Chapter 18 18

Chapter 18 18
Chloe’s pov.

It felt like a dream, a bad one.

The arrows flew towards me, relentlessly. They didn’t stop, not even for a slight moment.

One sliced my left cheek causing me to bleed yet I didn’t stop running down the passageway for safety, that was all that mattered to me at that point.
My hand pressed tightly against the wound to slow the bleeding, but it didn’t work, the warm thick liquid still streamed down my fingers.
But I didn’t stop diving every arrow fired my way, one struck the wall beside me, almost piercing my left eye
Whoever it was shooting, truly wanted me dead.

Before I could make a turn I felt a powerful arm grab me by the waist and yanked me to the ground.
“Stay down!” Antonio roared beside my ear as he lay down with me, his body shielding mine. We were so close I could hear his breathing.

The arrow stopped for a second but we didn’t move instead he placed a finger on his lips, “Don’t say anything, just keep your head down,”

“I’m Hurt,” I whispered, removing my hands so he could see the damage that had been done to my face.
“You’re already healing, princess .”
“We need to leave here!” I said feeling trapped in this position we were in.
He nods, lifting his head just slightly looking out the window. I pulled him back. “Be careful!” I croaked.

“I am. I can see the archer. They’re wearing a red hood. They aren’t shooting for now .”

“Is it a man or a lady?”

“Be quiet, let’s move in one… two… three… move.”
He grabbed my hand and we ran through the corridor as I ran. I caught sight of the archer. They stood next to the bushes, even as it rained, they didn’t care, they just stared at me, preparing their bow for another shot.

But we were lucky enough to burst into the main hall of the villa, the one with the heavily protected iron bar door.

The guards rushed from all sides of the room as soon as they spotted us, they could sense that danger was looming ahead.
“Daughter!”Alpha Cain exclaimed, his golden cape and crown shimmering, as he lunged towards me, his arms wide open.
“Father… someone attacked me,” I babbled, revealing the cut on my cheek even though it had almost healed. “An archer was shooting at me just as soon as you left me alone.”

I could see the flash of rage in his eyes as he pulled away instantly. “What? Who dares to hurt my one and only princess?” Enraged, he turned to his men. “You…. You and you… Find whoever is out there and bring them to me…. Dead or alive.l

I smiled in satisfaction. He then strides towards Antonio. “Please take the princess to her room, make sure she heals properly.”

“No father, I’m well…”
“I wasn’t talking to you, Chloe.”
“Yes sir, I will,” Antonio says bowing curtly.
He grabbed me by the arm and led me to the corridor again. Finally, we reached my chamber and I sat at the edge of the bed fuming with anger.
He closed the door quietly behind him, his gaze resting on me.
“What was that about?” He asked.
“What was it about?”
“You wanted to go out there…. You barely escaped death!”
“Well, I am alive, I didn’t die.”

He rolled his eyes and fetched a little portion of wolfsbane applying it to the wound.
In five seconds the wound had nearly disappeared.

“You heal faster than any wolf I know,” he chortled.
“That’s because I’m a destined Luna, a little tear can never stop me from fighting!”
He paused, observing me quietly, “You are also the fiercest person I know, yet that doesn't mean you should walk into the enemy’s den.”

“Well, I was on my own when someone attacked me!”
He ran a hand through his jet back hair, squatting, “The enemies have their eyes on you, you shouldn’t be alone!”

“I wasn’t alone, my father had just left me, I was looking out the window, thinking….”
“Well, the Alpha thinks you are in grave danger so you won’t be leading the battle today.” He cut me off rudely.
I blinked twice, repulsed. “What? He asked me to lead the battle! I always lead! I’m not an archer or a crossbow man!”

He stood, pacing around like he was troubled. “ Yes, you’ll lie low, because I won’t let anyone hurt you, I told you that earlier.”

Silence descended on the room, none of us arguing or objecting, I knew this was Alpha Cain’s order and it would take a lot of convincing to change his mind. We gazed at each other, the air between us tensed.

