She smiled, “People should be getting her soon, and….” A snicker stopped her from talking, which was new. She usually didn’t stop talking. A guy walked up behind her, and she clearly knew who it was based on the scent. Her expression told me she loathed this guy.
To my surprise, he addressed me. “Hey man, let me spare you the time. The Ice Queen isn’t going to give you any sort of sexual experience for your time. She only cares about her girlfriends and her stupid stuffed wolf. You’d think at seventeen she’d give up a stuffed animal, but it’s the only thing that gets close to her chest.” Ashley put him on the ground and cut off his air supply in one move.
She practically snarled, “Go to HELL Trevor. I wouldn’t touch you romantically if you were the last man on earth… not even then actually… I may throw up thinking about it. You’re sick and disgusting. In case you need to hear it again… I LOATHE you.”
She vowed, “I will never not loathe you, and you know why… there is no part of me that will EVER have anything to do with you. If my stuffed wolf is so stupid, why do you try to steal it so you can destroy it all the time? You’re the one who is pathetic… not me… This whole place is a disgrace.” She spit in his face then let him up.
I looked over at Trevor's friends who were trying not to laugh. Some friends. One whispered, “I’ll take that twenty. Told ya she’d put him on the ground again.” Then this apparently happened often. Trevor stayed down for a second then got to his feet.
He rubbed his neck. He rasped again addressing me, “She’s fucking weird about the stuffed wolf too.” I mean logically it was from someone in her family and they died. It wasn’t weird at all. Our Crown Prince had a stuffed animal he’d had since childhood. Other people didn’t get to assign labels to things of sentimental value or at all.
Trevor growled, “Grow up, Ashley. You’re seventeen and that worn out wolf belongs in the trash.” Ashley snorted, “The only thing in here that belongs in the trash is you… you backwoods, no nothing who couldn’t fight his way out of a paper sack piece of CRAP! You are SUCH a pathetic excuse of a wolf… especially for a future Gamma.”
Trever clenched his jaw, “Watch it! I have Alpha blood in me, little girl!” Ashley put him back on the ground in a flash. She snorted, “I’m NOT a little girl. I’m not even a pup anymore. If I’m so little you should probably stop trying to sleep with me… just saying.” What the fuck?
She continued, “How pathetic are you? I just put you on the ground TWICE! Your blood means nothing… because… well to be blunt, you don’t work out or train. You think you can get by just because you have Gamma and Alpha blood. Out of curiosity Trevor… how’s that working out for you?” She got up and turned back to me as if nothing had happened.
I linked Micah, “Why does she hate him?” Micah admitted, “I don’t know. People are quiet about them. Something went down between them though, I do know that.” Trevor got up after several moments. Ashley warned, “Don’t even try it. I can literally feel you thinking about being a coward and trying to attack me from behind.” He didn’t listen and attacked.
I linked Micah, “I’m beginning to see why Buck made the play he did.” Micah snorted, “It’s still shitty.” I agreed, “Yes. I don’t condone what he did. This display from the future pack leadership displays why he did though. Ashley is right, he’s a survivor. I just don’t get why he needs to be. He’s a Lead Warrior for god’s sake. I’m certain he could take this piece of shit named Trevor.”
Ashley bent down and Trevor flipped over her. She slammed him back down onto the ground. Trevor winced. He growled, “You just wait! You’ll pay for all this! Next year that stuffed wolf will be gone! Your mate will hate it!” Ashley rolled her eyes, “Uh huh.” Trevor stood and taunted her, “What if it’s me?” Not a single chance. No mate would treat theirs how he was treating her.
Micah linked, “If they are fated, I’ll kill him.” I replied, “You can bring him to our realm and torture his ass for information first. I’ll even help.” I was not about to stand by as Ashley was mated to someone she hated.
Ashley tilted her head in confusion. She explained the science of it, “Then we’d feel drawn to each other… obviously. All our interactions would be different. Plus, you would’ve NEVER done what you did to me.” My eyebrows were so high they might be through the roof. I didn’t say anything hoping she’d rant and tell me what he did.
Ashley continued, “You wouldn't smell like a wet dog I never wanted to be near…. and I wouldn’t LOATHE you down to my pinky toe… or with my entire being… plus the whole pack’s being… no…it’s all packs ever created. Yes, that’s how much I hate you… I require other beings to hold my hate. You are NOT my mate.” She believed that with her entire soul and I couldn’t help but be relieved.
