After I Died, My Ex-mate Beg for My Mercy

ASHLEY

Pain brought me back to reality.

I gasped as I came to, jolting upright with eyes wide and unblinking.

Where was I? I was in the forest. Obviously. The Blackriver pack house forest.

Coughing to clear my throat as it felt like I had feasted on the damp soil, and it was scratchy; everything that happened came flooding back in.

I heard her voice. My wolf’s voice for the first time since my existence. I decided to follow it for our first connection because it was essential to connect to your wolf to shift.

However, the connection didn’t last long because I had been ambushed. A sharp pain to the back of my head, and the world had turned dark afterwards.

My head spun as I staggered upright, and a wince escaped my parted lips as I caressed the back of my head.

I couldn’t tell who had attacked me. I never saw faces. But I knew I needed to return to the pack house to warn everyone. Perhaps an invasion was coming. That could be the only reason I'd be attacked in our territory.

Sprinting towards the pack house as fast as my aching limbs could carry me, I ignored the eyes on me, going home straight.

If there were anyone who could discuss the attack with the alpha, it would be my father, since he was the beta.

Breathing hard as I opened the door to the living room, I stopped in my tracks as I saw my parents. It wasn’t the tension in the room or the dark-haired girl with the prettiest eyes I had ever seen—the Lockwood eyes, as my father would call them—that made me stop in my tracks. The fact that she looked like me made it weirder, and she was wearing my ceremonial dress.

“Who are you?” I found myself asking. I couldn’t resist it.

“Ashley?” my mother breathed out. However, I wasn't sure if it was due to relief or annoyance.

I stepped forward and stopped again as I heard her voice.

“My name is Maria. I…I am Beta's daughter.”

 My stomach flipped.

“No. You're not,” My voice was barely above a whisper as I stared at her in disbelief.

My head tossed back as nervous laughter bubbled inside my throat. The situation wasn't funny, but I couldn't help it.

“That can’t be true,” I muttered, shaking my head.

“You heard that right,” the girl, Maria, stated. She turned to my father, a piteous look on her face. I’m sorry I have been away for eighteen years of my life. I didn’t know who I was until recently. But I remember things—things only your real daughter would know.”

“That’s absurd,” I replied. “The beta has only one child, and that’s me.”

“My mother, Lorraine Blake, poor woman, you should know her–” Maria paused like she was giving me time to process the information.

I knew Lorraine. She was the former midwife of Blackriver's pack house. A kind woman, but I never knew she had a child as grown as this, and one who looked almost like me.

Maria continued. “She told me before her death that I am the true heir to the Beta's family. And I have enough proof to assure you that I am the daughter, aside from this mark, because anyone can tattoo one on their skin.”

The Beta Mark. I’d heard about it my whole life. No one outside the beta bloodline could make it — a pale crescent on the inside of the wrist, just under the pulse. It showed up with your first shift, a birthright etched by the Moon herself. Mine never came. Because I was yet to find my wolf, much less change into one.

I was born in Ridgeston and in the Black River pack house. I have known my parents to be my true parents since birth. There was no news of me being adopted, and no one had ever thought about that before, either.

“I am not a liar!” I scowled. I had been called many things—spoilt, the beta’s princess, daddy’s little girl— but never a liar.

 “Father, say something!” I urged. I hated the fact that he was quiet as everything was going on.

“You said you have enough proof that you’re their child? Then I challenge you to show me one!”

“A challenge?” Maria raised a perfect, slender brow, smugly smiling, “I like a challenge.”

She walked towards me, raised her hand, causing me to flinch slightly as I assumed she would strike me. Instead, spread them wide and let out a guttural growl; her eyes glowed, and her body trembled. She shifted into a sleek gray wolf before I could fathom what was happening.

Tall, graceful, and purebred. The symbol of a true beta lineage.

My father's eyes lit with pride, and my mother pressed a hand to her lips in astonishment.

While I gawked at her.

Maria’s eyes locked on mine, and I saw the mischievous glint in them. She was waiting for me to shift. I hadn’t even been able to connect with my wolf successfully. How the hell would I be able to change without it?

I needed to feel before I could!

I stood trembling while I tried to tap into the connection from before. Come on, wolf. Please help me, just this one time. I'd be grateful.

The pride on my father's face vanished as they landed on mine. “Shift!” he ordered, his eyes narrowed.

I couldn't. I did try, but nothing came of it. Not even a twitch.

