**ASHTON**"Are you even listening to what I am saying?" Williams tapped the desk in front of me.I was jostled fork my pleasant thought inky to smile at him. "Mmm? What?"Williams appraised me, his eyes narrowed at me. "Start spikking.""Spilling what?" I demanded, adjusting on my chair so he doesn't see the large bulge I was spotting. How was I supposed to start telling him that the man sitting before him was no longer the man he used to know. Once more, I was allowing myself get blown away by a werewolf. Scratch that. I have an idea that this happened a long time ago. I was the one evading it, pretending to be unaffected when of course I was down the ocean, drowned my the goddess own ropes. This is too good to be real."Tell me what has you glowing like this?" He drew out the chair in front of my desk and say down, taking the bottle of Madeira to pour a large potion for himself. "I have been noticing it, don't give me ctap. At first, I was like, let me give you some time to confi
**THIRD POV**(GWEN's FORMER PACK)There was a steady knock at the front door causing Salome to pause from stirring the flour on the bowl, trying to listen. Was it her ear or someone was ag the door? She wondered. Her husband couldn't possibly have forgotten something, did he? He merely left five minutes ago, to get the carpenter for a dent she made in the cavjnte this morning during their quarrel. She caught a scent. An unfamiliar scent."Who there?" She called out, dropping the spatula and dusting her hand son the apron. "I'm coming." Theresa had long moved out into the Alpha's house to be with her mate, leaving her and Kent the only occupant of the house. Unless they are coming for a visit as they usually do every three days.She reached the door and twisted the key to the left the door opened. And a stranger stood there."Hello," Salome greeted, trying to recall where she had met the a long from before."Hello, is this number 25?" He asked, looking around the balcony. He was a v
**GWEN**"Slow down, asshole!" Gwen careened, tightening her hands on Ashton's lap on the horse, her eyes wide with fear. Two times she had ridden this same horse but didn't experience this level of fear.As a result of how quietly she used it. And Ashton thought this was her first time of being on it. Ha!He cackled with laughter behind her, his left hand shottinv out to embrace her to him and enjoyed his Gwen was quick to relax, holding no resistance. "Juat relax, little wolf, I've gat you."I scoffed. "Anything could happen. The wind has done rogue.""That is because it's going to rain tonight, babe." The mount was still galloping fast, not holding a break. She was meant to enjoy it, but with the wind slapping her hair about her face and warping the voice, it caused more cold then fun"Almost there.""Are you sure we can still swim under this weather?" She hauled for him to hear."Defintely." He pressed closer to her left ear. "I would want to see you tremble with cold when I have
**GWEN**A loud pelt on the roof of the building was what woke me up the next morning. Very slowly I peeled my eyes open and shifted my head to the side to glance around my surrounding.The first thing I noticed was the impenetrable restriction around my waist which had me looking down at Ashton's massive naked chest, and when my eyes trailed upward, it was to meet his peaceful facade as he slept. For once, I was enthralled by his lovely sight, my eyes unfaltering from him. What a sweet sight to behold in the morning.I was still immersed when his alluring lips quirked to the side as he smiled, causing me to snap back and look away. Unfortunately, he had already caught me as his hands tightened around me when I tried moving away, his beautiful blues split open to peer at me. "I didn't know you found me this attractive, mate, " he growled lowly. I blushed. "Stop feeling smug." I smacked his chest and tried once more to move to the side but the next minute I found myself being tumbled t
**GWEN**"Who is this woman?" I asked straight ahead, gesturing to the artwork.His Adam’s apple bobbed as his eyes flicked there and drifted to me. "Not someone that is important." Gone was the smile in its place was a scowl and his voice gruff. This was a danger zone. A topic he might not like to discuss.I sighed. "Do you want to talk about it? Her?" I already knew who it was. I had to be.The veins on his forehead protruded as his eyes lowered to his hands and shook his head. He looked so vulnerable. I have never seen him like that. This woman must have really broken his heart."Look, Ashton.” I started, leaving my position to step close to him. "I'm not going to force you to say something. But you should know whenever you are ready to talk about her or anything, I am willing to listen to you." I reached him and took his hands in mine. "That's what mates are for."His downcast eyes lifted to mine and held. Saying nothing in response. I know I should suggest he brought down the pict
**ASHTON**I was not supposed to feel a stab of jealousy as I watched my mate's head gradually bounce in agreement with my response. Since that day I overheard the name of that man, it unsettled me, the same way seeing Tyler close to her made me desire to murder him. I wanted more than anything to know who that man was, where he existed and how important he was to my mate, and if he still held a place in her heart. Somehow when she was speaking, he was the first to cross my mind. And seeing the way she sighed sadly, her eyes pitched at the glossy table top, I understood from within that it was an answer obvious to the eyes. My mate was still in love with her first crush."I'm sorry, Ashton," She mumbled softly, "Julian and I...""You don't need to tell me about him, little wolf," I schooled myself to say, forcing on a smooth smile as she managed to gaze at me. "We all have our past.""Like Emma?" She was fast to add. My hand which had located hers on the table to soothe her, dropped
**GWEN**No sooner have I arrived at my room the next day when we returned to the palace, the door busted open and there stood a furious Abby, her hands to her waist glaring at me. "Is that how it is now?" She started, the edge of her mouth quivering, showing how angry she was at me. "You don't tell me stuff again.""I swear it was not planned, Abby." I quickly dropped my shawl and took a stroll to her. "It was a spur-of-the-moment decision orchestrated by your brother.""Couldn't you have mindlink_oh, I'm sorry I forgot_""It's okay, Abby." I didn't let her finish. I knew as a supernatural creature mind linking was our simplest way of communication. Being unable to do that due to my unfortunate situation was none of her fault. "I understand."She lowered her hands with a sigh and covered the remaining distance to me. "I was so worried and others too.""I know...we should have been back a day before yesterday but the rain...""That too." She crossed me and moved to the chair to sit. "
**GWEN**Have you imagined when two elephants are in the same room? The feeling of those beside them especially if they look like they are going to fight? That was how I felt as my mate walked into the room. And the annoying part of it was his composure.He was grinning. Nonchalantly. "There is nothing funny about the situation, Ashton." His mother was at him. "Life is simple, Mother. We make things complex for ourselves." He came to sit beside me and took one of my hands. It was a mindless action, from what I could deduce."We have a ceremony coming up!" His mother snapped."And everything is going to be fine, Mother. We have a team in charge of planning those kind of things. We don't need to meddle.""Is that what you think, Gwen?" As she asked me, I could see her eyes flick to our entwined fingers before lifting to my face.I shook my head. "I am not of that school of thought, Mother.""Then, you see that the Queen needs to be available all the time to make this work. I had to pre