Chapter 2

“Haven’t you heard the alpha king rejected another mate, I wonder how he would rule our pack without a Luna by his side” A friend of Ashley’s mother informed her as she sat down beside Isabel, throwing a glance at Ashley.

“Ashley dear, how are you?” Isabel’s friend asked, observing every part of her with a look of worry in her eyes. Upon the mention of her name, Ashley didn’t move an inch from her existing position.

Isabel knew her daughter wouldn’t reply to her friend so she answered for her to prevent any form of disrespect towards her and to take away attention from her daughter’s situation.

“She is fine thank you, so what you were saying about the alpha” Isabel started trying to change the topic from her daughter's predicament.

Ashley tried to shut her ears to their conversation not bothering to reply to her mother’s friend. She was sprawled out on the couch, still reliving the words of rejection from Davian.

It’s been 3 months since Ashley was rejected and she still hasn’t gotten over it. Her parents tried their best to console her. Some days she will burst into tears and the other days stares at a particular place for hours.

Keithera always came around to console her friend and would try to get her to leave the house but all her efforts were to no avail. She had deep worry for her friend who was ever so vibrant but has now lost the glow she once had on her face.

“I’m sure you will get another mate, Ash, you have to move on from this. I know it’s not easy but try” Keithera would always advise when she came around.

Ashley wasn’t interested in the conversation her mother was having with her friend but she couldn’t help listening to them, as she had nothing better to do.

“But why doesn’t he want to accept the many mates that are destined for him, he keeps rejecting them.” Isabel speculated with a bit of irritation in her voice.

“People say he doesn’t accept any of them because he always uses them to satisfy his sexual desires and after getting what he wants, rejection is the next thing for the poor girls” Isabel's friend hissed as she felt irritated by the alpha’s habits.

Xavier Evatt became the alpha king of the Grandcrest pack after the death of his father and he is known for rejecting his possible mates. He always takes them to his bed before finally rejecting them.

Keithera came into the living room and she practically dragged Ashley to her room. Every day she tried her very best to cheer her up. Ashley plopped on her bed and faced the ceiling as Keithera joined her.

“How did you do it Keithera?” Ashley asked her friend after moments of silence remembering how she managed to move on so quickly from her rejection.

“Well I didn’t give much thought to it, I just felt like the moon goddess made a mistake and he wasn’t supposed to be my mate, besides she will grant me another mate,” Keithera revealed while picking at the hem of her blouse. 

Keithera had once been rejected and in all honesty, it broke her but she hid it from Ashley covering up the pain and heartbreak she felt. She was ashamed to tell her who rejected her.

Ashley didn’t bother to divulge further cause she didn’t want to make her think about something that painful so she decided to not ask who it was.

Keithera turned over to look at Ashley, and took her hand in hers giving it a reassuring squeeze “Look Ash, you have to get over it, you will get another mate I’m sure of it”.

“I just hope so,” Ashley sighed, wishing it to be true because instead of love and care to accompany her, she has been surrounded by depression and loneliness.

Later that day, the royal guards informed the pack members that Queen Rosalie, Xavier's mother, would be holding a meeting in the pack house and that everyone must be in attendance.

In the pack house, numerous werewolves were bustling around conversing with each other as they waited curiously to hear what the queen had to say. 

Ashley sat in an empty seat next to a fellow pack member. She didn’t want to leave her house but it was a rule that no one should be absent during meetings. 

Keithera went back home to prepare so she didn’t arrive early, but Ashley kept a spare seat next to her.

The queen and her son Xavier the alpha king entered the room and everyone stood up from their sitting positions and bowed as they showed their obeisance to them.

“You may have your seats” Rosalie commanded in an authoritative yet calm tone as she took her seat on the platform next to her son. 

She is a beautiful woman with long, honey-blonde hair that was packed into a bun and skin that never seemed to grow old with her age.

Ashley had always admired Rosalie, she marveled at how strong she remained for the pack even after losing her husband and mate. In her younger years, she would often have dreams of someday becoming like her. A queen.

‘Hmm like that would ever happen’ Ashley and Xena chorused to each other laughing at their crazy imaginations.

“My people,” Rosalie started. “I know you are all wondering why we have called for this meeting, but it is essential to know that it is for the benefit of us all” She continued as she addressed everyone in the room.

As his mother was talking, Xavier’s eyes wandered around the room looking for nothing in particular but just observing his pack members. His eyes landed on some of his past mates whom he rejected and threw a smirk at them as they hung their heads low.

Ashley looked up and that was when her eyes locked with Xavier whose eyes were roaming around. It was a long stare and neither of them wanted to break away from it. They felt a pull towards each other, but they couldn’t get up.

The both of them couldn’t believe what they were feeling. Xavier was already drawn towards her as all he wanted to do was bring her to his bed but Ashley on the other hand tried to deny the feelings she felt.

“What’s happening? Xena, are you feeling this?” Ashley asked frantically not pleased by what she was feeling but Xena was ecstatic as she was already attracted to Xavier’s wolf.

“Yes yes, the moon goddess didn’t look down on us after all. We have been blessed with another mate Ashley and it’s with the alpha king, this feels too good to be true” Xena exclaimed happily as she could already dream of being marked by him.

“No no we can’t, he will only reject us as he has been doing to his past mates, this has to be a mistake. I cannot handle any other rejections” Ashley retorted in fear, shunning the happiness of Xena. 

Xavier’s wolf Koa, felt the same way Xena did. He was aroused just by setting eyes on her. She looked so beautiful and he couldn’t wait to have her in his hands. Xavier gushed at how inviting her lips were and the glow in her eyes.

With the feelings overwhelming her, Ashley broke the long eye contact and made her way out of the pack house. She felt like she was lost in a trance as she got outside and tried to regain her senses.

She called Keithera and asked her to come over to her house as the meeting was already coming to an end, so she could tell her what she encountered with the alpha. 

Keithera got to Ashley’s house and Ashley wasted no time as she unlocked the door and dragged her to the room, wanting to spill everything. 

Ashley was pacing around the room wondering how to tell her friend all that happened at the pack house. “Keithera I don't want this to happen, I’m scared, I don't want to be rejected again” Ashley quivered as worry washed all over her face.

Keithera sat at the edge of the bed as she examined the worried look on her friend’s face. “Calm down Ash, take a deep breath, and tell me what happened, what’s going on?” 

“I fear the moon goddess has redirected my fate, she has blessed me with another mate” Ashley began as she stared out her window in bewilderment at what she was going to say next. She wished this wasn’t happening to her.

She feared that if this was her fate she would only face more rejection, and she wasn’t emotionally ready to spend another 3 months in heartbreak, tears, and rejection. It will only bring more shame for her and she doesn’t want to cope with that.

Summoning up courage, she closed her eyes, scared to reveal who it was, she didn’t want to leave Keithera in the dark from all of this and she could gain advice from her friend on what to do with the mate bond.

“That’s great news, Ash, then why are you scared we should be celebrating now, so who is it, tell me tell me!” Keithera's face beamed in anticipation, eager to know who it was, as her ears were ringing for information.

She was thrilled to hear that her friend had gotten another mate cause she couldn’t bear to see her in such a heartbroken state, feeling dejected and lonely anymore, so this was good news for her too. 

She was delighted that the moon goddess shone her light upon her and blessed her friend with a new mate.

“It’s with Xavier, the alpha king” Ashley revealed while staring into space not wanting to believe her own words and in that moment Keithera’s expression changed.