Chapter 5 5

Chloe’s pov

“And that makes it my third win, three to zero!” Antonio smirked, spinning his blade before driving it clean into the mannequin's chest beside me and knocking it to the ground.

I rolled my eyes fighting hard to conceal the anger clawing inside me. I was sure that he was disappointed wherever Alpha Cain sat watching on his favourite iron chair, and honestly, so was I.

“How are you losing to me today, princess?” He taunted, circling me like a predator who had just spotted its prey. “Oops! You’ve really gone rusty!”

“You talk too much for a warrior!”

I clenched my teeth in anger as I lunged towards him again. Sparks flew as our blades met but with a swift move, he easily knocked me off balance throwing me to the training ground and destroying my last standing mannequin.

I’d lost. Again.

Antonio was good; too good, but I normally beat him in a sword fight. No one ever dared challenge me and now I am being tossed around like some amateur who missed practice.

“Focus, Chloe!” Alpha Cain's baritone voice resounded across the room. He stood above the arena leaning against the railing, his silver eyes watching carefully following my every move. “A true warrior doesn’t let her emotions affect her fight. Fight with your head not your heart!”

“I’m not emotional, father… “ I denied trying to take a swing at Antonio but he dodged it easily again, making me almost lose my balance, then Antonio winked at me.

“Says the one who nearly bit her tongue from clenching too hard.” Antonio Chortled.

“Father, tell your Beta to stop being annoying, it’s distracting.” I ranted dodging another swing.

Cain's voice came once again like the storm breaking the night. “Control, daughter. A true warrior doesn’t let words get to her, a true warrior doesn’t falter, instead, she focuses on the win, I thought I taught you better!”

“I’m out!” I gasped sliding my sword back to its leather case before grabbing a bottle of water and drinking it thirstily. I caught sight of myself in the full-sized mirror standing by the training racks.

The woman who stared back at me was nothing like the one I used to know.

She was slimmer now, yet stronger, her carvings defined by battle and time. My auburn curls were packed up in a high ponytail, though a few rebellious strands still clung to my sweaty neck.

So much had changed these past few years and I hadn’t even noticed until now because I was too focused on my loss, my defeat.

My icy blue eyes had faced the witches defeating them mercilessly and even some rogue wolves who threatened the blue blood territory it was something Laura brown would’ve never dared to dream of.

But she was the failure, not me.

And she’s gone now.

Alpha Cain descended the stairs, his presence filling the room. “Antonio,” he called out quietly.

Antonio bowed, lowering his sword. “My lord, Alpha.”

“Excuse us.”

“Sure!” He winked at me one last time before disappearing through the doorway leaving me alone with my father, my mentor.

He came to stand behind me, his voice softer and calmer now.

“I know you are scared because you are going to meet the people who once betrayed you,” he mumbled. “But you are no longer Laura Brown, she died in that gruesome car accident, you are now Chloe Blue Blood, daughter of the alpha king. Always remember that.”

And that's all it took for me to remember who I was.

I swallowed, feeling a lump forming in my throat, and I bowed. “Thank you, father,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Get ready, child. We have a party to attend!”

The black leather overall suit I wore hugged my body revealing its slender curves. My hair was now sprawled around my shoulders, my sword in its rightful place as I sat in the carriage rolling to a stop outside my former home.

I can't believe I was back to the place I swore I'd never go back to. The place where I almost died five years ago.

The place I swore I’d never return to. The place where I died five years ago. Where I was humiliated for years back to back by Lacey, my evil twin sister.

When the door opened, everyone gasped, heads turned, eyes wide with both horror and surprise. I saw Lacey's face drained of color. She looked like she’d just seen a ghost in real time.

And Henry? He could barely close his mouth, his hands slipped from Lacey's waist as he stared at me as though I was the moon goddess herself.

He still looked the same, just older, and not as attractive as I thought he was, truly as you grow older you grow wiser.

I’m sure he couldn’t believe his eyes. Once I was the girl who begged to be chosen, now I was the girl who ruled the world, commanding respect wherever she went.

As for Lacey, she stood rooted to the ground like a statue, age hadn’t been kind to her, she now looked like a shabby tired breastfeeding mother, she was the overweight one now, perhaps childbirth had finally dealt and humbled her.

But overall their reactions were golden. I savored them.

I apologized for coming late as I lifted the bowl of candy from my hands, the same flavor of candy I ordered on my eighteenth birthday, the one she despised and shamed me for, and I winked at her. “This one is my favorite, but I’m sure you will love it.”

Immediately murmurs gurgled through the grand hall, everyone who had known me was whispering and wondering how I might have been standing here, alive.

Alpha Cain introduces me as his adopted daughter and the shocks in their faces intensified.

“It's an honor to finally meet my niece,” I said, cutting through the noise, resting my gaze on the child in Lacey's arms. “But I have other things to attend to.”

And with that, I stormed off.

As I walked out everyone stared at me as if I were a strange creature. I heard someone whisper.

“Is that Laura? Jeez, she’s hot now!”

But I didn’t pay any attention, instead, I focused on my father's words and savored the respect and authority I commanded.

As I stepped into the carriage, Antonio was waiting, his teasing smirk had disappeared, replaced with a look of concern and respect, he knew how hard this was for me.

“You okay, princess ?” he asked, I nodded.

But the truth was, I wasn't. My hands trembled nervously and I could hear the loud sound of my own heart thumping against my chest.

Of course, I was glad that I shocked everyone but seeing Lacy and Henry married had reopened a wound I swore had turned to a scar.

Just immediately, Alpha Cain climbed into the carriage with a look of concern on his face too as he sat beside me placing a hand on my shoulder. “ You did excellent, I'm proud of you!”

I nodded again, forcing a smile. “Thank you, Father!”

The carriage began to roll, and I could feel us moving deeper into the forest. For a while, the only sound was the soft whoosh of the breeze, and I almost drifted to sleep when I heard a loud crack shattering the silence followed by the horse's painful neighs.

“Shit!” Antonio cursed before he could check what was happening, the carriage jerked violently to a side as it collided against a massive oak tree. My head slammed against the wood, and everything turned pitch black.