Betrayed by blood-
Lydia stepped forward, calm and confident. She glanced at them all as she pulled out a scroll. The parchment straightened in her hands, the list endless.
She cleared her throat and then she began.
-The unlawful executions of pack members.
-The mistreatment of widows and orphans.
-The forced offerings of pack members to other packs to maintain power.
-The execution of those who supported the previous pack Alpha.
-The cruel sizing of lands, foods
-Separation of families.
-Forced labor without pay.
-Forcefully using the pack members as sex slaves for other alphas to relieve themselves in order to get an ally out of their pack.
-Exploitation of omegas.
The list went on without stopping.
With every word, Hugh’s face darkened. His hands shook with rage, his jaw clenched hard, his breathing turned sharp and gruff.
Jasmine’s fingers twisted in her dress, her eyes darting around as if searching for a way out. Darla’s face was drained of color, her lips pressed into a thin line.
-Betrayal of the true Alpha of Blood Moon Pack.
-Attempted murder of the rightful heir.
Cain exhaled. Long. Slow. Tired. As if he had already decided Hugh’s fate before this moment even began.
Finally, he stood. His gaze locked onto Hugh.
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Then, he spoke.
“Hugh Belmont.” He drew out the name, tasting the weight of it. Judging it. “From today, henceforth, I am removing you as Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack.”
The room went silent for a second, the Belmont family’s cars ringing loudly. Hugh shot to his feet. His face was red with rage, veins bulging from his throat, almost like he was going to rip himself open.
“Are you joking?” He spat, his voice breaking. “Who the fuck do you think you are?” His body trembled, anger overtaking reason.
“You have no right! You’re nothing but a tyrant, a power–hungry mongrel! You-” But his eyes weren’t on Cain.
They were on Avery.
And in a split second, he moved. Lunging for Avery in a feral attack, his fangs opened, about to shift mid–air, aiming directly for her.
Avery barely had time to react. But before he could reach her, a force slammed into him, knocking him to the ground forcefully.
It was Lydia.
She pressed Hugh down like a wolf best, pinning him down against the floor roughly. He would’ve been able to throw her off if he was the true alpha. If he wasn’t a fake. If he had an alpha’s strength, but he couldn’t… he depended on the warriors Avery’s father had trained to fight. Not that he couldn’t himself, but this was Lydia. Before she was a beta, she was a warrior. A Vehiron Warrior.
Hugh groaned, dazed, struggling to push himself up, but before he could even lift his
head.
Avery stepped forward.
Hugh groaned, dazed, struggling to push himself up.
But before he could even lift his head. Avery stepped forward. She looked down at him, her gaze intense on him. Her eyes that were once filled with fear now held nothing but disgust.
And then…
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She spat on him.
Hugh flinched, stunned into silence. Avery’s voice was quiet, but sharp. “This is the least of what you deserve.”
For a moment, Hugh just stared. He wasn’t used to this. To her looking down on him. To being nothing.
“Take them away,” Avery ordered, and soon all four of them were dragged out of the hall.
Avery stepped into the room quietly, the curtains moving according to the airflow in the room. The room was brighter than she’d remembered. The walls painted in cream, the bed–frame which used to be purple. Her mother’s room, the same one Darla had taken over.
She stood still for a moment, taking it all in. It was strange how different the room felt. The scent of her mother’s favorite lavender oil was long gone, replaced by something unfamiliar, something that didn’t belong.
Darla had taken this room, stripped it of everything it once was. But now, it was hers again.
Avery stepped forward, fingers grazing the bedpost. The purple had been repainted, erased. A lump formed in her throat.
She moved to the vanity, running her fingers over the smooth wood. The mirror was polished, reflecting a version of herself she barely recognized. One she never imagined she’d get to see.
A quiet creak at the door made her pause.
She didn’t turn, she already knew who it was.
She felt his warmth before he even touched her. He didn’t say anything at first, just watched her as she traced the vanity silently. Then, finally, he stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her waist from behind, pulling her back against his chest.
“I’m sorry.”
Avery stiffened, trying to move, to turn, but his grip was firm, grounding her. “I
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should’ve told you,” he murmured. His lips brushed against her temple, his breath warm against her skin. “I just… I didn’t know how you’d take it.”
Avery turned in his arms, her gaze meeting his. She nodded curtly, a sigh escaping her lips. “I’m not angry,” she began. “I’m relieved.”
Cain’s brows furrowed slightly, like he hadn’t expected that answer. She reached up, fingers brushing lightly against his chest as she continued.
“I’ve carried this part of my life over my head for so long, she admitted. “All the pain, all the fear. It’s haunted me. But today… I faced it. I confronted it.” She swallowed, her throat tightening with emotion. “And I’m okay”
Cain’s grip on her waist tightened just slightly, his thumb brushing slow circles against her back.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Cain opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by the knock on the door. Avery couldn’t help but smile seeing the flash of irritation in his eyes.
Lydia pushed the door open, peeking in. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were busy,” she said.
Cain paused, waiting for her to get the hint and leave, but she didn’t. Instead, she looked at him, waiting for him to get the hint and leave.
Avery’s gaze darted between the alpha and his beta, and she rolled her eyes. “What’s the matter, Lydia?” she asked.
Lydia didn’t answer right away. Instead, she pushed the door open fully and stepped aside. Behind Lydia was someone Avery didn’t think she’d see again, at least not in this lifetime.
Emma. Her former maid and friend.
Avery’s breath hitched, her eyes immediately blurry with tears. Emma’s eyes were also wide, glassy with unshed tears. “Avery…” Her voice wavered.
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