39 Chapter 39
Betrayed by Blood-
“Alpha, I’ve come to inform you that Sir Xander has returned to Vehiron,”
Cain’s jaw tightened, his body rigid, his gaze darkening at the mention of Xander’s name. He glanced at Avery, “You’re done for the day,” he said, and Avery bristled slightly, expecting something else. Cain then turned to Lucas, “Have another maid take over and clean this up, Cain said gruffly to Lucas, who bowed even more in respect. He turned to leave only to pause as Xander stepped into the room. Xander’s boots echoed faintly against the floor. “Alpha,” Xander greeted, bowing his head briefly. The man looked different from before. His hair had grown longer, his shoulders were broader, he looked more tanned. He straightened, his eyes sweeping briefly over the room, landing on Cain before flickering, for just a moment, toward Avery.
Cain noticed.
“Xander,” Cain said coldly. “Why are you back in Vehiron?” he asked.
“Alpha Darryl of the Northern Ridge pack insisted that I be the representative of the pack for the blood hunt,” he replied smoothly.
Cain’s jaw clenched, Xander’s words pricking him. Alpha Darryl had sent him back to represent his own pack?
“I see you’ve made friends with Alpha Darryl, seeing as he sent you to represent his pack for the hunt. Do tell me that you’ve not forgotten your roots,” Cain asked, his eyes sharp.
Xander’s expression twitched for a bit, he straightened even more. “My roots remain connected to Vehiron and my alpha. I am merely doing the duty required of me. I served where I was commanded, Alpha,” Xander replied.
Cain’s green eyes narrowed, his wolf stirring uneasily within him. “Good
said
coolly, “Then you’ll give me a full account of everything that transpired in Northern Ridge.”
“Of course, Alpha, Xander replied with a bow of his head.
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Cain nodded sharply, brushing past Xander, who stepped aside to let him pass. But Cain caught it–the momentary flicker of Xander’s gaze back toward Avery, lingering just a second too long.
Cain’s blood boiled.
Lydia couldn’t hide the relief in her eyes as she saw Xander standing before her, back in Vehiron. She crossed the room quickly, a wide smile on her face as she pulled him into a hug. She never thought she’d get to see him like this again. At least for some months? Years?
“Xander!” she said, her voice warm. She didn’t hesitate, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. “I thought I’d never see you again,” she whispered, stepping back to look him over. “You look different.”
Xander smiled back, the first smile she’d seen on him in years. “The Northern Ridge does that to a man,” he replied, his voice low. “It’s insane up there, Lydia. The pack’s a mess, and Darryl… he’s just, well” Xander shrugged, walking into the room more.
“The rogues attack? How intense are they?” Lydia asked, and Xander turned to look at
her.
“Intense? Lydia, they aren’t intense. The attacks are purely demonic. There’s literally no breathing space, and the people are in shambles. There’s a great hunger in the pack, barely any resources are left, and the worst part of it all is Alpha Darryl is a meathead. He is stubborn, stupid, and extremely irrational. He keeps endangering his people with his decisions,” Xander huffed out, remembering the last attacks the pack had before he left. Darryl had been so insistent on showing the settlers their place, but he can’t lead like that unless he wants his pack wiped out. The most frustrating thing about it is the fact that he refuses to listen to anyone.
Lydia leaned on the table, watching as Xander spoke with frustration. “Darryl has always been like that. Very hardheaded and defiant. He refuses to listen to anyone’s opinion except his own,” she sighed.
Xander nodded, “At the end of the day, if the king or Cain refuses to put an end to this… the people of the Northern Ridge are at risk of being wiped out.”
Lydia’s eyes narrowed, “Cain would never go to war for Darryl’s pack if he doesn’t think
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there’s something to gain from it. He’s never doing that,” she replied.
Xander nodded again. He knew that already after all, he worked with the said man for years. “In all, I’m happy to be back, even if it’s just for a few days. This place… feels like
home.”
Lydia gave him a knowing look. “It’s still your home, no matter what you think.”
Xander sighed, shaking his head. “I don’t know, but being back here, even just for the Blood Hunt, it’s… comforting.”
He turned toward the balcony, his gaze shifting as he stepped closer to the open doors. Lydia followed him curiously.
Xander placed his hands on the railings, his eyes scouring around the yard. He paused on seeing Avery walking across the yard with another maid. Xander’s gaze lingered on her, his eyes softening for a moment. He looked away after a bit, groaning internally.
Lydia noticed, of course she did.
Lydia stepped closer to him, “Xander,” she began, her gaze flickering to Avery, who was now rounding the yard, still oblivious to them staring at her. She sighed internally, “Don’t even think about it. Stay away from her.”
He glanced at Lydia, his jaw clenched hard. “What? Avery? She’s just a maid, Lydia.”
