Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 163

Betrayed by Blood

Chapter 163

For a moment, silence clung to the air, thick and suffocating, their faces pale and shocked. Avery wished she could have captured this exact moment.

"Avery?" Hugh’s voice was sharp, disbelieving. He stepped forward, his eyes flickering up and down. "Is it really you?" he asked.

Avery glanced at all of them. "Yes, Uncle. It is me."

Jasmine took a sharp step back, her eyes wide with undisguised horror. Darla’s mouth parted, her carefully painted lips trembling as she tried to form words.

But it was Hugh who recovered first. His disbelief melted into something sharper, something dangerous.

His lips curled into a slow smirk. "Well, well." His eyes roamed over her, scrutinizing. "Look at you."

Avery refused to flinch. She refused to shrink beneath his gaze like she had before.

Hugh’s smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with something dark. "You must’ve forgotten your place, girl." His voice was low, almost amused.

Avery said nothing.

Darla stepped forward, her face twisted in irritation. "So what if you’re still alive? What did you come here for?"

Jasmine scoffed, crossing her arms. "Clearly, she crawled her way back thinking she belongs here." Her gaze flickered over Avery’s clothes before she wrinkled her nose. "But judging by the fact that she’s actually wearing something decent for once, I suppose she managed to snag herself a nonentity like her." She smirked, her voice dripping with mockery. "Is that it, Avery? Did you finally find someone as worthless as you?"

Avery’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t respond.

Jasmine’s smirk widened at Avery’s silence. She turned toward Darla, with faux curiosity. "Mother, can I ask a question?"

Darla exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "If you must."

Jasmine tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "Could it be that she actually came with Alpha Cain? It would explain the cars and her coming up, wouldn’t it?"

Ah, finally someone with a working brain.

Darla scoffed. "Don’t be ridiculous, Jasmine. Where would she in her miserable life ever come to meet Alpha Cain? Not only is that stupid to even think of, it’s derogatory to Alpha Cain." She flicked her wrist dismissively. "She must have snuck in. It’s not like she’d be welcomed through the gates like a proper guest."

Avery clenched her fists at her sides, but she didn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing her react.

Darla suddenly stepped forward, her grip iron-tight as she latched onto Avery’s arm. Her nails dug into the fabric of Avery’s sleeve, sharp enough to sting.

"What is your plan, girl?" she hissed, her voice low and venomous. "Why are you back?"

Avery lifted her chin, forcing her voice to remain steady. "I didn’t come here for you."

Darla’s grip tightened. "Don’t play games with me."

Jasmine let out a laugh, shaking her head. "This is pathetic. She survived all this time, and yet, she’s stupid enough to return."

Hugh chuckled darkly, rubbing his chin as he took another step closer. "Audacity, that’s what it is." His voice lowered, turning almost sickly sweet. "Or maybe you’ve simply forgotten that night in the forest."

Avery stiffened, her breath catching in her throat.

Hugh leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Not beyond doing it again, you know. Just to remind you where you belong."

The air grew thick, wrapping around Avery tightly. She swallowed hard, fighting the rising tide of panic clawing its way up her throat.

Jasmine gave a mock gasp. "Oh, look at her. She’s shaking." She laughed, her tone full of glee. "Poor little Avery. Did you really think coming back would change anything?"

Darla gave her arm a hard yank. "Answer me, girl."

Avery clenched her teeth. "Answer you why I’m back in my pack? My father’s home? Do you really need an answer to that, Uncle Hugh? Aunt Darla?" Avery shot out, jerking her arm free from Darla’s grasp.

"When did you suddenly grow a backbone, Avery?" Darla snapped as though the thought of her having a backbone irritated her ears.

Jasmine blinked, stunned silent, before scoffing. "Look at her, acting like she has some kind of power here." She tilted her head, "Let me guess, Avery. Did you come back thinking you’d be welcomed? That we’d fall to our knees and beg for your forgiveness?"

Avery exhaled slowly. "I didn’t come here for forgiveness."

Hugh chuckled lowly. "No, I don’t suppose you did." His lips curling into something mean. "So tell me, girl. What is this little show for? Why are you back here now?"

Jasmine’s eyes narrowed, still staring at her. Avery was different, everything about her screamed class, which was insane to even think about. Avery and class in the same sentence? How could that even be possible, but then she paused, something seemed to click in place.

She let out another scoff, shaking her head. "Don’t tell me..." She turned to her father. "She must’ve found some desperate rogue. Someone willing to feed on whatever crumbs she throws at them."

Hugh hummed in amusement. "Yes, that would make sense. No respectable man would ever waste his time on you."

Avery’s lips parted slightly, her hands trembling at her sides. "You’re crossing all boundaries. Watch yourself." She gritted out.

Hugh saw red, his wolf couldn’t comprehend it, and frankly, he couldn’t either. How dare Avery speak to him in such a distasteful manner? He gripped her arm roughly, pulling her closer to him. "How dare you walk into my pack and lecture me? Have you forgotten your place, you wretch? Have you forgotten exactly who it is you’re talking to?"

Avery saw exactly when it happened. The air went stiff. Hugh’s fingers twitched, his knuckles whitening. Darla’s lips parted slightly, her shoulders stiffening. Jasmine’s confidence flickered, her smirk faltering for the first time, and Dean looked like he’d just seen a ghost.

And then he spoke...

"Is there a reason," his voice was low, deep, and deadly, "why your hands are on my mate?"