Ashina’s POV
Reaching home, I watched the wall clock and realised it is just 5am and Nathan should be asleep and his girlfriend, I have no idea if she had actually spent a night here. Luckily for me, the rest of the pack members were all asleep for I wonder what they would think of me to see a newly wedded wife sneaking in by this time. Entering my room from the back door, I made sure my door was locked as I hastily undressed myself and ran into the bathroom. Standing in front of the mirror, I gazed at my reflection as the thought of having a one night stand with a stranger in the previous hours struck my mind. I only went to the club to drink away my sorrow and now this? First, the only one I love, Nathan, was with another woman. Second, I had lost my virginity to that stranger. It was too much on me as tears flowed down my eyes. Suddenly, my wolf’s voice broke the silence. "Stop crying, Ashina," my wolf spoke in my head, its voice gentle. "At least the stranger didn't reject you because of your size. He showed interest in you, he approached you willingly. That means he appreciates you just the way you are." My tear-filled eyes realised my wolf's words at the unexpected reassurance. I wiped away my tears and took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside me "But... but what about my husband?" I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. Ever since I turned 18 in the previous year, my wolf has always been my closest friend. My wolf is just a year old. My wolf's voice grew stronger, more insistent. "Your husband may not always see your worth, but that stranger did. Remember how he looked at you, how he made you feel desired and beautiful. That kind of love, Ashina, that's the kind you deserve. Not the subtle jabs and hurtful comments disguised as concern." I wiped my tears again, remembering the moment I had shared with the stranger, the way he had made her feel alive and appreciated me in a way I hadn't felt before, he touched me in the right places as I could now clearly remember how I ended up in that bed with him. "My wolf is right." I said to myself. "I deserve to be loved for who I am, not for who someone else wants me to be." My wolf's presence filled me with strength, bolstering my spirit in ways I had never experienced before. With a deep breath, I made my way into the warm shower and switched it on, the warm water pouring down on me and making me feel even more relaxed. *** When it was finally morning, the knocking sound on my door jolted me awake as I saw one of the maids walk in. “Good morning my Luna.” She greeted me, bowing to me in respect while I rubbed the sleep off my eyes. “Sorry to disturb your sleep, Alpha Nathan had sent me to come get you ready. His twin brother is visiting.” She added. Wow! It's great news. Nathan has always told me so much about his twin brother but I haven’t gotten the opportunity to see him in person. I’m glad to hear this news. At least I’ll get to see the twin brother of my best friend, Nathan even though they weren’t identical twins. The maid assisted me in bringing out my dress and once I finished showering, she dressed me much in my royal attire. My long beautiful Luna gown flowing gracefully beneath me. My hair was beautiful stretched as it poured down to my showers and my face, the maid applied a simple but yet beautiful makeup which fitted my look and dress. In addition, I made use of the body fragrance Nathan had bought for me some days ago. Reaching the throne room, my husband was already seated as I sat next to him while the maids bowed their heads. As I sat next to Nathan, my heart raced with excitement. “You look beautiful." His gazed fixed on and then he caressed my hair while I blushed non stop. “Thanks." She replied. The moment was shattered with the sound of the doors opening and a man walked in alongside the servants who carried his luggages. My heart dropped to my stomach. It was him. The man I had a one night stand with, the man who I never thought I would see again. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks as he approached. Immediately, Nathan stood up from his seat and in open arms, he welcomed his brother as they both hugged passionately. “It’s good to see you, my blood.” Said Nathan while I stood from my seat, standing behind Nathan. And then it happened. Nathan’s twin locked eyes with me in realisation. I could tell he recognized me, and the thought of Nathan finding out about our encounter made me want to disappear into thin air. “Meet my wife, Ashina.” Said Nathan, pulling away from the hug. “Ashina, meet my twin brother, Daniel.” “Hi…” said Daniel. “My brother told me so much about you.” He added and I replied, forcing out a smile. “Same here, nice to meet you Daniel.” I replied, trying to steady my breath. But to my surprise, he didn't create a scene. He simply nodded in acknowledgment and we headed to the feasting table and sat. I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that hung over me. I tried to focus on their exciting conversation, but every time his brother spoke, I couldn't help but steal glances in his direction. I was brought back to reality when Nathan's brother directed a question towards me. I stuttered through my response, trying to maintain composure, but I could tell he saw right through me. It was a good thing that Nathan didn’t observe what was going on. Daniel as well was cool and corporate as he tries to maintain his composure.Maya's POVI had won finally but the fight wasn't over yet, in fact it was just getting started. I needed to kill Nathan for it to be fully over. I looked over at Ashina and smiled, I wished she would see that I was doing this for her as much as I was doing it for me. I wondered when she was going to realize that she was just a girl that got lucky from the orphanage but is still depending on the others to make her life decisions for her when she could easily use her head and become a queen."So for your first lesson, you are going to pretend that we are good friends and learn to do as I say without any questions asked" I informed her while sinking into my throne-like chair. This place was built solely by me with the help of the wolf's bane of course because I wasn't as strong as I would love to be without it. I was weak and I hated myself for it but now I was very strong and I intended to conquer everything that was on my path. This was my destiny I knew it and being raised in an orph
