Chapter 10 10
Chloe’s pov.
Finally, I was back.
I'm back to the only place that ever felt like home, where everyone received me and treated me with respect.
And Lacey, I still can’t believe she finally got what she ever wanted, to become a Luna in a big castle where everyone would treat her like their queen. Well, I guess her dream came true, after all she was the Luna of the Sanders kingdom even though she wasn’t fated to Henry.
I couldn’t help but wonder who her true mate is.
He was probably some poor omega who didn’t know and she rejected him just like Henry once rejected me.
Sparks danced in front of me as I ran the blade against the whetstone, I loved sharpening my sword, it was…. Therapeutic.
This sword was given to me by Alpha Cain on my 19th birthday. The day I truly became Chloe Blue blood, I could barely use a sword yet he gave me one anyway just to make me believe in myself. He even shunned and punished people who mocked and gossiped about me behind my back.
I learnt to value the sword the day I was almost attacked by some witch hunters. And I had no choice but to defend myself with it even though I barely knew how to hold a sword, that was the day I believed I could be the greatest warrior ever known, just like Alpha King Cain.
The very next day I begged the alpha Cain to teach me how he fought like god. That’s when he entrusted me to his beta, Antonio, who trained me while he watched because I realized if someday I was ever going to get revenge on the people who hurt me I needed to learn how to defend myself.
I heard the faint sound of boots approaching the armory where I was, and even before I turned, I knew who it was,
“Antonio,” I muttered under my breath. It was so weird how easily I could sense him from afar, not in a fated way, but because I’d grown so used to him now I could recognize his footsteps… and his distinct smell.
“Hi, princess! “ He greeted me standing right behind me, I knew he was smirking hard even without me turning. I knew his every action like I controlled him like a puppet.
“Hi, beta,” I said, still sharpening the blade, sparks still flying excitedly.
“I didn’t think you’d be back so early for your… mission,” he joked, grabbing a wooden seat across from me.
I smirked, my gaze resting on his dark and enchanting eyes, no wonder many ladies had always crushed on him and I see why, something was captivating and special about the way he stared at people.
But I never for once saw him that way. Even after all my changes, the Laura in me still lived on, the part of me that thought I wasn’t attractive enough for any man to look my way twice, not even after all the weight I’d shed or the battles I'd won.
I shifted in my seat. “ Well, I didn’t intend to spend the entire day at my twin sister's villa, I only went to send a warning, that’s all.”
He arched a brow, doubt laced in his gaze. “Just a warning?”
“What else were you expecting? For me to throw a show for her?”
“No… not at all.” His smirk faltered slowly as he watched me intently, like he was trying to understand me.
“I needed to make sure Juanita wasn’t telling the truth. “ I gripped getting up to my feet as I slid the blade back into its leather. “Why do you care so much?”
“We all care about our own.”
“I see…”
He moved closer to me, “ I see you are sharpening your sword, are you ready for training yet?”
I folded my arms across my chest giggling. “ Well, I’m always ready to beat your ass and you know that.”
He burst into laughter. I didn't realize he had such nice dentition until now. I almost slapped myself to stop myself from noticing him so much. He is my father's Beta, nothing else, I don’t even like him. We were more like siblings.
“Well, you still need to be perfectly fine.”
“I am fine…Antonio.”
“Are you not going to tell me what happened with Juanita, you said she sent a death threat, the Alpha is worried, you know. He doesn’t like it when he is being kept in the dark, especially when it involves his prodigal daughter who betrayed him years ago.”
“Well, I didn’t know she was the one until I met her, “ I said tilting my head backward with a smile playing on my lips. “ Besides, you know me well, Antonio. When I was Laura, I’d always been one to keep to myself, I’ve always wanted to handle things by myself and not bother anyone.”
He placed a hand on my shoulder and his gaze softened. “ That's because Laura was scared we’d betray her. But you should know better now, Chloe, you aren’t Laura anymore, in this family we look out for each other, we’d do anything to protect you.”
A chuckle rolled off my lips. “I’m not a fool, I know that,” I said. “But you need to understand I’m no longer eighteen, I’m twenty-three, I can take care of myself.”
“Noted ma'am." He raised his hand in a mock surrender.
I rolled my eyes, “So tell me, any latest news in the villa?”
He paused then the familiar smirk appeared on his face, indicating this news was going to be juicy.
“A messenger arrives earlier while you are gone.”
“From?”
“The three fated witches. The immortal witches who drive the Salem witch trials.”
I arched a brow in amusement. I’ve heard so much about them, in fact, I’d encountered them in my last battle. They were powerful no doubt but then I was smarter than all three of them combined.
“What did they want?”
“They are asking for a peace treaty, they claim they are not our enemies, in fact they want alliance with the blue blood pack, they promise not to invade our land as long as we don’t invade theirs whenever we plan on attacking the other witch community, they even said they would stay out of our way if we agreed to their deal.”
I scoffed, greatly amused by this news. “ This is… new, let me guess. They are scared I’d come back and destroy them the second time, ey? After all, I never lose a battle.”
Antonio let out a dry laugh. “ That's my point, I think they’re scared of us, they want to play it safe.”
I couldn’t help but join in his laughter, this news was hilarious to the ears. “I hope the king slaughtered the messenger in cold blood.”
He walked around the room observing the armories hanging around. “I wanted to do that, how dare they think they could decide? They hold no power? Their leaders are weak and powerless and only hide in their shrine, we are the ones who train to the death, without their spells and chakras? They would be useless, we don’t need such an alliance.”
His smile faded instantly. “But Alpha Cain didn’t think the same…. He agreed to peace, saying it’s for the greater good.”
My lips turned up, “Well, the alpha isn’t like the other alpha, he always thinks ahead, he doesn’t enjoy shedding blood but promotes peace, he knows what’s best so let’s just trust his words .”
Antonio nodded. “You are right, even as a Beta, I aspire to be like him.” He turned to leave. “I’ll see you later, Princess Chloe.”
“Wait…” and he stopped staring over his shoulder. “Next time I’m in any sort of danger, I’ll tell you guys.”
He nodded and took quick strides to the exit.
Antonio, the ever loyal servant, whom Alpha Cain trusted with his life, yet Antonio was as stubborn as ever.
In some ways I still learned from him, I can still remember the night I thought I died, or maybe the night Laura died and I Chloe was resurrected.
I was crying behind the steering wheel. I didn't notice when the car started to misbehave before I could press the brakes. It was too late. The car had tumbled off the cliff bursting into flames.
I should have been dead but they found me, Antonio and Alpha Cain, they saved me and gave me a new life.
And ever since then I’ve always been obligated to them.
I took slow strides to Alpha Cain's study, the door was slightly open, and the scent of ink wafted into my nostrils, there he sat behind the desk scribbling notes with all intense seriousness. Like he was writing his name on the book of life.
“Hello, father!” I greeted.
“Welcome child,” he said, his gaze never leaving the papers.
“Is it true? Are you really going to accept the peace treaty from the witches?”
Suddenly he looked up, his eyes gleaming with the flames from the candle on the mahogany. Then he burst into laughter.
“Of course not,” he said, setting down his quill. “It’s a trap!”
“What do you mean?”
A smile played on his lips as he leaned against his chair. “I’ll strike them when they least expect it… and you, Chloe, will help me.”