Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha-Chapter 48

Betrayed by Blood~

Cain crouched down, his brows furrowed as his eyes trailed the odd footprints that lined the floor. His wolf ticked impatiently inside of him, wanting to be free, but Cain suppressed it. This hunt was important to him. When the hunt had begun, they’d all charged into the forest, blood pumping inside them, ready to hunt the deer and get Alpha Yuko’s sword. This was the first time Alpha Yuko’s sword would be pledged in a hunt. Alpha Yuko was one of the founding fathers of the southern region. He founded the region and birthed thousands of packs across it. His sword had been kept for years with no one knowing its whereabouts, well, no one except the king. The sword was the only reason why there were hundreds of Alphas hunting down a large black deer.

The snap of a twig behind him made him stiffen. Cain didn’t turn, his senses already telling him who it was. Cain stood up, dusting the prickly sand casually.

"Crossed paths again, isn’t it, Xander?" Cain asked, his voice deep and hoarse.

"Alpha...I didn’t realize you were the one here. I heard a muffled movement and thought-" he paused just as Cain turned, finally looking at the man. Xander stood opposite him with an arrow drawn out, ready to attack.

Cain cocked an eyebrow up at the arrow still pointed at him. Xander hurriedly put it away before bowing. "Forgive my insolence, alpha."

Cain hummed, "Do you often draw your weapon without knowing your target, Xander?" Cain asked.

Xander straightened, his jaw tightening. "It was a precaution, Alpha. I didn’t expect to cross your path so soon in the hunt."

Cain’s lip curled slightly, the faintest hint of a smirk. "And now that you have, what do you plan to do?"

Xander hesitated for a second too long, his hands twitching at his sides. "Continue the hunt, of course. My purpose here is to bring honor to our pack, as is yours."

Cain stepped closer, his presence suffocating. "I’m glad your duties haven’t evaded you yet. It’s best you get going now, the deer isn’t going to wait for you to catch it," Cain replied.

Xander nodded, moving to leave but paused, hesitating slightly, "If I may, Alpha..." he started, "Avery Jae..." he called out her name, and just like that, every one of Cain’s senses was alert, he straightened at the mention of her name.

"What about Avery Jae..?" He asked calmly, his wolf already going crazy inside of him. Xander had the audacity to not only confess his feelings but also betray his alpha and ask him about her?

"Do you have a plan to...." He trailed off, the words were too big for him to say. How could he ask the alpha if he planned on mating Avery?

Cain stepped closer to him, jaw clenched hard. "Go on, I’m waiting," he urged, but Xander stepped back, shaking his head.

"It’s nothing, Alpha. Please excuse me and safe hunt," he replied, vowing for the second time before walking away with his arrow and bow in hand.

Cain watched his retreating figure, his fist clenched tightly at his sides. Cain’s gaze followed Xander as the man retreated, but it wasn’t his footsteps Cain was listening for. It was the pounding of his own heart in his chest.

Xander’s question—Avery’s name on his lips. It left a very bitter taste on Cain’s tongue. The audacity of the man to ask about her, to bring up mating, of all things... Cain’s wolf snarled in fury. Whatever he chooses to do with Avery was no one’s business. He didn’t know what irritated him more—the thought of Xander pursuing Avery or the fact that the question had even been asked. freewēbnoveℓ.com

His wolf growled again, a reminder that there was no question of "if" but when. Avery belonged to him.

With a final glance in the direction Xander had gone, Cain shook his head, turning back to the trail he had been following. The hunt. The deer. The sword. He had a mission to focus on.

As he moved deeper into the woods, he heard the unmistakable sound of movement from behind—a rustle of leaves, the snap of twigs. His body went rigid, his senses sharpening once again. He wasn’t alone.

But this time, it wasn’t Xander.

_____________________________________

Avery’s heart pounded in her chest as Carol’s words rang in her mind. She couldn’t comprehend what she’d just heard.

Before she could respond, Carol’s hand shot out, gripping Avery’s arm forcefully, her nails sinking into her flesh. "You are done for," Carol sneered, her lips curling into a wicked grin before pushing her harshly to the ground.

Avery’s body froze for a moment, paralyzed with fear. Cain was right, no one was out to kill him. If only she had listened and stayed back. If only she wasn’t such a dummy who couldn’t look away for one minute. What exactly was she going to do if he was actually being attacked? Save him? Hell! She can’t even save herself from this situation. It’s even funnier she came in here without a single thought for someone that wouldn’t give two fucks about her. Isn’t it just ridiculous? Avery shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes at the thought. She couldn’t let them do this to her. She couldn’t die out here, not like this.

With trembling hands, Avery scooped up a handful of sand and threw it directly into Carol’s eyes. Carol howled in fury, stumbling backward, her hands frantically trying to clear her vision.

Without thinking, Avery pushed herself up off the ground and sprinted. Avery ran with all of her might. Behind her were Kendra and Carol, who were hot on her heels. She glanced behind her just as she rounded a sharp turn, her breath catching in her throat. Carol and Kendra were faster in their wolf form. They were powerful and more energetic, but Avery couldn’t afford to think about them now.

A growl reached her ears just before she was thrown to the ground. She gasped as the sharp claws of a wolf dug into her shoulders harshly. Its eyes filled with only one hatred she recognized instantly.

Martha.