Trevor snorted, “Yes, we know you THINK you know who he is but the jokes on you Ashley. He doesn’t want you. He HATES you!” Pain flashed through Ashley’s eyes, and she physically jolted backwards. I would kill the guy she liked if he rejected her over some family bullshit.
Ashley gathered herself. She snapped back at Trevor, “And you think that means that I’ll lose all sense of decorum and start banging my way through this hapless pack? Think again… or just think for the first time in your reprehensible life.” He went to say something, but he was cut off by her.
She grinned mockingly, “Tell you what, you find a guy who can beat me in a fight... and I’ll think about dating him. Oh wait, that rules out... everyone in this area. Awww darn. Oh well… guess I’ll go back to not dating… not being your mate… or anyone’s here.”
Trevor turned to me, “Don’t waste your time, man. She’s the Ice Queen for a reason.” I replied, “I’m happily mated and not interested in having sex with her. Nor can I blame her for not wanting to fuck you.” Trevor turned red and threw a punch.
I easily blocked it and broke his hand as if it was nothing. He screamed, “What the fuck?! I was trying to help you.” I repeated, “I am not trying to fuck Ashley. If you’d set your ego aside for five seconds and talk to her, you might find she’s quite intelligent, and interesting to talk to.”
I admonished him, “Your behavior is abhorrent. Your pack should be ashamed their future Gamma is walking around getting his ass kicked and mocking his pack members. Also, I’m adept at spotting liars so I know you weren’t trying to help me. You were trying to insult Ashley and hurt her feelings. You’d never beat me in a fight. If I were you, I wouldn’t try little pup.” I knew it was insult since he clearly had a wolf, but I meant it as one.I let my eyes blaze. Trevor backed up, “SHIT! RUN!” He and his friends took off.
Addison, Sierra, Avery, Hendrick, Mason, and Ashley started laughing. I ordered, “Ashley, dressing room now.” She stopped laughing immediately, bit her lip, and walked back to the dressing room in silence. I closed the door behind us.
I questioned, “What did he do to you?” Ashley turned red. I asked, “Ashley, did he do something sexually?” I took a psychology class, but I wasn’t my mother in law. I didn’t want to say the word and have her shut down.To my surprise she snorted.
She waved, “You mean did he rape me? As if he could. I’m stronger than him… that sounded braggy… it’s just not… well a little bit… but it’s also true…. and…” I jumped back in, “Then what did he do?” Ashley rubbed her arm, “You don’t have to pretend to care about me. I know I’m a good source and…” I cut her off, “I’m not pretending, I do care about you.” Ashley’s eyes filled with tears, and I saw how deeply my words moved her. I let her see that I meant every single one.
I continued, “If you let me, I’d take you away from here. You don’t like this pack and you’re not happy.” Ashley dejectedly told me, “I don’t have anywhere to go.” I argued, “With the way you fight, you could join us. There’s a place for you in the Hackura Army if you ever want it. You don’t have to break with Black Path, though I would if I were you. We could have you join another pack and be a lone wolf.There are wolves in our realm all the time. My mate lives there.” The longing in her eyes nearly made me want to cry.
I feared I had broken her with my offer because she kept opening and shutting her mouth. It was the longest I’d heard her be quiet. I had no idea why I offered this to her. We did let mates of the Hackura join the army if they were good enough. What I was doing wasn’t done, but my instincts said it was the right move. Besides, I needed to help her.
Ashley gaped at me for several more minutes. Eventually she stammered, “I… what…? Me… you… what?!” I laughed, “I made you speechless. I think that means I deserve a medal. I said what I said, and I meant it. You will always have a place in our realm. You saved my mate, the realm’s Duchess.” Plus, I knew Uncle Bjourn would back me up here.
Ashley’s eyes filled with tears, “I wish I could.” I countered, “You can. Anytime you want. Say the word any time and Micah or I will bring you to our realm.” She looked like she was about to say yes, then shook herself.
She said, “I appreciate the offer… I know it’s… historical… .and it means so much to me… more than you’ll ever know. It’s just that… Well… my place is here defending those who cannot defend themselves. I deserve to be here.”
I shook my head, “You’re a seventeen year old girl who should be being defended. You haven’t been able to be a kid since I met you. You deserve better than this.” She didn’t have to tell me she disagreed; it was all over her face. She was one of the more expressive wolves I knew. It took me back to a conversation with my mother in law.
