Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha
Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Chapter 57

Betrayed by Blood~

Xander sat slumped in the corner of his cell, his back pressed against the cold, damp wall. The air was suffocating, thick with the stench of pee and sweat. His body ached from the brutal beating he’d received, his bandaged stump throbbed painfully. He stared blankly at the floor, his mind a jumbled bubble of anger, confusion, and bitterness.

The sound of footsteps echoed down the stone corridor slowly. Xander’s head snapped up, his wolf stirring faintly despite his exhaustion. The guards had already changed shifts earlier—this wasn’t them.

He forced himself to stand, his legs trembling as he moved toward the bars. His remaining hand gripped the cold metal tightly, his gaze fixed on the shadowy figure approaching.

When the person finally stepped into the dim light, Xander’s face hardened.

"You?"

Matt stood just beyond the cell door, his expression unreadable. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his coat. He tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes glinting with something that made Xander’s wolf growl low in his chest.

"Hello, Xander," Matt said smoothly.

Xander’s grip on the bars tightened, his knuckles turning white. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Matt smirked, taking a step closer. "What a welcome. I came to visit you, of course. It’s not every day you get to see Cain’s once-trusted warrior rotting in a cell."

Xander’s eyes narrowed, his body tense with anger. "Spare me the theatrics, Matt. What do you want?" he spat out.

Matt chuckled softly, patronizing to Xander’s ears. "Straight to the point. I always liked that about you."

Xander growled low in his throat. "Get to it before I decide to rip your throat out, even with one arm."

Matt’s gaze flickered to his bandaged arm, he scoffed mockingly. "There isn’t much you can do with that." He deadpanned then took a step forward, "No need for threats, though. I’m here to offer... perspective. You see, I find it fascinating how quickly Cain turned on you. Loyalty shattered in the blink of an eye."

Xander’s jaw tightened, "I don’t need your ’perspective,’ Matt."

"Don’t you?" Matt countered, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Think about it, Xander. You’ve served Cain faithfully for years, yet the moment suspicion fell on you, he didn’t hesitate to maim you, humiliate you, throw you in here like a common criminal. He couldn’t even give you the benefit of doubt. He treated you worse than he’ll treat a rogue, and you’ve served him all your life..." Matt shook his head.

"Get to the point," Xander gritted out. This wasn’t anything he hadn’t thought of. Cain was quick, so quick to judge him and punish him. He, who has always had his back regardless of how depraved whatever he does. He, Xander would always stand behind Cain.

Matt stepped closer, his face inches from the bars now. "Aren’t you angry? Pissed? Humiliated at how you were judged? Don’t you seethe when you remember him and what he’s done to you? He’s taken away your arm. What’s a warrior without his arm? He’s made you useless! He has reduced you to nothing but a broken wolf in a cage. You were loyal to him, and he repaid you with betrayal. Tell me, does that sit well with you? Do you think he feels even an ounce of pity for you in that mansion of his? You stay here, broken and humiliated while he gallivants in the pack, feared, respected, and above all, he gallivants with the one woman you love. Avery. Doesn’t that make you boil with anger?" Matt’s voice was like a venomous whisper.

"He doesn’t even treat her right, yet he won’t leave her. He wants her for himself, and he’s taken her. It doesn’t matter what you want. Only Cain’s matters. Tell me, does it make you feel better knowing she’s with him? Does it make you feel good knowing you’ll rot away here with your name tarnished while he lives like nothing’s happened?" Matt whispered, his eyes calculating and intense.

Xander’s breathing quickened, his chest heaving as the memories of Cain’s accusations, and the sharp bite of the blade that cut his arm flooded his mind. The way he’d dragged Avery from him.

"You think I haven’t thought about it?" Xander growled, "Every second I’ve been in this damn cell, it’s all I can think about. But that doesn’t mean I’m about to trust you, Matt."

Matt’s smirk widened, "I’m not asking for your trust, Xander. I’m asking for your anger. Your hate. Let it guide you. Because when the time comes....and it will come. You’ll need every ounce of it to make Cain pay for what he’s done."

"Who told you I hate him?"

Matt smirked, stepping back from the cell only a bit. "After what he’s done to you. You’d be a fool not to hate him."

Xander turned away, his hand falling from the bars. He hated how much Matt’s words resonated with him. How the anger bubbling inside him felt too close to the truth.

"Think about it, Xander. I’ll leave you to your thoughts, but don’t take too long. The opportunity won’t wait forever."

________________________________________

Avery’s limp body lay motionless on Cain’s bed, her face pale, yet beads of sweat dotted her forehead. Cain stood near the window, his arms crossed, his eyes never leaving her. His jaw was clenched, his patience stretched thin.

The doctor was next to her, he checked her pulse, pressed his fingers to her forehead, and muttered something under his breath every so often, as if he was pondering an answer that Cain could not hear.

Cain’s hands curled into tight fists, his gaze hardening with each passing second. "Well? What is wrong with her?" he barked out. He could feel his temper rising as the doctor continued to hum to himself, moving at what felt like a snail’s pace.

The doctor glanced up, blinking at Cain’s impatient stare. "There are a few things that could explain her condition," he finally said, his voice calm, as if the urgency of the situation hadn’t reached him.

Cain’s fists clenched tighter, and he stepped forward. "Spit it out, doctor."

"She is overheated, which would explain the sweating despite the cold room. But more concerning is her... physical state." He looked at Cain, his gaze dropping slightly, "She’s in pre-heat, Alpha."