Ashley’s P.O.V.Leave now?My heart sank at his statement. The mere mention of leaving made my body tremble. It dawned on me that just within two days, it had become unimaginable to leave this place. I couldn't leave. Not when finally, I found the sense of peace I had been longing for the past two years. Indeed, this pack was my home, the place where I was born and spent my entire life. Even my mate was here, binding my soul to this land. Only the Moon Goddess knew how I had dragged my aching body from one day to another in the Blood Moon Pack. It wasn’t that I hated Grayson’s pack. Nope!In fact, it sheltered me when I was in dire need, helping me hide from my mate. But now, going back there didn’t seem possible, as somehow, the air of the Eastern Gardens Pack had healed the parts of me I didn’t know were broken, making me feel complete again.Looking at Grayson’s gloomy face, I found it difficult to express my thoughts. I couldn’t hurt him, not when he had carried enough pain of
Ashley’s P.O.V.A surprise?Not again!Frowning in confusion, I was going to ask about that surprise, when the door creaked open again and a maid walked in, carrying a familiar bundle of off-white and brown fur. My eyes widened in shock.“Lilly?”Our Moon Shadow, our lovely Lilly, was there, looking around curiously. The moment she saw me, she wiggled out of the maid’s arms with a loud meow, bounding straight into mine. Her warmth pressed against me, her fluffy paws kneading my lap as though scolding me for leaving her for so long. Smiling at her angry meows, I was brushing her fur with soft apologies when Vincenzo’s chill voice echoed into the room. “Ashley, look at the door. The real surprise is here.”Utterly confused, I turned my head and froze, my breath catching in my throat. Three tiny babies toddled across the polished floor, their little paws soundless. My heart swelled at the sight of three kittens, not more than a few weeks old, their soft fur a patchwork of white and war
Ashley’s P.O.V. Vincenzo’s hand slid from the back of my head to my waist, firm and possessive, pulling me flush against him. Heat surged through me, scattering what little control I had left. The world blurred until there was nothing, but his touch, his possessive aura, his mouth demanding mine. The fire burned my core, pushing the limits of my self-restraint, and I gaped, startled by the sudden rush of desire. “No!” A wave of terror jolted me back to reality, replaying the cursed memories of my mate’s betrayal. I broke the kiss and placed my hand on his chest to keep the distance, my body trembling from the bond’s pull. “I-I need to go!” Biting my swollen lips, I managed to utter the refusal, my chest rising and falling rapidly as if I had run miles. Vincenzo’s eyes darkened with disappointment, but he masked it quickly, his arms still holding me close, refusing to let me truly escape. The silence stretched between us, only to be broken by the ragged sounds of our breathi
Ashley’s P.O.V. Terror consumed me as I thrashed in his grip, my nails clawing uselessly at the iron band across my waist and mouth. Whoever it was, his strength was terrifying and unyielding. I tried to breathe and focus on scent, but in vain. I didn’t get any clue about his identity, as he was cloaked, stripped of any trace that gave him away. Then the world blurred in a split second as the wind tore at my face, stinging my eyes. My stomach churned violently with an unbearable speed as he ran, sprinting in an unknown direction. I fought, screaming inside, but my voice was swallowed against his palm. My head grew lighter and lighter until the movement stopped so suddenly that it jolted through my bones. I staggered, my knees nearly buckling under me as he finally released me after some time, removing his hand from my mouth too. My lungs burned as I dragged greedy breaths, the world spinning around me. It took every ounce of will to keep standing. A gust of cold night air care
Ashley’s P.O.V.“No?”Cassidy jerked back as if struck by lightning on a clear, sunny day. Her tear-stained face became an epitome of shock as she squealed.“No? But why?We are mates, Grayson.”She spluttered, squeezing his hand to prove her point. “I-I can feel the bond. And your wolf must be feeling it too.”Her words twisted my guts as I remembered Grayson's struggles for a mate. I wanted to tell her the truth that her mate’s wolf had been broken, dormant because of injuries. Healers had advised him to look for his mate, as the blessings of a bond could heal the deep lacerations of his soul. It ached my chest to even remember how Alpha Carter contacted every pack in the south and begged other Alphas to help them, searching every corner of the vast territories. And look at the goddess’s system: Cassidy was here in the east all the time when Grayson suffered in the south all alone, yearning to be with his soulmate However, it wasn’t my place to speak for his reality. This secret
Ashley’s P.O.V.Forgiveness?I frowned, my lips parted in confusion. Why did she ask for forgiveness from me?My eyes flicked to Vincenzo, searching his face for an explanation, but he looked just as taken aback. Swallowing my unease, I got up with Enzley in my arms, my voice edged with steel as I asked her.“Why are you asking for forgiveness, Cassidy? I think I haven't accused you of something yet.”The room fell silent, the question hanging between us. Neither she nor Vincenzo spoke, and the pause stretched until it began to grate on my nerves. Eventually, Cassidy lifted her face, fear carved into every line of it, her eyes glistening. “I have spent enough time as an omega maid,” she said, her voice cracking but loud enough to reach us, “to know what it meant when Gamma Carson asked me to present myself before Alpha and Luna after my shift. It means something is wrong. Otherwise…”Her piteous gaze darted between the two of us. “Otherwise, why would you call me again, after I ha