Chapter 28 28

Chapter 28 28
Chloe POV

“You think I'd kill myself for you?” I asked, pointing at Henry. He just stared at me, disappointment spreading across his annoying face, it was as if he had never expected this kind of reaction.

I twirled my sword before sliding it back into the case at my side. “I’d be stupid to do that again!”I retorted and his face completely darkened but he forced a laugh that merely met his eyes, “So… is this a yes or a no?” He asked again and I squinted my eyes in anger, was he stupid or just pretending to be dumb?

“I’d never be your queen, Henry, you already made your choice five years ago, so, it’s a no, proposal declined.” I hissed, tilting my head backwards.
His lips parted open as if he wanted to object but he closed them instead.

‘Better!’ I thought before smiling at him and everyone present and with that, I stormed out of the hall.

As soon as I was alone in my room I closed the door and leaned my back against it.

I still couldn’t believe this was happening again, why does Henry keep coming back embarrassing himself by asking for my hand?

What gives him the slightest idea that I would even accept, and what would Lacey even think about this, not like I cared but I know how bad she wanted to be Luna. This would drive her insane.

My shaky finger clasped my chest. I didn't realize it was pounding hard until now, yet I couldn’t understand why I was feeling that way.

Why did he still make my heart skip a beat despite the hate I felt for him?

This shouldn’t happen, he chose Lacey over me.
He pretended to be my best friend but he planned to get closer to my sister and he won.
What I don’t understand is why he’s back for me, is Lacey not enough for him? After all, she bore him a child, an heir.

I threw a wooden object at the blank wall in front of me, why was it hard to completely hate him?
Back at the hall when I pointed that sword at him, I wanted to badly slit his throat but my wolf wouldn't let me, the bond was too strong and I was scared it would destroy me too.

“I hate the moon goddess!” I confessed as I sank onto the mattress biting my face into the plush pillow, it felt so soft and comforting, and for once I wished I would remain here forever, I wished there was no war to fight, I wished I didn’t have to avenge the mate who had forsaken me, I wished this didn’t have to happen.

I let out a heavy sigh as I slid out of my leather overalls, it was making me sweaty and musty. Beneath I wore only a tiny bra and a pair of white panties, relief washed over me as I lay on the mood staring at the chandelier above me.

Then, a loud knock interrupted my thoughts.
Before I could see who it was, the door burst open,
“Fuck!” I screamed, grabbing the duvet and wrapping it around my body. “Don’t you know how to knock?”
It was Antonio and he froze for a second before he quickly turned around facing the window. “I’m so sorry, Chloe, I didn’t mean to intrude on your privacy, the door wasn’t closed.”

“Just get on with what you have to say!” I scolded sliding into a flowery gown that clung tight to my curves. “You can turn around now.”

Slowly, he turned, and he still looked above my shoulders, totally avoiding my gaze. “There’s something you must see, princess.”

“Hmmm,” the way he sounded was urgent as if there was fire on the mountain. I flanked him as he led me out of the room to the stony balcony and what I saw almost made me gag.

Below us was Juanita, who looked radiant, in the crimson cloak she wore, her hair tied up in a high ponytail, and an evil smile playing on her lips.
She wasn’t alone, beside her stood a lean man, covered in tattoos, his brown hair caught the sunlight, he was dressed in a modern manner, there was something about the way he clung close to her, almost like a personal bodyguard or her….. lover.

“Do you know who that is?” I asked Antonio.
He scoffed, “He’s the human, the one Alpha Cain told you about.”
“I see, what do you think they want?”
Antonio squinted his eyes observing them for a second, “I guess we’ll never know until we find out.”
“Right!”

We descended the stairs and stood next to Alpha Cain as soon as Juanita sighted me , she waved at me, an evil smile playing on her lips.

“How audacious of you to return, again, to the land you abandoned with your boyfriend!” Alpha Cain snarled, “It’s better you leave now for your own good or I’d make sure my men deal with you and your…. Human Boyfriend.”

A scoff rolled out of her lips, “He’s my fiancé now, not my boyfriend.” She corrected Alpha Cain. “And I’m not here to beg to be accepted, this is my right father, you can deny me your name all you want, but you can’t stop me, father, you can’t deny me entry from stepping foot into the land I was born in, the only land I ever knew, that would be cruel of you!”

“What would your people think?” She yelled looking around.

Alpha Cain remained speechless and I stepped in, “Listen to your father, Juanita, and back off, or this would get worse just like he said.”
She glared at me, “And who are you to even speak? You aren’t even from this pack, you are just a …. Well, an outcast.”
This made my chest tighten because I knew she was right, I didn’t belong here.

I could even hear some faint murmurs as if they agreed with her words
“That’s enough!” Antonio cut in, “Don’t you dare speak to the princess like that!”

“Princess…” she repeated sarcastically, “ She’s not a princess, if she is then she is a fake princess, she’s an intruder in our land, she shouldn’t be here, she should be the one banished don’t me!” She barked.

Juanita smiled, facing Alpha Cain, “How can you take in a stranger and can’t even forgive your own daughter for a simple mistake!”

Alpha Cain clenched his jaw and gestured to two of his men, “ Make sure to see her off to the gates, and ensure she never returns.”

Juanita grinned, with a swift movement she brought out her sword, and skillfully sliced the guards who lunged towards her. She was fast and swift almost as good as I was but she was even more brutal, she spared no man and even licked the blood off her sword.

In a matter of seconds, both men lay on the ground in their own pool of blood.
“I never lost my touch father, I’m still that girl you trained, day and night, father!” Juanita cheered.

Alpha Cain froze, he seemed clearly unimpressed, “Get lost!” He muttered, before walking away.
“No! I’m not going to leave on my own accord, it’s either today or never!” She roared like an injured lion.
Before I knew it, troops of men broke through the gray gate and instantly my instincts kicked in, I drew out my sword, and Antonio did the same.

Alpha Cain was shocked at the sight of these strange men flanking Juanita.

“You don’t have to do this!” I yelled.

“And why should I listen to you?” she responded.
“Like you said, these are your people, there doesn’t have to be bloodshed, this can be settled peacefully, we don’t have to start a civil war!”
“I don’t want to, but I also don’t want to leave again!”
I turned to Alpha Cain as if waiting for his response.

He was silent for what seemed like two minutes before he nodded, “Fine, just you, Juanita, not the miserable human!”

Juanita smiled at her fiancé, “I’d be fine Mike, I’d meet you later.” She said to him and he nodded, and just like that the soldiers pulled back, lowering their swords.

We all sat at the king's dining table, feasting on the roasted lamb and wine. Juanita was present, eating hungrily as if she’d been starved for days.
“I miss having these for dinner!” She moaned, taking a bite from the lamb.
Antonio and I exchanged glances but said nothing.

Alpha Cain sat at the head of the table, his gaze hardened as if he wasn’t enjoying any second of this meeting.
Juanita lifted her glass, “To be home again!”
No one cheered yet she gulped all of her wine.
“You all are so rude!” She then turned to face me. “How does it feel?”
“Feel?” I repeated.
“Yes, how does it feel to be me, to sit in my place, live in my home, and win my father's trust?”
I was speechless, I had no words, she’d caught me off guard.