155 Chapter 155
Betrayed by Blood
Avery paced around her room restlessly; it was already evening. She couldn’t help but replay what happened today in her head. Her meeting with the king and the way his eyes had settled on her without moving.
It made her skin crawl.
She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to shake the feeling. Had she done something wrong? Should she have spoken more? Less? The way Cain had stepped in front of her, shielding her from Alaric’s gaze, had been instinctive. Protective. But had she disappointed him by reacting the way she did?
Her teeth pressed into her lower lip. She should apologize. Or at least say something.
Before she could dwell on it further, a knock sounded at her door.
Avery froze.
Her heart stuttered, then picked up speed as she hesitated. Taking a steadying breath, she crossed the room and pulled the door open.
“I can hear you thinking all the way from….” He trailed off, his green eyes sweeping over her fully, his gaze darkening, Adam’s apple throbbing at the sight of her.
Avery furrowed her eyebrows. What did he mean he could hear her thinking? She opened her mouth to speak, and only then did she realize he wasn’t talking… instead, his gaze was stuck on her, staring without blinking.
And it was only then that Avery realized–she was still in the nightgown Lydia had given her. Thin. Soft. Leaving nothing to the imagination.
Cain’s jaw tightened, his gaze flickering over her once more before snapping back to her face. His expression was unreadable, but something in his breath catch.
eyes made Avery’s
She swallowed hard, heat creeping up her neck as she resisted the urge to wrap her arms around herself. It wouldn’t help. Not with the way the fabric clung to her, leaving too little to the imagination.
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“I-” She cleared her throat, gripping the doorframe. “Did you… need something?”
Cain’s eyes lingered on her a moment longer before he exhaled through his nose, as if grounding himself. His voice was steady when he finally spoke. “Step out with me for a
moment.”
Avery hesitated, suddenly hyperaware of everything–the cool air against her skin, the quiet tension settling between them, the way Cain’s gaze softened, just slightly, as he waited.
She nodded. “Alright—umm—I’ll just….change.”
When she was done, she stepped out, now fully clothed. Cain didn’t say a word as he turned, leading her through the halls. The silence between them was not
uncomfortable. Avery stayed a step behind, glancing at him as they walked. He seemed… calmer than usual. Or maybe just lost in thought.
It wasn’t until they stepped outside that she realized where they were headed. The stables.
Her steps faltered slightly. “We’re going somewhere?”
Cain didn’t answer immediately. He reached for the reins of a sleek black horse, running a hand down its mane before turning back to her.
“Come,” he said simply, holding out a hand.
Avery hesitated, glancing at the horse. “I don’t-”
“You’ll be fine,” Cain cut in. His voice was softer than usual, lacking its usual sharpness. “Ride with me.”
Something in his tone made it impossible to refuse. Avery swallowed and stepped forward, placing her hand in his. He pulled her up effortlessly, settling her in front of him before swinging up behind her.
The warmth of his body pressed against her back.
Avery stiffened. His body heat melting into her skin. His scent wafting into her nostrils. It was intimate in a way that made her heart pound.
Cain clicked his tongue, and the horse set off. Neither of them spoke at first. The cool night air rushed past them. Avery exhaled slowly, allowing herself to relax just a little.
155 Chapter 155
She wasn’t sure how long they rode before they finally got to where they were going.
Cain gently set her down on the floor while he helped the horse. Avery looked around, seeing that they were in a clearing. She didn’t know somewhere like this was in Vehiron.
Cain came over, done with the horse, he held his hand out. “Come on. It’s not far anymore.” He said, and she nodded, slipping her hand into his.
A minute later, the hilltop came into view, bathed in the soft glow of the moon, casting silver light over the expanse of land below. Avery sucked in a breath.
It was beautiful.
The world stretched out beneath them–rolling hills, distant forests. The sky was vast and endless, the stars clearer than she had ever seen them before.
She turned to Cain, her fingers still loosely tangled with his. “I didn’t know a place like this existed here.”
