A few days ago, In the aftermath of that eventful day when Lydia accompanied Ace to the monthly gathering; an intake of rogues and members from other packs, which were to be admitted to their pack,
she found herself grappling with a mixture of shock and apprehension. Ace had discovered his mate amidst the crowd, but he hadn't caught a glimpse of her face.
His grip on her waist suddenly tightened, and she winced. His gaze rested on the back of a figure, among the rogues who had applied for intake.
"What's wrong Ace?" Lydia didn't know who exactly Ace was looking at, but she felt something was different.
"It's nothing. Nothing serious," Ace said, as he forcefully withdrew his gaze. He ran his hands through his hair, "My mate is here."
"What? Which one…"
He hadn't seen her face, so he couldn't tell.
It was a moment that had taken her completely by surprise, but despite the shock, Ace held onto the promise he made to her.
" You have absolutely nothing to be worried about. We would have a choice in this matter. I will get married to you, regardless of it" He assured and pulled her in for a kiss.
Lydia couldn't deny the uncertainty that lingered within her. Though Ace had assured her that they would choose each other.
The words offered a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos that had unfolded. Lydia mustered the courage to ask him when he would reject his mate, Alyssa and for a fleeting moment, silence hung in the air.
Finally, Ace broke the silence, his voice tinged with uncertainty. He revealed that the decision would come after his return from the upcoming conference, but until then, she would have to wait patiently. Little did she know that waiting would bring about unexpected challenges.
Days turned into weeks, and Ace's absence left a void that was difficult to ignore. It was during this time that Alpha Larole; Ace's father, sought her out. She sensed the weight of his presence as he delivered a request that sent her thoughts spiraling. Alpha Larole asked her to accept Alyssa, Ace's mate as a maid to their family!
"That's outrageous, never will I watch Ace's mate move in here. Alpha, mate bond is unbreakable. He already chose me and announced me as his mate before the public. What would the people say? What if he falls in love with her? What then will I do?" She cried out
Lydia's immediate objection was met with an explanation that left her stunned. Alpha Larole believed that only Alyssa possessed qualities that made her the ideal person to bear the strongest and most talented heir to Ace's lineage. Furthermore, she was his mate. He also emphasized that the child would be unaware of his true mother's identity.
Lydia broke down.
Confusion and frustration flooded her thoughts.
Her voice trembled as she dared to question the Alpha's proposition. What if Ace wasn't willing to proceed with this arrangement? Would it all be in vain?
Although a part of her was hoping for a sliver of hope that Ace would not agree to such an arrangement. The Alpha's response was unexpected yet somewhat reassuring. He assured her that he would not force Ace into anything. It was a decision that rested in both their hands.
Reluctantly, she accepted the Alpha's proposition. It felt like the only choice, as much as it crushed her to make it. She knew deep down that denying Ace the chance to pass on his lineage would only sow seeds of resentment within him. She loved Ace way too much that she was scared to lose him, with his mate in the picture.
It was a choice she made with a heavy heart, hoping against hope that their tangled fates would find some semblance of resolution within the next six months.
The second time she laid eyes on Alyssa, her initial resentment towards her began to waver. As she laid eyes on her, she couldn't help but be captivated by her undeniable beauty. Her features held a certain allure, and her green eyes seemed to shimmer with a depth she had not anticipated. It was mesmerizing.
At that moment, conflicting emotions surged within Lydia—admiration intertwined with guilt and longing.
She wondered about the things that would go on in Ace's mind the day he would set his eyes on Alyssa. Would he be lost in them just as she almost was? Definitely! He would gaze into her dazzling eyes and who knew what else would happen after that? She panicked.
She knew she had to get rid of this woman who was her boyfriend's mate. Mate bond she heard was fate, and if the partners weren't allowed to be together they would both die lonely. The moon goddess had assigned everyone their mate, except her. She didn't have a mate. She was only lucky to be Ace's girlfriend. Which was why she wanted to get married to him, so no one would know. It was a shame, but she was skilled at acting. Besides, they were the perfect couple. Everyone wanted to be like them. Ace didn't make her feel as though they weren't fated to be with each other. He loved her unconditionally and made her feel whole, so it was hard for anyone to know they weren't mates.
