Chapter 5

The moment Xavier realized Ashley had been abducted he was furious, he grew angrier that the mind link didn't work and he shifted. He set out with his guards as they scattered across their territory to look for her. 

He closed in on an abandoned building that was sitting in the middle of nowhere. and he could smell her scent faintly. He broke the locked door and was disheartened when he saw the state Ashley was in.

Ashley’s unconscious body was on the cold hard floors with bruises on her hands and legs, her hair covering her pale face. Xavier shifted back and carried her in his arms.

A tear ran across his face as he looked at the state of his Luna. “Whoever did this is going to pay dearly” Xavier seethed. “I couldn’t agree more,” Koa huffed. 

 Xavier quickly called the pack doctor when he got to the mansion, and he arrived immediately and examined Ashley.

“The wounds aren’t too deep so they’ll heal quickly, she was weakened by aconite but I placed a liquid in her mouth for treatment” the pack doctor informed and Xavier thanked him.

Xavier called on all the workers in the palace, and they came in an instant. He knew one of them must have known what happened to his Luna.

“Now if anyone here doesn’t reveal who abducted the Luna, I would make sure every single one of you is exiled,” Xavier demanded with a voice that sent shivers down their spine.

They started murmuring amongst themselves wondering if anyone would have the guts to even think of such a thing let alone come out as the culprit. 

Jasper was hesitant to come out but he didn’t want everyone to be exiled because of him so he approached the alpha with his head hung low, to the surprise and shock of many. 

“My king I can explain if you would just give me a chance but I can’t tell you who sent me” Jasper uttered in a shaky voice as his head was still low.

Xavier was furious, he didn’t want to exchange words with him knowing he would tear his flesh apart. “Guards lock him up and whip him severely until he is ready to talk, no food or water will be given to him” he ordered.

Jasper fell on his knees as they carried him away. He didn’t want to reveal his love as the culprit. 

Xavier went to check on Ashley and was glad she finally opened her eyes. “My love, you’re finally awake, I missed those beautiful eyes of yours” Xavier soothed as he placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

“What happened? My head hurts badly” Ashley groaned. “Tell me about it,” Xena added.

Xavier didn’t want to explain everything to her as she urged her to rest, but she insisted that she knew what happened. Relenting to her stubbornness he told her all that happened.

“I can believe it, and I trusted him with everything, what did I do to deserve all of that?” Alessia wondered.

“It’s going to be fine, don't worry I’ll take care of it, but please for now just rest” Xavier pleaded and she nodded in obedience.

Xavier left the room, and a few moments later Ashley’s phone rang beside her, she picked it up and was glad to hear her friend’s voice.

“Hey Ash how are you, I heard what happened, you know how news spreads around here, hope you weren’t hurt?” Keithera questioned.

“I’m fine Keithera thanks for calling, It means a lot having you with me through everything” Ashley stated recalling how good her friend had been.

“What are friends for, I’m here for you no matter what” Keithera replied to encourage her friend. “Okay I’ll talk to you later bye now” and the call ended.

Some days later, Jasper was ready to tell the whole truth after being deprived of food and water, and with painful bruises on his back done by the whip.

Xavier told the guards to release him, and Jasper fell on his knees as he opened his mouth to speak.

 “Keithera and a guy I don’t know his name planned the whole abduction since you became Luna” Jasper explained.

Ashley was bewildered when she heard her friend’s name. She couldn’t believe her ears. “Are you sure of what you’re saying?” Ashley asked in disbelief. Jasper nodded.

“I will make sure they die by my hands, he can’t possibly lie now, he wouldn’t dare” Xavier snapped as he could finally get rid of Keithera.

“No no please you don't have to kill anybody, we need to confront them smartly,” Ashley said as she devised a plan with Xavier.

The next day, Xavier called a meeting where he gathered all the pack members and made it clear that no one should be absent.

In the pack house, when Xavier and Ashley were already seated, She searched for Keithera and she threw a small wave at her while Ashley smiled back.

“That backstabbing bitch” Xena growled. “Can't believe she tried to get rid of us” Xena added.

“As we all know our Luna was abducted a few days ago, but we thank the goddess for keeping her safe” Xavier spoke. Everyone cheered as they heard his words.

“Even more good news, we have found the culprits who abducted your Luna and they are amongst us in this gathering” This led them to murmur among themselves wondering who it could be.

The meeting was gradually coming to an end, and Ashley decided to catch up with her friend, but she was no longer in her seat.

“Here, we have them” The guards shouted from outside, and with this Xavier called on everyone to witness. Ashley walked outside ready to face the culprits.

“So it’s true, I thought we were friends. Why would you even do that to me?” Ashey demanded as rage overtook her. 

Ashley then turned around to see the second culprit and she was stunned. “Davian!” she exclaimed as she never expected her two closest friends to do such a thing.

“Well the truth was going to come out sooner or later, Xavier could have just accepted me but he chose you instead and you stole the position of Luna from me” Keithera retorted.

“He rejected me, and I was heartbroken, but then he accepted you and I just couldn’t stand it. I slept with Davian so I could tell Xavier the baby was his” she continued.

Xavier breathed out as she revealed all her devious lies “I knew that bitch was lying” Koa huffed in his mind.

“I wanted you back Ashley and knowing you got accepted by the alpha only broke my heart more, so we had to take you far away” Davian added in a sad tone.

“So you never really loved me?” Jasper spoke up as he looked at Keithera with a face written betrayal over it. 

“Of course not, I only used to get what I wanted and you did a horrible job,” Keithera spat.

Ashley was in shock as she couldn’t believe everything she just heard. She started processing different thoughts. Xavier saw her expression and was about to speak the words of exile when she placed her hand in front of him.

“Don't worry I’ll handle this” Ashley said as she mind-linked Xavier and he gave a small nod.

“Keithera Davis, Jasper Reynolds, and Davian Rogers” they all stared at her as she continued. “You are hereby exiled from the Grandcrest pack and by this, no other packs will accept you”. Ashley spoke boldly.

Keithera fell on her knees as she pleaded with her friend for a change of heart, but all her pleas fell on deaf ears, as they dragged them all far away to never be seen in their pack.

“That was brave of you my Luna” Xavier commented on the actions of Ashley as they got home.

“Well as Luna I have to make certain decisions don't I?” Ashley replied as Xavier wrapped his hands around her waist and carried her to the bed “Yes you do” and they made love for hours.