Chapter Nine

ASHER'S POV

It was her.

I knew that something was wrong the moment she entered the room. Even without looking, I knew by instinct that it wasn't Ambrose, my personal helper and assistant.

The moment I figured it out, my mind flashed back to the past when something similar happened. One of the girls in our pack had too high of hopes, and my nature and rumors did not stop her from trying to gain the power she wanted. It was in the night when she disguised herself as a servant and tried assaulting me. I had pushed her away . Since then I had only one person who I trusted to assist me.

Despite the hostility another feeling came to me, one annoyingly satisfying that it was boggling to me.

I stayed calm, pretending to be oblivious whilst ordering them. Ambrose would never have taken such an order, far too knowledgeable of my need for capability.

But the person did, and it only incensed ne further.

The shiver that followed slight brush if her hands as she put on the sleeves.

Ariziel stood, shocked that I had noticed it was her. Seeing her face made it worse.

Why was she here?

The idea that took root in my mind festered. She was going to do the same thing as that woman did. Despite claiming that she didn't want the bond, she stood here, helping me like a common maid.

Disgust filled me when i pieced it all together, the rage made me tighten my grip.

“What? Are you trying to bed me?” I spat out.

Despite her attempts to wrest herself out of my grip.  I tightened it further, any discomfort I felt at the pained noise she made mottled by my anger.

“Here I thought you were at least honest, but you're just like all the others. You'll do anything for power, even if it means forcing yourself on an Alpha, right?” I jeered on, wanting to see the regret on her face.

she looked pleadingly at me, only a few winces leaving her lips. She still dared to look innocent, making me even angrier.

I was going to make her pay for her attempt to fool me.

“I'll send you to the dungeons and I'll make sure you regret ever meeting me. You'll wish you had died that day in the forest.”

I pushed her away immediately, a sick satisfaction filling me at seeing her stumble to the floor.

I moved to call my guards, when I noticed it.

A small envelope that wasn't there before laid in the floor right beside her.

I turned to look at her, and my blood ran cold at her face.

Fear. Unbridled terror wracked her face. It was like she was expecting something.

I stood still, still trying to process what was really going on, recalibrating what I thought was so right.

I watched as her expression changed, the fearful look almost being forced out of her face.

By the time she was done, she looked neutral, not giving anything away as she stood up, picking up the envelope and handing it to me.

“For you, Alpha Blackwell.”

I looked at the envelope and back to her.

“The other pack members were ordered to remind you of the meeting you had, but your assistant was sent on an errand and they had no way to reach you.” she said.

They were afraid. I knew what she meant, but I was still unwilling to face it.

“So, pray tell how did you get involved?” I asked sarcastically, expecting a flimsy excuse.

“I volunteered.”

I was stunned. The pack members attitude towards meeting me were divided those who tried seducing me and those who were far too afraid to cross my path.  

“Why?” I wondered out loud, voice breathy.

She looked straight at me as she spoke “They were all afraid of you, and I was afraid of what you'd do to them if they went. So I chose to go. I'm still new here, so if I was harmed or punished, nobody will miss me anyways.”

‘Nobody will miss me anyways.’

I wrapped my hand in a fist at her words. What kind of bullshit was that?

When I looked at her, her face remained neutral, yet there was no hint of deceit in them. She was telling the truth, even to the last sentence.

That made me even angrier. She  would rather run the risk of getting hurt for a bunch of people she didn't know? For a pack she was new to?

I eyed the wrist I held, regret falling onto me when I spied the purple bruises my hands left growing darker with every second. The bitter feeling of guilt leaked into me as I saw them, fully aware of the strength I had put into it.

Despite the obviously painful bruise, she didn't look angry, teary or even upset. Despite it all, she said nothing, looking as emotionless as ever.

“Leave this place now.” I ordered, unable to stand the sight of her anymore.

She still looked at me with that damned straight face before bowing

“Thank you, Alpha Blackwell.”

My hand twitched at her monotonous voice. It took everything in me to wait for the door to shut before unleashing my rage.

She was making me erratic and out of control, doing things that I had never done before. The worst part of it was that she had done absolutely nothing to make me feel this way but exist.

I ran my hands through my hair, dragging them lightly before letting it go. I took a deep breath to calm and rationalize it.

The mate bond. It had to be the mate bond that made me feel this way. It only meant that we had to break the bond faster.

This wasn't the time to think about any of that. This was the time to leave for the meeting I had.

I dressed up quickly, ignoring the shadow of her touch that still tingled across my shoulders.

By the time I was almost done, almost like clockwork Serena came into my room unannounced. I turned to see her in a blue ensemble that shimmered.

“I was just about to leave.” I said, turning away to fix my tie.

She came closer “Isn't it better that we leave together Asher? Besides, I wish I had come earlier. I wouldn't have missed the chance to see you.”

I ignored what must have been a lascivious look from her, stepping for one last look in the mirror.

“Besides, I was held up. That stray rogue you rescued earlier almost bumped into me in the hallway. So foolish.”

I stiffened immediately, turning towards her as she continued.

“She looked like she was going to faint, then again who wouldn't. With a face and unruly hair like hers, I would rather faint.” she gave a small chuckle while looking at me, expecting me to follow along.

I clenched my jaw, withholding the irritation I felt towards Serena at that moment.

“Let's go.”

…

Together, we stepped into her father's home, where he sat waiting.

Harris, Serena's father stared at the both of us with our hands held. He looked satisfied, nodding when he was done.

“Alpha Blackwell, I hope you still remember our deal.”

Holding Serena's hand tightly, I let her Kean on me despite my discomfort.

“Rest assured Mr Harris, we will begin the mating ceremony a few months from now, and our alliance will be complete.”

She giggled, looking like the car who got the cream. Pulling herself closer to my chagrin, she spoke.

“Its okay Dad. I'm very happy to be with Asher.”

She gave me a bright genuine smile which I returned with a less genuine one, my mind being somewhere else.

It wasn't truly a secret, yet only very few people knew of it. Pack members never bothered to ask out of fear of me. The moment our mating ceremony was announced, they quickly assumed it was because we were true mates or at least in love with each other.

Only if they knew that our marriage was not fated or out of love, but arranged.