Chapter 5

Ashley

 It's been a month since I saved that badly wounded man's life, and no one has come to know of my secret. 

For security reasons, Grace had told me not to tell a soul about my special gift. I honestly would not mind having someone like Grace as my mother.

She is super nice and welcoming to everyone. I decided that I would be giving one pint of blood whenever the need arose, to produce as much healing tonic as needed. 

There has been a lot of morale-boosting among the soldiers since they got word that they would no longer die from battle injuries. 

Other close-by packs have been coming around to try and find out the secret ingredients used for the healing tonic. 

But Grace has made it her point of duty to ensure they never get to know. None of the clinic workers knew about it. It has been a well-kept secret between the two of us. 

For the first time in my life, I feel at home. Grace treats me very nicely and ensures I have all I need. Maybe not entirely everything though, but more than I got from my real parents. I have been feeling my gifts come alive more often.

I sometimes wish for rain by staring at the skies. It happens, and sometimes it doesn't. I have yet to tell Grace about that part of me because it scares the hell out of me. Don't get me wrong, I love my gifts, but I am not so sure how others might feel about them. It's bad enough that I am already wolfless.

 "Ashley, be fast, else we will be very late," screamed Grace from outside the room. 

We were getting ready for a party that was being held in honor of Grace, due to her breakthrough in discovering the healing tonic. 

Grace had gotten me a black dress from a thrift shop. It was a cheap gown, but it looked great on me. It was a little bit above my knees and hung on my body perfectly well. 

"Wow, you look amazing," exclaimed Grace as she walked in. I smiled as I turned around beautifully.

I loved how the dress made me feel. She had previously helped me style my hair into a bun and allowed me access to her makeup items, which mainly consisted of lip gloss, powder, and brushes. 

We soon arrived at the party, and there was a standing ovation for Grace as soon as she walked in. I wanted to stay back, but Grace was quick enough to pull me along to the seat that was reserved for her. 

There were several awkward stares from people who felt I was not fit to be seated among them.

 Did I mention that the other slaves were outside the hall in which the party was being held? Unlike the outside party where the servants had to wait to be served, there was lots of food on each table, so much food that I have never seen in my life. 

The party was going on fine as people entertained themselves by dancing, discussing, or eating to their satisfaction. 

"Hello, everyone," our alpha in charge said, to get everyone's attention.

 At that moment, I saw our alpha in waiting walk in with his friend Jessica by his side. I could feel my stomach getting knotted just by seeing him, and I was hoping that he didn't look my way. 

He looked dashingly handsome in blue jeans and a black body-fitted dress. I have been trying to avoid him since my last encounter with him in his room. I might be overthinking this, but I feel like he has been stalking me. 

Wait, what am I even saying? He is going to be the alpha. Now, why would he want to stalk me, a little wolfless slave that has nothing to offer him? I felt my heart hurt a little.

I don't know why, but I was hurt by my thoughts. I tried looking away from his direction and hoping he would not see me before getting to his seat. 

"Look who is here; it's my brother's son who is to be king, but unfortunately, he is yet to get a mate. Sometimes we have to wonder why some things happen. For example, I got my mate at the age of sixteen, and he is almost twenty-two, and he has yet to get himself one. Just two months remaining for him to get a mate or he will be banished from this pack forever. There is no place for mateless, cursed wolves here in this pack. Nevertheless, I raise this glass to wish him the best of luck while he searches for the perfect one, "Derrick said, half drunkenly while raising his glass.

I could feel the once cheerful environment tense up as the alpha in waiting shoots dangerous stares at his uncle." There were little hushed conversations among the guests, and I honestly felt bad for him. 

His friend urges him to continue walking, and I had not realized where they would be seated till I saw him seated at the table directly opposite the table next to ours. 

The seating arrangement was done in such a way that he was seated directly opposite me. His cold gaze landed on mine, and I could feel the air around me freeze up.

 I was suddenly feeling nervous and wished there was a way I could disappear at that moment and reappear in my home. I tried looking away, but I could still feel his piercing eyes on my body. 

