asked, and she stiffened. Did he not like her teaching them?

Cain’s eyebrows furrowed as her thoughts filtered into his head. He looked at her, seeing the distant expression on her face. "No, that’s not—I’m just asking. I don’t mean I don’t want you teaching them. You can do anything you want."

Avery stared at him, her lower lip caught between her teeth. "Are you sure?" she asked, clearly still wary of him. He had no one to blame for this except himself.

"Yeah, I’m sure. Teach them. Do whatever you’d like to do. I promise I won’t have any problem with that."

Avery smiled, feeling more satisfied now that she had gotten his approval. Cain, on the other hand, couldn’t get the image of her hesitant face or the panic in her voice when she wondered if he didn’t like her teaching the children.

"What did you hear about me before you came to Vehiron?" he asked, his voice steady.

Avery blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Huh?"

He turned to face her fully. "Before you met me, before you came here, what did they say about me?"

Avery hesitated, still shaking off sleep. "A lot of things," she admitted slowly.

Cain leaned against the headboard. "Like what?"

She hesitated again, choosing her words carefully. "That you were ruthless. That you didn’t spare anyone who crossed you. That you ruled with an iron grip. That you were cruel. That you killed your pa—" she paused, her eyes widening. What the hell was she thinking, almost saying that?

Cain didn’t react. "That I killed who?" he asked.

Avery swallowed. "...That you killed your parents."

Silence settled between them, but she didn’t let it linger for much longer. "I know it’s just a rumor. People tend to stretch out matters without realizing the truth, so I’m not bo-"

"I killed my father."

Avery’s breath hitched.

Cain’s expression didn’t change. He simply watched her, waiting... waiting for disgust, for fear, for her to recoil from him the way so many others had.

But she didn’t.

She sat there, stunned, lips parted as if she wanted to say something but didn’t know how. The words had left her, as if her mind was still struggling to process what he had just admitted.

Cain exhaled sharply and shook his head. "Forget it." He threw the covers off and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, reaching for his shirt.

"Cain—" Avery started, but he was already standing.

She wasn’t sure what she wanted to say. That it was fine? That she understood? But she didn’t... not yet. She could only sit there, watching as he walked out of the room, leaving her alone with his words echoing in her head. He killed his father?

Cain stood in his office, he had been in there ever since the morning. He knew he could hear her panicking and wondering what she should do, so he called Lucas into his office.

The man came rushing in instantly, not waiting a single second, not after he’d been punished for the wrong information he gave Cain.

"Yes, Alpha?" Lucas said.

Cain hummed and finally looked up at the man. "Have the head maid send food to Avery. Have her prepare everything she likes, and you— You tell Avery to stop thinking so hard."

Lucas blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the command. "Tell her... to stop thinking so hard?"

Cain shot him a sharp look.

Lucas swallowed. "Yes, Alpha. Right away."

Cain exhaled, running a hand down his face. He could still sense Avery’s unease, the way her mind was spinning over what he’d told her. He hadn’t meant to leave her like that this morning, but the words had slipped out too easily.

He hadn’t regretted saying them.

He regretted not knowing what to do after.

An hour later, Avery’s thoughts had quieted down by now. She still didn’t know how to pull up the mind-link between them, and he took full advantage of it.

Now, he sat behind his desk, his gaze fixed on the Ember Stone resting in his palm. The faint glow pulsed steadily, its warmth seeping into his skin.

How did Avery find this? How was it even possible?

He turned the stone between his fingers, watching the way the light refracted off its surface. It looked almost alive.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. "Come in," he said. He looked up to see Lydia stepping into the office.

"You haven’t left?" he asked.

Lydia shook her head. "I’m just about to. I thought I would say goodbye before my vacation," she replied, her gaze falling on the object in his hand. Her brows furrowed. "What is that?"

She stepped closer, her eyes widening when she recognized what it was. "W-where did you-"

"Avery found it last night," Cain let out.

Lydia’s entire body went rigid. "She found the Ember Stone?"

Cain finally looked up at her, shrugging. "She did."

Lydia moved closer, her voice lowering. "How? How is that even possible? This is Celeste’s Heart. No one’s been able to locate it for centuries. We’ve only heard tales of it. I didn’t even know it actually existed."

Cain hummed, "Not only did she find it. It was right here in Vehiron. Right on the hilltop, and she just felt it."

Lydia glanced at him, confused. "She felt the Ember Stone?"

Cain slipped the stone back into the safe he had put it before, making sure it was safe there. He then looked at Lydia after he was done.

Her expression was still tense, her arms crossed as she stared at him. "This isn’t just some lost trinket, Cain," she muttered. "This is Celeste’s Heart. If word gets out that Avery found it... that we have it—"

"It won’t," Cain cut in, his tone firm.

Lydia nodded, her gaze flickering towards the safe. "I still don’t get how she managed to find it."

Cain leaned back against his desk, his gaze darkening. "Neither do I."

Just beyond the door, hiding in the corridor, Selena stood frozen.

She hadn’t meant to linger at first. She had only been passing by when she heard Lydia’s voice, the tension in her tone making her pause and press her ear against the door. Now, she barely breathed, her heart pounding against her ribs.

The Ember Stone?

Her fingers curled into her palms as she listened, straining to catch every word.

Cain and Lydia had no idea she was there. No idea she had just heard something the king would kill to know.

Selena took a deep breath and turned to walk away, muttering lowly, ’I’m sorry Avery but I have to save my brother.’