Avoiding Alpha

Chapter Twenty Eight

Ashton was barley aware of the new audience, or the threat they posed. It didn’t register in his mind that his death was coming up or that when he opened his mouth it was most likely going to be his last words.

“Nancy,” he whispered. He felt too weak to do anything but whisper. “But I love you.” He said.

“We’re not mates.” She replied.

“But it’s still love.”

“Human love – it’s worthless.”

“You cried human tears over me.”

                His voice broke. They were not mates with the special bond but in the lonely world a wolf waiting for their partner, they had fallen in love the normal way and Ashton had fallen hard. Only now did he understand that she hadn’t fallen quite as hard. She hadn’t loved him as he had her.

“We can’t have children and it’s not because there is something wrong with me. It’s us!” A tear fell down her face. “I’m sorry Ashton, I never meant for you to find out.”

“Find out? Find?!” Finally Tendra saw that anger flash in him. It was much better that the dejected and torn Ashton. His eyes flashed and he lifted his head abruptly to stare into her eyes, to show her his anger and demand from her an explanation. “So in your selfish quest for children you not only lied to me but you betrayed the pack! You betrayed our family!” He screamed out the accusation and Nancy didn’t try to defend herself, she simply hung her head. But it wasn’t in shame; it was because she didn’t want to argue. And that unwillingness to be human and either defend herself, deny the accusation, or even just beg for forgiveness, opened Ashton’s eyes to the woman he had loved.

                He was so tense from holding back his emotions that his face was starting to go red and tiny droplets of blood dripped from his hand because he had balled his hands into fists but had not noticed that the change started in him and his fingernails were turning to claws.

“She also called one of my men to let us all know you were alone in the forest. I have to say the attempt to kill you didn’t work and the men I sent to do the job are… dead. But still, as touching as this sad, sad, reunion is my attention is wavering. She betrayed you wolf, now ignore her and face me.”

                The leader added an Alpha command to the end of his sentence and it wasn’t just Ashton who got angry. Ray was fuming.

“Do not dare to command my pack!” Ray yelled.

“Oh you’ll be handing over your pack to me in a few minutes, and your land. And your woman. And I wouldn’t shout at me, there are wolves around you know.”

“I’ll slaughter any who move.”

“Brave but foolish Alpha, you can only try.”

                The leader of this band of warriors walked forward, turning to open the cage door and further going towards Tendra, who backed up to keep Tim from the leader’s reach. “Father first or shall I do you a favour and kill your betrayer?”