Ashley's POV"This is a good place to tie the horses," David said softly as we reached the edge of the pack, the woods before us like a hungry, dark beast. We tied our horses to a gnarled, thick tree, their hooves striking the dirt, snorting gently as we cinched the knots so they wouldn't run.My heart had been broken, all tender because of Jayden's secret, his words reminding me of us fucking, boiling and brutal, his fists planted against my shoulders until I collapsed, only to be shattered by Ella with lies—to call me slut for supposedly screwing David in public."This matches the description," I grumbled, looking out into the forest, their vision flashing by distorted trunks and dark ferns as we parted from the track to enter the forest.The overhead canopy was heavy, smothering the light, casting complicated shadows that ghosted like specters. The air was rich with the odor, damp earth and rotting leaves, the scent growing stronger the deeper we descended, invading my system, aggr
Ashley's POV"They're… " I began, scowling out into the dark woods, my voice trembling as the distorted bodies moved in closer to us, their horrific smiles glinting in the fading light."Rogues! Take cover!" David shouted, finishing my sentence, his voice slicing as he motioned us towards a huge tree trunk, bark thick and mossy. We scurried, hugging the wood, low, my heart pounding like a drumbeat, my mind remembering Jayden's hands on me, warm and rough, fucking me until I forgot my fear, a memory shrouded by Ella's lies about me humping David in public to ruin me.The rogues came towards our position, their ground-shaking steps shaking the earth, their muzzle sniffing the air like a dog. David, the surprise kicker, raised his arms, warning us to be quiet, his eyes on the beasts. We took a breath, my chest constricted, hoping that their senses were blunted, my ears ready, my wolf growling low, ready to battle.They were blind, snorting frantically but to us, their heads crashing back
Ashley's POV"David!" I shouted, my parched throat, as I fled through the forest from the rogues, whose ugly bodies closed in on him like vultures. No way was I going to lose anyone on this mission, not David, not after all of this—Jayden's confession, his hands on me in flashbacks of us fucking, hard and desperate, his growls in my ear, now sullied by Ella's lies of me fucking David in the middle of town to destroy me.David's life was draining out, pinned under the rogues, claws raised to kill. His warriors were barely coming to, dazed by the black magic bolt, so I was his last hope. My claws were stretched out, ready and sharp, and I launched myself at the rogue who was going to take his life, my heart pounding, fury and fear mixed in my blood.The rebel did not even see me approaching, retreating as I slammed into it, my claws ripping through its chest, gouging deep, bloody cuts that dripped black, corrupted goo. It shrieked a screaming, gut-wracked scream of pain and rage, its ag
Ashley’s POVDavid’s eyes squinted, his face skeptical as he glanced at me, the monkey still clutching the shimmering flower in the tree. “You sure that’s the Silverbloom, Ashley? Looks fake as hell to me.” His voice dripped with doubt, his arms crossed tight.I gasped, my chest heaving, clutching the worn map, my eyes flicking between him and the paper. “I’m telling you, David, it’s the real deal. The smudges on the map, the narration, the silver glow—all refer to that flower on the monkey's paw." I said it in a chilly, rapid voice, my mind recalling Jayden's hand, coarse and hungry, screwing me out of all knowledge of the world, now tainted by Ella's falsehoods that I slept with David in the woods to ruin my life.I kept going, poking at the marks on the map, until David raised his hand and halted me. "Wait up, Ashley. Don't have to rush this," he told the monkey, his own eyes narrowed, his stare cold, feral. "Goddamn if I had a gun," he muttered to himself, his hand trembling as if
Ashley's POVWe pressed deeper into the chasm, the sound of our boots on the jagged rocks echoing back off the vertical walls like a chorus of ghostly whispers. The thrill of finding the Silverbloom had been lost, replaced by a crazy need to get the hell out of this cursed forest. My breasts ached, my mind working over Jayden's calloused hands, pinching, fucking me to gasping, the memory now soured by Ella's lies of me fucking David on the pavement, her poison strangling my existence."Oh, Rhea," I panted, shaking over a full breath of sodden air, freezing my lungs, the mist swirling thick around us, erasing everything."Worth it, Ashley," Sarah wheezed into my ear, her voice soft, trying to lift me up. "We'll be done in a minute, I promise." Comforting words, but they didn't work. I had to get out—out of the Oakwood Pack, out of its deceit and dishonesty.We stood stock-still, our eyes fixed on what was ahead of us, our breathing suspended. "What the devil is that?" David whispered,
Ashley's POV"I'm so damn sorry, Ashley," David growled, his voice rough as we moved away from the gorge, the rocky walls receding behind us. "Shouldn't have dragged you all into this mess." The words were rough, each syllable covered in guilt, his eyes trained on the ground ahead of him.I did not glance at him, my eyes lowered, my boots kicking up dust. "Sarah did not deserve that," I stated, my voice hollow, without emotion. "Not one bit." My chest ached, her screams still echoing in my head, mingling with images of Jayden's hands, wild and urgent, fucking me until I forgot no fears, now marred by Ella's lies about me fucking David in public to ruin me.David didn't speak, the forest consuming our words, the silence oppressive and weighted, bearing down on us like a physical presence. The marauding wolves fell silent, their growls suffocated, and there was only the seemingly infinite green of the forest expanding, the branches of the trees swaying softly in a faint wind, all of whi
