Cassie's POV.I still could not believe everything that had happened. Realizing I was never going to have Ash to myself made my heart ache so much. Ash and I had been almost inseparable over the years,I was the only one who was able to talk to Him whenever he was going off track and after everything that had recently transpired,I didn't know how things were going to be like between us from now on. I thought about the compromises I had made in the past because of him__Being enemies with a number of students in school,turning down dates from some prospects,always making sure he was good and covering up some of his excesses. All I felt right now was so much anger and betrayal, and my only resolution was to involve someone who I knew was capable of handling the situation. My Dad!. My intention was to make sure I made him see how deep Ash had hurt me so I could get revenge on him. And then Sage being my fated mate?How ridiculous! don't even get me started on that. “Good morning Dad”,I gre
Skylar's POV*Everything felt normal and right again. My Family and I finally moved back to our house on Alpha Damon's order. Sage has refused to relate with me and I feel really terrible about it. I knew his feelings were hurt but I expected him to act more mature about it, after all he was beginning to hangout with Cassie and things seemed to be sailing well between them. Ash seemed like a new person,the arrogant and saucy person I used to know was no longer there and he had been so good to me. I had just ended a class and was meeting Ash in the cafeteria. This had become some sort of routine between us and I had gotten used to it already. Since the Moon Ball,Ash and I were literally almost together everytime and I had gotten so used to his presence.You're 2 minutes late”,Ash points out as soon as I spot where he's seated.Forgive me My Lord”,. I reply,playfully bowing my head lightly while taking a seat beside him. “Not even an hello?. Not nice!”. I add pretending to be hurt.“Ho
Ash's POVA female member of the pack was expecting a child and it was tradition for a New Life Celebration to be held in my house because my Dad was the Alpha of the pack. The New Life ceremony was almost similar to what normal humans refer to as Baby showers. The only significant difference was that in this part of my world,protective magic and chants were usually made over the expecting mother and special herbs were given to her for the wellbeing and strength of the child. There was usually a feast after the rituals and top members from other packs were often invited. It was always an interesting event especially to the female gender as it conveyed a variety of realities__Hope to the ones who were in search of children, recognition of a woman's transition into motherhood and a number of other things. I could only be optimistic that this one wasn't going to be an exception because Skylar,Sage and Cassie were going to be in attendance.My Dad had invited Sage and Cassie's family for t
Skylar's POVI was beginning to wish I had just stayed at home. My parents had left Ash's house and it was just me left.This was the most awkward event I had ever attended in my life.What was going to happen when everyone leaves?.Was Alpha Damon going to lash out on Ash again because of me?What was Cassie's deal anyway? Why was she so petty? And her Dad?. Really terrible. I thought she was over Ash and decided to move on. I noticed she wasn't as close with Ash anymore but I felt it was because she was with Sage and probably didn't have that much time anymore but none of her actions at school suggested that she was still mad about the whole situation. “She really didn't have to behave that way today though”, I thought to myself.Are you OK?”Ash asked, closing the door behind him. The feast was over and most people that came over had already left for their houses. “You've been really quiet since, what's going on?”,he added, pulling me to his arms. His masculine scent washed over me brin
Cassie's POVThings had gotten worse between me and Ash after the event that took place at his house. He started avoiding me in school and stopped replying to my texts. Ash and I had our differences but one thing he has never done was to ignore me. Sage and I also exchanged words for the first time since we started hanging out because apparently he was disappointed at my attitude during the dinner but we made up almost immediately. Everyone seemed to misunderstand me and I didn't think it was fair enough. It wasn't my intention for things to turn out this way and I thought My Dad could handle the situation like he said but it seemed like it was best to take matters into my own hands to fix things before it got any worse.Ash was the closest friend I had and I couldn't let anyone or anything take that from me. I was having another Date with Sage today and if I was left to myself, I really didn't want to go anywhere. The past couple of days had been terrible,I wasn't used to Ash ignorin
Ash's POV“Young Lady,you shouldn't have excused us though. She could have said whatever she has to say while you were there”. I said,stepping into the car. I had been avoiding Cassie after the stunt she pulled during the feast. I definitely knew she wasn't expecting me to react the way I did but I reacted that way to make her feel the gravity of her actions. She's lucky I didn't have any serious issues with my Dad afterwards else she would have been sorry because I'd have made sure to take it out on her.“It's nothing Ash,being there wouldn't have made any much difference and I didn't want your conversation with her to be constrained because of my presence that's why I excused myself”.she replied,with a brief smile.“Look who's trying to be nice. Well,you should have stayed regardless”,I answered, starting the car.“It's alright Babe, just let it go”, She replied.“Fine then. By the way,did your mum act strange since the other day?. I've been wondering since then”,I asked her, lookin
