Capítulo 5: Chapter 5

Betrayed by Blood~

The sound of shattering glass echoed through the room as Cain threw yet another tumbler against the wall. He paced around angrily, his hands clenched into tight fists.

This couldn't be happening to him.

A mate?

He ran a hand through his hair, pulling at the roots. It didn't make sense. He had spent years without one, building and avoiding this only for it to crumble in one second. And now, a nineteen-year-old girl? This is a fucking barbaric joke!

"Fuck!" Cain snarled, slamming his palm against the desk.

The door creaked open. Cain didn't bother looking up. "Get out," he snapped.

"You're going to kill yourself if you keep this up," a calm voice replied.

He turned sharply, his glare landing on Lydia, his beta. She stood there with her arms crossed. "Do you have a death wish? Fucking leave!"

"No, I don't, but seeing as the maids are scared of even passing by the hall tells me everything. What are you doing, Cain? Are you trying to tear this place down?" She replied, walking into the room fully, her gaze flickering to the mess on the floor.

"What the hell do you want, Lydia?" Cain gritted out.

"To stop you from tearing down this place, for one. And maybe to talk some sense into you." She replied calmly.

"I don't need your advice," Cain spat out.

Lydia arched her eyebrow. "Oh, clearly. You're handling this so well." She gestured to the broken glass and overturned chair. "Throwing tantrums like a child doesn't change the fact that she's your mate."

Cain's jaw clenched, his fist tightening, "She's nineteen, Lydia. Nineteen. Do you know what that means?"

Lydia tilted her head. "It means you can't reject her yet. Not until she turns twenty and gets her wolf."

"Do you think I don't fucking know that?!" Cain roared, slamming his fist into the desk again. "I know the damn rules. I don't need you to remind me."

Lydia sighed, "Then what's the problem? She's just a kid. Leave her alone until the time comes."

Cain's laugh was bitter and hollow. "It's not that simple. She's… in my head. I can feel the bond already, pulling at me like some goddamn leash." He turned his glare on her. "I don't want a mate. Not now, not ever."

"Then ignore it," Lydia said.

Cain's glare hardened, "Don't fucking patronize me, Lydia. If you don't have anything sensible to say then leave and go tend to matters that do need attending. Get out." He snarled at her.

Lydia sighed internally, "Alpha, maybe you should try—"

"Get out." Cain snapped, his voice dropping into a deadly tone. His eyes gleamed red.

Lydia stiffened, "You're being unreasonable, Cain. This stubbornness of yours is only going to cause—"

The sound of a vase shattering against the door behind her cut her words short. Cain didn't even aim at her, but the message was clear.

"Out." He growled.

Lydia's jaw tightened, "As you wish, Alpha Cain." She dragged out then walked out.

Cain growled under his breath, pacing back and forth. The bond was a curse—a leash he refused to wear. He wouldn't be bound to some fragile, sickly girl. He's never been interested in having a mate. He's hated the idea of being bonded to someone, especially after what happened. He refused to follow the goddess rules. He'd asked her, told her, warned her to keep the mate bullshit away from him still she gave him one.

"Lucas!" He growled out and the man who'd brought Avery in came running into the office.

"Yes, alpha."

"That girl, Send her to Kendra."

The man, Lucas snapped his eyes at Cain, shock filling his eyes. "Kendra, alpha, are you sure—"

"I didn't ask for your input…Do it, let's see how long she lasts." Lucas nodded and bowed before running to do his bidding.

Cain poured himself a glass of whiskey and downed it. Let the goddess see what her little 'gift' endures under Xander's watch. Maybe that would teach her not to toy with him.

A knock jolted him out of his thoughts, he turned to see a guard walk in cautiously. "Alpha, we've captured Alpha Rowan."

Cain straightened, his eyes darkening the second he heard the man's name. Rowan. That bloody coward.

"Good." He grabbed his coat, "Prepare the hall. I want the entire pack to witness what happens to traitors."

In the main hall, pack members were already assembling. Everyone's known of Rowan's betrayal to Vehiron, all of them anticipating the Alpha's judgment to the traitor who knelt in the middle, bound with chains and brutally beaten to a pulp. Avery stood in the middle of the crowd, held by two women who had grabbed her from the room she'd been staying.

Cain stepped into the hall and everywhere went silent, Avery's eyes were stuck on the man, her mate. He exuded power, one she'd never perceived.

Cain locked eyes with the man and Rowan began to tremble, his face paling. "A-Alpha." He stammered as Cain walked towards him with a sickening grin. "I-I can explain." Rowan stammered.

"You betrayed me, Rowan." Cain said, his voice low, eyes as dark as the devil's. "Do you know what happens to traitors, Rowan?"

Rowan swallowed hard, his body trembling so much, "A-Alpha Cain, please-I can explain—"

"Explain? Tsk, tsk, tsk," Cain interrupted, his tone mocking. "Explain how you sold Vehiron out? Why you thought you'll betray me and live to tell the story?"

"I-I didn't mean—"

Cain's hand shot out, grabbing Rowan by the throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. The pack gasped in shock, watching as Rowan struggled choked and clawed at Cain's hand to breathe.

"You didn't mean?" Cain snarled, his eyes glowing red. "Do you think I care about your excuse, Rowan? Actions have consequences and today, you will pay in full."

Cain threw Rowan to the ground, his body hitting the marble-tiled floor harshly. Rowan groaned, his body crumpled as blood trickled from his split lip.

Cain stepped closer, watching as the man pleaded, barely able to move his body. Cain lifted his leg and pressed his boots over the man's ribs, grinding him into the hard floor.

"You are going to be an example, Rowan. Vehiron will never forget what happens to those that betray me." Rowan's bloodshot eyes met Cain's and in that instant, he knew it was over.

Cain retracted his claws and wrapped both hands around Rowan's neck, he lifted him again as though he weighed nothing. Rowan gasped and sputtered, tears leaking from his eyes, his legs kicking weakly in the air.

Cain twisted Rowan's head sharply, the sound of bones snapping filled the room, gasps rippled through the hall as Cain ripped Rowan's head off his body, blood sprayed everywhere, drenching Cain's face and chest. The lifeless body of Rowan fell to the floor with a thud and Cain threw his severed head down beside it with a sickening thud.

The hall was deathly silent, only the faint dripping of blood looking on the floor could be heard. Cain stood tall, his chest heaving then he locked eyes with Avery Jae.

The look in her eyes, it was something he'd seen severally. She stared at him just like everyone else did, like he was a monster. She was horrified, disgusted even, her body trembling as she stared at him, her lips parted like she was screaming silently and for a brief second, he felt the bond tug in his chest but Cain's gaze doesn't soften, if anything, his gaze grew darker.

He turned his back on her, his voice boomed through the hall. "Clean this mess up." He ordered coldly. "And remind yourselves. Loyalty isn't optional."