Unable to bear the conflicting emotions, she approached Alyssa. She concealed her pain and jealousy and then put on the facade of a powerful woman to make Alyssa fear her yet Alyssa remained unfazed. Luckily enough, she knew Alyssa's weak spot and it was who she loved the most, Ethan. Her only family.
She felt intimidated by Alyssa's presence. She was nothing compared to her. Alyssa was strong and daring but she was nothing but a weakling.
Despite agreeing to let Alyssa work as a maid for six months, she made her wear a blindfold. In an attempt to foreclose Ace from any sort of connection, he and Alyssa might share. When Alyssa refused, she threatened her with death and threatened to make Ethan's life miserable. Without a choice, Alyssa gave in.
After all, if Ace didn't see what she was like, he wouldn't be interested in her, Lydia thought. Who would look twice at a maid in a shabby gown and blindfolded?
Little did she know that the resolution she sought would come at a cost she never anticipated—an unforeseen twist that would turn her world upside down and leave her questioning if the ending she desired was worth the sacrifices she would have to make.
It had only been days since Alyssa started working in Alpha Larole's mansion but it felt like ages. She had gotten so many bruises as a result of trying to navigate her way around the house and do the chores in a blindfold before her brain grasped the mental map of the house. Her wolf had become her companion, aiding her in memorizing everything that would get her hurt.Alpha Larole had also been fulfilling his promises to her bit by bit, ensuring she and her brother were safe and also well-fed. Except for Lydia's nonchalant behavior and constant fusses, everything else was good. The rest of the household seemed to like her or so, she thought. But they were nice to her.Alyssa hummed as she went about the day's work. she detested cleaning but what could she do? And today was the day she got to clean Ace's office. Of all days, today! It was also the day Ace was to return.The household was busy. Everyone was doing their thing, trying to make sure all was in order before his arrival. Ac
Ace's mind raced, urging him to seek out his father and demand answers. What the heck was happening? Why was she here? He couldn't fathom why his father had brought Alyssa to their home, questioning whether his father truly remained oblivious to her true identity as his mate.Frustrated and overwhelmed by the intense desire she had ignited within him, Ace stormed to his room in a rush, desperate for a cold shower. He feared that if he didn't cool off, he would lose all control and rush downstairs to embrace her in his arms.But the blindfold though. Why was she blindfolded? he wondered. Did she think their home was a circus? He chuckled and then stopped. Why did he find her intriguing? He didn't expect her to have that much effect on him, it was exciting. Adrenaline rush! With Lydia, he had this feeling whenever they were behind closed doors. But this girl. She was something. Something he couldn't define.His mind was a whirlwind of emotions as he stepped into the shower and let the c
Alyssa couldn't focus on work with Ace's presence in the house. The way the scent of him surrounded her, drowning in her senses, the pressure of her responsibilities became too overwhelming and suffocated her every breath. She knew she needed a leave. Seeking solace from the pressure, She summoned courage and asked the Alpha for a two-day leave. To her surprise, he granted her request without hesitation.She packed a bit of the stuff she'd be needing for two days and arranged the content in a small bag. She stood in front of the mirror and hesitated on whether to leave the blindfold on or remove it. Her mind wandered to Ace again; she couldn't control it. No matter how hard she tried not to think about him, whenever she remembered they were in the same house and she would always see him every day, she thought about him.She didn't know if she could go on with the mission although she didn't say so to Alpha Larole. They had already signed the contract which she couldn't turn back on. S
