Chapter 34 34

Chapter 34 34
Chloe POV

Today was a special day for me.
I was seated at the long table close to Alpha Cain, which was decorated with various meals and wine.
The aroma of roasted lamb wafted into my nostrils, a reminder that something spectacular had happened.
“Long live the Alpha!” Everyone cheered. They were in high spirits; why wouldn’t they be? We had won again.

For the second time, we defeated the enemy that had threatened us for so long.

Everyone was smiling, drinking, and for the first time, I felt relieved as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

For the first time, I have something to smile about.
“I see you’re happy, my child,” Alpha Cain snickered and I nodded, smiling back at him.
“Of course, today is a wonderful day.”
He cleared his throat before rising to his feet raising a goblet, “ To my daughter, Chloe, for leading the battle against the forces of the witches, as you all know she’s brave, beautiful, and courageous, to Chloe!”

“To Chloe!” The room boomed in cheers and I giggled a little, it was a beautiful sight to see.

I raise mine, feeling the heat burn my cheeks, I quickly take a gulp trying to calm my nervous system, it’s been a while since I’d been celebrated like this and this very act made me feel loved, it made me believe I earned this win.

“We also need to thank someone else,” Alpha Cain added, his gaze scanning the hall. “Alpha Henry of the Sander pack, he’s risked his life and the lives of his men by fighting on our side, let’s appreciate his loyalty and bravery too. To Alpha Henry!”

“To Alpha Henry!”The crowd cheered.

I rolled my eyes, setting my cup a little too hard on the wooden table. Just when I thought I was having a great day, he'd somehow insert himself in my victory.

“Thank you, my lord,” Henry chortled. “ It's always a pleasure to fight for your cause, I do this for love after all.” With that, he winked at me and I almost choked on my drink.

How dare he display his madness on this special day?
Why was he even here celebrating with us? He should be with his wife and child.

I rolled my eyes looking away, and Antonio sat beside me munching on his meal absent-mindedly, but we caught each other's gaze and laughed in unison, it was as if we both shared the same thoughts.

“I can’t believe he’s trying so hard to be noticed!” I snorted.
“Well, you shouldn’t let him ruin your big night, you deserve everything good thing happening to you and he should be the last thing to worry about.”

“You’re so right, yet seeing him seated amongst us makes me sick to the stomach, doesn’t he have a pack to lead?”I mumbled.
Antonio scoffs, "You've been so hard on him, Chloe, you should thank him, you know, we wouldn’t have won without his men, and you know that.”

“No, I think we were fine on our own, his men are weak!”
“Chloe…”
“Seriously, I’d rather thank the sand than him.”
Antonio laughs, his eyes slanted, for some reason I found him attractive, his dentition was perfect. Shit! The alcohol is finally getting to me. “You’re so funny, but I like it.”

“You should!”
“I need to take a pee,” he springs up to his feet patting me on the shoulder. “Try not to stab him across the face with a knife, today is supposed to be a happy day, remember?"
I roll my eyes, “I’d try to be on my best behavior, daddy.” I teased.
He shook his head walking off, Antonio can be ruthless but at the same time merciful. Still, the thought of Henry being in the same room with me didn’t sit too well with me,

“Mother fucker!”I muttered, sipping my wine, staring at the people laughing, drinking, and celebrating as if the night would never end.
That’s when I felt it, a scent too strong to be ordinary, I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.
Before I could spring up to my seat, he held me down, Henry, he showed his stupid face again. He sat in Antonio’s empty seat.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I said coldly.
“Well, I don’t see anyone here.” He said in an annoying tone, “How are you doing?”

“None of your business!” I retorted.
“Why?”
“Shouldn’t you be with your wife and kid?”
“I’d rather be here with you, Chloe.”
“Well, Lacey said you shouldn’t speak to me,” I scoff, “She thinks I’m trying to steal you away from her, that’s so messed up.”

He went quiet, before letting out a heavy sigh. “ I don’t care about Lacey,”
“Really?” I said, arching a brow.
“Yes, she acts insane these days, she’s a control freak who thinks she can dictate every aspect of my life but she’s wrong, I can talk to whoever I want, besides, we used to be buddies, weren’t we?”

“That was in the past, before you embarrassed me!” I hissed.
He nodded, “You’re right, I was an asshole…”
“You’re still an asshole, though.”

“I miss you, I miss us, remember when we used to sneak away to the forest, swim in the ocean, and laugh about silly things…. Remember when…”

“Enough!” I yelled, if not for the loud noise I’d have attracted so much attention.
“Don’t tell me you don’t miss those moments sometimes,” he purred and I shut my eyes right. I can see us playing in the water laughing. That moment was magical but also short-lived because I shot him a glare.

“Those moments weren’t real, you hated me back then, you were just close to me because you wanted Lacey, not me, I’d always be that chunky girl who never deserved love.”

“No, Chloe…”

“Not another word from you!” I cut him off, rising to my feet.
“I love you, I don’t think I can get over you anytime soon, I never severed that bond, and I fear I made a terrible mistake marrying your sister,” he paused swallowing hard, “ I was young and stupid, but I don’t love her, not anymore, and I can’t help myself,” Henry yelled after me.

I swallowed hard, my back against him as if I was scared to meet his gaze. “It’s too late to cry when the head is off, Henry.”

With that, I walked away.



“Come to me, Rosa!” A drunk guard said to his drunk girlfriend as I walked past the corridor and they giggled like children, reminding me of how beautiful love can feel when you’re with the right one.

I have no destination, I just knew I needed to be alone.
As I stepped into the night, the cold air gave me instant goosebumps, I should’ve brought my coats along, the moon was full and bright, a reminder that today was a success and the moon goddess had blessed this day.

I kept moving towards the forest, for some reason I felt drawn to the bushes, as if I was being called into that place.

Henry’s words played in my head, ‘ I love you, my wolf can't get over you, I regret choosing Lacey,”
Bunch of unimportant words! Yet, they still made me feel some way.

A part of me wanted to believe he’d changed for good, so why not take what was mine?
“No, he’s an asshole, he hasn’t changed one bit,” I muttered to myself.

Suddenly I heard the sound of branches creaking, I froze. I’m completely unarmed and already deep into the forest, this can’t be good.

“Hello?” I called out. I got no response, just silence.
Then the scent hit me, it was thick and different.

One I’d never perceived before.

Before I could think, rough hands grabbed me by the neck, and I began to gasp for breath, my fingers digging at the arm.
“Let me go! “ I gripped trying to break free but another man stepped out of the shadows, he was buff too, he held me down making it hard for me to move.
“Stay still, you bitch!” The first one snarled.
“Let’s finish her off, she only wants her head.” The second one says.

She? Who wants me dead? Could it be Lacey or Juanita?

My Panic heightened and I managed to fight them but they were too strong, they hurled blows my way making me even weaker.
“Where is the wolfsbane?” The man holding me says, before the other could respond, blood splashed on my face and the man holding me fell to the ground.
Both of them had lost their heads.

I coughed hard, staggering back, my eyes wide with fright. Who could have saved me?
I looked up and to my surprise I saw Antonio, his chest heaving as he clutched his sword stained with their blood. The way the moon reflected on him highlighted the sharp cut of his jaw.

“Princess, are you okay?” He asked.
I was too stunned to speak, I couldn’t believe I almost lost my life.
I nod slowly, “Yes, I… I'm more than okay.”