His Mate: Prince Asher

Eighty two

A month later. Asher came back from where he had been since the fight. When he appeared in his father’s palace, everyone was happy to see him even though he looked like a caveman with his long hair and grown beard. Aliyah wept seeing him and she hugged him so tightly even though her baby bump was now very visible.

With his return, high elders gathered on his behalf to discuss him. Asher willingly answered to the summon. Although as the alpha king now, he can easily command them to obey him and forget about his punishment but he felt like he deserved it. Damien maybe four hundred and thirty years old, but as the ex-alpha king, he still had a lot more years to leave before he becomes frail and dies. It was those years that he was hoping to retire and go on a vacation with his High Luna.

Asher felt so bad when he saw the woman and quickly went on his knees in front of her. Although the woman wanted to resent him, everyone understood that whatever Asher did, he didn’t do with his mind. The elders couldn’t decide on a proper punishment to give him and as their king, they should be glad they have him instead of punishing him.

So while Asher had gone to the High pack for a punishment, he didn’t meet it and was rather said to choose the next full moon night for his initiation. Although Damien was no longer there to pass on the powers to him, the powers passed naturally on his death and so they will only be having a ceremony to celebrate him as the new king and also, for him to carry out the ritual for the rogues. With his disappearance for a month, Gideon and the rest of his Eastwood packs still have their alpha powers as only the alpha king could take it from them.

Asher was surprised that they had decided to forgive him even though he was finding it difficult to forgive himself but he was grateful. Right these days, although his sleeps are now peaceful and he can now summon the dark power whenever he wants, details of the fight in the meadow are still hard for him to forget, as well as Naomi’s death. He had kept her with him for two weeks, hoping she would wake up but she never did and when he saw that her body was already on the verge of rotting, he had no choice but to bury her.

He had taken her corpse to her father and both of them had buried her, along with Gaia. Although Asher couldn’t really explain what happened to Larry, the man seemed to have understood on his own and didn’t make it difficult for him. The remaining two weeks, Asher had stayed in Naomi’s room, filling himself with her scent and denying himself stepping out of the room. Even though Larry knows he is the very beast he hunts, he couldn’t even bring himself to do anything and could only let the poor man be.

Now, back home, Asher knew it was time to take up his responsibility, so when the high elders asked him to choose a full moon night, he chose the nearest one which was in three days. And so, preparation was carried for his ceremony and the ritual of the Eastwood rogues.

“So, no more alpha powers?” Anita asked Gideon as they strolled down the training arena of the Blue Moon pack.

Gideon sighed. “We have always known it would be like that, it was why we tried as much as possible to hide from you guys. But Catherine forced us out of our holes.” He sighed. “Anyway, I have taken the days before the fight and the one-month vacation to prepare myself, so I have already accepted the idea. The only problem is you.”

Anita was shocked. “Me?”

Gideon stopped and took her hands in his. “I know we have gotten closer and that you have already accepted me and whatever outcome we would have but, it doesn’t change the fact that you have not seen me without my alpha strength. Do you think you would be comfortable knowing that your mate can’t protect you?”

Anita chuckled. “I never dreamed of mating to an alpha. I don’t have alpha strength myself and if alpha powers were all that matters, then no one should be mating the warrior wolves anymore, don’t you think?” she freed her hand from his and cupped his cheek. “The only thing I was bothered about before was being made a rogue. Now that we know we won’t be that, I don’t have a problem with you being an ordinary warrior. Trust me.”

Gideon smiled and exhaled, it was the only reason that had made giving up his powers a little difficult. But now that he had her support, he was sure he could carry on with the ritual tomorrow without any problem. He leaned over and kissed her lips, holding her tightly and not wanting to let go. They have both decided to mark each other after the ritual and he can’t wait to be connected to her.

Asher watched them from the room he was in and his eyes welled up in tears. He missed Naomi, he misses her a lot and it hurts him that she had to die while trying to save him and his people. She wasn’t a wolf or a vampire and he didn’t even proclaim her his mate in front of everyone so whatever happened to them had no business with her, but even at that, she didn’t let it stop her. It was why he did what he did, it was why he rejected his mates to bind himself solely to her because for her to be so selfless to his kind only proves that she alone is worthy to be the high luna of his kingdom, wolf or not. Not like being a wolf would be a problem because all she would have to do was ask.

He turned when he sensed the presence behind him and wasn’t surprised when he saw Stella. She and Maya have been trying to contact him since he returned and he has been avoiding them. Guess Stella had heard about him visiting the Blue Moon pack. “The sun is still up, how were you able to come here?”

“I came this morning.” She replied, her eyes not leaving him.

Asher exhaled and went to sit on the bed. “Go on, ask me why I did it. I know you are dying to know.”

“Indeed I am. I mean, I understand you love her and that she saved us all, and if she was alive, I would understand you rejecting us. But she is dead, are you planning to be alone forever?”

“It’s not forever. She would reincarnate.”

“But no one knows when it would be. Sure, she is a human, and they tend to reincarnate faster, but no one knows when it will be. And no one knows how long it would take. What if she never reincarnates?”

“She will,” he smiled. “Humans always reincarnate and she will. I don’t know when, and I don’t know how long but she will. It might take years, or even centuries but I don’t mind. One thing I know I have is time. I can wait. My father waited for my mother for two thousand years, I can do the same, I can wait even longer. I didn’t treat her well.” He shook his head. “She had spent her days loving me and I? I couldn’t even make a decision. Just when I was starting to lean into the fact, you guys came along. Yet, she loved me, and I couldn’t even reject her like I was told to. I got greedy and selfish wanting to keep you three. The years I will stay waiting for her is my punishment to myself. That’s why I soul-marked her, that way, I can never be with any other woman. So I am going to wait, and wait, till she comes.”

“That is a heavy punishment…”

“And I am willing to bear it,” he interrupted. “I’m sorry Stella, I am not a worthy mate for you. You too, Maya,” he glanced at the door.

With her cover blown, Maya had no choice but to open the door and step in. Her eyes were wet with tears as she looked at him.

“I am really sorry. And I pray that you both would find males that would treat you better than I did.” He stood up, cupped his fists together and bowed to them. When he looked at them again, he smiled sadly. Maya left first, she ran away crying.

Stella watched Asher for a long time before she nodded. “I pray I find a male that would love me like you love her.” She smiled at him before turning and walking out of the room.