Chapter 18

"True love is not real unless it is returned."

"Go right ahead.

Laugh at the girl who loved too easily,

but I would've rather lived my life than yours, Nik.

No one will sit around a table and tell stories

about a man who couldn't love."

"I want to have kids with someone who loves me enough."

"No matter how big your empire becomes

It is nothing if you have no one to share with it."

"You are the architect of your own unhappiness."

- The Originals -

"You sure you're going to fight him?" Amber asked. They were on the gym doing Katherine's regular routine. "Yeah, he will not give informations about them for free, right? So, I have to make a proposition he can't resist." Katherine said. "I know you can win against him but what if he wins?" Dawn asked. "Then, I had to set them free." Katherine said. "What? Do you think Paps will allow that?" Thana asked. "He should because that's the deal." Katherine said. "You're not telling us everything, Kath." Amdis said with her raised brow. Katherine smiled widely. "I have plan A and plan B. If plan A fails then, plan B will be executed but I doubt I'll be using the plan B." Katherine said. "Come on, tell us." Amber said. "I'll tell you but beat me first." Katherine said challenging her friends for a duel.

Amber attacked Katherine first but she was able to avoid her jump kick. Dawn gave Katherine a jumping push kick followed by a diagonal kick but, she made an abrupt swerving movement of her whole body to avoid the attack. Thana gave Katherine a superman punch, jab, and uppercut alternately. Katherine did the same punches and amazingly hit Thana. Amdis signalled her friends and all the four of them attacked Katherine at the same time but to their surprise, Katherine disappeared infront of their eyes.

"That's not fair, Kath!" Amber said and they can hear her giggles. "Show your ass, Kath!" Dawn said. "Ouch! You silly girl. Show yourself." Thana said after Katherine hit her behind. "She's invisible?" Amdis asked. "Yeah, Athan told me that she acquired that power while were on Gregory's dungeon. "Cool!" Amdis said. "There she is! Get her!" Amber suddenly spoke when she saw Katherine behind the punching dummy. Katherine squealed when her friends caught her. "Okay girls, begin!" Dawn said and the gym was filled with their laughers because they tickled Katherine. They only stopped when Katherine said that she will tell them her plans.

It is dinner time, they were all seated at the dining table when Katherine noticed Athan's and Alaric's faces. "What happenned to you?" Katherine asked making Athan and Alaric furrowed their foreheads. "Your faces?" Katherine said. "Gregory did those to them." Drake said with his serious face. "What? How did it happen?" Katherine asked with her surprise face. She fought the two men and she knew they were strong. "Well, they thought the man was weak." Blade said. Katherine and the rest of the girls couldn't stop their giggles. "He's strong so better not slack off." Kieran said looking at Katherine. "You'll be training with me tomorrow." Drake said making the rest looked at him. Serafino smiled secretly. "I'm okay with the girls. You can train with them." Katherine said pointing the boys. "No, we will be training you tomorrow." Drake corrected his first words. "What do you mean?" Katherine asked curiously. "What about Gregory?" Katherine continued. "They are still with him." Drake said looking at Athan and Alaric who felt dissapointed because they thought they will be with the rest. "They should win back against Gregory." Drake said with his serious tone making Athan and Alaric gulped sighed deeply. They knew what's the meaning behind Drake's words. They should not be hit again by Gregory or else, they will be punish by the Prince of Raeb.

"Where are the others?" Katherine asked. Drake was alone at the gym punching the bag. "Running." Drake answered. "Ah, okay. When do we start?" Katherine. "Give me a minute." Drake said walking towards the locker room. When he came back, he's shirtless and had his jogger pants only. Katherine felt his presence and turned around. "Wow..." Katherine said ogling over Drake's body. When Drake cleared his throat, Katherine immediately looked at a different direction. "Would you please wear your shirt." Katherine said feeling her face became red. "Why?" Drake said while walking towards Katherine. He's in the mood to tease her. "I...it's un...uncomfortable." Katherine said stuttering. "Why?" Drake said. He's already an inch closer to Katherine and she can feel his warm breath on her face. "For goodness' sake, Drake. You...you're...so..." Katherine said making Drake grinned. "What, Kath?" Drake asked. Katherine looked at Drake and she was bewitched by his gorgeousness. "You're so too hot to handle." Katherine said not breaking their eye contact. Hearing what Katherine said, Drake felt he has to do something and without second thought, he encircled his hands on Katherine's waist and kissed her intensely. Katherine was shocked at first but because of Drake's kissing skills, she put her hands around his neck for support. She felt her knees became wobbly. Drake tightened his embraced and deepen his kisses. Katherine was really feeling weird because of her body's reaction to Drake's kisses. She wants more than the kisses his giving her and her mind keeps on telling something to her. When Drake finally released her lips, she looked intently to Drake. "Mate..." She said making Drake smiled widely. "Finally." Drake said making Katherine furrowed her forehead.

"What do you mean by that?" Katherine asked. "I've been waiting for you to say that. A few years back to be exact." Drake said. "Can you please elaborate what are you saying?" Katherine said while letting herself go out of Drake's embrace but he didn't release her instead, he carried her bridal style. "Hey, put me down." Katherine said but she was not angry because she wanted to be close to him. Drake sat on one of the benches inside the gym, Katherine on his lap still, his hands on her waist and her hands on her lap because she was shy feeling Drake's arousal and warm skin.

"When I turned 18, I already knew that you're my other half but they didn't want me to tell you because you were not a vampire yet. They told me that I should not pressure you on things that might affect everything. I just satisfied myself looking at you from afar." Drake said. "I busied myself in my studies and training because Father told me that one day you will need my protection. Athan and the rest trained with me." Drake continued. "When Father told me that it's already time to meet you, I was really overwhelmed of the fact that I will be at your side all the time but still, I should not tell you that we are mates. I was really dissapointed before but now, I'm really ecstatic." Drake said making Katherine smiled. "We are mates?" Katherine asked looking at Drake for confirmation. "Yes! You are my significant other, my other half, my better half." Drake said cupping Katherine's face. "The love of your life?" Katherine asked making Drake grinned. "Yes!" Drake said and again, he kissed her passionately. Katherine felt happy inside. She returned his kisses with the same intense feeling like him. "You learned too fast, Princess." Drake said when they parted. "You're a great teacher." Katherine said blushing. They both looked at the door when they heard clearing of throats. They both blushed hardly seeing their friends were wearing meaningful smiles on their faces.