Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Betrayed by Blood 2

I sat in the corner of the room given to me; it wasn't much of a room, more of a forgotten storage space with bare, patched walls, a small flat bed on the floor, and a washed-up blanket.

I drew my knees up to my chest, with my arm wrapped around my body, and sobbed. I had looked forward to today for years, but I should have known.

Jasmine had always been the favored one. I should have known it wouldn't end differently. Ever since my parents died in that crash, everything had changed. Uncle Hugh had stepped in, taking control, and ever since then, it had been all about him, all about his family. It didn't matter that I was the Alpha's daughter. It didn't matter that the bond with Lucian had been decided long ago.

They used to stay on the outskirts until my parents died. I was too young to lead the pack, so the elders made him the alpha until I became of age to take over my father's place. Now, more than ever, I found myself wishing my parents were alive.

The door to my room creaked open, and before I could react, two guards rushed towards me and grabbed my arms, hauling me roughly to my feet.

"Let go of me!" I screamed, panic and fear settling inside me.

"Shut up!" One of them sneered at me, just as the other pressed his hand over my mouth, almost breaking my jaw in the process.

"Let go of me!" I cried, the words muffled. But they didn't stop. They just dragged me down the hallway, my feet stumbling to keep up.

When we reached the front door, I saw him. Uncle Hugh. Standing in the dim light. His eyes locked on mine, and for a moment, I saw nothing but cold indifference. The warmth I had once felt towards him—the man who had raised me after my parents' death was gone. He had betrayed me. He was no better than the rest of them. Tears stung my eyes as I finally realized that he was just like his family.

He stepped closer to me, eyes filled with disdain. "I tried so hard, Avery, but not anymore. I'm letting you go."

"Uncle, please," I sobbed, my voice breaking, "Don't do this. I'm your niece."

He didn't even flinch. "It's too late for you, Avery. You've outlived your usefulness."

He glanced at the guards and gave a subtle nod. My body went stiff with fear the second I saw that. Without thinking, I elbowed one of the guards in the stomach with all the force I could muster. He grunted in pain, his grip on my arm loosening. I wasted no time and bolted towards the woods.

I didn't dare look back; the only thing that mattered to me was escaping. I ran as fast as my legs could take me, feeling my blood pump in my veins. I could hear the guards' boots behind me. Panic rose inside me the more I ran. I had to escape.

Behind me, I heard the unmistakable sound of my uncle's voice, low and filled with rage. "Get her! Don't let her get away!"

Fear surged inside me. It was like a veil had been lifted from my eyes, allowing me to see my uncle for who he truly was. I had always thought of him as my father, the only one who had my back even in the midst of his family who clearly hated me. Oh, how wrong I had been.

I should have known, though. When Aunt Darla kicked me out of my room for Jasmine and gave me a room in the old guards' quarters. I should have known when my clothes were burned to ashes because Jasmine couldn't bear the thought of me wearing something as expensive as hers. I should have known when I started to clean up after them. I should have known when I became their maid.

My eyes blurred with tears. My uncle wasn't just angry—he was hunting me down. And the guards, his men, would stop at nothing to bring me back.

The guards were closing in on me. They were far more used to the woods than I was. I ran even faster, hoping to find a way to escape. Then I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw it. The cliff. I couldn't go on anymore. I was cornered.

The sound of footsteps behind me made my blood run cold. "Avery Jae." My uncle called out to me.

I turned around just in time to see him walk out from the woods; he looked nothing like I knew, his hands clenched into fists. "You're not going anywhere. This is where it ends for you." Uncle Hugh sneered.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I wiped them away angrily. "You were supposed to protect me." I whispered, my voice shaking.

Uncle Hugh stepped forward, "You were never meant to be protected," he spat. "Your parents were weak, and they left you to me. And now you're a burden."

Before I could react, the guards were on me again, grabbing my arms tightly, their grip was deathly. I glared hard at my uncle. "How do you feel knowing you betrayed your only brother? He trusted you! I trusted you!" I screamed at him, and he chuckled wickedly.

"My brother was a weakling. He should've never been alpha. He wasn't cut out for it, but father named him heir. I was a far better option than him. The pack needed a strong, resilient, and powerful man, and I am all of that. What could my dear brother possibly do for the pack? Settle some minor dispute and be crowned pack alpha? His death is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me." He paused and smirked. "Did you really think, in that silly brain of yours, that I would ever rescind the pack alpha title to you? A nineteen-year-old? What could you possibly know about leading a pack this size? It's not dress-up, child. I wanted to keep you. Oh, I wanted to keep you, even as a maid for my kids, but you just had to be a nuisance. Reminding me you're the alpha's daughter and all that rubbish. Well, that's over now. With your death, I will retain my title as alpha, and you'll be back with your dear parents."

Tears trickled down my chin with each word that left his lips. This man is a monster.

Uncle Hugh stepped forward, bringing out his knife that glinted even in the dark. "You haven't gotten your wolf yet, so this will be easy. No need for wolfsbane." He grinned sickeningly at me.

Uncle Hugh rammed the knife into my stomach. The pain was sharp, searing through me.

"Uncle….Hugh.." my voice cracked as I gasped for air, my vision blurring with tears. His grip on the knife tightened, and he pushed it deeper into me.

He leaned close, his voice low and mocking. "Oh, and by the way…" he whispered against my ear. "Tell my brother I said hi. He shouldn't have been so careless with his car. He made killing him so easy."

Uncle Hugh laughed, loud and cruel. He shoved me off the cliff. I heard his voice one last time, cold and deadly. "Goodbye Avery Jae."

I screamed as I fell, and soon my world went dark.

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