"Excuse me ma," I said to Grace, as soon as I saw him talking with someone. I had planned to run back to my room. 

Grace just nodded with a smile, and that was my cue to run. I stood up and walked nervously out of the hall as I did my best not to bump into anything or anyone. 

It's not like I was scared of him; there was something else, and that feeling I have never experienced before. I soon got out of the hall and sighed deeply, without realizing I had been holding my breath.

 I looked around to see if I could see June, but there was no sign of her anywhere. It was late, and a part of me was a bit scared of walking back to the clinic alone in the dark. But it sure does sound better than sitting and staring back at our alpha in waiting.

I don't understand why I get so nervous whenever he is around. It's been difficult trying to stay away from him. I have to hide anytime I see him in the clinic or anytime I mistakenly see him doing his morning routine. 

The night was dark and the creeping sounds of insects and frogs did not help my case as I nervously looked around as walked back to the clinic. 

I hadn't walked for up to ten minutes when I felt someone was following me. I stopped to look around but saw no one. Maybe it's just in my head, but there are hardly ever any crimes committed in the pack. And perhaps no one would want anything to do with a slave girl?

I'm not that important. 

I continued walking. I was a few minutes walk to the clinic when I felt a hand thrust me against a tree. I screamed out of fright and fought to break free, but he was quick to place his hand over my mouth to muffle my sound. 

I looked up to see that it was none other than our alpha in waiting. He stared deep into my eyes, and for a few seconds, I felt completely lost in his beautiful hazel eyes. 

Then, suddenly, he let go of me as if I had burnt him or something. "What are you doing here alone, going to see someone?" he questioned with a cold stare. 

I may be crazy or not, but there was a bit of authority in his voice that made me feel or fear the worst. "Answer the question," he said, after waiting for me to speak up. 

The truth is I did not know what to do or say, how to address him, and I didn't want to say anything to annoy or piss him off. 

I nervously directed my eyes to the floor as the earth beneath looked very enticing to gaze upon. He must have at some point sensed my nervousness as he sighed deeply, running his fingers through his head. 

"Don't be afraid to talk to me," he said in a calmer but sexier baritone. 

Did I just say sexy? What the hell is wrong with me?

It's a good thing I can't find my voice before I end up ruining my happy stay here at the pack. 

This place is like the only home I have ever had, and I don't want to lose it. 

"Well, since you are not saying anything, I will just assume you will just listen and do all that I instruct you," he said.

This time, my heart was beginning to pound millions of drums loudly in my head. 

"I have a deal for you. Since you never really got to pay me for saving your life and also seeing me naked, I want you to become my mate or act as my mate for one year," he said with a straight expression. 

My lips subconsciously parted in shock as I stared at him in unbelief. I tried to see if maybe he was drunk or maybe something was wrong with him, but from all I could see, it was safe to say that he was all right. 

"I can't be your mate," I said without even thinking about it. I mean, it was crazy for him to ask me to become his mate in the first place. I don't even know him that much, other than the fact that he is the alpha in waiting. 

"I wasn't asking you to become my mate, I was telling you to become my mate," he said as his eyes locked with mine. 

"Come tomorrow, you'll have my mark, and trust me, I won't do anything you don't like; I just need you to act until I become king," he said

"I don't know how to act as your mate. What if I fail and people find out that you lied, that we lied? " I said, suddenly able to speak without actually thinking of the consequences. 

"Then it will be on me," he said reassuringly. It was nice of him to say he would take the blame, and it warmed my heart a little.

"But, what if?"

 "Enough with the what-ifs, or are you afraid of seeing me naked again?" he asked as he walked toward me, his gaze fixed on mine.

My cheeks burned from his question, or was it the way he said it? "I am an ordinary slave girl. What makes you think that anyone would believe you?" I said in my defense. 

"You leave that to me, so do we have a deal?" he said as he stopped a few inches from me. 

"Do I have any other options?" I asked in a shivering voice. 

"None," he replied and at that moment I realized my life was about to change forever. And it's not for good.