Ashley's POVI stopped cold when Jayden’s voice called my name, my stomach knotting up. What the hell did he want now? My curiosity took over, and I walked over to the shore, my gaze irresistibly attracted to his. His face was cast in an expectant look as he waited there, his eyes daring me."What do you want?" I snapped, stepping back as his hands moved out toward mine. "What's wrong with you? Want to humiliate me some more?"He licked his lips, slow and dirty, like he wanted something dirtier than whatever Ella did to him in that room. It was disgusting, plain and simple.“Just hanging around, nothing special," he loosely drawled, moving toward me, his voice hoarse and rough. Devil it, his flirting persona was ripping me asunder in my brain, and my wolf—treacherous beast that she was—gave a satisfied growl way deep inside."No chance," I snarled, shuddering my head. "Go back to her… or him… your dad, I mean!" I stammered, my head malfunctioning at the feel of his warm hand stroking
Ashley’s POV“What the hell kinda pictures are you talking about?” I yelled, pissed off to my core. Jayden wasn’t just a jerk—he was reckless, throwing words around like they didn’t matter.Was he trying to blackmail me or what?His grin stretched wider in the dark room, moonlight sneaking in through a crack, lighting up his eyes with a nasty glint. He stepped closer, dropping his voice to a creepy whisper. “Oh, you know exactly what I’m talking about, Ashley,” he drawled, leaning so close his breath tickled my ear. “Those pics of our sweet little triplets.”My rage exploded, claws shooting out like knives. I lunged to shove him back, but he was too quick, snatching both my wrists in a grip that felt like steel. His claws dug deep into my skin, no mercy this time, slicing into my wrists.I wasn’t about to let this bastard see me flinch. “You’re fucking crazy, Jayden! Just admit it!” I spat.“Crazy? Yeah, maybe, but John ain’t the daddy of those kids!” he fired back.“What kids, Jayden
Ashley’s POVFirm hands gripped my shoulders, and a deep, calming voice cut through the dark. “Come with me, alright?”That voice sent a shiver racing down my back, freezing me in place. I couldn’t fight it, so I let the stranger guide me, already guessing it was a guy from his low whisper.We moved away from the room’s door, my legs wobbling like they might give out. Then I heard Jayden’s voice behind me. “Ain’t nobody here, Ella,” he said, followed by the door slamming shut.I kept going with the stranger, my feet sliding quiet over the cold stone floor. His touch was soft, no claws out, nothing like Jayden’s rough grip that tore into my wrists earlier. This guy’s hands felt soothing, almost kind, easing my skin as he led me through the shadowy hallway. Still, I was scared shitless, not even trying to break free, just praying I’d live to see my triplets again.The packhouse was dead quiet, most servants and guards clocked out for the night, except a few posted at key spots. The stra
Ashley’s POVI stared into David’s heavy eyes as he started spilling the tea. “She rolled up here years back,” he said, his voice low, like he was choosing his words real careful. “She was… weird, y’know, different.”“No shit,” I cut in, kicking myself right after and nodding for him to keep going.“She had this vibe, like you couldn’t look away,” he said, his gaze drifting off somewhere past me. “Then she demanded to see the Alpha. Jayden gave her a meeting, and…”He stopped, his face getting darker, and a chill hit me, my gut begging him to finish. He stretched his legs out, turning to me. “She straight-up said a crazy plague was gonna hit the pack, some wild sickness. Man, she was bold, her voice pissing off every elder in the room.”“And Jayden?” I asked, quiet, dying to know why he seemed so whipped by her.“Jayden lost his damn mind,” David said. “Thought she was a spy or some kinda threat. I told him to grill her more, but he wasn’t having it—wanted her dead that night. The eld
Ashley's POVDavid's words landed in the pit of my stomach, confirming the worst damn nightmare I'd ever had. My mind went back to when I'd last seen my triplets—little wiggling hands, their laughter echoing in my head. My chest tightened, heart racing so hard it would burst. I held my hand around David's arm, my nails biting into his flesh. "Tell me this ain't real, David! Tell me it's just a sick fucking dream!” I screamed, my voice raw and trembling.He slapped his hand across my mouth in an instant, his eyes huge, gazing frantically around the dark courtyard as if someone was about to pounce. "Shh, Ashley, shut up," he panted, his voice firm but soft. My wolf was seething with rage at me within, snarling to break free, but I tamed it, trying to compose myself." My breathing steadied, and David eased his hand, looking at me warily, as if he wasn't sure I'd be able to hold it together.“You know I'd die before I'd let anything happen to your kids, okay?" he asked, that low, smooth v
Ashley's POVThe pounding on the door would not cease, echoing and relentless, shaking me from my sweat-soaked daze. I stumbled to my feet, legs shaking from that disgusting nightmare still ravaging my mind—John tied up, my triplets wailing. The door swung open before I could reach for the handle, and two guards stood in the doorway, faces expressionless, eyes blazing into me as if I'd done something abhorrent."What the hell is happening here?" I growled, voice rough, trying to be stronger than I was. They just stood there, speechless, staring at me as if I'd done something wrong."Alpha Jayden wishes to see you, Ashley," one of them finally said, voice toneless, eyes never once breaking from mine. Ashley? They addressed me by name, not some kind of formal designation. I was taken aback, but I pushed it aside, more concerned with the here and now."Why? And what, no breakfast here?" I snapped back, trying coolness, but my mind was a whirl, heart thudding like a mad drum. The guards d