The door opened and Alpha Larole saw his son seated on the sofa in his office. At once, he knew that for Ace not to be in his own office then he must've come for an explanation. He had been giving him the cold shoulder ever since he arrived from the meeting and he knew it was none other than the fact that Alyssa was in their home. He had been waiting for the day he would demand explanations and he was sure the day had come."Young Alpha, what brings you to my office?" He asked as he sat in his office chair and observed his son."Can't I work in my father's office anymore, or am I prohibited?" Ace said, shutting down his Mac, and locked eyes with his father."I see…So how did everything go at the inter-pack conference?"Ace got on his feet, "I need an explanation."His heart pounded in his chest as he waited for his father to respond. He had never seen his father look so stern and so sober. His aura was oppressive. It was unnerving. The tension in the room was palpable, and Ace's mind
Alyssa felt a mix of excitement and nerves as she listened to her brother talk happily about the contest. He had been practicing for this contest for months, and winning meant everything to him. If he succeeded, not only would his salary increase, but he would also have the chance to become the gamma or even the beta one day."But who are you competing against?" Alyssa asked her brother, curious about his opponent."It's the Beta's son, Axel" he replied with a hint of determination in his eyes. "I know it won't be easy, but I'm ready to give it my all."Her heart sank at the mention of his name. Was Ethan crazy? Axel was a powerful person and she feared he might lose to him. That was someone who had probably been training right from when he was born. So as not to discourage him, she kept her worry to herself. He seemed so confident and optimistic in himself and all she could do was support him. Even if he failed, he would still be her hero.Thinking of the contest, it dawned on her. I
The sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the pack's celebration grounds. As the celebration continued, Ethan made his way back to her. He was exhausted yet elated, mixed emotions dancing in his eyes. Alyssa couldn't be more proud. He hugged her tightly. Ignoring the stench of sweat on him, she hugged him back tightly.She noticed how profusely he was sweating. She had seen him push himself to his limits, She knew he had trained relentlessly for this moment and she was proud his efforts weren't in vain."I did it, Ally. I made it to the finals," he whispered, his voice filled with disbelief and joy."Yes, you did," she replied, her eyes shining with tears of pride. "I always knew you could."She touched his cheek, concern etched on her face "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"Ethan chuckled "I'm fine is""The way you both charged at each other. I was almost afraid you would lose it, especially when you fell. I was worried you were hurt. I've been thinking about what the finals are
The afternoon light filtered through the curtains, gently caressing his face and rousing him from his slumber. Ace slowly opened his eyes, feeling disoriented as he tried to piece together the events from the night before. The migraine in his forehead made him groan in pain.He had worked tirelessly overnight to organize the files that had accumulated during his absence. It was past dawn when he was done with his work, that he had retired to his bedroom to sleep. He had barely been home in the last week due to the heavy workload, and he could feel the fatigue taking its toll on him.He lazily stretched in bed, wishing he could go back to sleep, but he was feeling light-headed. Forcing himself out of bed, he decided to take a refreshing shower probably it would help shake off the fatigue.As he searched for clothes in the closet, a pair of familiar arms snaked around him from behind, pulling him into a warm embrace. Ace smiled, recognising the touch instantly. It was his girlfriend."B
As Alyssa's vision blurred, her wolf let out a loud shrill in her mind and called out for Ace's wolf. Her eyes slowly closed as she lost consciousness as a consequence of the pain. Even though she hadn't joined the pack's mind link, her wolf's cry got access to Ace's wolf and he immediately detected it.He grabbed a bath towel and hurriedly tied it around his waist."What's wrong babe? Where are you going?" Lydia asked.Ignoring Lydia, he dashed out of the room and met Alyssa on the floor at his room's entrance, unconscious. Lydia peeked from behind him and scowled when she saw Alyssa. So Alyssa was the reason why he had left her in the bedroom in a hurry. She was pissed.Ace gently picked Alyssa from the floor and carried her carefully in his arms, into his bedroom against Lydia's disapproval. Lydia sulked, 'Why would Ace bring that slum into their bedroom? Why was he so kind to her?' She wondered.Ace placed Alyssa on the bed unaware of his girlfriend's angry expression. He gazed at