Chapter-7

                                                                           Asher

This was fucked up on a whole other level.

“You are being unreasonable,” Mac said flatly as I stormed into my room and slammed the door shut. “Just accept it. You have a mate now. How long do you think you can run? Isn’t it pretty clear you can’t? It’s fate, Ash. Otherwise, you won’t run into her again. Mates are for life, just accept it. She is the one for you.”

“Shut up! Shut up!” I growled, my mind spiraling.

I just…I had no idea how to process this. That night when I ran into Ivy, I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t in my senses and out of no fucking where I had a mate. My mind was so fogged, those sudden hits of emotions weren’t something I could handle. My reflexes made me turn and run for my life. I was scared. I was so damn scared, for whatever reason. Maybe it wasn’t the obvious reaction when you find your mate, but this was me and that was exactly how I felt.

And still do.

I wasn’t ready for a mate.

“It isn’t a big deal,” Mac assured me. “Just let her in, and you will see how easily everything falls into place.”

“No, it’s not. It’s too much work…it…no, I can’t,” I flopped down on the bed and placed my head in my hands. I was hardcore panicking, sweat beading on my forehead. I have never dated, never had a conversation with a woman that didn’t start with sex and end with sex. Heck, I don’t even know how it feels to love someone. I love my family fiercely, but I’m sure it wasn’t the same thing.

“Asher, open up,” I clenched my jaw as my brothers knocked at the door before flinging it open.

“Way to welcome me,” I sneered, glaring at them.

“Just calm down, okay?” Logan offered. “I know this is shocking…”

“Shocking?” I exclaimed. “I came back after eight months and boom…there’s my mate? Shocking doesn’t even cover it, Logan.”

“Okay, but now you do have a mate and there's nothing you can do about that,” Noah said.

“Precisely,” Logan agreed. “Look, Ash, we understand it can be overwhelming. Both Noah and I had a hard time in the beginning too. But eventually we had to give in because you cannot simply fight a matebond. It’s not possible.”

“Oh, watch me,” I muttered under my breath. “I mean…did you see her? I don’t have the patience to deal with a woman like her.”

“Ivy isn’t like that,” Noah said. “Yes, she’s outspoken and, well, not your typical type, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t a nice person or doesn’t have warmth to her. Don’t judge her like that. You don’t even deserve to after what you did. Imagine the pain she must have felt to find her mate running away from her.”

“Yeah, sorry to say, but she has every right to be pissed,” Logan agreed. “And hey…she’s pretty in a very…unique way. I think she is the perfect partner for you.” I shot my elder brother a dark look, and he raised his arms in defense.

“Ash, there is no way out of this,” Noah prompted.

“Yes, there is. I don’t want a mate, she doesn't want me…we can just reject each other and end this right here before something starts and then one of us gets hurt. Because fuck, what do I know of relationships or worse…love? It would spare both of us the pain. Rejection pain fades away after a time, I guess.”

“Dad will kill you,” Logan said. "Just to clarify, if it's not Ivy, it will be someone else. He didn’t want you to know, but if you returned without a mate, he was going to throw a mating ball for you and settle you with the best possible match. But he wasn’t having you be without a mate anymore. So, isn’t it better to be with the one meant for you than to be with just someone as an arrangement?” I stared blankly at both my brothers, wondering if I heard them right.

“Dad…what?” I growled, and it was such a fierce one that the windows almost shuddered.

“Yeah,” both Logan and Noah nodded.

"What does he think of himself? Do I look like a kid? Am the damn Alpha of the pack! I have sworn that with my blood,” I shouted, my blood boiling with fury.

“Exactly. you cannot fool around anymore, Asher. You are way past your age of finding a mate and settling down with a family. You need to produce an heir. That’s your duty. Picture the girls you could encounter if dad plans a mating ball. Rich, bratty daughters of alphas who would kill to be your luna not because they want you but because of your money and the power that comes with it. Think how that will end for you,” Logan said.

“Yeah. Ivy might not be the warmest of people you can meet, but she is very honest and true to herself. I have seen that. And she is a warrior of blood. You can’t expect her to not be fierce,”

“Where did you even find her?” I sighed, rubbing my face.

“We found her wounded near the pack boundary three months ago. We brought her to the pack and got her treated. When she healed, she told us that her name was Ivyanka Raynott…”

“Ivyanka…” I raised a brow and Noah smirked.

“Yeah, I had a hard time pronouncing that, so we stuck to Ivy,” he said. “I think she is of Hispanic descent or something. But she said an unknown pack attacked hers and destroyed it, killing the Alpha and his family that she served. Apparently, she somehow ran, and now she was looking for whoever did that to seek revenge. She got wounded after being attacked by rogues near our pack and defending herself against them."

“And that was enough for you to let her stay here? A total stranger?” I grimaced.

“No, we had our suspicions, so I sent a few men to investigate, and they found the bodies of dead rogues. She killed all five of them alone,” Noah said, and clearly by the sound of his voice, he was impressed. “Ivy asked if she could stay here and serve in the army while trying to investigate the whole thing that happened to her pack. We were hesitant, but we let her stay and had her monitored closely. She trained with the warriors and I must say she was incredible."

“Yeah, and we’ve needed a female guard for Cora and Rose for so long. Ivy seemed like the perfect choice. She took the oath last week and decided not to take a mate ever. Clearly, she didn’t have a pleasant experience with that,” Logan muttered.

“Don’t guilt-trip me,” I scowled. “And if she has already taken the oath, what’s the point?”

“Cora and Rose can free her of that. And the oath only binds her to not take mate…doesn’t stop her from other stuff,” I raised a brow at Logan and he smirked.

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean,”

“Don’t even go there,” I hissed, not ready to even entertain that thought. Her scent was enough. Just a whiff of it had my dick acting up. There was too much drama between us to begin with. Sex would just make things worse.

“Just saying,” Logan laughed. “Look, just think about it, okay? Please?”

“I hate you guys,” I mumbled, feeling irritated.

“You might not when you see the surprise we have prepared for you,” Noah smiled.

“What surprise?” My brothers grinned and shot each other a look.

“You will see tonight…”