*Sage's POV*The back and forth I was having in my relationship with Cassie was exhausting,but I figured she's just one clueless lady that needed someone to put her through life. Only if her Dad had actually been incorporating the nonsense he spewed at the New Life Celebration feast,then I'm certain she'd have turned out better. I was beginning to get tired of her never ending obsession with Ash but I knew I couldn't end things with her right now as I was the only one that still genuinely cared for her at the moment. In my mind,I already had a time limit set and if things didn't get better by then,I was going to part ways with her. Being in a one-sided relationship is one of the worst things that could ever happen to anyone, especially if you're not keeping your options open and I wouldn't even wish that on an enemy to be honest. This minute she's acting all loved up and into me, the next she's behaving like I'm just one leech that wouldn't let her be. I wasn't about to find myself in
*Ash's POV*I had just arrived at school and I noticed the stares from other students were a bit unusual today. I initially thought it was because of Ash and what had happened with him lately but the looks didn't seem like pity or care so I was a bit worried. Something else must have most definitely happened.“What's going on?”,I asked nervously. How was he supposed to know? We obviously just arrived at school together and there was no way he would have known.“I have no idea. The looks are scary as hell. I just hope no one has done anything funny. I guess we'll know what's up before the end of today”,he answered and bade me goodbye. I didn't feel good, whatever was the reason for this stares,I knew it was not anything positive and I could feel that strongly in my gut. I didn't even know who to ask because the only person that was closest had no idea of what was going on,I just had to be calm till someone finally let it out. The bell had just rang,signifying lunch break and the end of
Cassie's P.O.V.The days were lovely now, as I went to school and went about my daily life, knowing that I had my friends to call upon if anything went wrong. Sage had made me his personal mission. I knew that he was in love with me, but really, what he was doing at that moment was too much. He just kept on checking up on me, picking me up from work and stuff like that. At first, I thought that Luke would say something about it or probably even fight him for that, but Luke seemed to have made his peace with the gloomy romance between us, and I couldn't be more happy. A couple of times he even took me over to his house where we had a wonderful time. How would the time I spent with the very alpha of the park not be wonderful? But then we left each other not too long after that, and I continued with my life.Although Luke had let me have some fun with him, he forbade me from ever spending the night at Sage's place, like that was going to be even possible. I stayed a couple of nights, bu
Ash's POVI wasn't exactly sure what to say, so I glanced at my friends, but from the looks in Luke's eyes, I knew that he was completely baffled by the situation. His eyes were hard, contrary to Sage, who looked soft and ready to give in at any moment."I can't believe we are even doing this," he said, his voice expressive as he stepped forward, his eyes flashing. "We shouldn't be bargaining with you; you are in no position to say anything at all.""Am I now?" he asked, his knife pressed a little more to her neck. I could tell that he was about to make a rash decision that would definitely cost him his life, but I was afraid of it costing Cassie's life also."Please," I said to Luke, putting my hand on him. I knew how much he loved his sister and didn't want her to die, so why was he actually acting like this? Luke glanced at Cassie, his eyes rigid as if trying to tell her something. His eyes were fixed on her, but he didn't see anything else, staying in his position with hardly any
Ash POVWe all stayed rooted to the spot, except maybe for Sage behind me, who had taken a subconscious step back. Maybe it was a good idea for us to back away after all—maybe back away out of the room entirely so that I could give Sage a good pep talk and make him gather himself and understand what was actually at stake here.Weakness was the one thing that would actually cost Cassie her life, nothing more. If we played this right, from the position of strength that we actually were in, then we could get her back, though it wasn't certain if we could get Richard and bring him to book along with that; that would actually be asking for too much. One small mistake and our victory had turned into a break-even, or maybe a possible loss if we didn't play our cards right and made another small mistake to add to the former one.I looked at our opponent, the one that we had nearly defeated, for a couple of seconds and finally decided to at least talk with him. If he killed Cassie, then the en
