Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 181

Avery stirred awake, eyebrows furrowed, as the sun filtered through the curtains and into the room.

A soft breath tickled her forehead, and as she blinked sleep from her eyes, the first thing she saw was Cain watching her intently with a look she couldn’t quite decipher.

Heat crept up her neck. "What?" she mumbled, pressing her face into the pillow to escape his gaze.

Cain chuckled softly, seeing her get shy. "Nothing," he replied. freewёbnoνel.com

Liar.

Avery peeked up at him through her lashes, only to find him still watching. She swallowed, suddenly self-conscious. "Why are you staring?" she asked and then suddenly was hit with quite a number of possibilities as to why he could be staring.

"Did I snore? Was I talking? Drooling?" she paused, horror dawning on her. Was she... farting?

Cain burst out laughing at this, and just then did she realize he could hear her thoughts too. Her eyes widened drastically, and she shoved her face back into the pillow, praying for the goddess to send thunder and strike her right there.

Cain was still chuckling when he reached out and tugged the pillow away from her face. "You’re overthinking again," he murmured.

Avery groaned. "That was humiliating."

Cain smirked, his fingers brushing against her cheek. "It was adorable."

She peeked up at him, her cheeks burning. "Adorable? You have a terrible sense of humor."

He hummed, unbothered, then tilted his head slightly as if debating something. A moment later, he spoke. "I want us to have our mating ceremony soon."

Avery stilled.

Her eyes searched his face, wondering if she’d heard wrong, but Cain only watched her quietly.

"...What?" she finally asked, her voice slightly hoarse.

"You heard me."

She pushed herself up on her elbows, brows furrowing. "You want us to have our mating ceremony? Why? Are you in a rush?"

Cain chuckled, reaching for her hand and held it. "I just want you to be mine officially."

Avery’s breath hitched at this. "Also, you’re already being addressed as Luna anyways. It would be better if you held the position officially."

She leaned back against the pillows, searching his face for a moment longer then smiled. "Okay. Let’s do that."

Cain’s grin was immediate. His grip tightened just enough to pull her against him, his nose brushing along her jaw. "Good girl."

Avery flushed at the praise, squirming half-heartedly in his hold. "Cain—"

He chuckled, wrapping himself around her as if she’d disappear if he let go, and Avery, she snuggled more into him, and even if it was hot and maybe slightly uncomfortable... it didn’t matter.

Two hours later, after Cain had reluctantly left her to go do his Alpha duty and Avery had slept off yet again, she finally woke up.

It was noon by now, and quite surprising that she slept in for so long. Avery had her bath and changed into a pair of jeans and a top.

Avery stepped out of the room, still slightly warm from their conversation and her sleep. She was barely a few steps down the hall when she heard excited voices... and then, before she could react, Lydia, Millie, and Selena appeared in front of her like they’d been waiting.

"There she is!" Selena grinned, crossing her arms. "Our soon-to-be official Luna."

Avery blinked dazedly. "Uh...?"

Lydia smirked. "So? Cain finally popped the question?"

Avery chuckled, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "If you mean him randomly saying we should have our mating ceremony soon, then... yes, I guess?"

Millie gasped dramatically. "Oh my Goddess! You’re getting married for real!"

Selena shook her head in amusement. "It was always real, Millie."

Avery, on the other hand, was quite surprised to see Lydia, the beta, being so comfortable with her friends, especially with how their ranking was. No other person in Vehiron would be this casual and comfortable with the lower ranks except Lydia, of course.

Millie waved her off. "Yeah, yeah, but now it’s official." She turned back to Avery. "That means we have to start planning right away!"

Avery groaned internally, remembering what Millie was hinting at. The Luna’s guide.

As though she could read Avery’s mind, Lydia gasped. "Wait. I know what you’re thinking, but Alpha Cain doesn’t want you stressing yourself, and so he’s delegated these two in helping you plan the ceremony, and since he wants it to be a small intimate ceremony, you don’t have to do much."

Avery couldn’t help but smile at this. Cain was being so attentive. "That’s... good to hear."

Lydia clapped her hands together. "And since our dear Alpha is looking out for you, he gave us this—" She dramatically pulled a sleek black card from her pocket and held it up like a prized treasure.

Avery stared at it, confused. "...What is that?"

Lydia raised a brow. "Cain’s black card."

Avery’s lips parted in disbelief. "Cain has a black card?"

Selena smirked. "A wealthy, powerful alpha like Alpha Cain? I’m sure he does. He just doesn’t use it unless it’s important." She wiggled the card teasingly. "And this is definitely important."

"And he wants me to use it?" She asked again like she couldn’t believe it.

Lydia stepped forward, placing her hand on Avery’s shoulder. "He said, and I quote, ’Get her everything and anything she wants.’"

Avery blinked, her mouth opening and closing as if trying to process the words.

"Everything... and anything?" she repeated slowly.

"His exact words."

Selena smirked. "And when Beta Lydia asked if there was a limit, do you know what he said?"

Avery hesitated. "...What?"

Millie grinned. "He said, ’Do I look like a man who cares about limits when it comes to my mate?’"

Avery groaned, covering her face.

Selena laughed. "Come on, Luna. Don’t tell me you’re actually worried about spending Cain’s money?"

Avery peeked between her fingers. "It’s not that! I just... I don’t even know what I’d need to buy."

Millie looped an arm through hers, already steering her toward the doors. "That’s what we’re here for."

Lydia grinned. "Come on. We’re heading to town to get everything you need for the ceremony."