Alle Kapitel von 365 days With The Alpha Who Marked Me. : Kapitel 11 – Kapitel 20

Making her way out of the venue, Ashley pulled out her phone and texted Nora, asking about her whereabouts.Now standing a few steps away from the entrance, she folded her arms, awaiting her ride. As she did, her mind drifted back to the dance with Dane, her cheeks reddening at the memory. She remembered how warm his hand had felt against her skin…how he refused to let go.“What are you doing?” She suddenly muttered, slapping her cheeks lightly. “He’s our enemy, remember? You cannot fall for him again!”“Has he forgotten you already, or are you done satisfying him for the night?”Ashley didn’t need to look up to recognize Rowan’s voice.Rolling her eyes, she shot back, “What about you? Why are you back? Has Elena grown tired of you and dumped you already?”“You don’t even try to deny that you are sleeping with Alpha Dane. What did he promise you?” He questioned, looking as though he had been betrayed that had Ashley stunned. He was acting like a victim when he was the culprit. Ashley

“If you are referring to Aurora, there is nothing between us,” Dane said, attempting to clarify the situation. “She is a close relative. You will be seeing her around.”Ashley didn’t buy it for a second. “I thought you had a fiancée?” She inquired, intentionally prodding him to make him spill.“Aurora is not my fiancée. I have no intention of marrying her,” he said, causing Ashley’s brow to furrow. “My fiancée is someone else entirely.”Not Aurora, but another woman? The revelation sat heavy in the air.“You will try on the ceremony dress tomorrow,” Dane continued, rising to his feet and moving toward his desk. “My Beta will pick you up at the same time.”…The following afternoon, Ashley stepped out of the car in front of a high-end boutique. She took a steadying breath as she read the sign, mentally bracing herself to face him. She was tied to this man for a year, she might as well start getting used to his presence now.“Miss, this way,” Silas, Dane’s Beta, gestured. She nodded and

“That jerk! How did he get in?” She muttered, her face twisting in annoyance as she walked back into the room.A relieved sigh escaped her, glad she had evaded suspicion for now. The Alpha King’s death had come at the perfect time, giving her the chance to avoid being marked by him.The mating ceremony was scheduled for two days from now, but thanks to the untimely death of the Alpha King, it would be postponed until stability was restored. She now had time to find a way to stop him from marking her or she was doomed. He must never find out they were mates. Never! She walked up to her luggage, picked out her nightgown, and returned to the dressing mirror.“Get yourself together, Ash!” She told her reflection, slapping her cheeks in an attempt to motivate herself.The following morning, Ash groaned softly as her eyes fluttered open, taking in her surroundings. A satisfied smile spread across her lips as she stretched. It had been so long since she had a good night’s sleep and weirdly

After the meeting, the crowd was ushered into a side hall for dinner. Conversations hummed as guests began to mingle, and Ashley found herself tethered to Dane’s side. She had no choice but to follow him, plastering on fake smiles and exchanging pleasantries with strangers. Her legs were starting to throb in her heels, but every time she looked at Dane to signal her discomfort, he was already deep in conversation with someone else. Not wanting to be a burden, she gritted her teeth and kept smiling at anyone who approached. Her gaze wandered across the room until she locked eyes with someone familiar. Alpha Nathan. He flashed her a warm smile, watching her as if she were a long-lost friend. Ashley stiffened, caught in an awkward spot. She wasn't sure if being friendly was wise, given he was Dane’s strongest rival, but she figured a simple smile couldn't do much harm. She returned the gesture, this time genuinely, with a small nod of acknowledgment. “You have got yourself a lovely Luna

“Where were you?” Ashley flinched at the sound of the deep, cold voice, her chest rising and falling unevenly as she struggled to steady her breathing. Her gaze shifted into the room, only to meet Dane’s. It was cold, sharp, and suffocating. The anger in his gaze was palpable and it satisfied her. After abandoning her at the arena, he dares to ask about her whereabouts. “Minding each other’s business was one of the clauses in the contract. I don’t have to answer you,” she replied, brushing past him toward the dressing room. “Stay away from Alpha Nathan.” His command made her scoff, and she turned slowly to face him. “Are you going back on your word now?” She said. “We agreed we were free to take any lover we wanted.” “Choose someone else,” he insisted, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. “It cannot be Alpha Nathan.” Her expression hardened. “You must be joking,” she said, taking two deliberate steps toward him. “When it’s me, suddenly the rules matter, but whe