Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 27

Betrayed by Blood~

Kendra paced endlessly around the room, she was angry. Everything had been going so smoothly, she’d even managed to get him at a time when he should need her, but still. She paused, turning to look at her mother. "Your powder failed, mother," she gritted out, hands clenched into a fist.

"He sent me out like a stray dog. He humiliated me. I expected him to warm up to me and want me, but it was the opposite instead. It was as though the powder made him dislike me. Like he couldn’t stand the sight of me," Kendra whined.

Carol stood up, walking towards her daughter. "Something might’ve gone wrong. I know it works because I used it on your father, and look, here you are. Erika would never fail me, so I know for certain it worked. Something must’ve gone wrong. Maybe you didn’t use it the way you were supposed to do," Carol said, and Kendra scoffed.

"It’s a powder, mother. How else am I supposed to use a powder?" she snapped.

Carol frowned, her eyes narrowing, "Watch your tone. I don’t answer to your beck and call. Instead of whining about the powder not working, think of something else. I’ve given you everything, you have the looks, the body, the voice, and yet you can’t pull him. What have you been doing here for the past three years then? Wasting your father and my time thinking you were getting somewhere with him?"

Kendra’s face flushed with humiliation and anger as her mother’s words cut deep. She opened her mouth to retort but quickly shut it, biting her lip in frustration. "I’ve been doing everything I can!" Kendra finally snapped, her voice trembling with a mix of desperation. "Do you think it’s easy? Cain isn’t like other men. He doesn’t fall for flattery or—"

"Excuses," Carol interrupted sharply, glaring hard at her daughter. "He’s a man, Kendra. Men are simple creatures. If you can’t control him, then you’ve failed. And I don’t tolerate failure."

Kendra’s fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. She turned away, pacing again to keep herself from lashing out at her mother.

Before Carol could insult her further, the door flew open, slamming against the wall. Maris stumbled in, breathless and wide-eyed, clutching the doorframe for support.

"Lady Williams, Mistress, there’s a problem," she rushed out.

"What is it, Maris! Speak!" Kendra snarled at the girl.

"I-it’s the beta. Beta Lydia discovered the real thief. The one who stole your jewelry, Lady Williams. They’re in the hall now."

Kendra froze, her blood turning cold. "What?"

Carol stiffened at the revelation, "That’s impossible!" she hissed out, "How could Lydia find out?"

Kendra’s heart raced as she turned to her mother, "W-what if it’s Martha? What if Lydia—"

"Stay calm, no need debating what it could be. Let’s go there instead," Carol huffed out, grabbing her shawl and rushed out of the room with Kendra.

By the time Kendra and Carol arrived, the hall was filled with pack members. At the center of the room stood Lydia, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd, and next to her was Martha, on her knees, trembling and disheveled, her head bowed in shame as she sobbed.

Cain sat in his chair, his presence dominating the room. His sharp gaze bore into Martha and then flickered back to Lydia. "What do you have here, Lydia?" Cain asked. The beta smiled proudly.

"The real thief. The person who stole Lady Williams’ jewelry and framed Avery Jae for it. Martha."

A sharp gasp rippled through the crowd at Lydia’s words. The beta didn’t miss the way Cain’s expression hardened, nor did she miss the way his eyes narrowed.

"Lydia...what are you on about?" Cain gritted out. He knew it already, Avery was guilty, so why would Lydia be so desperate to do this?

"Why don’t you hear it from the horse’s mouth itself. Martha sneaked into Avery’s room and planted the jewelry there to accuse her of theft. Isn’t it miraculous how it was also Martha who found the stolen jewelry?" Lydia said out loud.

The hall fell silent as the weight of Lydia’s words sank in. All eyes turned to Martha, whose trembling form betrayed her guilt. Cain’s gaze burned into her, making her flinch even further.

"Martha," Cain growled, his voice dangerously calm, "is this true?"

Martha hesitated, her lips quivering as she struggled to find her voice. "I—Alpha, I—"

"Speak!" Cain roared, the force of his command echoing through the hall.

Martha burst into tears, collapsing further onto her knees. "Yes! Yes, it’s true! I planted the necklace in Avery’s room. I—I hated her! She doesn’t belong here!"

Cain’s expression hardened even more, his green eyes changing to stark black, his hands gripping the arms of his chair with enough force to crack the wood.

"On whose orders were you acting on?" He growled lowly. Martha froze, her heart pounding hard into her chest. She knew this was it for her. She slowly lifted her head, her gaze falling to Kendra and Carol. Lydia’s eyes trailed Martha’s gaze and immediately confirmed her suspicions. Like the devils they were, they did this. Martha acted on their orders.

Kendra and Carol stiffened where they were, and Kendra held her mother’s arm tight, sweat beads forming on her forehead. She swallowed hard when Martha’s gaze met hers for a brief second.

"N-n-no one, Alpha," Martha stammered after a brief second.

"And why," Cain demanded coldly, his voice low, "would you do such a thing? What gave you the right to act against someone in my pack?"

Martha sobbed uncontrollably, her words spilling out brokenly. "She’s weak! She’s an outsider! I thought... I thought if she were gone, everything would be better."

Lydia stepped forward, "This wasn’t about the pack, Alpha. This was about Martha’s jealousy and hatred. She abused her position as head maid to manipulate everyone and frame an innocent woman. Avery has suffered enough because of her lies. Martha should be severely punished for her lies and deceit."

Cain got up from his chair and slowly walked towards Martha, his gaze cold and heavy on her as she trembled in his presence. "Your hatred has blinded you. Your actions are a disgrace to this pack, to your position, and to me."

Martha whimpered, falling prostrate on the floor. "Alpha, please! Forgive me! I only wanted—"

"Silence," Cain growled, and she immediately went mute, sobs wracking throughout her body.

"For your betrayal, you are stripped of your title as head maid. Effective immediately, you will be demoted to the lowest rank in this pack. And for your crime, you will receive one thousand lashes. If by chance you go unconscious, you are to be doused in ice water and continue your lashings."

Martha’s eyes widened in terror, her lips parting to plead, but no sound escaped.

"Alpha, please!" she finally managed to choke out, clutching the hem of Cain’s pants in desperation. "I’ll do anything! Mercy, please!"

Cain stepped back, his cold gaze filled with disdain. "You’re lucky I allow you to keep your life. Be grateful for that much."