Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 44

Betrayed by Blood~

Alpha Matt sat at the edge of his bed, shirtless, his chest rising and falling as he heaved heavily, his fist trembling at his sides, jaw clenched hard it ached. His mother, Victoria, stood beside him, a towel in her hands as she dabbed gently against the red angry marks on his neck.

"You should’ve kept your mouth shut," Clara said quietly, "Provoking Cain like that—what were you thinking?"

Matt jerked his head away from her hand, snapping his eyes at her. "What was I thinking? I was thinking someone needs to remind that barbarian he’s not untouchable. Did you not realize what he was doing? The message he was sending?" His voice was hoarse, the strain in his throat was even more evident as he rubbed his neck.

Victoria frowned, her eyebrows cocked too. "And what did it accomplish? Look at you, Matt. He humiliated you in front of everyone. He could’ve killed you, just like your brother."

The mention of Rowan made Matt’s entire body stiffen. His hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms. "Don’t. Don’t talk about him," he said through gritted teeth.

"But it’s the truth!" Victoria snapped, her patience waning. "Do you think you’re any different than your brother? Cain is not someone you mess with. Rowan tried to stand against Cain, and look where it got him. You can’t keep letting your pride put you in danger." She emphasized, shaking her head softly. She knew she was right to have almost declined the invitation. Cain despised the Silver Moon Pack for what Rowan supposedly did. It didn’t make sense they come to Vehiron after everything, but Matt was adamant.

Matt shot to his feet, pacing the room tirelessly, his feet thudding against the marble-tiled floor as he ran his hand through his disheveled hair.

"Pride?" He barked a bitter laugh. "This isn’t about pride, Mother. This is about justice. Rowan deserved better than what he got. Cain didn’t just kill him—he desecrated his body, paraded it like a trophy! He believes he’s above the law and all for what? Rowan deserves to be avenged, mother! We didn’t even get to bury him in our land as a pack alpha. He was torn to shreds and tossed aside to vultures like a damn rogue." Matt spat out, each word leaving his lips bitterly as he relived the very day he got the news of his brother’s death.

Yes! He admits that Rowan wasn’t as smart as he should’ve been, but Rowan never desired the fate that befell him.

Victoria stood up, she wiped the tears in the corner of her eyes. "That’s more reason why you should be careful. You can’t go around provoking him the way you do. Cain is a beast..." she paused, stepping closer to him and placed her hand over his shoulder. "You’re all we have left, Matt. I lost one son to that monster. I won’t lose another." She choked out. fгeewebnovёl.com

Matt turned to her, his eyes filled with anger and frustration. "Then what do I do, mother? What do I do? Bow to him? Let him treat me like dirt while I stand there and take it all because no one can dare to stand up to him? I’m sorry, but I won’t do that. Rowan desires justice! His death shouldn’t go in vain just like that. Our pack and the family didn’t deserve to suffer the way we did. Cain put the pack and the family in great pain. He deserves to feel such pain." He spat out. His chest heaving with each word that left his lips.

Victoria’s eyes darkened for a moment, the grief she’d managed to hide for months was so visible now. "You think I don’t hate him, Matt?" she said, her tone sharp, cutting through the tension in the room like a blade. "Every day, I wake up wishing that bastard would feel a fraction of the pain he’s caused us. But hate won’t bring Rowan back, and it won’t keep you alive long enough to do anything about it."

Matt stared at her, his jaw set, his eyes defiant. "I’m not here to play it safe, Mother. I’m here to make Cain pay. Vehiron is the only place where I can strike him where it hurts. He thinks he’s untouchable, that no one would dare to challenge him on his own turf. That’s his weakness."

Victoria only stared at him blankly before shaking her head, "Your first mistake is thinking he has a weakness."

At this, Matt’s lips curled into a smug smirk. "Every living being created by the goddess has a weakness. Cain isn’t an exception, and believe me, mother when I say, Cain has a weakness."

Victoria’s brows furrowed at the certainty in Matt’s voice; she stepped closer to him. "What do you know, Matt?" She asked.

