Chapter 164
Betrayed by Blood~
For a moment, no one moved. No one even breathed.
Hugh’s grip on Avery slackened slightly, his lips parting as though he had misheard. But the weight of Cain’s words, his tone as sharp as a blade, hung in the air.
His gaze flickered between Cain and Avery, his mouth opening and closing in stunned disbelief. "Mate?" he repeated.
Cain’s eyes burned, his expression unreadable, but the way his gaze locked onto Hugh’s hand said everything.
The moment stretched unbearably, and then, with ease, Cain reached out. His fingers clamped around Hugh’s wrist tightly and roughly.
Hugh barely had time to react before Cain twisted. A sharp crack split through the air. Hugh let out a strangled grunt of pain, his knees nearly buckling as Cain wrenched his fingers away from Avery.
Avery exhaled, the ghost of Hugh’s grip still lingering on her skin, but Cain didn’t let her dwell on it. Without breaking eye contact with Hugh, he reached for her, his large hand settling firmly at her waist, pulling her close.
Darla’s eyes burned red. The message was unmistakable. Avery was his.
She sucked in a sharp breath, her face paling as she stepped back, her shock painted across her face. She opened her mouth as if to say something but thought better of it.
Jasmine, however, was frozen in place, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides. Her eyes darted between Cain and Avery, her expression twisting into something ugly.