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Betrayed by Blood–D
The training fields thundered with life as hundreds of wolves performed drills, their grunts and growls carrying over the morning air. The clang of weapons and the sound of fists meeting filled the air. Every wolf moved with calculation, their eyes flickering between each other and Alpha Cain, who stood at the edge of the field, watching them with a cold gaze.
Cain’s mere presence sent a ripple of energy through the air. The wolves trained harder, pushed faster, each one of them determined to catch his eye. Today, they all proved and showcased their strengths to Cain. Each of them that has been training for the past year is inclined to show their growth and skills to impress the pack alpha. Cain would then choose the best and skilled warriors to be given a position and title. This was a very important feat for the warriors who had all been training for a year
now.
Everyone had now gathered near the edge of the field–apart from the pack members who all had to attend, there were also the packs who had joined for the blood hunt. The King and Queen stood under the large umbrella held by a servant. The Queen was as quiet as ever, her eyes flickering between the warriors, archers, and fighters. Her husband, the king, leaned forward, speaking low enough to ensure no one else could
hear.
“He’s doing this to send a message, the King muttered, his tone edged with disdain. “All of this is for me. He’s parading his warriors to prove a point.”
The Queen remained silent, her gaze flickering briefly toward Cain, who had yet to acknowledge them,
“He’s saying he can’t be defeated,” the King continued, his hand curling into a fist. “An unspoken warning. And I’ll be damned if I let him think he holds the upper hand.”
Behind them, Carol’s sharp eyes were fixed on the King, her lips curving into a small
smile.
“You’re staring” Kendra whispered, leaning toward her mother.
Carol’s smile vanished in an instant, and she turned her cold gaze on her daughter.
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“And you’re not doing enough, she snapped. “How do you plan to hold Cain’s attendos when you’ve been a useless little mouse all this time? I always have to tell you what to do, how to act, what to say. You want to police me when you can’t do a thing without my help. Oh please!” Carol snapped.
Kendra stiffened but said nothing.
Across the field, Xander stood beside Lydia, his gaze trailing after Avery, watching her every move. It’s been four days since he told her how he felt, and it’s been four days since he last spoke to her. He had said it, he was going to give her space, but he could tell she was avoiding him. He watched as she walked with a large tray in her hands, his hands tightening into a fist. She wouldn’t even glance at him.
“Stop it already,” Lydia muttered, her gaze on the warriors showcasing their skills.
“Stop what?” Xander asked, forcing himself to look away from Avery and back at the warriors. Lydia then glanced at him, her eyebrows quirked up.
“You couldn’t be more obvious even if you wanted to,” she replied. Xander cleared his throat and looked away; he didn’t even have it in him to deny it now. He was done with
that.
The warriors were finally done with their showcase, earning a round of applause from
everyone.
Alpha Matt stepped forward, his eyes glinting with mischief as his gaze flickered through the warriors. “Quite the operation you’ve got here, Alpha Cain,” he began, warning Cain’s attention.
“Have something to say, Matt?” Cain asked calmly.
Matt shrugged, “I’m just saying, one would think you’re preparing for a war with this many warriors, right? Or maybe you’ve only made them showcase their strength to intimidate other packs. After all, that doesn’t seem to me more than your jurisdiction.”
Cain clenched his jaw tight, the veins in his neck straining against his skin. “I’ll suggest you watch your mouth, Matt. I’m not in the mood,” Cain spat out.
Of course, Alpha Matt doesn’t stop; he takes a step forward, eyes on Cain. He was angry, angry that the man had gathered them all under the pretense of his warriors showcasing their strength to intimidate the rest of them. Cain ….. savage, and he always made sure to act that way.
a barbarian. A
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“Oh, but I’m only learning from the best, which is you, Alpha Cain. You’re the one who talks without thinking. The one who believes you’re above the law, heck! Even the goddess herself.
You’re the one who has to win at all times regardless of the lives you take in the process,” he spat out.
That was the last straw. Cain’s eyes darkened at the man’s words. His hand shot out, and he grabbed Matt by the neck, lifting him up from the ground with ease. The crowd gasped in shock, the scene unveiling right in front of them. Matt’s mother and members all rushed towards them.
“You’re just a fool. Perhaps you’re even more foolish than your brother. At least he had the sense to know who and where to act up. You, on the other hand, are totally dumb”
Matt choked out a laughter even as his face reddened, “Do it, kill me now. Show everyone who you truly are,” he choked out.
Cain paused for a second before a smirk crept onto his lips.
“Ah, I see. You think this tantrum of yours changes their perspective of me? This is nothing they haven’t seen before. His gaze hardened, voice dropping to a venomous whisper. ‘I see you were not informed exactly how your brother died…He didn’t just die by my hands, he died right in front of everyone present. I ripped off his head and tossed his body into the forest for vultures to feast on.”
Matt’s hands clawed at Cain’s iron grip, his legs kicking helplessly in the air. His face reddened further, veins straining from his forehead as he choked on what little air he could draw in.
“I think you’ve forgotten where you stand,” Cain said, his voice low and steady. “You don’t get to speak to me like an equal, Matt. You are nothing but a pathetic echo of your brother’s failures.”
The king had now stepped forward, his face filled with rage. “Alpha Cain!” the King barked, “Release him. This isn’t a battlefield–it’s a gathering of allies in the region. Unless you plan to war with me as well?” Alaric spat out.
Cain’s gaze didn’t flicker to him. He tightened his grip, lifting Matt higher, as though daring him to prove otherwise.
nk…this makes
Matt choked out a bitter laughter, his eyes now watering. “Y–you you…strong?” he rasped out. “All…all it proves….is that you’re as savage as they say…”
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Cain’s smirk returned, slow and menacing “And yet, I stand at the top, while you crawl beneath me. Perhaps there’s a lesson in that.
With that, Cain released him, letting Matt drop to the ground like a lifeless sack. He hit the dirt with a hard thud, coughing violently as he clutched at his neck.
Cain towered over Matt, staring down at him with disgust. “Let this be your warning.” he said, his voice dripping with venom. “Push me again, and I’ll do to you what I did to your brother. Only this time, I’ll make sure your pack watches every second of it.”
He straightened and looked at the King for the first time. “Guests are welcomed to act like guests. Idiots such as this will be treated exactly like what they are. Idiots,” he spat out before walking away.
Matt remained on the ground, gasping for air. His mother crouched beside him, whispering urgently, but he waved her off.
His gaze burned with hatred as he stared at Cain’s retreating figure. He would take this man down even if it took his life at the end. Cain spoke so shabbily about his brother,
the way
he killed him and never gave his body back. He was a beast that should’ve been put down a long time ago. Cain did not deserve to live amongst the rest of them any longer, and Matt would do everything possible to see to it that he does not live past the blood hunt.
From the distance where she stood, Carol watched the scene unfold. She smirked; Cain was still as fiery as ever. He was exactly the son–in–law she wanted. Not even the king could stop him. She smirked to herself and nudged Kendra.
“Go after him,” she said.
Kendra frowned, startled. “What? Why? He’s angry, I don’t think I should be-
“Exactly why you should be with him. He needs someone to soothe his anger,” Carol replied, her lips curling into a sly smile. “And you need to remind him why you’re still in the picture. Don’t just stand there like an idiot–go!”
Kendra hesitated for a moment, her lips pursed, then nodded. She adjusted her dress before hurrying after Cain.
Across the field, Avery watched as Kendra rushed after Cain, he
omach twisting
inexplicably. Her hands tightened around the tray she held, and she quickly averted her gaze, pretending not to notice.
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