Ashina's POVShe was crushing me and I felt so helpless. What was I going to do now? How was I going to save my friends? Save Nathan? I was almost at the point of giving up when she suddenly released me and stood above me while I whimpered in pain. My whole body was on fire and she was smiling widely at me like some possessed being. I had never imagined Maya to be so wicked and heartless. What had happened to her?"So what's it going to be princess, say yes to me or watch your friends die. I don't think they have much time left though" She looked to the place where Daniel, Darren, and Erica were and I struggled to turn my head in that direction and follow her gaze. Daniel was still wheezing slightly and I could still see the very slow rise and fall of Erica's chest but what caught me off guard was how still and unmoving Darren was. I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me that he was dead and I didn't know where the energy came from but I quickly sat up and pressed my hands together in a
Ashina’s povMaya’s expression softened for a moment, almost pitying, and I thought she might let me go. But then she shook her head, a cruel smile spreading across her lips. “You still don’t get it, do you? I’m not doing this because I want to. I’m doing this because I have to. Because this is the only way I get to survive. Nathan’s already made up his mind about me. I’m as good as dead if I don’t do this. And I’m not going to die without a fight.”She released me suddenly, standing up and stepping back. I sucked in a deep breath, coughing as air flooded my lungs. I rolled onto my side, clutching my chest, trying to stop the room from spinning. When I looked up, Maya was standing over me, holding the bottle of antidote in one hand, and a knife in the other.“I’ll give you one more chance,” she said, twirling the knife between her fingers. “Help me, Ash. Stand by my side, and I’ll make sure your friends live. We can rule together. You and me, two orphan girls, showing everyone what we
Ashina’s povI dropped to my knees beside Daniel, my hands trembling as I touched his shoulder. “Daniel, what’s happening?” I asked, my voice breaking. His eyes met mine, pain and confusion swirling in them, but he couldn’t speak. His body convulsed again, his hand reaching out as if trying to grab onto something, anything. “Help him!” I shouted at Maya, my voice raw with desperation. “Do something!”Maya just watched, her expression unreadable. “He’ll live” she said softly, almost to herself. Darren was on the ground, still struggling, his breath coming in ragged gasps.“Except him.” She went towards his body and kicked him even further.Érica’s movements had slowed, her eyes rolling back into her head as she went still. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst. I wanted to scream, to run, but my legs wouldn’t move. I could only kneel there, helpless, as everything fell apart around me.“Why are you doing this?” I demanded, turning to Maya, my voice trembling with rag
Ashina’s povA sense of unease settled in my stomach as we pulled up to the summer house. The place looked the same as it always did, but something about it felt different. Wrong. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, a warning I couldn’t ignore. Nathan asking us to come over for lunch after everything that had happened felt off. My wolf stirred inside me, sensing the same wrongness I did. Even the air felt heavier, like it was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.“Do you think Érica knows about this?” I asked, voicing one of the many thoughts running through my mind.Daniel glanced at me, his face tight with concern. “If she does, she sure as hell didn’t put up a fight.” He took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the house as if he could see through the walls. “Are you ready to face him?”I nodded, trying to muster the confidence I didn’t quite feel. “Yeah. I’m ready.” But my voice didn’t sound convincing, even to my own ears.We got out of the car, the gravel crunc
Nathan’s povI open my eyes slowly, trying to shake off the grogginess that fogs my brain. Everything around me is dark and unfamiliar. Panic hits me like a tidal wave when I realize I don’t recognize my surroundings. I’m trapped. My breath quickens, and I tug at my arms, feeling the bite of rough ropes digging into my wrists. They’re strapped to the arms of a wooden chair. My legs are tied too, and the more I struggle, the tighter the restraints become. The realization sends a chill down my spine.“What the hell?” I mutter, but my voice sounds hollow in the empty space. I try to think, try to recall the events of the past day, but my mind is a jumbled mess. Fragments of anger flash through my memory—me shouting at Érica, my blood boiling over something she’d said or done. I remember grabbing her cheap bottle of wine and taking a deep swig that burned down my throat. After that? Nothing. Just a blank void.How did I get here? Where the hell is here?I strain my eyes, trying to make se