Cain’s gaze was already on her, “Not many do.”
Avery hesitated, feeling the intensity of his gaze. “Why did you bring me here?”
For a moment, he didn’t answer. Then, without breaking eye contact, he exhaled and turned away, walking a few steps ahead before settling onto the grass.
“I needed to clear my head.” His voice was quiet. “And I figured you did too.”
Avery’s breath hitched slightly. She hadn’t expected that.
Cain was never one to openly acknowledge things like this–to admit when something bothered him. She never heard him say he was bothered by anything. The fact that he had sought her out, brought her here of all places, made something warm bloom in her chest.
Without thinking, she sat beside him. The grass was cool beneath her fingers, a small smile spread on her face. One that she couldn’t hide and didn’t want to.
For a while, neither of them spoke. Until Cain broke it.
“You never told me about your life before Vaheeran.”
Avery blinked, glancing at him. His eyes were already on her, watching her calmly.
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She turned her gaze back to the horizon. “You never asked.”
Cain was quiet for a long moment. Then, softly, “I’m asking now.”
Avery swallowed. She should have expected this. He had been different with her lately -softer in a way she wasn’t used to.
And for the first time, she realized… she wanted to tell him.
She took a slow breath. “I was born into the Bloodmoon pack.” Avery didn’t look at him. If she did, she might lose her nerve. Instead, she let the words come. “My father… umm, he was the alpha, and I am an only child. My parents died in a car accident some years back so…” she trailed off, rubbing her arm nervously.
Cain was silent for a long moment. His gaze was steady on her, unreadable, but Avery could feel the shift in his presence. Something in the air between them had changed.
“You were an alpha’s daughter,” he murmured. It wasn’t a question.
Avery nodded slowly. “I was.”
Cain exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “And you never told me.”
She glanced at him then, “Would it have made a difference?”
His jaw tightened. “Of course it would have.”
Avery frowned. “Why?”
Cain didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked away, staring out over the horizon as if gathering his thoughts. When he finally spoke, his voice was lower, rougher. “Because I believed everything I was told about you. That you were weak. A stray with no past worth mentioning. And I-” He cut himself off, shaking his head.
Avery’s heart pounded. “And you what?”
His grip on his knee tightened. “And I treated you like nothing.”
“If I had told you about my past. You would have treated me like I was something?”
Cain looked at her, his mouth parted slightly yet no words came out. For the first time, he was short of words.
“It wouldn’t have. You made up your mind on me at first glance. It wouldn’t have
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mattered if I were an alpha’s daughter or a nobody. You didn’t want a mate, and that couldn’t have changed.”
Cain’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, his jaw tightening. He didn’t argue–he couldn’t. Because she was right. He looked away and cleared his throat.
“Your pack. Shouldn’t you be the one leading it now since your father is dead?” He asked.
Avery exhaled, looking away. This was a whole new territory she didn’t think she’d ever share with him, but here they were. “My uncle… he was in charge of the pack till I reached the age to lead, but…”
“But what?”
“He pushed me off a cliff so he could stay pack alpha. It’s funny how power can destroy even the bloodlines.”
Cain stilled.
The words hung in the air between them, heavy. His expression darkened, his hands clenching against his thighs. “He what?” His voice was dangerously quiet.
Avery forced a small, humorless smile. “I guess he didn’t expect me to survive.”
Cain’s breathing had changed, like a man on the edge of losing that control entirely. “That bastard,” he muttered, more to himself than to her.
Avery shrugged, as if it didn’t matter anymore. “It’s in the past.”
Cain exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. “Is it?”
She looked at him, startled by the intensity in his voice.
“I-” He stopped himself, dragging a hand down his face. When he spoke again, his voice was lower. “Your uncle. The people who let that happen. They’re still alive, aren’t they?”
Avery hesitated before nodding.
Cain leaned back slightly, staring out at the sky. He was quiet for a long moment before he spoke again, his voice calm–too calm.
“Then I’ll handle it.”
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