Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 46

Betrayed by Blood~

"Everyone will do their parts. Cain won’t leave the forest alive."

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Avery’s heart pounded hard in her chest, the words echoing in her ears over and over again. Her hands trembled as she held onto the tree tightly.

She bit her lip hard to keep from gasping. Her body screamed at her to run, to leave and forget she’d ever overheard this. But she couldn’t—she wouldn’t. Cain might be the nastiest person to her. He might hate her, but this was much more than his hate.

Her gaze flickered around, trying to catch a glimpse of the faces, but the shadows were too thick. Their voices grew quieter now, almost impossible to make out. She strained her ears, but only caught fragments of their murmurs before they began to move away.

Avery exhaled shakily, her legs nearly giving out beneath her. Her mind raced. She needed to tell Cain. Now.

Avery rushed up to his quarters. Every step felt heavier than the last. The voices rang in her head, their words settling in there. She couldn’t forget it. She had to at least warn him.

She paused in her steps the second she rounded the corridor. Outside Cain’s room were three guards. Avery’s breath hitched as she looked at the guards. Varek, the tallest, stood at the front with his arms crossed. The other two flanked him, eyes alert as they scanned the hallway. They were Cain’s most trusted guards, and no one got past them unless they were granted permission.

She stood frozen, trying to steady her breathing. She couldn’t afford to hesitate now. If she didn’t warn Cain, there might not be another chance. The whispers of those men echoed in her head, ’Cain won’t leave the forest alive.’

She couldn’t let that happen.

Taking a deep breath, Avery approached the guards, forcing her legs to move despite her nerves. She stepped forward. "I need to speak with the Alpha," she said, the words feeling foreign in her mouth.

Varek stared at her, his expression as hard as stone. His eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, his posture stiff. "No one is allowed to see Alpha Cain," the man said gruffly.

"Please. It’s important. It’s a matter of life and death. I won’t take too long. I’ll just be for a minute," she insisted.

The guard didn’t budge, his expression stone-cold. "It’s forbidden to see the Hosting Alpha of the hunt. Or do you not realize what it is you’re asking for? You cannot see Alpha Cain."

Avery’s gaze flickered from Varek to the two other guards, her mind racing. Varek stepped forward, his gaze intense on her as though daring her to speak again. Avery swallowed hard and looked away. She needed to find another way.

Her eyes darted to the side, and she saw the narrow hallway leading to a back entrance, a quiet way into Cain’s quarters. It wasn’t guarded, but it was a risk. No one was supposed to come in this way, but what she had to tell him was important. He had to listen to her. Avery hesitated for only a moment before she made her decision.

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The door creaked slightly as she pushed it open. She winced but stepped inside. Her heart beat quickened as she closed it behind her.

Cain’s room was dimly lit, with just the fire from the fireplace lighting up the room. His scent hit her immediately, sharp and intoxicating, making her breath hitch.

There was no sign of him at first. Avery exhaled slowly, her body stiff. She took one step inside, then another, her heart racing.

Then she heard him. A low, predatory growl vibrated in the air. Before she could take another step, the hairs on her neck stood on end. She froze.

Suddenly, Cain whipped around. He wasn’t expecting her, his eyes flashed with something sharp and calculating. The moment his gaze landed on her, his body tensed.

Avery barely had time to react before Cain lunged at her, grabbing her wrist roughly, pulling her toward him. Avery gasped, startled by his strength. Before she could understand what was going on, she was slammed roughly against the stone wall, her back pressed painfully into the wall.

"Alpha," Avery choked out, and Cain’s eyes flashed with something she couldn’t decipher, and for a second, it felt like he realized who she was.

His grip on her wrist tightened as he pinned her there, his breath hot against her ear. "What the fuck do you think you’re doing here, Avery Jae?"

"I- I have to tell you something," Avery croaked out, her nerves shooting off up the roof already. Cain stared at her for what felt like hours, even though it was just some seconds.

"You’re not supposed to be here. Do you realize what you’re doing?" Cain snapped instead, finally letting go of her. Avery sighed in relief, doing her best to ignore the red mark that now spotted on her wrist.

"I- I have to tell you what’s going on. It’s important, please," Avery rushed out, but Cain said nothing in response. "I—" Avery swallowed hard. She had to warn him. "I overheard something. They’re plotting against you. They said you won’t leave the forest alive." Avery’s words cracked as she spoke.

Cain stared at her blankly for some seconds while her heart pounded hard in her chest.

For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, he scoffed, his lips curling into a cold smirk. "Do you think I don’t know about every threat against me?" He asked, his voice low and deep.

Avery blinked, her heart pounding. "But this is different! I—"

Cain cut her off with a snarl, stepping closer. He scoffed, running his hands through his hair. "Do you realize I am the alpha of the largest, wealthiest pack in the region?" He spat out.

Avery whimpered at the sound of his voice, her body stiffening as Cain stepped closer, his gaze locked on hers. "I am always being plotted against," he spat out like she was stupid.

Avery swallowed hard at his tone. "Do you think I need your warnings, Avery?" He asked.

Avery blinked, her lips parted, but the words refused to come out. "I- I overheard them talking about it. It’s real. I know it wi-" she was cut off harshly.

"Enough. You come into my quarters, uninvited, to tell me what? That I should tremble because some nameless cowards are plotting in shadows?" He grabbed her chin roughly, forcing her to look up at him. "You think I need you to tell me how to survive, Avery?"

Avery swallowed hard, her breath hitched. "I just thought—" she paused for a second, shaking her head frantically, "Alpha, you have to believe me."

Cain snapped, "Believe?" he scoffed. His voice dropped lower, colder. "Do you know how many have tried and failed to kill me? Do you know how many threats I hear every single day?" He stepped closer again, his tone turning mocking. "And now, you want me to take you seriously?"

Avery clenched her fists at her sides. "I’m not lying," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I wouldn’t lie about something like this."

Cain sneered, his eyes narrowing. "And why should I believe you? Because you’ve been so trustworthy before?" He waved a dismissive hand toward the door. "You’ve wasted enough of my time. Get out."

Her chest tightened at his words, a mix of anger and despair building inside her. "Cain, please, just listen—"

"I said OUT!" He snapped, making her flinch.

Avery swallowed hard. She forced herself to nod, her body stiff as she turned away. Her hand trembled as she reached for the door, but she stopped just before leaving, glancing back at him. She’d come here hoping he’d at least believe this one thing and perhaps heighten the security during the hunt but...

He didn’t, though...

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Avery barely slept that night. Her mind raced with every word she heard. Why wouldn’t Cain believe her this once? Why would she ever lie about what she heard? She tossed and turned in the room, but sleep never came. She was only haunted by the words she heard.

By the time it was dawn, Avery was already up, pacing restlessly in her room. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was coming.

Then, just as the first rays of sunlight shone across the pack, a loud gunshot rang out in the air. The sharp crack echoed in the silence, the sound was unmistakable.

The hunt had begun.