A few seconds passed, and when nothing happened on my side, my father spoke up.

“Enough,” My father said coldly. “She can't do it.”

Maria shifted back, and the amazing thing was that she was still wearing her clothes. It could only take someone with the right skills to be able to put their clothes on after shifting!

“This is clear as day. It’s obvious who the real daughter of this household is.” My father declared.

“You can't be serious, Father. I've lived here my whole life!” I shouted. “You raised me! Trained me! You—”

“You can't even shift,” my father cut me off coolly. “How do you claim to be my daughter when you can't even do something as simple as that? We could have raised you as our child, but that doesn't make you one.”

My heart clenched. His words were hurtful. How could he forget the moments we had easily? How could he not detect this was a lie and an impersonation of my character?!

“Mother, please, say something…anything.”

She still stood in the spot she was in, a frown etched on her face.

I couldn’t tell if she was thinking about the situation or wondering if she should pick Maria over me as well.

“I love you, Ashley, after all, we raised you.” 

My mother placed her hand around my shoulder, and all the hope of her being sane instantly vanished.

“Since we found our real daughter, Maria. There’s nothing wrong with you being Maria’s little sister since you’ve been with us, and we can’t discard you. We can coexist, right?”

My father shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't care whether we coexisted or not.

“I don’t mind having her as a little sister either.” Maria chimed in.

“Perfect. Now that’s settled. Let’s celebrate the arrival of our daughter, Maria!” My mother announced it without giving me a chance to agree.

It was supposed to be my birthday, yet they made it about her.

My mother left my side while my father showed Maria around the house. I stood in the spot I was, watching all that was happening. It was like I didn’t exist as they began to dote on her like she was the best thing ever happening to them.

Maybe she was. I could only watch now because my parents weren’t mine anymore.

 “Tonight is the mating ritual, I can't wait to see how magical it will turn out to be. The Alpha getting mated to a daughter of this household? Fate!” A maid whispered to another as they walked towards Maria to prepare her for bed.

How could I have forgotten what tonight was?! There was still hope for me. My parents might have lost it now, but I'd snap them back to reality.

Night arrived just as fast as I wanted it. It was the debutante ceremony and mating ritual, which took place annually. Werewolves between the ages of eighteen and twenty years come out to usher in their wolves. Although you could debut into society at eighteen, it was a mating ritual for the older ones. You could be chosen by someone to mate with.

With all that happened a few hours ago, all my hope was in this night.

According to tradition, the beta’s daughter was destined to be the alpha’s mate. If Jason Blackriver could recognize me as his mate, it would prove that Maria was lying. And I’d have my parents and my life back because it still feels like a terrible dream.

I believe in our bond and trust that Jason would stand by me. To the pack house members, he was Jason Blackwell, the alpha heir. To me, he was my Jason.

He was only five years older than I was, so we grew up together. At least, I grew up looking up to him. I always ran after him, wanting to be around him. Jason didn't mind how clumsy I was. He was cool and composed compared to my rowdiness, allowing me to cling to him if I wanted to.

The best part of our friendship was the woven charm bracelet with Moonstone and wolf hair I gave him when I was twelve and he was seventeen. I had a massive crush on him, and that didn't end.

Jason always wore the bracelet, never taking it off. Not once.

So, our bond was real. It had to be!

Howls resounded around the ceremonial ground where we gathered to commence the event. Everyone was dressed in different silver attire designs. Mates held onto each other, waiting nervously and anticipating the bond rush.

While I stood, waiting.

The Howls stopped, and silence fell on the crowd. I strained my neck to see who was coming as the circle the crowd had formed seemed to split.

Jason.

He wore black. Not the silver everyone was on.

He was coming towards me!

My eyes moved from his handsome face to his hand. He was wearing the bracelet. My breath caught in my throat, and excitement surged inside me.

“I, Jason Blackriver, the Alpha heir of the Blackriver pack house, am here to make a declaration,” Jason announced, his voice echoing through the circle holding me and everyone here spellbound.

My heart pounded as I stared at Jason, waiting for his announcement. I wasn't afraid because the only announcement he'd be making tonight was him taking me as his mate, right?

Or not.

“You bewitched me, Ashley,” Jason said, his voice a little louder than necessary. 

“Witchcraft?” The crowd murmured.

“Isn't she a werewolf?”

“You used witchcraft to create a fake mate bond with me!”