Chapter 20: 20- William
(2 years later)
Aurora:
"You’re slowing down, warrior," Nickolson grunted before attacking me. But I was quick enough to block it,
"Or maybe you are just catching up, Nickey!" I winked at him and pushed him back with a sharp kick to his chest.
He stumbled, and that gave me enough time. Our blades met, sparks flying. I was out of breath, but it was not something new.
I usually got tired quicker than them, maybe because I was without a wolf. Most of the time, they did take advantage of me, but Jai always encouraged me to use my ears, nose, and most importantly, my brain.
My arms ached, my chest burned, but the only thing that kept me going, was my promise to myself.
To be something.
If in the future my family were to see me, they would find a proud warrior, not some lousy girl whose only aim was to get married.
Not that I was shaming any other girl for her choices. But marriage and partnership weren’t for me.
Who would mate with a woman whose face looked horrible?
The clash of steel pulled me out of my thoughts as we fought back and forth.
"You think you’re stronger?" he asked me, and I gulped down the chuckle that bubbled up in my throat. I knew these tactics.
He was trying to divert my attention.
"Why would I think? I actually know!" I muttered before raising my sword high. With all my might, one final swing, and he fell flat on his back. His sword was knocked from his hand. I stepped over him, the tip of my sword just inches away from his forehead.
He looked up at me. There was no fear or anger on his face. There was pride.
Yeah. Nicholson wasn’t just a warrior. He was my teacher too.
I stared at him, breathing hard. He just lay there, with a subtle smile. Then out of nowhere, I heard clapping and cheering from the crowd around us.
I jerked, turning my head towards the sound, "Well done, Phoenix!" someone said.
"Jai!"
I offered my hand to Nicholson and helped him up.
"Your student is ready to be the next head warrior," Jai told Nicholson and offered me a wet towel after taking the sword from my hand.
"Yeah. I’ve seen how she worked hard to get there," Nicky and I fist bumped. I gave him a tired smile before stepping away.
That was when I saw Kiara, who was also standing in the crowd. Her eyes were locked on me.
"She knows that she has a competitor," Jai whispered, leaning in as he pulled me closer. I hummed, walking beside him.
"Pizza?" he asked me, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. By now, I should’ve been used to that little gesture. But no.
Because every single time he did that, it reminded me of Alpha Sebastian—how he once touched my hair while inviting me to a date that never happened.
***
"So, tell me about that cute nurse who has a crush on you," I asked my friend mischievously. After stuffing ourselves with way too much pizza, Jai and I walked back towards the training grounds lazily, discussing his love life.
He was too open with me about every aspect of his life and was about to utter something when I nearly bumped into an Omega coming around the corner.
"Sorry..." I trailed off when I saw Luna Raya’s closest maid. She was grinning ear to ear.
"You won’t believe it!" She was practically bouncing, "Alpha Blake just became a dad! Twin boys!"
"No way! Right now?" I turned to look at Jai, "Wasn’t she due next month?"
"She got early contractions," she quickly explained, "Now everyone is heading to the packhouse to congratulate the Alpha. I need to be there and help around.
Twin babies? Wow!
I didn’t wait and was already jogging ahead.
"Phoenix!" Jai tried to keep up with me, "What’s the rush? They are too small and not in any position to run away."
Nobody knew that Jai had this sick habit of cracking jokes, even in odd moments.
By the time we reached the pack house, midwives were coming out of Alpha Blake’s room.
Jai took me inside. Perks of being a doctor’s friend.
Alpha Blake was sitting beside his mate, who looked tired but was glowing.
Luna Raya was a beautiful woman and loved being a Luna. Another thing she loved doing was to secretly glare at me.
As if...
As if I might eat her mate alive.
Alpha Blake stood up with a warm smile. He looked exhausted but happy.
"Phoenix," he motioned me over, "come meet your future Alphas."
I stepped forward, smiling so wide that my cheeks hurt.
"You wanna hold them?" he asked me and lifted the tiny bundles in his arms.
Before I could even move closer, his mate’s voice cut in. It was soft...
Too soft as if she was moaning while having se...
Shut up, Aurora. Behave yourself.
"Umm. Darling..." she looked at her mate with those puppy eyes, "the... they are so little..." she glanced at me with a polite smile, "What if they catch something?"
I froze midstep, a little stunned. And embarrassed.
She shifted her gaze to Jai, "But you are a doctor, right?" That sweet smile stayed on her lips, "Maybe you should take a look at them..." she shrugged, "Just to be sure everything’s fine."
That sugar-dipped voice might be making Alpha Blake more in love with her, but the way her eyes kept flicking towards me, I wanted to give her a tight slap.
You two-faced bitch!
Luckily, she couldn’t do much as I was now one of Alpha Blake’s favorites. He almost took me as a friend and a sister.
I forced a smile anyway.
"They are beautiful, Luna Raya," I bowed a little. She nodded at me with a smile, but now I was miles away from that room, back into my past.
Nobody in this pack knew that I also had a twin brother.
Oh, William. I hope you are doing well in life.
I was missing him, man.