Ashley's POV"We need to return to the pack. No use chasing shadows," David said, his voice harsh as he retracted his claws, walking towards the horses, his gaze raking the trees for danger. My heart was still racing with the loss of Sarah, her screams still echoing in my head, compounded by visions of Jayden's hands, hungry and coarse, screwing me raw, a memory now twisted by Ella's deceptions of me screwing David on the ground to break me.David reached his horse, glancing around either side, his body springs quick, warded. before leaping into the saddle. We rode hard, urging our horses out onto the road homeward, their hooves beating a steady rhythm on the ground. David led. his shoulders stiff, and we followed him, the rhythm of the ride urging us on, the forest blurring past.Silence fell around us again, thick and oppressive, Sarah's death and that strange car haunting our thoughts. None of us wanted to talk, all of us stuck in our own heads, attempting to cope with the weight o
Ashley’s POV I walked into my room, a big smile on my face, my eyes instantly locking onto the fancy ballroom gown hanging in front of my dressing table. I stared at how pretty it was, my fingers sliding gently over the smooth fabric. Tomorrow is the big day, and after so many struggles, Jayden—my longtime crush—will become Alpha. I couldn’t stop picturing him asking me to be his, but if he doesn’t, I decided I’d tell him how I feel instead. Still, I worry he might say no. Neither of us has met our fated mate yet, but every night, I kneel and pray to the Moon Goddess, begging for us to be destined for each other. I was lost in my thoughts when a familiar voice came from behind. It was Daisy, my best friend, stepping into my room. “Are you that excited about Raymond becoming the Alpha?” she asked, her voice playful. I frowned a little. I’m Ashley, an orphan of the Oakwood Pack and one of the toughest wolves here. Even though my rank is low, people respect me. In our pack,
Ashley's POV"We need to return to the pack. No use chasing shadows," David said, his voice harsh as he retracted his claws, walking towards the horses, his gaze raking the trees for danger. My heart was still racing with the loss of Sarah, her screams still echoing in my head, compounded by visions of Jayden's hands, hungry and coarse, screwing me raw, a memory now twisted by Ella's deceptions of me screwing David on the ground to break me.David reached his horse, glancing around either side, his body springs quick, warded. before leaping into the saddle. We rode hard, urging our horses out onto the road homeward, their hooves beating a steady rhythm on the ground. David led. his shoulders stiff, and we followed him, the rhythm of the ride urging us on, the forest blurring past.Silence fell around us again, thick and oppressive, Sarah's death and that strange car haunting our thoughts. None of us wanted to talk, all of us stuck in our own heads, attempting to cope with the weight o
Ashley's POV"I'm so damn sorry, Ashley," David growled, his voice rough as we moved away from the gorge, the rocky walls receding behind us. "Shouldn't have dragged you all into this mess." The words were rough, each syllable covered in guilt, his eyes trained on the ground ahead of him.I did not glance at him, my eyes lowered, my boots kicking up dust. "Sarah did not deserve that," I stated, my voice hollow, without emotion. "Not one bit." My chest ached, her screams still echoing in my head, mingling with images of Jayden's hands, wild and urgent, fucking me until I forgot no fears, now marred by Ella's lies about me fucking David in public to ruin me.David didn't speak, the forest consuming our words, the silence oppressive and weighted, bearing down on us like a physical presence. The marauding wolves fell silent, their growls suffocated, and there was only the seemingly infinite green of the forest expanding, the branches of the trees swaying softly in a faint wind, all of whi
Ashley's POVWe pressed deeper into the chasm, the sound of our boots on the jagged rocks echoing back off the vertical walls like a chorus of ghostly whispers. The thrill of finding the Silverbloom had been lost, replaced by a crazy need to get the hell out of this cursed forest. My breasts ached, my mind working over Jayden's calloused hands, pinching, fucking me to gasping, the memory now soured by Ella's lies of me fucking David on the pavement, her poison strangling my existence."Oh, Rhea," I panted, shaking over a full breath of sodden air, freezing my lungs, the mist swirling thick around us, erasing everything."Worth it, Ashley," Sarah wheezed into my ear, her voice soft, trying to lift me up. "We'll be done in a minute, I promise." Comforting words, but they didn't work. I had to get out—out of the Oakwood Pack, out of its deceit and dishonesty.We stood stock-still, our eyes fixed on what was ahead of us, our breathing suspended. "What the devil is that?" David whispered,
