Chapter:-5

Ashly felt like her world had crashed, spinning one second and stopping entirely the next. Those words that escaped her fiancé's mouth weren't the ones that she was expecting at all. She guessed she deserved the cold treatment because it was an arranged marriage and Alex wasn't in love with her. But what Alex had said—Ashly still couldn't wrap her head around it, ten hours later.

Alex had someone in his life, someone he loved, whom he planned on being with ever after their marriage. Ashly had never had an opportunity to fall in love. Being an Omega meant Ashly had a pretty sheltered life. People were never looking to build a relationship with her; they'd rather get in bed with her. It had put Ashly off relationships and falling in love. But after she had gotten engaged, she started looking forward to sharing her life with that single person to whom she would give everything. She had gotten ready to give everything to the cold and hostile Alex Branson. Ashly sighed, pulling the bedsheet over her head. Alex wasn't a bad or rude person, though; in general, at least that's what he heard. From more than one person, he might add. His parents had apologized for Alex's behavior after he stormed out of the dinner. He had bowed to Ashly's parents and just left. He didn't even wait for his sister. Jia had said that her son was a lovable boy who was probably being mean only to spite his parents, and Jones had insisted that Alex would warm up to him. The highlight was, however, what his sister Rose had said.

"I'm taking my brother; he wasn't exactly warm by the look on your face."

Ashly surprised herself by replying, "He was...fine." Why was she lying? To protect that horrible, rude, and selfish asshole? Somehow, Ashly didn't want Alex to be scolded by someone, and she had a feeling that Rose would do exactly that.

Rose looked amused. "Really? That doesn't sound like my brother."

Ashly shrugged, not answering.

"Oh my God,", she said. "You're protecting him, aren't you?"

Ashly stared, her eyes widening as she got caught red-handed.

"No...."

"I know my brother. He wasn't interested in the prospect of this marriage from the beginning. He'd rather marry the daughter of someone who has had an eye on our pack... There's no way he was a bright ball of sunshine when he talked to you. Not to mention, he stormed away after you two spoke."

Ashly looked at the ground, guilty.

"What did he tell you, Ashly?"

Ashly bit his lip, not knowing if she should answer truthfully. Technically, she knew she shouldn't lie to a beta, considering they are higher in rank than her. But she was sure that Rose would put Alex in his place, and even though she wanted someone to do exactly that, she didn't want it at the same time. The ritual with the sacrifice to the moon goddess must be messing with her brain.

"Ashly, I can't talk to him and make him understand if I don't know what he told you."

Ashly sighed, getting over her hesitation. "He said he had someone in his life who he intended on staying with." She left out the part where Alex said she would hate Ashly always.

Rose rubbed her forehead, tired. "Listen, I'm sorry about what he said. He is not a bad person. He's just in love with someone who is not right for him. Alex will come around to the fact that he has to let go of the past."

Ashly nodded even though she couldn't bring herself to believe Rose's words after listening to the cold words of the man she was going to marry.

"I mean it, Ashly. You're good for him. You're the right choice,", Rose said, making Ashly look up at her face.

"You don't.... You don't know that. You've...just met me,", Ashly shook her head.

"And I observe, okay? I know you were excited to see my brother; I saw you at the window when I first came here."

Ashly gulped. "Maybe I was excited up until your brother did what he did."

Rose smiled wryly. "Then why did you try to save him when I asked you about what he said? Why did you lie?"

Damn, she was too smart. She got her; she was cornered.

Rose let out a small laugh at Ashly's struggle to answer.

"Consider it a sister's instinct, Ashly. I think you're definitely what's best for him.", She smiled and hugged her before she could answer. She pulled back, giving her a soft kiss on the cheek, and she left, leaving Ashly all confused.

The early rays of the morning sun shone brightly, and Ashly sat up, throwing her blanket aside. She rubbed the back of her hand over her eyes, blinking away the sleepiness. She stepped out of bed, walking toward the bathroom. She stopped in front of the washbasin and turned the faucet. The cool water felt refreshing when splashed gently over her tense features. She could feel the distress leaving her body by the time she was done brushing her teeth. She threw on a t-shirt over her naked torso and opened the door to the hallway. She sauntered forward, leaning on the railing of the stairs while looking down. She couldn't control her yawn as she noticed that the mess was all cleaned up after dinner yesterday. She looked around and spotted her mom waltzing towards the kitchen.

She greeted her, "Morning, mother."

Jenny looked up at her happily. "Good morning, sweetie. Why don't you wake up your sister and come down for breakfast, hmm?"

