Chapter-5

                                                                         Ivy

“No, I will not reject him!”

I wasn’t sure if I heard my wolf right. Did she just refuse to reject this asshole?

“What?” I mumbled. “What did you say?”

“I will not reject him. I get to have a say on this too and I want my mate! It’s been so long and I had almost given up the idea of ever finding one. And now here he is and you know I have longed for him. I am not giving him up…no. I want a mate!” Silver retorted, sounding petulant.

“Even if he is an asshole like that? Silver…he ran away from us, remember? Remember the way we felt? That intense feeling, the longing and how crazy it drove us? How could you accept a man like that? He’s a freaking coward,” I protested.

“I know, but he admitted it…it was a mistake. And mistakes happen. You didn’t try to stop him either, did you?”

“I was shocked!”

“So was he…”

“Stop this nonsense right away,” Alpha Joseph grimaced, shooting a glare at his son. “The whole pack is watching. Let’s just go inside and discuss this calmly. Some misunderstanding must have happened and it would be helpful if both of you act your age.”

“I agree with dad,” Noah nodded. “This is too much to process. You are mates, for fuck’s sake,”

“Please, Ash?” Luna Rose said softly, and I noticed how Asher’s eyes softened as he gazed down at her.

“Fine,” he grumbled, and at least he had the courtesy to wait and let me walk ahead first as I followed after others to the Alpha House.

“See, he is nice?” Silver offered.

“Shut up,” I hissed under my breath.

There was a prickling sensation on my back as Asher followed behind me. He was at least a few feet away, but I could feel that sensation, that larger-than-life presence of an Alpha almost sticking to my skin. His scent, something very distinct and unlike any other scent I have ever experienced before, lingered around me, making a funny feeling erupt deep in my belly. My mind was too preoccupied to try to figure it out at the moment, but I knew it was a scent that I will never forget.

“Can you walk faster?” Asher grimaced. I whirled around and shot him a glare, which he reciprocated with an even darker one.

“Asshole,” I mouthed, not even bothered by the fact that he was the Alpha of this pack and even if unwillingly…my Alpha, too.

The party halted at the eloquent living room and it almost felt like we were going to be charged for treason the way everyone assessed me…us. Asher took his position beside me and even though I was fairly tall, he seemed to be looming in comparison. Again, emanating that alpha vibe that will have you bending in front of him, no matter what. But I was his mate, so if anyone would bend here, that would be…him.

“Now, will you guys explain?” Alpha Joseph demanded.

“I already told you everything. What else do you want?” Asher muttered. “We met at a club two years ago, probably. Mac claimed her as his mate. It was too dark, I was too drunk and shocked, making it just so overwhelming that I couldn’t handle it and ran. But Mac remembered her scent and the next day I did go to find her so I could apologize and, well, give her the rightful respect she deserves. But she was gone, and I tried to look around for months, but there was simply no trace of her.”

“How could you run from your mate? That’s the most absurd thing I have ever heard,” Cora said.

“I said I was shocked. I wasn’t ready. Not everyone is jumping at the idea of finding a mate,” Asher scowled.

“You know how disrespectful and embarrassing that is as an Alpha, Asher. Don’t you?” Alpha Joseph muttered, sounding disappointed. “People will make fun of you if anyone finds out,”

“And how will anyone find out?” Asher retorted.

“You know that’s not the point,” Logan said. “You are an Alpha, and it’s your duty to treat your mate with respect. Ash, you need to apologize to Ivy and make things right by doing what needs to be done. You need to accept her and then make her your Luna the right way, which is by marrying her,”

Wait, a moment…did he say marry her? Her as in…me?

“Marry? Logan…we don’t even want each other…what the fuck?” Asher grimaced. “No freaking way. I am not marrying her. Apologize…yes. I was wrong, but marry? I just met her ten minutes ago. Heck, I would reject her if I could, but…”

“But?” Rose probed.

“But Mac doesn’t want to…and if he doesn’t reject then…I can’t,” he grumbled. I was surprised again. His wolf doesn’t want to reject me? Why?

“Because we are not stupid like the two of you,” Silver replied.

“I agree…I don’t want to marry him,” I protested. “I have taken the oath to dedicate my life to Luna Coraline and Rose as their sworn guard and never take a mate. I intend to keep that promise for as long as I am alive.”

“Ivy, Rose and I can free you from the oath,” Cora repeated again. “You cannot be our sworn guard because you are rightfully the Luna of the pack now.”

“Not unless we accept each other. And yes, maybe our wolves don’t want rejection, but that doesn’t mean we have to accept this. There’s always free will,” I responded.

“But I don’t understand…if your wolves aren’t hesitant, then why are you two? Mistakes happen and they can be sorted. That doesn’t mean you would take such drastic decisions just out of anger. Rejection isn’t child’s play. It’s a very serious thing. It’s painful and will not serve either of you,” Rose muttered. “Is the fact that Ash ran away from you the only reason you don’t want him?”

I stared blankly at the beautiful woman as her green eyes held my gaze. My stomach was in knots, my heart thudding against my chest while I tried to form a reasonable answer. Because how could I possibly make her understand that I can’t be mated to the man who was the fucking Alpha of this pack?

The very pack…I was sent to destroy.