Rise of the Queen
Chapter 21

After his confession, she was in a daze, he said he liked her, no he loved her but hadn't they met just a few days back? Regardless, her head was in mess, she was brought out of her thoughts when he opened the door for her, she blinked at him, "Let's go," He told her, she looked around they had stopped by a huge building, Terrel group of industries.

"Something came up, it'll just take few minutes," he said as they entered the lift, he then pressed the button to the top floor. He went with few people who addressed him as their boss, she was escorted to his cabin by one of the staff, "Would you have something? Tea? Coffee?" She asked, "No, it's fine, you can continue your work," Alexa smiled at the girl who then excused herself and walked out of the room.

Being left alone, Alexa wandered around the room, she looked at the nameplate on his desk 'Reagan Terrel, CEO'.

Just then Regan entered the room, "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"So apart from being the Alpha King, you're also the CEO of one of the most powerful company, huh?" She raised her brows at him.

"Need to have an influence in the human world," He shrugged.

"Are the staff werewolves too?" She asked.

"Few are humans too," He replied.

'Oh', she mouthed.

"Wait a minute," her eyes widened.

"Yes," He nodded.

"Did you read my thoughts again?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

"No, but your face," He chuckled, "It's all over your face."

"So, if we didn't get attacked that night, I'd have worked here, huh?" She tried to register the newly found information.

"Regardless, we'd have met one way or the other," He smiled at her, "Just to make it clear, my feelings for you are not all of a sudden, Alexa," He cupped her cheeks. Her heart quickened, she averted her gaze and turned her back to him, they were surrounded by the air of awkwardness.

"But we've just met, we don't know much about each other, what do you like about me anyway?" She questioned him.

"We've met before, I've known you long enough," He stated, she turned to face him, she looked at him with questioning eyes, given the fact that she met Lia in middle school and he was her brother so he did know her long enough but had they met before? She didn't remember.

"And what do I like about you?" He pondered on the question, "I don't know," He shrugged, "There's nothing not to like and I never had to search for a reason, do I need a reason?" He asked, "Say if I gave you reasons like you're beautiful, cute, kind but these reasons are useless because although someone else may also have all these qualities I mentioned, I won't like them the same, I can't explain why I like you, I just love you, I love being with you, you outdo all the reasons but if you still want me I can come up with many reasons," He said chuckling.

She was speechless, she opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out, she got all awkward, but he reassured her, "It's okay take your time, we can go slower, my feelings are mine alone, I won't force it on you," He smiled at her.

***

Alexa lied down on the bed looking at the pictures in her hands, the pictures they had clicked at the amusement park, she noticed he had been staring at her the entire time. Her mind repeated his confession like a tape recorder, she felt her cheeks heating up, a small smile played on her lips.

"Wait, do I like him?" She bit her nails, she then placed her palms on her chest, as she felt her heart pounding, she felt giddy, a fuzzy and warm feeling enveloped her heart. "Argh! I don't know," She sighed turning over as she hugged the pillow, burying her face into it.

"Hey, Alex!" Conner popped into her room, she immediately hid the pictures under the pillow.

"What?" She looked up flustered.

"What?" Conner narrowed her eyes at her, "Nothing," She shook her head, "What are you here for? Need something?" She asked her friend.

"Hmm, Alex, aren't you forgetting something?" Conner raised her brows at her.

"What?" She shrugged.

"that you have a duel tonight?" Conner reminded her.

"Oh, yeah, I mean, yes I do remember," Alex smiled at her nervously, she had totally forgotten about it.

After a few minutes, they all gathered at the training ground, the duel had already started, the whole crowd erupted in cheers as the contenders faced each other. They gave each other a fist bump wishing each other good luck, as the whistle blew they changed into their wolf form.

"Here," Tyler waved at them, they took the seat to watch, "This is amazing," Murphy said as his eyes sparkled witnessing the fight.

"Kevin's going up next," Tyler commented.

"You're going too?" Conner turned her head to Kevin.

"yeah," Kevin nodded.

He eyed the guy who was his contender, he needed to put that guy in his place, he was getting close to Lia too much for his comfort.

"Whoop, whoop," They all hooted as the two wolves butted their heads, one soon overpowered the other.

"It's the Alpha king!" Conner waved at him excitedly as he made his way towards them.

"Hello to you too, Conner," Regan smiled at her.

"Hi," He smiled at Alexa.

"Hi," She muttered shyly then turned her back immediately.

They could all feel the awkwardness.

Suddenly the crowd cheered as the winner was announced, "Okay guys, It's my turn," Kevin's eyes lingered on Lia as he entered the arena with confidence, "Go, Kevin!" His friends hooted for him. Tyler then took a few steps back pulling Reagan to the side, "What was that?" He asked him.

"What?" He shrugged.

"Oh, you know what!" Tyler elbowed him, "Something happened between you two."

"I confessed," Reagan said dryly.

"Whoa! Attack mode on, huh?" Tyler exclaimed.

"I've waited for 15 years, now that she's near I'm losing my control," He retorted, his eyes were fixed on Alexa, a smile slipped from his lips as he noticed her blushing as her friend teased her. From a distance, Carla heard them and was fuming in jealousy with their increasing closeness.

Kevin defeated his opponent within a minute of the battle, he walked to Lia, he was giving her space, she had always hated Vampires and she denied to accept him as her mate he was being considerate and planned to win her slowly but these few days she had been playing with his jealousy by flirting with the mutt right in front of him, he needed to remind her she was his, he stopped in front of her and claimed her lips in front of the whole crowd.

"Woah!" His friends cheered from behind.

It was Alexa's turn next, 'Good luck,' She heard him, she turned back to look at him, she smiled at him when their eyes met she nodded, she then took a deep breath as she entered the arena, the crowd erupted in cheer but all silenced when her opponent entered the arena.

"What the?" Tyler narrowed his eyes at Carla who had a smirk on her face as she eyed Alexa.

He then turned his head to Reagan who was amused by the turns of event, "You're smiling?" His eyes widened in horror.

As the whistle blew, in an instant Carla grabbed Alexa smashing her face on the ground. Alexa groaned in pain.

Carla bent down and whispered in her ear, "Some queen you are," She scoffed, she then backed out releasing Alexa from her grip.

Alexa pulled herself up but staggered as her eyes blurred, Carla smiled at her wickedly as she blew air on her nails, Alexa shook her head but her vision worsened, something stung on her hand, she looked at the site where it stung, there were the nail marks, her hands started to burn.

Carla advanced at her again, 'Focus, Alex!' She heard Reagan scream in her mind.

She barely managed to dodge her opponent.

Carla raised her brows at her in a mocking way, something burned deep inside her heart, Alexa shook her head and stabilized herself, she closed her eyes and opened it swiftly, something had changed, there was hellfire in her eyes as she glared at her opponent, she then smirked as Carla charged on her, with a swift move she grabbed Carla's neck, she lifted her off the ground and then threw her with force, Carla's body slid across the ground and she lay there motionless. Everyone gasped as they witnessed the scene, they forgot to breathe, Alexa's eyes went sluggish and slowly the darkness consumed her.