Chapter 8 8
Chloe’s POV.
As I stood on the stairs, my hands gripping the railings, I saw her—a tall, broad-shouldered, fit woman with fiery red hair and an oval face shape that was confident, almost arrogant.
She looked like one of those women who’d just come back from a battle she had won, the kind of woman I was.
Still, something in me longed to find out who she was and why Alpha Cain stood beside Beta Antonio adamantly. Both of them looked genuinely pissed to see her, they looked like they’d just swallowed something bitter, their faces twisted with frowns as if her presence were a disease.
Who could she be? I wondered, but her chuckle invaded my thoughts, they were loud and aggravating, surely didn’t match her appearance at all.
“Hello, Father,” she cheered her voice laced with sarcasm. “Won’t you introduce me to this strange woman who seems to be dressed in my own clothes?”
I stilled. What did she mean by her clothes?
I stared down at the robe I wore, as the contusion sinker deeper inside of me.
Was she Alpha Cain’s long-lost daughter?
I’d always known he had a child with his late wife who died in battle, even though he barely spoke about her.
I never got the chance to ask why they were estranged, I was afraid it would anger him, but seeing her now, all fiery and stubborn it all made sense.
She seemed problematic even without me getting to know her.
Yet the thought of me wearing her clothes still felt disturbing.
When Alpha Cain had taken me in I had nothing to my name, not even a scarf, my clothes had been burnt and part of my skin scarred, he helped me heal, gave me a home, and supplied me with clothes, so much so that I wondered where it all came from…now it all makes sense.
“This feels like Lacey all over again…” I muttered under my breath.
Alpha Cain cleared his throat loudly. “ She is my daughter, not some random woman,” he said sternly. “Juanita, what are you doing here?
Hmmmm… so her name was Juanita. Interesting, I said tilting my head backward as I listened with interest to the conversation or drama unfolding right in front of me
A smirk played on her face, as she set her sword back in its case close to her waist. “ That's cold… I'm not here for war, I miss my father and my home…that’s all.”
There was a tinge of falseness in her tone, like she was reading from a script, her face void of any emotions.
From the way Alpha Cain’s jaw tightened, I could tell he noticed too.
“You know you shouldn’t be here!” He fired.
“You are wrong, father. I have every right to be here, this is my home.” She retorted, the fire in her eyes increasing.
Beta Antonio moved forward, his gaze hardened. “Juanita, I think you should listen to your father and leave…”
“It’s princess Juanita to you… “ she bawled. “Aww poor Antonio…and spare me the lectures, I won’t take any advice from some ass licking lap dog who can’t think for himself. I’m surprised you haven’t changed after all these years.”
His expression grew harder but he remained quiet. Antonio could be loud at times but he knew when to hold his tongue especially with Alpha Cain’s presence, I’m certain that’s the only reason why he hasn’t slit her throat.
Juanita's gaze returns to me, her smile even wider than before. “Back to you, Laura brown… ooops, I’m sorry… You are Chloe Blue blood now, how does it feel to be fake Blue blood?” She asked, her smirk spreading.
I forced a bitter chuckle. “It feels great. I’m honored to be learning from the best, Alpha Cain.”
Her smile faltered. “Honored? That’s wild, you are basically stealing people's identity, that’s nothing to be proud about.”
“You must be the one who sent the raven with a death threat. When are you going to have the balls to say everything you said to my face?”
“It’s a crow, not a raven,” she corrected her slip. “You should go back to elementary school.”
“Stop it! Both of you.” Alpha Cain's voice cut in immediately, restoring silence to the room. “What’s going on here? What letter is that?”
“Yes, Laura… tell us… I’m sure she understands.” Juanita taunted.
A scoff rolled out of my lips. “Your daughter sent me a message threatening to kill me with wolfsbane!”
“What? Are you scared?” Juanita asked, laughing hard.
“Juanita, leave now, before I call the guards on you,” Alpha Cain screamed at her, she flinched her expression transitioning into a sad one.
“But I came to…”
“I said, leave! You are not welcome here, I won’t let you show up after five years just to humiliate my daughter and beta.”
“The only daughter you have is me, and I won’t rest till I win your forgiveness and trust, father.”
Alpha Cain looked away in anger. “Well, you should have thought about that before eloping with a human five years ago.”
“I was young and naive…”
“Are you still with him?” Alpha Cain asked.
Juanita went quiet, for the first time she didn’t have much to say. It’s very nice to see her humbled.
She nodded slowly, her evil smile returning to her face. “Yes…. I love him and he loves me too.”
“Then go be with him, we don’t need you here!”
“I understand,” she muttered. “ At least I’m not the only one who disappeared. Your so-called daughter here belonged to a family, you hid her from the world, not until yesterday when she made a grand entry at her niece's naming ceremony…”
“Stop right there…” Alpha Cain cut her off.
“No Dad, did you tell her you are so scared to leave her alone? Did you tell her how her family was behind her accident?”
I froze instantly, unable to believe my own ears. Was she telling the truth? Is my family really behind my accident?
What?
Juanita winked at me and then stormed out, her heels thudding in the background till they faded off.
I descended the stairs, walking towards Alpha Cain. “ What did she mean by that?” I asked, my eyes glossy and wet.
He let out a heavy sigh. “ Don't listen to Juanita. She speaks nothing but rubbish, this is why I disowned her… she is unfit to be a true warrior..”
“No…” I whispered, I was convinced she wasn’t lying, there was something in the way she said it that stirred something deep in me.
The only family I had was my twin sister Lacey,
Could Alpha Cain be hiding something from me?
After all, he’s always been protective of me, I was never allowed to go anywhere without my guards, and a mask. Even when I fought battles, I was always wearing a mask. That was why my identity was a mystery, he always claimed it was for my safety, he wanted to protect me from the enemies…but what if this was the real reason?
“I’m sorry… I need to breathe…” I headed back to my room. Leaning against the wooden door all of a sudden the room felt suffocating, I peeled off the borrowed dress and put on a new dress, the one Antonio had given me for my birthday. It was crimson overall. I stared at my reflection one question time before storming out of the room, my eyes filled with rage, I was ready for war and blood.
I strapped my sword to my waist. “ I’m off…” I said to Antonio.
“To?”
“To have a conversation with my sister,” I responded, sparing both of them a glance. Alpha Cain seemed dumb founded, like he hadn’t expected this but he himself knew I couldn’t be stopped. It was about time I knew the truth.
“At least let beta Antonio come with you.” He protested.
“No… I’m going alone, this time I have to.”
He let out a sigh watching me ride out of the mansion to Sanders territory, where my sister lived with Alpha Henry Sanders as his Luna, taking my place as always.
When I arrived, the guards opened the gates without question. They knew who I was and anyone who stopped me might end up getting killed.
I saw Lacey, she sat on her golden throne, surrounded by maids who brushed her curly golden hair, another massaging her legs and arms, one rocking her baby singing songs to her ears. The anger in me was replaced with hesitation. She has always wanted to be adored, now she has it.
I still can't believe she would go as far as getting me killed. Almost killed.
I moved forward with my sword catching the sunlight, as soon as Lacy saw me she ended up raising her index finger immediately her guards drew theirs.
I smirked. “ We need to talk.”
“Dear sister,” she said, faking a smile. “I almost didn’t recognize you. You’ve really lost a lot of weight.”
“I can’t say the same about you,” I said coldly.
“Well, I gave birth to an heir.” She croaked.
I tightened my grip on the sword I was holding. “ I have a question to ask and you'd better think twice before answering… did you really have a hand in my accident?”