Chapter 22

Let's make one thing clear,

you'll never have this - loyalty.

You can't buy it, you can't own it,

you can't force it, it comes only out

of love and respect for the people

who believe in you.

- Marcellus Gerard -

To me, the very definition of the

word's broken' suggests that

something can be fixed.

- Elijah Mikaelson -

If I tell you who I really am

and you refuse to believe me

then I can hardly be blamed

for your disappointment.

- Klaus Mikaelson -

"This is really unfair!" Katherine said to herself when Gregory shifted. Gregory signaled Katherine to come closer using his index finger. Though his shaking inside, being in his vampire state is already an advantage for him.

"What do you think?" Athan asked Drake who is looking at Katherine without even blinking his eyes but, Athan got nothing from his friend.

"She will win, she must win." Amber was the one who answered Athan.

"After what we experienced from her, she must win or else I will really spank her butt." Dawn said.

"What if..." Alaric wasn't able to finish his sentence because Thana looked at him with narrowed eyes. Alaric raised his hands surrendering.

Gregory gave a continuous jab to Katherine without giving her the chance to return the attacks but she was able to dodge each one of them and that made her opponent admires her even more. The first time Gregory saw her at the dungeon, he was already under her bewitching beauty. He knew that she was an enemy but he can't avoid himself not liking Katherine. And now, seeing more from her, his feelings are also deepening.

"She's doing well, right Drake?" Amdis asked, Drake nodded without removing his eyes on his mate.

"But let's admit it, Gregory is doing great too." Blade said and all the girls looked at him as if they want to eat him alive.

"Hey, I'm just stating a fact." Blade said raising his hands just like what Alaric did. He doesn't want to anger the girls, he still wants to live.

"Blade's right but what if Katherine attacks him, can he avoid it just like what Katherine is doing right now?" Kieran said and all their eyes returned to the persons at the center of the arena.

"Is that all? Can't you show me more?" Katherine said making Gregory stopped his attacks. He moved back when he saw Katherine's eyes and he felt more nervous for himself. It's his first time to see a golden-eyed vampire. It was an old tale but because it was too long ago, no one believe it. A vampire so strong and so powerful will emerge from the dark and she will rule the vampire world. No one will be able to defeat her. Everyone will follow her, will respect her, will serve her. Anyone who opposes her will meet death immediately. Gregory gulped. He doesn't know what to feel at that very moment. He should be very happy because he had the chance to face her but at the same time, he's afraid for his life and for his clan. Because of his thoughts, he wasn't able to notice that Katherine was already in front of her.

In a blink of an eye, no one saw how Gregory ended up to the wall of the arena.

"Katherine, remember the rule!" Serafino shouted seeing her granddaughter's eyes.

"I'm not shifting, Paps!" Katherine shouted back.

"Baby, calm down." Drake said mind linking her.

"But I am calm." Katherine answered rolling her eyes.

"But your eyes..." Drake wasn't able to finish his words because all of them heard a loud howl and they all looked at the entrance of the arena seeing a huge animal.

"Shit!" Serafino, Vladamir, and Drake cursed at once and the three vanished immediately into thin air.

"Hunter, good boy." Drake tried to calm the angry wolf by stroking his fur. He thought he succeeded because Hunter licked his face. Serafino and Vladamir did the same but Hunter is still angry looking at Gregory who is now standing just behind Katherine. Gregory stiffened seeing that the wolf is looking directly at him. He didn't waste any time and grabbed Katherine putting her to the ground. A loud howl was heard again and Hunter started walking slowly towards Gregory and Katherine, with large fangs coming out from his mouth. Drake, Serafino, and Vladamir were trying their best in pulling Hunter away but they were the ones being pulled by Hunter. The people inside the arena were all in awe seeing a huge animal. It was beautiful at the same scary because it looks like a wolf slash vampire.

Katherine was quietly observing the huge animal who suddenly appeared at the arena so she wasn't able to notice Gregory and she was really surprised when he grabbed her from the back.

"Hunter, buddy, come on, let's play." Drake said hoping that the wolf will listen to him.

"Wait! What!? That's Hunter?" Katherine asked shouting.

"Yeah baby, I'll explain everything later. For now, we need to stop him because if not, he will shred Gregory's body into pieces." Drake shouted back.

"But why?" Katherine asked feeling Gregory's grab loosened.

"Baby, as you can see, he's holding you like that and Hunter is thinking that he's trying to hurt you." Drake answered.

"What should I do now?" Gregory asked already letting go of Katherine.

"Just get away from Katherine slowly." Drake said.

"Guys, cover him." Drake said mind linking his friends.

"What!?" "Why!?" Athan, Alaric, Blade and Kieran said at once with shock on their faces.

"Just cover Gregory. Hunter knew you so he wouldn't hurt you." Drake said and his friends followed him but before they can reach Gregory, Hunter runs and his aiming for one person only who became solid as a rock from where he's standing. All of the people covered their eyes and prepared themselves of what will happen to the poor man who became the first prey of Hunter.

They were all expecting of screams and cries of pain from Gregory but they heard nothing. They slowly opened their eyes only to be confuse, the wolf disappeared. Gregory fell on his knees, feeling relieve.

"Where's Katherine?" Serafino shouted when he noticed that Katherine is nowhere to be found. The rest looked around but they didn't find Katherine and Hunter. Drake tried to mind link her but he got no response.

"Find her!" Serafino shouted again and immediately Drake and the rest vanished into thin air.