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103 Chapter 103
103 Chaptec 103
Betrayed by Blood –
Cain stormed into the room, still gripping Avery’s wrist tightly. It wasn’t until the door slammed shut behind them that he finally stopped. Turning around, his gaze flickered towards the hand wrapped around her wrist. A muscle in his jaw ticked before he abruptly released her, as if the contact burned him. Running a hand through his dark hair, he exhaled sharply.
Avery took a step back, her heart pounding against her ribs. She rubbed her wrist absently, the ghost of his grip still lingering on her skin. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she pondered what to do next. After the scene that had just unfolded in the grand hall, she was incredibly nervous. Glancing at Cain, who walked towards the alcohol cabinet in the room and poured himself a drink, she swallowed hard, her bottom lip caught between her teeth.
She had no idea what she was supposed to do now. Should she leave? Should she stay? She couldn’t bring herself to speak, choosing silence over facing his potential anger.
Cain still didn’t look at her, indicating his mood, so she quietly moved towards the door, ready to leave as discreetly as possible.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Cain’s sharp voice cut through the air. Avery halted in her steps and slowly turned around, her heart racing in her chest. Cain stood by the alcohol bar, his intense gaze fixed on her.
“I–I was going to leave-” she replied quietly.
Cain didn’t reply and simply stared at her. For a moment, neither of them spoke.
His gaze raked over her disheveled form, noticing the stained fabric of her dress clinging to her damp skin and the way her shoulders curled inward slightly, as if bracing herself. His lips parted, but whatever he was about to say, he stopped himself.
The silence stretched between them again, and Avery worried she had done something wrong.
Finally, Cain exhaled, shaking his head. Without a word, he strode to his closet, yanked the door open, and pulled out a black shirt. He walked back to her, pressing it ag
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103 Chaptee 103
her chest.
“Go clean yourself up. His voice was low and rough.
Avery hesitated for a second, searching his face for an explanation, but he had already. turned away, walking toward the balcony. His hand dragged through his hair again as he exhaled, frustration evident in the
way his shoulders tensed.
She clutched the fabric he had given her, then silently turned toward the bathroom.
Avery stepped into the bathroom, closing the door softly behind her. The moment she was alone, she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Her hands trembled slightly as she set the shirt down and reached for the ties of her ruined dress. The scent of the drink that had been poured on her clung to her skin, sticky and sickly sweet.
She peeled the fabric away, shivering as the cool air hit her bare arms. Bruises, faint but still visible, decorated her arm. She sighed, shaking her head, before turning on the
water.
As the warmth washed over her, she tried not to think about the way Cain had defended her. Back then, she was so certain he wasn’t talking to her, not until he grabbed her. She stepped into the shower, shut her eyes, God’s words echoing in her head again. She snapped her eyes open and shook her head. Not now, she didn’t want to think about his words now.
She scrubbed her skin clean, trying to rid herself of the evening’s events, then when she was done, she stepped out and reached for the shirt he had given her.
It was far too large, the hem brushing her mid–thigh, the sleeves swallowing her hands. The scent of him–dark wood, spice, unmistakably Cain–lingered in the fabric. She hesitated before slipping it on, swallowing down the strange sensation curling in her
stomach.
She looked at herself in the mirror, her face red from how hard she’d scrubbed, her hair still wet even after towel drying it. Her lips were chapped and dry. In all, she looked horrible.
She stepped out of the bathroom after making sure her hair wasn’t as wet. The room was empty, but when she looked towards the balcony, she saw him there.
Cain stood on the balcony, phone pressed to his ear, his posture tense. The wind
103 Chaptee 103
tousled his dark hair as he paced, his bare feet silent against the cold stone. His voice was low, sharp, but she couldn’t make out the words.
Avery lingered in the doorway, uncertain. She didn’t know if she should wait or just leave quietly. She didn’t know which of the options would make him less angry. If she stayed or if she left? After standing for ten minutes and he still wasn’t done, she walked towards the bed and sat down on the edge, careful not to roughen the sheets.
She held her wine–stained dress in her hands and waited for him. Twenty minutes later, Cain still wasn’t done. Her eyelids had now begun to get heavy, the exhaustion of the day catching up to her.
Avery tried to keep herself upright, but her body betrayed her. Her shoulders slumped, and before she realized it, she had curled into herself, her knees drawn slightly toward her chest.
Just for a moment, she told herself. Just to rest her eyes.
The bed was warm, far more comfortable than the small cot she had in the servants” quarters. The scent of freshly clean linens mixed with Cain’s scent filled her nostrils, and despite everything–despite the tension, the fear, the confusion–her body gave in. Sleep pulled at her, and she gave in easily.
She didn’t notice when Cain stepped back into the room.
He stopped in his tracks when he saw her.
The phone in his hand was still pressed to his ear, but his focus had completely shifted. His gaze fell on the small, curled–up form on his bed–the oversized shirt swallowing her, her face relaxed in sleep.
Something tightened in his chest.
up like
He had expected her to wait, to sit stiffly on the chair, to avoid staying a second longer in his presence. But instead, she had fallen asleep in his bed, her body curled she was trying to make herself smaller.
Cain’s grip on the phone tightened. He barely heard the voice on the other end, barely registered the conversation anymore.
For a moment, he just stood there, staring down at her.
103 Chaptée 103
Then, without really thinking, he reached down and carefully pulled the blanket o her.
She shifted slightly but didn’t wake.
Cain watched her for a second longer, his wolf howling in excitement. Cain ran his fingers through his hair, he exhaled and turned away towards the balcony, grabbing the bottle of alcohol on his way out.
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