Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha
Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Chapter 53

Betrayed by Blood~

"Where do you think you’re going?" The head maid’s voice stops Avery in her tracks. She slowly turned to see the woman glaring hard at her, her arms crossed over her chest, eyebrows cocked up.

"Umm...I was going to my room," Avery replied.

"Your room? You’ve been missing for half the day! You left the bucket and knives outside, you left the tank full and went for half the day, and now you’re heading to your room? Are you patronizing me, Avery!" The woman snapped angrily.

"No, I Just—"

"No, nothing! Get your legs moving and go do your duties. You’re serving at the feast tonight since you clearly took a break during the day," she spat out.

Avery resisted the urge to stomp her feet around and whine out loud. Not only was she tired, she was weak too after the gruesome day she’s had. All she wants to do is curl up and sleep, but even that wasn’t possible.

"Get moving now! Everyone’s all gathered, and we can’t be short-staffed," the woman barked out.

Avery bit her lip, resisting the urge to argue. The last thing she wanted was to make things worse. She nodded.

"Okay," she muttered, turning on her heel. The maids were already scurrying around in preparation for the feast, and Avery could feel the pressure mounting. She was far from ready for this. Her head felt slightly dizzy, and a warmth spread through her body that she couldn’t quite place, but she chalked it up to the exhaustion from the day’s events.

She took a large tray of buns and made her way towards the grand dining hall. She could already hear the loud voices and laughter coming from the hall.

When Avery stepped inside, her eyes were immediately drawn to the long, grand table, where the entire court had gathered. The King sat at the head of the table, a smile on his face, while Cain sat opposite him at the other end, looking every bit regal in his clothes. In their hands was a golden cup filled with red wine.

The king raised his hand, silencing everyone as he stood up, about to give a speech.

"Today marks the 78th successful hunt we’ve had in the region. Alpha Cain of the Vehiron pack has proven to be worthy of his title as pack alpha and even more as this season’s Emerald. Alpha Cain has not only completed the hunt successfully, he also made it a very hospitable and glorious hunt. For his success in the hunt for this season, Alpha Cain, our loyal protector, will be gifted the one and only Alpha Yuko’s blade," the king announced, and the crowd cheered.

Cain stood up, hands stretched out to receive the sword. Alpha Yuko was one of the founding fathers of the region, a great warrior no other wolf has been able to match up to. He won a total of 150 battles and wars during his lifetime. Not only was he highly respected, but the sword he carried was said to possess a power of its own.

Cain collected the sword from the man, and the crowd cheered loudly again. He sat back down, setting the sword beside him.

At the far end of the grand table, Carol and Kendra exchanged uneasy glances. Kendra leaned toward her mother, her voice barely above a whisper. "Mother, are you sure Martha heard right?"

Carol glanced at her, eyebrows quirked up. "What do you mean?"

"Not only does Cain look perfectly okay, he doesn’t even look like someone who was attacked. If he was, shouldn’t he be questioning everyone?" Kendra whispered. Not only was Avery here and serving, of which she wouldn’t be able to if she’s truly threatened Martha. Cain himself would not be sitting here, wining and dining after being attacked. The Cain Kendra knows is not someone who is calm and quiet.

"Patience," Carol hissed back, though her nails dug into the armrest of her chair. "Don’t be too quick to jump to conclusions. We can’t even say what’s going on here."

Kendra’s eyebrows furrowed at her mother’s words. "Moth—" she began but is cut off by the sharp voice of Alpha Matt.

"I had looked forward to crossing paths with you in the woods, Alpha Cain. It’s such a pity we couldn’t see."

Cain’s head tilted slightly as Alpha Matt’s words cut through the air. The room stilled for a brief second, Matt’s words echoing.

Cain’s golden eyes narrowed, his hand resting casually on the table beside Yuko’s blade.

Alpha Matt’s smirk was thin, his tone deliberately mocking. "I thought for certain we’d have a chance to compete directly. A hunt’s always more exciting with a little... friendly rivalry, wouldn’t you agree?"

Cain leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "Perhaps next time, Alpha Matt," Cain replied smoothly. "Though I can’t imagine the outcome would change."

Matt’s smile waned off instantly at the jab. His jaw clenched hard and tight. He tried his best to get the feat before anyone did that, but the damned animal made sure to be put out of his sights like he was. Of course, it had to be killed by Cain.

"Overconfidence is at an all-time high, isn’t it?" Matt replied stiffly, his fists clenched on the table. "But then again, it’s easy to feel invincible when fortune keeps landing in your lap, Alpha Cain." His mother quietly tapped his shoulder. He could not be doing this here, so publicly.

Cain’s golden gaze locked on Matt, unflinching, his lips curving into the faintest smirk. "I don’t recall fortune dragging the deer out of the woods, nor fortune wielding this blade." He placed a hand on Yuko’s sword, the gesture casual yet pointed. "But if it makes you feel better to think that, Alpha Matt, I won’t stop you. After all, a loser is always a loser."

Matt shot up from the chair, his face almost as red as the wine on the table.

"Alpha Cain!" He snapped, unable to stand the constant belittlement.

"Sit back down, Alpha Matt! Your memory might be fickle, but I won’t hesitate to remind you what happens to weaklings such as yourself," Cain snapped, his voice rising just a little.

Avery stiffened where she stood, her body feeling hotter at the sound of his voice. She really was exhausted.

Matt’s mother reached for his arm, tugging him back down. "Sit," she whispered sharply, her eyes darting around the room. "You’re making a spectacle of yourself."

Grinding his teeth, Matt hesitated, his fists trembling at his sides. He exhaled sharply and sat down, his face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and humiliation.

Cain’s smirk widened just enough to convey his satisfaction. "That’s better," he said, his tone dripping with mock approval. "It’s always wise to remember your place, Alpha Matt."

The King raised his cup up, although he was boiling internally from anger seeing how disregarded he was. "A toast!" he called, forcing a smile on his face. "To unity and strength among the packs!"

The hall hesitated for a moment, their eyes darting around awkwardly between the King and Cain. Only when Cain lifted his cup up did the rest follow with cheers.

Alaric’s eyes gleamed red; this was an embarrassment. The people would rather listen to Cain than him? They waited on his call before his? Arrant nonsense! His knuckles whitened as he gripped his cup, forcing a tight smile. The toast rang hollow to his ears, drowned out by the humiliation gnawing at his pride.

Cain sat on the other end of the table, twirling the cup in his hand, his gaze flickering around the table. His mind filled with just one question. Who tried to kill him? They even brought bloodroot into the pack...Cain knew, It had to be either Alpha Matt or the King. He knew that much. Cain sighed internally, his gaze once again flickering around until it settled on Avery. Memories of here latching onto his arm in the forest flashed through his mind again. He shook his head, brushing the thought off.

Avery looked up, her eyes meeting his instantly, and she swallowed hard, her insides churning.

"What are you doing standing here and doing nothing? Go pour their drinks again," the head maid barks out, and she flinched, averting her gaze.

Avery walked towards the table quietly and began to pour the wine. She started with the King and soon the Queen. She could feel Cain’s eyes on her, watching her every move. Her body burned hotter. She forced herself to look down and concentrate on what she was doing.

Avery soon approached Xander. The moment she approached to serve him, Xander tensed. His shoulders stiffened, and his nostrils flared as though catching a scent that set him on edge.

His eyes turned red.

She reached out to pick up his plate, her hand trembling slightly, but the second her fingers brushed the edge of it, Xander’s hand shot out.

He grabbed her wrist roughly, yanking her toward him with a strength that made her gasp.

"X-Xander!"

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