Chapter 7 7
Chloe’s pov.
“Help me…” I moaned weakly to the man in white, an angel, my savior.
He reached out, his strong, muscular hands trying to pull me out of the burning carriage, but it was too late; the flames had already increased in size.
Then I looked around. I was no longer upside down in a carriage. I was in a burning car that had rolled down the cliff. I lay there helplessly shutting my eyes, my neck broken as I waited for my death.
But instead of eternal pain, I threw my eyes open, and the first thing I saw was the sunrise. It was friendly and relieving, a reminder that I'd just woken up from a terrible dream.
The golden streams of morning sunlight escape through the tiny gap in the curtain shining directly into my eyes and brightening the room.
The next thing I heard was the sound of birds. Chirping just outside my window, for some reason their song made the headache I was feeling worse. And my vision blurred for a few seconds but as the fog cleared, so did Alpha Cain's.
He sat straight on a chair beside my bed, his gaze fixated on mine, his wrinkled face filled with concern and worry.
My mentor, my adoptive father, was here, I almost announced out loud.
“Chloe…. Thank heavens you are awake,” he cheered, taking my hands in his and squeezing them lightly. “ I was so scared you’d fall into a coma.”
“Well,” I began trying to sit up wincing hard as the pain throbbed through my head again. “You can't get rid of me that easily, father,” I managed to say with a weak smile spread all over my face.
“Well, you were unresponsive to treatments. The family doctor said you had only a slim chance of waking up soon.” His bottom lip quivered as he spoke, this was the first time I’d ever seen him genuinely scared of losing me.
I chortled, a smirk playing on my lips as I squeezed his hands a little tighter. “Perhaps the moon goddess decided to show me mercy again, I am just glad I’m alive, but what’s happened...”
“ We were attacked, daughter.” He cut me off.
I sat up with a stunned look on my face. “What? Attacked by who? What happened?”
His leg shook restlessly. “I think we are being watched,” he said softly.
“We are always being watched, Father.”
“This one is different, ever since we arrived at the naming ceremony, whoever attacked us must have been in that crowd watching our every move, but their prime suspect was you, because you were the only one who got hurt….”
I nearly gasped not out of fear but disbelief, I can’t believe anyone would try to end my life.
“Wow…”
“Before I and Antonio could come out and attack, they had already disappeared into the woods.”
Someone clears their throat across the room. I looked up to see Antonio leaning against the door frame, he wore his usual loose green linen tunic, and he gleamed in the sunlight making him look like an angel. The one I saw in my dream. How come I didn’t realize he had been standing there all along?
“I wish it were a full moon princess,” he scoffed bitterly. “I’d have ripped off their esophagus with my fangs. They would instantly regret messing with the blueblood.”
I rubbed my eyes, “Thank you, I’m sure it’s a jobless wolf who wanted to rob us.”
“I’m certain it’s a witch. “ Antonio cut in.
I was taken aback, and so was Alpha Cain. We haven’t thought of that before.
“Beta Antonio, don’t say what you aren’t sure of, yet. Yes, they hate us, we have defeated their kind countless times but they know better than to try to attack the Blueblood, that would mean war, and they are cowards!”
“You are right,” I muttered. “Only a stupid and desperate witch will be bold enough to dare start a war she can’t finish.”
With that, I grinned, but then my mind drifted back to last night. The naming ceremony. Alpha Henry, my ex-best friend, and my evil twin sister, Lacey Brown who was now Lacey Sanders, his new Luna.
How is that even possible? I was his mate not hers and the bond only breaks when one person dies so how did he do it?
I didn’t care. That was none of my business, I’d passed my message and that was the important thing. Too bad my day didn’t end well as expected. The damn accident had to happen, still, their expression was golden. The look of surprise and shock on their faces could feed me for a week.
“Are you okay, princess?” Alpha King Cain’s voice jolted me out of my deep thoughts.
I smiled, clearing my throat, and I’m sure my cheeks flushed out of embarrassment. “Yes… I’m just… I just have a headache.”
“Understandable dear, the maidens are on their way with a concoction.” He leans close, hugging me tightly. “It will ease the pain.”
I nod, as soon as the embrace broke, I held his hands. “Father, tell me, was it a man or a woman behind this?”
“ I don’t know.” He said as he shook his head, then he stood his gaze turning stern. “But I’m going to find out who this person is. I’ll leave you to rest.”
I nod, Antonio bowed curtly as Alpha Cain exited the room leaving me alone with Antonio once again, his gaze was on me now.
Immediately I adjusted my shirt, the top button had come undone and my cleavage was right in sight, I adjusted shyly. “What are you looking at?” I asked hysterically.
His lips turned up. “Nothing… just… just you’re beautiful, you look like the goddess of beauty.”
I nearly blushed, I could feel the heat burning my cheeks but I rolled my eyes acting like I was unbothered. “Tell me the truth, now, Antonio! What did you really want to say to me?”
I knew him too well, his calling me beautiful was random and out of character. And though I was and I knew it, but growing up I’d never heard it, Lacey was the attractive one. She charmed people with her icy blue eyes and smile, so hearing people say it to me still felt like a lie, it’s crazy how trauma eats deep.
“Okay! You win! People already know that you’re Laura Brown, the one they thought was dead.”
For a second I froze then a smile crept at the corner of my lips. “ Let the good news spread, but they are wrong Laura Brown is dead. Chloe Blueblood is the one here and winning battles, and she’s here to stay.”
His lips turned up in a grin. “I like your spirit. You’ve really changed, princess. I still remember the first night you spent here, in this room, you were wounded yet frightened and distrustful of everyone around you, even yourself… what changed?”
“Nothing! I still don’t trust anyone, not even myself.”
He nodded. “That’s right, trust is a dangerous thing.”
“You spoke well, Beta.” I chortled, feeling the pain ease.
He straightened, bringing out his sword fighting the imaginary knight fright in front of me, I giggled at his silliness.
“I’ll leave you to rest properly. Heal fast princess Blue blood, I can’t wait to kick your ass during training.”
I grabbed the small wooden statue beside me and threw it at him, instead, he dodged it, winking at me, and then he slipped out of the room laughing to himself.
Antonio, we fought like cats and dogs but we were inseparable. He always had my back.
I stood by the window inhaling the morning air.
I could see the pool and the garden neatly trimmed with beautiful flowers, I smiled tucking in my cheeks behind my ears, my cheeks flushed instantly when I remembered Antonio's words.
‘You are beautiful.’
But it was short-lived when a crow came flapping its wings violently, it landed on the window, its feathers and eyes black as midnight. It had a small paper tied to its legs, I untied it, frowning.
And read it aloud; “Hi Chloe, or rather, Laura Brown, whatever.
I've heard wonders and talks about you, your little victories against the witches, I'm impressed I must say.
But I'm afraid you can be killed with something as small as wolfsbane. You are not a god, you can be killed. Last night was just the tip of the iceberg, I promise you there is more to come…. From J.”
My breath caught in my throat, I couldn't believe my eyes.
Who was J? And why was he or she threatening me?
Could they be the ones behind the attack last night?
Before I could say a word I heard a distant shatter of glass, my instincts jumped in. I grabbed my sword from the corner and moved quietly to the door.
I threw it open ready to stab whoever was there when it revealed the faces of two scared maidens.
They held a cup in their hands, my concoction I guess, and immediately they bowed.
I retreated, sliding my sword back in its leather pack. “ What was that noise I heard?”
They both stared at each other before staring up at me.
“It's… It's Princess Juanita Blueblood, the Alpha king's prodigal daughter. She is back!” they chorused.
“J…”