Chapter 21

You should love the person that

makes you glad that you're alive.

- Elena -

The problem is I don't think I can

stop thinking about you.

- Jeremy -

A woman never forgets her first love,

no matter how badly it ended.

- Stefan -

I love you through everything,

and you don't even care.

- Rebekah-

Tell me that you'll never think of me again.

Tell me that you'll forget about me,

tell me that you are gonna go on

and live a full and happy life without me.

- Caroline-

Katherine woke up early, freshen up then, went outside to meet the others who were waiting for her at the dining table. "Did you sleep well?" Serafino asked. "Yes, Paps, I did." Katherine answered then, looked at Drake who was looking at her too. She smiled at him and he winked at her making her giggled. "Are you ready to face Gregory?" Athan asked. "Yeah, too excited to fight him." She boastfully said. "So full of yourself, huh?" Amber said with a smirk on her face. "Just a little." Katherine making the rest smiled.

"By the way, where's Hunter? I hardly see him this passed few days." Katherine asked curiously making Serafino, Vladamir, and Drake choked and cough simultaneously. Katherine felt that there was something amiss. "Baby, where's Hunter?" Katherine asked looking at Drake. "Oh, I remembered, Father asked me to meet him. Excuse me." Drake said then, suddenly vanished leaving the rest in puzzlement. Katherine looked at Serafino. "I'll go out first, I need to meet the council." Serafino said and just like Drake, he dissappeared quickly. Katherine is now sure of her hunch. Something happened to Hunter and the two men made an excuse. That left her with Vladamir. She looked at him and she saw that he averted his eyes away from him. "Don't dare to do what they have done because if you do, I will gladly make you regret doing the disappearing act." Katherine said with a warning tone making Vladamir gulped. The rest of the group felt pity for the man and they were amazed how did the two of the most powerful men in their clan left him in Katherine's hands. Vladamir was left with no other choice.

"Ohhh, Hunter, what happened to you?" Katherine asked when she saw the wolf lying as if he was already dead. She stroke the wolf's fur but it didn't move at all. "Explain, Vlad!" There was seriousness on Katherine's voice making the man sweat profusely. "Ahm, w...we...t...took..." Vlad is stammering while wiping his forehead. Katherine sighed. "Relax, Vlad, I will not understand what really happened to my wolf if you're going to be like that." Katherine said with her normal voice. Vladamir breathed deeply then, tried to relax himself. It was not his fault so he should not feel guilty over Hunter's state right now.

"We took him for a walk a few days ago through the mountains. It was a very normal day and we weren't expecting that there will be an ambush." Vladamir said making Katherine's eyes went wide. "An ambush? Were you hurt? Who's with you?" Katherine asked with worried face. "As you can see, the three of us were fine. I'm with you're Grandfather and Drake. Of course, even if it's an ambush and we're outnumbered still, we defeated them. But..." Vladamir didn't finish his words because Hunter moved and whimpered. "Hunter, buddy, I'm here." Katherine whispered to the wolf's ear making him relax a bit. While stroking his fur, Vladamir continued.

"He was bitten by one of the Sanguinarians because he was helping us. At first, we thought he's okay but when we reached the house, he became unconscious up until now." Vladamir said. "Ohhh, my poor buddy. You will be alright, do you hear me?" Katherine said whispering again to the wolf's ear but she got no response. Vladamir will speak again to tell her that there is something more but a knock was heard through the door and Amber entered.

"What happened to him?" Amber asked curiously. "He was bitten by a vampire." Katherine said still stroking Hunter's fur. "Ooowww." Amber said looking at the lying wolf. "I know you love your wolf but, it's time to face him." Amber said talking about Gregory. Katherine looked at her wolf and looked at Vladamir. "Don't worry, he will be alright. He might surprise you before your duel ends." Vladamir said making Katherine smiled. "I hope so." Katherine said. Before they left, she whispered something to Hunter's ear. Because they were already out of the room, they didn't see that Hunter's eyes opened and his ears moved from what Katherine have said to him but he was already in a different form, far from his old self. If he's a human, you could say he's a jaw dropping one.

Katherine furrowed her forehead when they are heading towards the arena. "Wait? What are we doing here?" Katherine asked before Vladamir could open the huge door. "He's inside already waiting for you." Amber said. "Why the arena? We can do it on a smaller place like the gym." Katherine asked but she got no answer from the two. Vladamir opened the door and as they enter, Katherine registered a surprise look on her face. "What is going on here? Why are they all here?" Katherine asked. The arena was filled with the Fanpaya clan, Mzukwa clan, Raeb clan, and the Banpiroa clan. Each leader of the four clans is sitting infront together with their assistants. Her friends together with Drake and his friends were also sitted infront. The Sanguinarians whom they took into their custody were also there. Gregory is standing at the center of the arena looking intently at her. Katherine rolled her eyes.

"Is this some kind of a show? I don't want to continue this." Katherine said with irritation on her face. "Gregory agreed. He was the one who suggested it." Amber said making Katherine raised her brow. "He wanted audiences." Vladamir said. Katherine looked at Gregory and the smirk on his face made Katherine's blood boiled. She walks towards the man. "Ready to fight me, Princess?" Gregory asked. "Why do you want them to watch?" Katherine asked with a serious tone. "I want them to see how will I bring down their lovely princess into the ground." Gregory said with a grin on his face but deep inside him, he was really nervous. "Really, but your heart is beating too fast right now." It's Katherine's turn to smirk making Gregory gulped. "I was just excited to face you." Gregory lied and Katherine can smell the fear on him. "Okay, if that's what you want then, bear the consequences." Katherine said.

"There will only be one rule on this duel." Serafino said with his loud voice. "Katherine, no shifting for you." Serafino said making Katherine looked at him with a puzzled face. Gregory sighed. He was thankful that he will not fight againts her vampire state because he knew, he will never get the chance to win against her if she will shift. "Goodluck to both of you." Serafino said and the two persons at the center of the arena redied themselves.