Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 37

Betrayed By Blood~

Cain stood by the window, a white vase in his hands that he kept looking at, as though he was trying to decipher something. The door flew open, but he didn’t look at the intruder, their scent already wafting into his nostrils. Lydia stormed into the office, her hands clenched tightly at her sides.

"What is it now?" He asked, still staring at the vase.

"Martha. Why did I just see Martha in the pack, Cain?" She gritted out.

Cain placed the vase on the table, finally taking the time to look at Lydia. She looked angry, maybe even furious.

Cain slipped his hands into his pockets as he shrugged casually. "What about Martha?" He asked.

Lydia stared at him like he’d grown two extra heads. It couldn’t be possible. Did he just? "What about Martha? She’s being punished, Cain! She shouldn’t be allowed back into the pack house," she snapped.

Cain cocked up his eyebrows. "She’s already being punished for her mistake. She’s served her time at the horse station and done everything I’ve ordered. The pack needs all the hands it can get right now, Lydia," Cain replied gruffly.

"The pack needs her?" Lydia echoed, incredulous. "Alpha, she’s a traitor. She put a pack member in danger once—what makes you think she won’t do it again?"

At this, Cain scoffed. "And Avery is the supposed pack member, I presume?" He asked.

Lydia glared at him, her jaw clenched hard. "Avery is your mate. At least accord her this. She shouldn’t have to see Martha after what she did to her. Remember how adamant you were when Carol accused her of stealing. You didn’t bother to listen to a word she said and instead threw her into the dungeon like a criminal. She was innocent, Cain. Martha implicated her. How is she supposed to feel seeing the person that tried to get her killed?" Lydia gritted out through clenched teeth.

Cain stared at her, his expression hardened. "Don’t ever use that mate card on me again. Mate or not, Avery doesn’t dictate this pack’s needs. Don’t expect me to coddle her just because the Moon Goddess had a lapse in judgment. Martha has been in this pack way longer than Avery. Things happen, Martha made a mistake and it cost her her position." He paused, taking a deep breath. "We’re days away from the hunt. Every able hand is needed. You know as well as I do that preparations are demanding. Martha has her uses."

"Her uses?" Lydia echoed, taking a step closer to him. "Martha has no use here! She should be locked up for what she did. You threw Avery in the dungeon for less, Cain," Lydia snapped, her voice trembling with anger. "Avery begged for you to believe her, and you ignored her. But Martha? She’s forgiven with open arms? How is that justice?"

Cain’s eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched, he leaned forward, his voice low. "I am the Alpha of this pack. My decisions are law. If you can’t accept that, Lydia, then perhaps you’re forgetting your place," he said, his tone sharp. "Martha is staying until the hunt is over, and that’s the end of it."

Lydia’s lips parted as though she wanted to argue further. She swallowed the lump in her throat and took a deep breath, her fists trembling at her sides. "You’re making a huge mistake, Alpha Cain," she spat out, turning to leave the office.

Cain’s gaze darkened, but he said nothing. Not today. He watched her retreating figure until she shut the door behind her, his gaze returning back to the vase on the table. Just until the hunt is over...

_________________________________________

Carol sat on the couch, a glass of red wine in her hands, her legs crossed elegantly, her fingers painted in a bright red color shimmering in the sun that spilled into the room. Kendra stood by the window, arms crossed over her chest, lips bitten raw as she anticipated her father’s arrival. She turned to look at her mother, her lips parted to speak but she was cut off by the tiny squeak of the door.

Martha stepped into the room cautiously, a smile on her face as she got to her knees, her head bowed. "Lady Williams, I’m eternally grateful for making it possible for me to be in the pack house again," she said.

Carol grinned. "You’re welcome, Martha, as long as you remember exactly why you’re here," she said.

Martha looked up at the woman, an even wider smile on her face. "Absolutely, my lady. I can never forget it. I came to thank you and Miss Kendra again. I still can’t believe I’m back here. Out there was horrible..." Martha said, shuddering as she remembered the ridicule she’d faced. The way they dropped the gloves, bucket, and shovel at her feet when she first arrived. The way they tasked her with cleaning the guards’ restroom after their daily visit. Oh, the smell, the pungent smell. She gagged internally. She never wanted to return there, and she knew she wouldn’t, not if she played her cards right. There was no way in hell she would return to that hell.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lady Williams," Martha said like a chant.

Carol grinned, nodding her head. "That’s alright, Martha. Go do your job now; we don’t want a certain someone complaining again," she said with a chuckle as she remembered what Kendra had told her. Lydia was such a pest, always wanting to be in everyone’s business. She’d gotten too used to not having a life of her own and has now dedicated her time to being a total parasite.

Martha nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind her. Once she left, Kendra turned to look at her mother.

"You still haven’t told me your plan, Mother. What do you need Martha for?" She asked. It’s something she’s thought of ever since her mom told her she’d need her to convince Cain about letting Martha in the pack again. Initially, Kendra had been so skeptical about Cain doing what she wanted, but as the goddess would have it, she was convincing enough. He didn’t even argue and just agreed.

Carol glanced at Kendra with a smug smile on her face. She swirled the glass of wine in her hand. "Martha is a useful asset for us. Her usefulness will come into play right on the day of the hunt," she replied and stood up, walking towards Kendra, she planted her hand on her shoulder. "You love Cain, don’t you?" She asked, taking Kendra by surprise.

Kendra blinked in slight confusion but nodded. "You love him even without your father’s business falling apart. You want to be with him, right?" Carol asked again, and Kendra nodded. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

"Then you should know that Martha is the way you will get Cain to yourself. She’s a useful tool for you," she replied, watching as Kendra’s eyebrows furrow.

"But Mother...how will that play? How can Martha?" Kendra trailed off, seeing her mother’s dismissive wave.

"Don’t worry your head over that, darling. Leave it all to me. Love is fine, darling, but power—that’s what secures your place. We want power for the business, the family, and most importantly, ourselves. Cain’s power is great and everything we need, but what if we had all the power we need," Carol said, swirling the wine in her hand. "There isn’t just one way to get power," Carol replied with a knowing smile.

Kendra’s brows furrow even deeper, confusion clouding her features. Her mother was being intentionally cryptic. She’d always been about power and wealth; she always wanted Cain for her specifically for the power and wealth he wielded. Those two were greater than anything, but now, she’s talking about love? The same love she’s always angrily told Kendra to shove aside and concentrate on the task at hand.

Kendra looked at her mother. "Mother, what exactly do you mean?" She asked, curious and eager.

Carol smirked. "There are two powers in Vehiron right now, Kendra. And if we play this right, we’ll have them both," she replied with a wink. Her gaze strayed outside the window where the pack members were going about their daily activities. She smirked, lifting the glass of wine to her lips when she sighted the queen.

Kendra’s gaze trailed her mother’s, and her eyes widened when she realized what her mother was planning. She snapped her head towards Carol. "Don’t- Are you planning on using the king?" She whispered.

Carol glanced at her. "You see, Kendra," she murmured, "Sometimes one power can be used to secure another. The king is powerful, he is wealthy. It’s not in comparison to Cain’s, but he’s the king. Having Cain and the king would do tremendous help to us; think about the broader aspect, darling," she replied, patting Kendra’s cheek a little.

"Cain and the king," she muttered, liking the way the names settled on her tongue. If she was mates with Cain and her mother had the king wrapped around her finger, they were made for life. No one would dare to cross them. It was perfect.