Ashley's POV"Drag her ass back in here!" Jayden's voice boomed from the council room, shaking the walls like a cursed earthquake. The guards didn't hesitate, their hands grabbing my shoulders, spinning me around so fast I nearly stumbled. My cheek still hurt from Ella's slap, and my head was spinning, trying to get its head around that trashy accusation against David and me.We stormed back into the room, the chaos from before now settled into an unnatural stillness. David crouched in front of Jayden, his wrists bound tightly with rope, his face impassive but his eyes screaming betrayal. My stomach turned at the sight—David didn't deserve this.“This whole mess is a damn mystery," Jayden started, his voice heavy with disillusion, like he himself'd been stabbed in the back. "I relied on my beta not to pull this kind of crap."I couldn’t just stand there and watch David take the fall. I yanked against the guards’ grip, desperate to break free, to scream that this was all lies, but thei
Ashley's POV"A message for…" the messenger started, but his voice was cut off like someone ripped out his tongue. He looked over at David, who still lay on the ground, bound hands behind him. I saw David's rapid shake of his head, a silent order to keep quiet. My stomach twisting—what was he hiding?"Spit it out, boy!" Elder Thamon bellowed, his loud voice in the council hall, his own patience clearly exhausted.The envoy simply stood there, sweat dripping from his forehead, numb as a deer caught in the headlights. His eyes never wavered from David, as if begging for a lifeline. Jayden was elsewhere, staring into space, his face vacant. Either he didn't care or was too high to bother. The Jayden I knew would've gone wild if he saw his beta treated this way, bound and on his knees like some sort of common criminal."My lord, let me handle it," David said, his voice steady as the ropes bit into his wrists. It hurt to see him like this, the pack beta reduced to this because of Ella's ac
Ashley's POV"NO! Let them go, you son of a bitch!" I yelled, my raw throat, chest pumping as I sprinted in the rain, boots sliding in the mud. The creature in front of me had Jace and Rhea clutched in its hands, jerking them like dolls, its deformed arms moving too damn quickly.Thunderclapped, rain pounded the roofs, swallowing my screams. The monster stopped and turned to face me, its deathly pale, corpse-colored flesh radiating sickly every flash of lightning. "Why the devil would I let 'em go? You don't need these rug rats!" It spoke in a sneering snarl, baiting me."I need 'em, you monster!" I yelled, heaving through muck, legs burning. "Hold on, Jace! I'm going to get you!"The monster threw back its head, laughing, a sound like nails on a chalkboard. “You’re too slow, Ashley! Don’t worry, I’m taking ’em somewhere better!” Its endless limbs twitched, tightening around my kids."Better than their mother's arms? Let them go, now!" I shouted, running ahead, my heart pounding in my
Ashley's POVI stalked the length of the room, my boots scraping against creaking floorboards, my mind gnawing at Ella's recent actions. "She'll deny it, sure enough," I told Sarah, spinning to glare at her, her face crumpled with worry. "Did Ella and Zane get into an argument when you were away?”Sarah's eyes went blank, stunned. "I don't know, Ashley. I think we all fainted the second after she..." Her voice trailed away, as though too afraid to continue."Shut up," I cut in, firm, glancing around at the other healers stirring, faces sleeping, white in the dim light. I turned to Sarah, firm. "Keep this quiet. Last thing we need is the whole packhouse gossiping."She nodded, her own creases furrowed deeper with fear. "I'll do whatever you want, Ashley," she said to her, her voice raspy and shaking.It made sense now—Ella was involved in some dirty scheme with Zane. Was she collaborating with Liam, Daisy's boyfriend, to destroy the pack? Why would she do that? Yes, she was a healer an
Ashley's POV"That's your mess to clean up, Jayden," I snapped, stomping on him, my boots pounding on the plush carpet of his study. "I'm doing my damn job as a healer, but let's not forget you dragged me here against my will!”He grinned, spinning his chair so that he was facing me, his blue eyes glinting with that smug asshole vibe. "Not your problem? That's rich, considering the offer we made." He spoke in a slicing tone, as if daring me to protest.Deal? I gazed at him, a sinful, satanic gleam in his eyes, the same which turned my knees to mush prior to him thoroughly messing me up. "Oh, don't play dumb, Ashley!" he growled, moving a step closer to take up the distance between us, his movements purposeful, stalking. "Your triplets—mess up, and they're dead meat!""You're a piece of filthy shit, Jayden!" I spat back, my face only inches away from his, blood coursing, eyes blurring. "I don't have children, you asshole! When I was good, when I'd do anything for you, you kicked me out
