Jayden’s POVI stared into her blue eyes, so full of warmth, so captivating.But no, I pushed down the urge to get lost in them. Instead, I leaned in close, my breath grazing her ear. “You don’t want anything to happen to your… human husband, do you, Ashley?”Her body stiffened, her bound hands jerking against the ropes.“I already told you,” she said, her voice tight, teeth clenched. “I’ll… help you.”Her eyes burned with rage as she spoke, and I could tell she’d do anything to break free.It was torment for her, pure cruelty, but it thrilled me.“Don’t think I’m okay with your… marriage to a human,” I said, watching her face twitch slightly at my words.She let out a scoff, muttering under her breath. “Can’t even get marriage right yourself.”She scoffed again, then, all at once, her expression shifted. Her face became calm, almost serene. She turned to me, her blue eyes flashing with a mix of defiance and mischief.“My marriage to the man I love is none of your business, Jayden,”
Ashley’s POVI stared, stunned, as Jayden’s face shifted in a flash. His eyes didn’t blink, locked on mine, practically begging. He looked like my dog, Max, when I’d scold him for chewing my shoes. A spark of satisfaction hit me, seeing him like that. Bet he didn’t like the taste of his own tricks now.He still hadn’t answered the guard, and the knocking kept coming, louder each time. I could tell it was rattling him. Unlike most alpha heirs, Jayden was weirdly attached to his dad, almost too much. It’s why his father trusted him enough to name him alpha of the Oakwood Pack before he passed.“So, who’s the one begging now, huh?” I muttered, a small gasp slipping out.His eyes turned cold and haughty at my words. Before I could blink, he closed the gap between us, grabbed my hips, and yanked me close.“You’ll come with me to see my father, won’t you?” he whispered, his breath hot against my cheek.The second his hands gripped me, a jolt shot through my body. What was he playing at n
Ashley's POV"Get your fucking hands off me!" I shouted, fighting against the strange hands that closed around me like a steel trap. My heart pounded in my chest, fear and adrenaline pounding so hard I could barely think. Everything was happening too fast. I curled my fists, pulled my arms back, and crouched low, ready to strike whoever touched me."Shh, I'm not gonna hurt you," the stranger whispered, her voice all soft but creeptastic as hell. I was paralyzed in position, my breath caught—a woman's voice? What the hell?"I won't hurt you," she said once more, still grasping around my waist with her arm, holding me trapped in the stifling blackness."Kidding me? Release now!" I screamed, my energy growing as I tried to realize why a lady werewolf would have me held down like this. Was this some sick thing Jayden designed to play me?Through the dim, dark light along the hall, I saw her face—death-whitened, eyes hollowed deep, face drawn back over cheekbones so far it could tear. She
Jayden’s POVThe memory burned in my mind, raw and vivid—my cock buried deep in Ashley’s wet, greedy pussy, her moans like a filthy symphony that drove me wild. Daisy could never compare. Ashley’s gasps and cries were fucking perfect, each one spurring me to thrust harder, deeper. Just as I hit my peak, exploding all over her, a voice shattered the moment.“Alpha Jayden!” a young voice called from the hallway, sharp and unsure. “Are you there?”I froze, my lips still locked on Ashley’s hard, swollen nipple, unwilling to pull away. Her warm body squirmed beneath me, and I knew I had to pull it together fast. I fumbled with my zipper, cursing under my breath, while she scrambled to cover herself, yanking her shirt over her bare tits, her breaths shaky.The voice called again, more desperate this time. “Alpha Jayden, we need you now!”“Goddamn it, I’m coming! What’s the problem?” I snapped, still wrestling with my zipper as Ashley groped in the dark for her panties, her hands frantic.“T
Jayden’s POV“Ashley?” my father croaked, his voice rough and broken as a cough shook his frail body.The healer shook her head, her face grim. “It’s getting worse, I’m afraid.”Ashley turned to him, her eyes softening as she took in his weakened state. He reached out, his trembling hands stretching toward her, begging for her presence.She stepped forward slowly, her movements careful, and wrapped her hands around his. Her touch looked gentle, almost tender, like she was afraid he’d break.“You’ll be okay soon,” she whispered, locking eyes with him, her voice steady.I wasn't surprised at how close they were. Five years ago, when I had rejected her, my father had fought me on it, tooth and nail. He had given her everything she needed to live outside the Oakwood Pack, and now he was enjoying the reward for that loyalty. His sunken eyes, tired and dull, stayed fixed on her as he muttered something, swallowing hard.Ashley leaned in, her ear pressed against his cracked lips, listening i
Ashley's POVThat voice, the bubbling way she said things—it slammed into me like a body punch to the stomach."Hey, how is he doing?" she asked, moving towards Zane, her eyes shining with interest.As she talked, her gaze swept Zane's bedside, a mix of curiosity and something slippery that I could not quite read at this point. I caught the healer's eye briefly, wishing she could see it, but her face only darkened with concern."It's bad," she said, her head shaking. "The illness is reaching his heart. I fear it will get worse by tomorrow morning."I stared at this stranger in awe. Who the hell was she, just waltzing in as if it was her place? And why did her voice sound so damn familiar?I glanced at Jayden, hoping he would somehow say something, anything, but he remained still, staring at the healer talking to this interloper as if it didn't matter.When I returned, the stranger had already begun preparing something in a tray, her fingers dancing in a spookily accurate way. "This'll
Ashley's POV"You're even cheaper than I thought!" Ella sneered, spitting as she spoke. Her grip on my wrist was tight, the air between us crackling with tension.She suddenly shoved my hand away, her eyes blazing with fury. "I don't have time to waste on a human-loving whore!"They stung like a slap, with each word striking hard. I gazed at her, trying to place her among the pack’s faces. Not the healer—Raven already took on that role. Not a servant, either. A mistress? Not on her life—she had too much authority for that.Her claws thrust forward, catching me unprepared. "You don't belong here, whore!" she screamed, charging at me. I dodged her, unsheathing my claws in defense, prepared to attack back.Just when we were about to bump heads with one another, Jayden came between us. "Ashley, no!" he ordered, voice unyielding and stiff, as if someone was preventing something from exploding within him.She was quick. I was grabbed by him as she leaped, her claws glinting in the darkness
Ashley's POVI stood stock still where I was when Jayden yelled out my name, my stomach knotting as I attempted to figure out what in the world he wanted now. My curiosity eventually got the better of me, so I went back to the room, opening the door. My jaw almost hit the floor when I saw what I did.That bitch Ella had Jayden by the balls, literally, her eyes locked on his with a nasty smirk. He was propped against a table right by his dying father, moaning like a dog in heat as she worked his crotch. His head tipped back, eyes squeezed shut, totally lost in it.“Bet you’re loving this, huh,” she purred, starting to pull her hand away.“No, Ella, go on, please," he begged, voice begging between the moans.I couldn’t stand it. I cleared my throat, loud enough to snap some shame into them. Ella's grin spread wider, but she glanced at me after she turned back around. Jayden however shifted uncomfortably, standing stiff and fussing with his shirt like a caught shoplifter."You called me,
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