Ashly nodded and walked to Monika's room. She knocked on the door gently, just in case she was already up. Hearing no response from the other side of the door, she opened it slowly. She peeked in to see Monika snuggled under the blankets, covered from top to bottom.

She shook her head, smiling, and walked up to the bed. She tried to pry the blanket off of her, but it seemed like she had a tight grip on it as it wouldn't budge. She managed to uncover just her head.

"Moni, wake up.", She said it, softly patting her head. When she lay there irresponsive, she patted her cheeks. "Monika, get up already."

She heard her groan before opening her eyes and staring at her.

"What the hell do you want, Ashly?"

"Mom said to wake you up and then come down for breakfast."

Monika sighed loudly, sitting up. "What time is it?"

"Quarter to 9."

Monika yawned, "How did you wake you so soon? I heard you pacing around for a long time."

Ashly shrugged.

"You weren't able to sleep at all?", Monika asked, looking at her sadly. "What happened? I know you said you didn't want to talk about it yesterday, but do you think you can tell me what's wrong?"

Ashly sighed. "Alex wasn't exactly a warm person, but that's no surprise, considering it's an arranged marriage."

"However, that is no excuse for how he treats you. What exactly happened, Ashly?", Monika said, pulling her hair into a bun.

Ashly grumbled as she conveyed the entire conversation she had with Alex.

"He what?"

"Moni..."

"He called you an Omega. He said that he'd always hate you—that you were an inconvenience. He said he's going to stay with his pathetic lover even after he's gotten married. Oh, Alex Branson is so dead." Monika was seething with anger.

"Monika, calm down,", Ashly said softly as her sister's breathing became erratic in rage. Her werewolf was very protective of Ashly, and at the moment, it looked like it was taking over her body.

Monika took a deep breath and closed her eyes. It took a few seconds, but when she opened them, Ashly could sense that she had calmed down.

"Ashly, you can't marry him."

"Monika.."

"No, you can't. I don't want your life to become a living hell, and I have a feeling that's exactly what Alex is going to make it."

"Moni, I can't."

"I'll talk to Dad. I don't care if the packs are at a crossroads for centuries more. You're not getting your soul bound to that jerk."

"Monika, We can't stop the wedding. The ritual's done. The moon goddess, herself, can't change my fate."

"The ritual may be over, but the wedding's not. If you're scared of stopping the wedding, I will."

"Moni, you know how much this family means to me. Our father took me in without a question when I was orphaned. He didn't disown me when I presented as an Omega. He and Mom have taken care of me more than my own parents ever did. I have to do this for them. Dad has always respected my decisions. He's never forced me to behave like a traditional Omega. I have to do this for him, more than anyone else."

"Ashly, Dad will understand."

"He has never asked me for anything, Monika. The one time he's asked me something, I'm not going to bail on him."

"Ashly, listen to me."

"Besides, if I'm the one to pull out of the wedding even after the ritual, it'll do nothing but add fuel to the simmering fire between the two packs. I don't want to be the cause of a war between the packs."

"Ashly, you don't deserve to marry someone who won't cherish you."

"I will be fine, Monika. Everything will be fine." She was lying; he knew it. This was not fine. This was the exact opposite of fine."

"If Alex hurts you..."

"He won't. He won't jeopardize the peace treaty."

Monika moved forward from where she sat on the bed to give Ashly a hug, who let herself snuggle into her embrace, wrapping her own arms around her back.

"I love you, Ashly."

"I know, little sister. I love you too."

Monika pulled back and laughed a little. Ashly smiled at her before saying, "Now, go brush. Your breath stinks."

Monika groaned, throwing a pillow at her before getting out of bed. She made her way to the bathroom, and Ashly decided to make her bed. She folded her blanket and neatly arranged her pillows back on the bed. When Monika came back after brushing, they both headed downstairs to have some food.

Jenny ruffled Ashly's hair as she sat down at the table. They were soon joined by Brandon, and they had a great time together, just eating, talking, making each other laugh—just being a family. They hadn't had quality family time for the past few weeks, with Brandon and Jenny being busy with the pack's and Luna's duties. Ashly would do anything for them, and that's why she was going to marry Alex Branson. For her family. For her dad. For her pack.

Noticing how happy all of them were, Ashly really wished for a happy family of her own after leaving here after the marriage. Ashly hated that she wanted that family with Alex, the alpha who so clearly hated her very thoughts, the alpha whom Ashly wanted despite him being an asshole.