Ashley's POVThere was no way I was going to lose Zane, not with Ella out there dying to prove to me my Silverbloom plan was crap. I leaned over him, my fingers moving fast, feeling for his pulse, his breath. He was as good as stable for a werewolf, but appearances didn't count. His skin was too pale, his chest not rising, and I could feel the life draining from him like sand between my hands."What can we do?" Sarah's voice cut through my hysteria as she entered the room, her eyes scanning me with concern.I spun to face her, desperate. "Get the herbs ready, quickly," I ordered her, my fingers pressed against Zane's chest, feeling his faint throb of life. I closed my eyes, focusing. "Wolf's bane, silver leaf, and…""Moon petal," Sarah finished, already familiar with the ritual.I shook my head frantically. "Fresh ones, Sarah. Come on!" My voice was strained, my heart racing like a damn drum.She ran off, her ancient legs pumping as if she were half her youth, the door slamming shut b
Ashley's POV"Aren't you risking your pack's lives with this?" Ella asked, her hand drawing patterns over Jayden's chest, slow and teasing, before she nipped at his cheek, her lips still there like she was marking her territory. Her eyes flicked to me, smug, daring me to say something.Jayden's gaze was on me, his look stabbing, and my flesh crawled. I hunched my head down, examining the plate before me, loaded with soft roasted meat, steaming carrots, and fluffy rice. I'd already ruined half the meat, and now I was tearing at the slow-cooked beef, pungent smell wafting into me.Anything to avoid Ella’s taunting stare and Jayden’s heavy look, stirring up memories of his betrayal—and those damn lies about me and David screwing in the woods, spread by Ella to paint me as the pack’s filthy whore.Jayden cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the tension. “I’m giving her a chance,” he said, standing abruptly, his chair scraping the floor. “I’m done here.”Everyone in the room spran
Ashley's POVI went back to the pack house, my head spinning from all that David had left on my plate. Liam, the Alpha of another pack, wasn't going to let Daisy's murder slide—hell, I wouldn't if someone killed the girl I was in love with. My instincts were screaming he'd be seeking vengeance, and Jayden's smug face sat near the top of his list. The thought sent shivers down my spine, but another part of my mind didn't give a care. Let this damned pack burn to the ground for all I cared, after they had discarded me five years ago like so much trash.Before the pack house's massive door, I stood stock-still, drinking it in. Workers strode by, carrying equipment, their boots kicking up dust. Warriors marched past in tight formation, swords clanking, beads of sweat falling as they practiced. The building hummed, noisy and alive, as if nothing was out of place. I knew better than that. Somewhere deep inside the plague ravaged the Oakwood Pack, infecting it from within, and no work could
Ashley's POVWorry creased lines on my face as David faced away from me, his eyes vanishing into the darkness of his cell. I reached my hand out through the chilled metal bars, my fingers tracing his cheek, lightly, as if to pull him back from where he'd been. "What is it, David?" I breathed, my voice soft, hardly audible.The moment the words were out of my mouth, I cursed myself. Stupid question. The man was locked up, thrown into this damp, rotting cellar for Ella's fabrications that we'd screwed in the garden, painting us as some nasty pack sluts to get us out of the way. Of course everything was terrible—his life, his freedom, lost. My stomach twisted, rage and humiliation churning like a nasty cocktail.David's eyes became foggy, as if he were seeing something I was not. He breathed in deeply, then looked at me, his eyes still fixed somewhere over my shoulder. "There is a darkness smothering the pack, Ashley," he whispered, his voice barely making it past his lips. "The pack we
Ashley's POV"Ashley?" one of the healers stopped me, cutting into my discussion with the guard. "You all right? Something is bothering you?" Her forehead creased with worry, her eyes wide.My gut twisted. Jayden and Ella plotting to steal my triplets, John hanging on by his nails, David starving in a cell—nothing was right. My head was a goddamn whirlwind, racing a mile a minute with fear for my babies, their tiny faces seared into my mind. I gritted out a pale nod, struggling to paste on a fake smile. "Yeah, I'm fine," I lied, turning to Sarah, the senior medic. "Keep Zane stable, do your best.""But Ashley…" she started, her voice rising in protest."I'll be back soon," I interrupted her sharply, turning to the guard. He steps aside, freeing me from the room, the door creaking shut behind us. The damp coolness of the passage closed round me, full of the smell of wet stone and dry earth, making me shiver as we walked off.I stared hard at the guard, trying to crack him. "You know wh
Ashley’s POV“How often does he scream like that?” I asked the healer next to me as we hustled toward Zane’s room, the echo of his cry still rattling in my head. The air was thick with the smell of herbs and sickness, making my stomach churn.“This is new, Ashley,” she said, squinting, her voice low and uneasy. “Never heard him make a peep like that before.”I reached Zane’s bedside and grabbed his hands, his skin clammy and cold. “Hang in there, Zane,” I said softly, squeezing tight. “You’re gonna pull through, I swear.” He tried to sit up, his frail body trembling, but I pressed a gentle hand to his chest, easing him back down. His heartbeat was sluggish, barely thumping under my palm, and I knew we were racing against time.“Get me a tray,” I barked, keeping my hand on him, feeling the weak pulse. A memory sparked—an old Alchemy trick to check his condition fast. I closed my eyes, steadying my breathing, blocking out the room’s noise. My fingers stayed on his chest, anchoring me as