Ashley’s POVDavid’s eyes squinted, his face skeptical as he glanced at me, the monkey still clutching the shimmering flower in the tree. “You sure that’s the Silverbloom, Ashley? Looks fake as hell to me.” His voice dripped with doubt, his arms crossed tight.I gasped, my chest heaving, clutching the worn map, my eyes flicking between him and the paper. “I’m telling you, David, it’s the real deal. The smudges on the map, the narration, the silver glow—all refer to that flower on the monkey's paw." I said it in a chilly, rapid voice, my mind recalling Jayden's hand, coarse and hungry, screwing me out of all knowledge of the world, now tainted by Ella's falsehoods that I slept with David in the woods to ruin my life.I kept going, poking at the marks on the map, until David raised his hand and halted me. "Wait up, Ashley. Don't have to rush this," he told the monkey, his own eyes narrowed, his stare cold, feral. "Goddamn if I had a gun," he muttered to himself, his hand trembling as if
Ashley's POV"David!" I shouted, my parched throat, as I fled through the forest from the rogues, whose ugly bodies closed in on him like vultures. No way was I going to lose anyone on this mission, not David, not after all of this—Jayden's confession, his hands on me in flashbacks of us fucking, hard and desperate, his growls in my ear, now sullied by Ella's lies of me fucking David in the middle of town to destroy me.David's life was draining out, pinned under the rogues, claws raised to kill. His warriors were barely coming to, dazed by the black magic bolt, so I was his last hope. My claws were stretched out, ready and sharp, and I launched myself at the rogue who was going to take his life, my heart pounding, fury and fear mixed in my blood.The rebel did not even see me approaching, retreating as I slammed into it, my claws ripping through its chest, gouging deep, bloody cuts that dripped black, corrupted goo. It shrieked a screaming, gut-wracked scream of pain and rage, its ag
Ashley's POV"They're… " I began, scowling out into the dark woods, my voice trembling as the distorted bodies moved in closer to us, their horrific smiles glinting in the fading light."Rogues! Take cover!" David shouted, finishing my sentence, his voice slicing as he motioned us towards a huge tree trunk, bark thick and mossy. We scurried, hugging the wood, low, my heart pounding like a drumbeat, my mind remembering Jayden's hands on me, warm and rough, fucking me until I forgot my fear, a memory shrouded by Ella's lies about me humping David in public to ruin me.The rogues came towards our position, their ground-shaking steps shaking the earth, their muzzle sniffing the air like a dog. David, the surprise kicker, raised his arms, warning us to be quiet, his eyes on the beasts. We took a breath, my chest constricted, hoping that their senses were blunted, my ears ready, my wolf growling low, ready to battle.They were blind, snorting frantically but to us, their heads crashing back
Ashley's POV"This is a good place to tie the horses," David said softly as we reached the edge of the pack, the woods before us like a hungry, dark beast. We tied our horses to a gnarled, thick tree, their hooves striking the dirt, snorting gently as we cinched the knots so they wouldn't run.My heart had been broken, all tender because of Jayden's secret, his words reminding me of us fucking, boiling and brutal, his fists planted against my shoulders until I collapsed, only to be shattered by Ella with lies—to call me slut for supposedly screwing David in public."This matches the description," I grumbled, looking out into the forest, their vision flashing by distorted trunks and dark ferns as we parted from the track to enter the forest.The overhead canopy was heavy, smothering the light, casting complicated shadows that ghosted like specters. The air was rich with the odor, damp earth and rotting leaves, the scent growing stronger the deeper we descended, invading my system, aggr
Ashley's POVDavid's eyes flared with disapproval, and I knew I'd spoken too frankly about the Silverbloom flower at breakfast. My stomach clenched, shame and pain from Jayden's cold shoulder, his face empty as if I was not present, but I had promised he still loved me, memories flooding of us fucking, sweaty and hot, his hands holding me down until I screamed his name."I think…we should go out," I growled, attempting to clear my throat, shoving the chair away from me, wanting to be done with the stifling presence of the dining room and with Ella's superficial smile.“Hold on,” Ella said quietly but with that sugary sweetness that didn't suit the bitch who had also insulted me as a slut for allegedly getting screwed by David in the woods. "The road's going to be long and rough, Ashley. Eat." She gestured at the hot plates, her eyes sparkling, as if she were playing some sort of game I wasn't.“No, Ella, we’re good,” David cut in, standing up, tossing his napkin on the table with a sh
Ashley's POV"We'll do it together, and you can go tell your husband and kids," Ella said, with a smooth voice, resting a hand on my shoulder, with a move as bold as hell, given she'd been all over Jayden, her fingers slowly pulling the shirt off like she owned the boy.I stood there, staring into her eyes, my mind a mess, wishing David was here to cut through her bullshit. But only me, left alone with the bitch who had called me a slut for supposedly sleeping with David in the woods, her lie ruining me now that she was being friendly. I was speechless, my heart pounding, memories of Jayden's touch—heat, roughness, pinning me down until I screamed out his name—striking against my fury at Ella.And then I remembered the burnt car, one that she had no control over. "What about that car, huh?" I pulled away, backing up, yanking my shoulder from her hold, my voice rough, accusatory. "Tell me about that."She smiled, unflappable, her eyes flashing in the poor light. "Oh, Ashley, don't be s