Chapter 2

Past.

5 years ago...

"I'm tired. Let me breathe for God's sake." Angela sprawled down on the ground staring at the sky that was dousing in an orange hue of glorious sunset.  

"You're slacking off," Kevin said, his hands resting on his hips while he glared down at her.  

"Get lost!" She growled, turning around so her face was buried in her arms while her back was to him.  

"You're all bruised up and you haven't landed a single punch on Nolan." Kevin pointed out.  

Angela sat up straight as she glared at him. "Look at him and then me. He's a freaking Gorilla who is ridiculously fast. I'm only training for three weeks. What do you expect from me? I swear to God you make my blood boil." She gritted, pissed at him.  

Her whole body ached, and she felt like she'd die any second.  

"You should take a break for today," Nolan said. Kevin disapproved.  

Angela kicked the back of his leg causing him to fall on his knee as he pinned her with a murderous glare.  

"You, little devil. Be nice to me if you want to go to the States." Kevin warned.  

She sneered at him in annoyance before marching off into the palace.  

Angela dropped on the bed and just like that she passed out.  

The next morning, she was fresh and ready. She promised herself that she'd land a punch on Nolan today in their sparring session.  

When Angela reached the training barracks, she noticed someone even though the person was standing so far away. She could recognize him anywhere. He was the tallest of all and with his barbarian looks and intimidating presence, it was impossible not to notice him.  

She frowned. What was Luca doing in the vampire kingdom? She thought his training sessions in the vampire kingdom were done and dusted. The last thing she wanted was for him to show up like that. On the contrary, they don't get along well and if he was present on the training grounds then her day might rot for sure.  

Luca and Angela got on the rough track when she stopped him from cornering Aurora and snitched on him to Draken. That night he instilled his fear in her heart, and it wasn't going away. 

It seemed like ages had passed since they both had a normal talk. She had a feeling that he despised her though that wasn't the case a couple of years ago, people change, and he did as well.  

Angela walked closer and she noticed how he had the best physical form among everyone else. If she had to describe him in a single word, she'd call him a beast.  

Luca was a menace. The best-skilled fighter among the two kingdoms. No one was ever able to win a fight against him. Not even Hunter. Though Hunter was stronger than him, Luca was more skilled.  

Like always Nolan was waiting for her. He had already warmed up and was monitoring a sparring duo and guiding them. Upon seeing Angela, he nodded at her. She began warming up. First, she did some stretches and then she ran a couple of laps.  

She noticed Kevin talking to Luca and Lennox. They were discussing something with a serious face while Connie was training the other trainees.  

Angela approached Nolan when she was ready to spar. "I'll attack," Nolan said and she nodded.  

Just as she expected, Nolan didn't even give her a chance to breathe before he lunged at her. After all these days she had learned his techniques and despite him being ridiculously fast she was able to dodge his attack.  

He tried to aim for her leg, but she ducked away, and Nolan smirked. "You're learning. But what if I change my techniques? What then?" Just as he said that he was in front of her in a flash and landed a punch in her stomach.  

She winced and stumbled back and before he could attack her again a deep voice interrupted them.  

Nolan paused and stepped back and Angela plopped on her ass still holding her stomach. She knew that Nolan didn't use all his energy in the punch, but it still hurt like hell.  

Kevin came to her aid grabbing her shirt to help her up, he knew she didn't like to be touched by men. He pulled her to her feet. She slightly bumped into him, and Kevin chuckled at her clumsiness stepping away from her.  

Feeling a piercing gaze on her, her eyes darted to the beast of a man who was staring at Kevin before his eyes settled on her face and her signature frown adorned her forehead.  

They locked eyes, and while he gave her a cold look, she presented her death glare.  

"Twenty-two days and this is your progress?" Luca asked indifferently. 

Her jaw ticked and her fists clenched. He was mocking her.  

"You're not my trainer. I'd suggest you save your advice for your trainees. Not me." She passed him a triumphant smirk, but it faded away by his next words.  

"I'm your trainer starting today." His voice had darkened, becoming shadowy and rich with dominance.  

"Says who?" 

"Hunter." 

Angela's lips sealed in a thin line as she glared at him. "I'd rather train with anyone but you." 

"Talk to your brother then. You're wasting my time. Either take your position or get lost." He said as Nolan and Kevin stepped out of the sparring circle.  

Her jaw clenched and the vein in her neck throbbed in rage. The insane urge to beat him felt so tempting. If he wasn't older than her, she would've smacked some sense into him but his whole existence was too damn intimidating. But she could try hurting him in sparring. It won't count as her defiance.  

"Fine." She said standing in a fighting position holding her fists in front of her. She breathed in deeply and let the air out in a whoosh.  

She watched as he removed his hoodie and stood in front of her in his compressed shirt and trousers donning big black boots. His hair was up in a man bun as a rogue strand teased his face. Those steel grey eyes resembled the ominosity of dark demonic Satan's.  

In that fleeting second, she realized it was a bad decision. The way he looked at her, it felt like he'd kill her without even batting an eye. 

With one of his hands tucked in his pants pockets, he raised his free hand and crooked two of his fingers provoking her.  

"You attack." 

Angela swallowed down the fear and mustered up the courage. He didn't have to tell her twice as she pounced on him. Angela tried to punch his torso but the way he dodged her attack with such ease and fine technique had her grasping for the situation. She blinked at him dumbfounded.  

He was as fast as all the vampires. What in the world? No wonder he was the best fighter.  

"Be careful, Angela. He's fast and ludicrously smart. Try to predict his movements. Read his eyes. His body language." Lennox said as he watched along with Nolan and Kevin.  

Read his eyes.

Predict his movements.

She locked eyes with him and that was the worst decision. More than half of her courage and confidence dug a grave and buried themselves.  

His eyes were the cold pits of the wild sea. The more she looked at them the more she was devoured by the terror. 

In that moment he looked every bit of a predator she wanted to stay miles away from.  

"Attack. Not just stare like an idiot." His gruff voice broke through the trance of fear and anger surged in. Her eyes narrowed and she charged at him. She was fast so she used that to her advantage. This time she didn't stop at a single punch. Angela showered all the attacks she had learned, and Luca dodged every single one of them with ease.  

She stopped attacking, panting heavily. Sweat trickled down her forehead as those droplets dripped down her sharp jawline. She swallowed thickly.  

Luca stood in front of her unfazed with both of his hands tucked in his pockets as he regarded her with an expressionless look.  

"Very well. Now defend." He commanded and her eyes doubled in size when she saw him charging at her.  

Her eyes met his and her legs trembled. Instead of defending herself, she braced herself as he raised that huge fist to kill her once and for all.  

Angela closed her eyes tightly and stopped breathing. A couple of seconds and she was still untouched. She blinked open one of her eyes and found his fist raised mid-air, inches away from her face.  

Her eyes widened, meeting his cold gaze. "Brace yourself like this in front of your enemy and he'd splatter your brains out." Luca sneered ruthlessly causing her to flinch.  

He stood straight regarding her with a dispassionate look. "You're below average to even qualify to be my trainee but I can't say no to Hunter." He said annoyed walking away from her.  

"Be on the training ground at five in the morning. If you're late even for a single second, then you'll train for twenty-four hours without a break." He said over his shoulder.  

"You're dismissed." He commanded, walking away and leaving her fuming in rage.