Luke's POVEverything was closing in on me, and I knew that it was too late for me to run away by now. My chance was gone. Looking at my opponent, who was now getting into the attack once more and covering all spaces for me to run into, I knew that he wouldn't let me go. He knew just what I could be thinking at this time, and he also knew that most likely I would try to run away. He was doing everything to prevent that, not wanting his prey to go.I knew that when he won this, he was going to put me along with Cassie and torment us for a very long period of time before killing us eventually. Yes, he had given me my chance to join him, not that I would ever do that, but I hadn't agreed to him, and now he was going to make me pay the price. I was pretty sure of it.I felt a certain feeling of discomfort, knowing how things were about to end, but still staying here anyway. I should be doing my best to run away and break free from his grasp, but I didn't do that for some reason. I just st
Luke's POVIt was honestly very troubling how I was still struggling with Richard after such a long time, and how someone would have thought that by now I would be done with defeating him, especially after I had come to the brink of beating him so many times now. But for some reason, he was always bouncing back and staying up above water, to the point that I was actually pressured by him at times, and even now, I was still pressured. Honestly, I was starting to wonder whether there was something wrong with me, or whether we were just evenly matched. Every time I came to the brink, ready to defeat him, there was one small mistake, or one small thing that happened to make him come back again. And then we started the sequence all over again.It dawned on me now that I would not be able to defeat him, not today, not now. I wasn't strong enough. In fact, I would even be considered lucky to not be defeated by him myself. Remembering clearly how easily he had taken me on previously, I knew
Sage's povThe first thought that came to my mind after he said that was that this was simply too good to be true. I couldn't believe it even now. However, that was a fact. But if he was actually the one keeping Sage from coming here, then he was a true hero. He was the one doing much more work than us and our soldiers who brought the army to the gate and the fight from the outside, because he is definitely the one that brings the fight from the inside, which is the real fight.I looked at Ash, wanting to see how convinced he was. And from the looks of it, he seemed completely convinced by it. When I thought about it, I didn't see any other reason why this could be happening. For one thing, I hadn't heard from Luke at all, indicating that there was a good chance that he was busy. And the fact that, at the same time, Richard was nowhere to be found, made it a little too much to be a coincidence. Most likely, the two of them couldn't be here because they were busy with each other, fight
Sage's POVI didn't really know whether I was safe when I started easily winning the entire fight. It was not much of a battle anymore. If anything, it was starting to become something of a slaughter. I didn't see any reason why I would have it so easy fighting against the man that I was up against—the man who had been rumored to be far stronger than a lot of people and would be a very formidable enemy.I had heard that he was planning some tricks for me, and I also knew that he was skewed and poisoned because that's what I heard from the assassin the time we asked him about Richard. That was enough information to be wary of him, knowing that he could actually be planning something else entirely while we were busy here. But as it happened, maybe he was just all talk after all, and there was nothing to actually be fearful of. He seemed pretty tame to me right now, not at all a threat, no matter how I looked at it.In my planning, I decided to draw back a little and let my men do some o
Ash's POV I join in and things get easy The progress was slow but steady. I knew that it wouldn't be long before we finally reached my territory. Then, I would have the opportunity to take back what was rightfully mine.I could almost see it happening already. As my soldiers marched forward, each with a certain determination in their eyes, I was sure we stood a huge chance of winning this. The moment I got to Richard, I would make sure to rip his eyes out and kill him for everything he had done, especially for killing my father. Until then, I had to make do with what I had and bide my time until everything was set.I had the patience to wait because I had been waiting for this moment all my life. So, even if it was just a couple more hours, I could wait again. It would end in my victory.Setting my eyes on the bigger prize, I kept moving, knowing it would be worth it. I was starting to get tired after marching for what seemed like forever. The soldiers, for their part, seemed much s
Sage's POVMy men started marching forward after I gave the order, each of them moving valiantly. These were pretty much all my forces because the ones I left to defend my home weren't too many anymore and wouldn't really account for much. In other words, if an attack actually started on my home while I was gone, then it would be pretty much defenseless against this attacker, and they would be able to do some large amount of damage to it.It was very precarious, but I knew that if I didn't take as many people as I could with me, then it was highly unlikely that we would win. I had no idea how many people Richard had with him, but I knew that he definitely had a lot of people with him, and that if I took only half of my army, it might not be enough, even when added to what Ash was bringing.I didn't want to take any chances on this because it was pretty much my only chance. If I was going to help, then I was going to help him completely and make sure that we won this. If we didn't win,