Chapter 55
Betrayed by Blood~
Cain grabbed a bottle of whiskey and poured himself a cup, his shirt stained with blood, Xander’s blood. He downed the whiskey and immediately poured himself another.
The door to his office slammed open, and Cain’s head snapped up, his jaw tightening as Lydia stormed in. Her face was pale, her eyes rimmed red with tears. She froze when she saw him, her gaze flickering to the bloodstained shirt he wore.
"You didn’t even give him a chance to explain," she hissed, her voice trembling as she stepped closer.
Cain set the bottle down, his gaze fixed on her, cold. "You were there. You saw what he did. You saw everything, and yet here you stand, in front of me, arguing on his behalf? Pleading his case?"
He took a step toward her, his towering frame radiating barely restrained rage. "Have you lost your mind?" he growled.
Lydia flinched, but she didn’t back down. Her hands balled into fists at her sides as she forced herself to meet his gaze. "I admit it," she said, her voice shaky. "I admit he crossed a line, but he wouldn’t try to kill you, Cain! You’ve known Xander for years—years! He’s been loyal to you, to this pack. Why would he suddenly—"
"People change!" Cain’s voice thundered through the room, silencing her. His fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms as he took another step forward.
"And I am not going to waste my time trying to understand why he did what he did. The fact remains, Lydia—he changed. He lost his mind by touching Avery. He tried to get me killed."
He paused, his golden eyes glowing with a dangerous light as he leaned closer, "That’s a crime I cannot forgive."
Lydia’s breath hitched, his words striking her like daggers. How was she ever going to convince him? She knew it deep down, Xander would never do what he is being accused of. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she wiped them off harshly. "You’re wrong about him. You should at least investigate this. He at least deserves—"