My lips parted slightly when all of a sudden the door burst open.
A guard stood there, he was breathless like he’d run a thousand miles.
“ Don't you knock?” I asked rudely.

“I’m sorry your highness, Beta, Alpha Cain requests both your presence, he says you both must come down to the palace.”
Antonio and I exchanged a shocked look before we stormed out of the room.
The palace was filled with a lot of warriors and elders, and tension hovered in the air.
Alpha Cain sat upon his iron throne, a stern look on his face then my gaze landed on someone I didn't want to see. Alpha Henry was back but not alone, dozens of men stood behind him.
“I’ve fulfilled my promise, here are the two thousand men I promised, a few are here the rest are outside.”Henry began, his voice resounding across the room. “ I know I promised ten thousand men but I can’t send them all at once, I have to consider my pack too, they could be attacked in my absence, I need to protect my family too.”
I swallowed at the mention of family, I should’ve been his only family, his mate and Luna, and now he was breaking his promise. “That wasn’t the deal, Alpha Henry!” I bellowed, all heads turned towards me, even Antonio.

I stepped forward, my eyes scanning Henry and his men. Then I turned to face my father. “This man here boasted of helping us with ten thousand men just yesterday, promising to be an ally for the cause of ending the witches’ legacy, now he is here, giving flimsy excuses…”

“That’s enough,Chloe, he didn’t disappoint us, he still brought men.” Alpha Cain's voice interrupted me.
His words sting so hard I bit down on my lower lip.
He then rose from his throne stepping down. “One thing we won’t do is argue amongst ourselves, that’s what the witches want, division,they want us to turn on each other, betray one another, but that won’t happen.”Alpha Cain said his gaze on everyone .

I swallowed hard, realizing I’d made a fool of myself.

“But!” He raised a finger, “There appears to be no full moon tonight, as you all can see, it’s raining heavily, I need to consult the moon goddess first to see if she’d stop crying or we’d choose another full moon to strike.”

Alpha Henry bowed curtly. “That’s an excellent decision, your majesty.”
“Thank you, Henry, you’re free to be on your way.” Cain said.
Our eyes met, and he bowed, “ princess , “ Henry said softly with a smile before leaving.

I almost choke on my spittle as I watch him leave.

How dare he try to speak to me?
Antonio stood at the corner, quiet as always.
I looked up at Alpha Cain, he’d sat back on his throne. “Any update on the archer?”
“Nothing yet.”
Antonio scorned, “that’s weird, the men should’ve reported or alerted us by now.”

“Let me check myself, then!” I babbled.
“No!”Alpha Cain and Antonio chorused , Antonio retreated feeling embarrassed.
“Why can’t I go? I’m healed now.”
“You can’t, the meeting is dismissed.”Alpha Cain says sitting back on his throne

As I strode out the anger increased, Antonio trailed behind me.

It wouldn’t stop raining but I didn’t care anymore. I couldn’t understand why I was treated like a child.

“You need to calm down, princess!” Antonio called after me, trying to match my pace.

“How do I calm down when I was nearly killed by an unknown archer?”
“The alpha knows what he’s doing, Chloe.”
“I don’t think so.”

He blocked my part, “Even if he doesn’t, I’d make sure I find out who that archer is.”

I looked out the window again, I saw that lightning truck, followed by a deafening sound of thunder.

“Don’t stand too close to the window…”Antonio pulled away from the window.

“Do you think the witches could be behind this?”

“ Probably yes, probably not.”

Then all of a sudden we heard a loud neighing of horses from a distance.

We quickly rushed to the balcony to check that’s when we saw riders approaching, horses galloping through muddy sand but something was wrong.

The riders were slumped in their saddles.

As soon as the gates opened, we rushed towards them and found something strange.

Arrows pierced their chest, more horses kept coming in with dead riders.

Thunder striker again , louder this time like the sky knew what was happening.
“The men the Alpha sent to find the archer are dead!”Antonio muttered.