Matt shook his head as he placed his hands on her shoulders, "Don’t worry about that, Mother. Instead, I need you to do one thing for me." He said, watching as her eyebrows furrow at his words.

"What?"

"Get closer to the queen...this is the only opportunity we will have to know what goes on not just in Vehiron but in the king’s life too. The king is important if I want to ruin Cain. I can tell he harbors enough hatred for Cain, all I have to do is tap into that hatred of his and Cain’s whole life will come crumbling. He might be wealthier, but the king is the king." Matt said.

Victoria hummed, she already abdicated against this, but if Matt was determined to do this, she will support him. After all, a mother would do just about anything for their child. "The queen is a very quiet woman. She keeps to herself a lot, but I will try...." She muttered, already thinking of how to slide into a conversation with Iris.

Iris stood by the lake, bread crumbs in her hand as she threw it into the water, feeding the ducks that had gathered. A servant held a large umbrella over her head, protecting her from the sun. Behind her were

two guards Cain had specially assigned for her protection.

Iris smiled as the ducks quacked, eagerly snapping up the crumbs she tossed. For a brief moment, she envied their freedom. Simple. Peaceful. Unbothered.

"Your majesty, the queen." A familiar voice drew her out of her thought. Iris glanced up to see Carol walking towards her. She paused the feeding and nodded in acknowledgment at the woman. Perhaps, she was expecting too much for the woman to simply just walk away, but she didn’t. She stopped right in front of Iris and curtsied. Her gaze flickering to the ducks.

"Don’t tell me you take pleasure in feeding these beastly animals." Carol said, a smile on her face yet the words that left her lips were as venomous as that of a snake.

"Beastly animals? I’ve never heard anyone refer to them as beastly. There’s certainly a first for everything." Iris replied calmly, leaning forward, the bread crumb in her hand as she fed the duck.

"They only do what they’re made to do. They don’t harm anyone. They simply exist." Iris replied.

Carol hummed disinterestedly, "I suppose her majesty would know what it means to just exist and do exactly what they’re made to do."

Iris’s fingers tightened around the bread crumbs, her smile still calm. "Sometimes, existing is all we need," she said quietly.

Carol nodded, "I suppose you’re right." She said, her eyes scanning Iris’s neck. She smirked internally, seeing the faint bruising peeking out from beneath the collar of Iris’s dress.

She then stepped closer, the smile on her face was as patronizing as ever. She carefully adjusted the shawl around the queen’s shoulders and placed it on the collarbone carefully, Iris’s gaze heavy on her. "If living becomes like this, then it isn’t worth it anymore." Carol said, her gaze flickering to Iris, their eyes meeting. "Don’t you think, Your majesty?" She asked, her gaze meeting Iris’s with a knowing look.

Iris stayed quiet, her hands gripped into a tight fist at her sides yet she couldn’t do a thing. "Some people would say living is about more than just existing. There’s always more to it." She replied calmly.

Carol smiled, and then stepped back, a small gasp escaping her lips, followed by a soft chuckle. "Oh my, I can’t believe I just did that. I’m sorry. I totally crossed my boundaries. I was just making sure you look... presentable, of course. We wouldn’t want anyone noticing imperfections."

"What? Never! Her majesty the Queen has never and will never look anything less than perfect." Victoria’s voice boomed between the two. The woman stepped forward, curtsying to Iris then greeted Carol.

"A pleasure, Carol." Victoria said and Carol smiled, although it didn’t reach her eyes.

"Pleasure’s all mine, Victoria." Carol replied.

Iris had now finished the bread crumbs in her hands, "I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you ladies be now, I do have pending matters to tend to." She said, nodding at the two before stepping away. Not long after she left, Victoria also left, going the same direction as Iris.

Carol stood behind, the smile weaning off her face instantly. Images of what she just saw flashed in her mind. She knew the king and the queen’s relationship was rocky, but this was even better than she envisioned.

Her plans were falling into place more perfectly than she had imagined.