“Exactly,” Lydia replied, her gaze hardening. “She’s Cain’s. And you know Cain. He won’t let it slide. So for both our sakes, keep your distance.”
Xander turned to look at her, his jaw still clenched, “I’m not doing anything, so you can stop! I’ve been gone for a while, so forgive me for noticing her,” he gritted out, his tone more defensive than he wanted.
Lydia opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by the sharp ringtone of her phone.
the She looked at Xander for some seconds more before walking out of the room, phone placed against her ear.
Xander sighed, running his fingers through his hair. It’s just been a day and he was already feeling this much… how was he going to survive the rest of the ways?
The soft creak of the door echoed through the room as Martha slipped in. She moved
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quickly, her heart racing as she hurried, rummaging through Alpha Matt’s belongings. She knew she shouldn’t be here, especially because she was just allowed to return to the pack house, but she had to be sure the alpha didn’t have it with him. Ever since she found out he was a Richard, the brother of Rowan Richard, she knew she was in trouble. Silver Moon pack was supposed to be enemies with Vehiron, especially after Rowan’s death, but instead, Alpha Matt came for the hunt? It had her body itching, and she knew she had to find out herself.
The room was quiet, the only sound the rustle of papers and the clink of objects as she opened drawers and flipped through scrolls. She was fast but also careless.
She didn’t notice the shadow that stood in the corner, didn’t hear the quiet footsteps that approached from behind.
Alpha Matt stood silently by the door, his brown eyes watching her with a mix of amusement and mild irritation. He had known something was off the moment he’d walked in. The door hadn’t been locked.
He watched as she rummaged through his personal things, oblivious to his presence.
Matt’s gaze narrowed, his jaw tightening as he crossed the room slowly, “Looking for something?”
Martha froze, her hands stiffened with the papers she had in her hand. Her breath caught in her throat as she whipped around to face him, her eyes wide with shock. “A–Alpha Matt,” she stammered.
Matt’s gaze flickered to the papers in lier hand, and he cocked his eyebrow up. “Is there something of yours that’s missing and somehow got lost in my belongings?” he asked, and she began to tremble.
“I- A–I–I,” she stammered, unable to come up with anything reasonable.
Matt’s lips curled into a smirk, his arms folding against his chest as he leaned against the wall, “Clearly,” he replied, his voice filled with mockery. “You’re lucky I’m not more inclined to punish intruders.”
Martha’s eyes darted nervously to the door, then back to Matt. She need to act fast. “I… I was just looking for something important,” she said, her voice strained. “I didn’t mean any harm. Just a… little search. You know how it is.”
Matt straightened, stepping closer. “A search, huh?” He raised an eyebrow. “For what?”
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He paused, “Did Alpha Cain put you up to this? To humiliate me and my pack? Is that
what this is?”
Martha’s gaze widened, “NO!” she yelled, panicked. She’d be in even more trouble if Alpha Cain found out.
Matt smirked, “Martha, I know everything about you,” Matt said calmly.
Martha’s face ran pale, her eyes widening at his words. How would he? S–she’s been silent about it all, Rowan was silent too. How would he even…
vou off the hook, but: Matt tilted his head sideways, “I was going to let came into my room and went through my things, all for this?” He brought out a black carved ancient–looking ring. Martha gasped at the sight of the ring.
“I know exactly who and what you are, Martha. You are the informant. You gave Rowan information on Cain and the pack. You were the one who sold out Vehiron.”
“I didn’t betray Vehiron. I only helped Alpha Rowan. He gave me the ring for my help. I didn’t know it would cause an issue as big as this. I didn’t betray Vehiron, Martha cried out, her body trembling. If only she could turn back the hands of time and reject Rowan’s proposal to her that day,
Matt stepped closer to her, and she swallowed hard. “Oh, but you did. Because of the information you gave, Rowan is dead. You not only betrayed your pack, you’re a traitor and a murderer,” he spat out, a despicable grin coming to settle on his face. “I wonder what Cain would think when he finds out the truth about you.”
Martha’s breath hitched, and she fell to her knees, her hands shaking incredibly.
“P–p–please, I’ll do whatever you want. Don’t expose me,” she croaked out.
A sick twisted grin made its way to Matt’s face. He leaned down, his fingers on her chin, forcing her to look at him. “You will work for me. The same information you gave my brother, you’ll give me. Just so you know, I’m far different from my brother, and one mistake, I’ll have your head rolling. Do you understand me?”
Martha nodded, fear and anger gripping her from inside. Matt smiled ..
straightened. “Good girl. Leave,” he spat out, watching as she scrambled away from the
room
Once the door was shut, he chuckled to himself. Everything was going according to
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plan. If only Rowan had been smarter, but ch, all is fair in love and war.
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