Chapter 7
Ashton’s Point of View
I didn’t care about Bryan.
I didn’t love him.
If I could have one wish, it would be for his very existence to vanish–like he had never been born, like I had never been his father.
Now that he’s dead, shouldn’t I be happy?
My wish had come true. No more responsibilities, no more pup to raise and sustain. Kathryn couldn’t use him against me anymore, and I could finally live my life the way I wanted.
So why were there tears in my eyes?
Why did my chest ache with unexplainable pain?
Why was there this faint, nagging regret… and a sliver of sadness?
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Fuck it.
I shook the feeling off, convincing myself it was just the shock of his death–nothing more. Nothing deeper.
“I’ll be over it in a day or two,” I told myself as I drove away.
I pulled over at Red Roar–the pack’s infamous bar, known for its she–wolf strippers.
I needed a distraction.
The moment I stepped inside, the scent of alcohol, cigarettes and cheap perfume hit me, and almost–naked waitresses sauntered past. One of them caught my eye. Without thinking, I grabbed her arm and crashed my lips against hers, desperate to silence the thoughts in my head.
She smirked when I pulled back, her voice sultry. “Ashton, you’re thrilling me. Long time no see.”
Sasha. My favorite stripper.
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I leaned in, pressing another brief kiss to her lips. “Ten cans of Blood Beer,” I ordered, my tone sharp.
Her brows lifted, a hint of concern slipping through her practiced seduction. “Rough night?” She asked, already guessing why I’d gone straight for the pack’s strongest drink.
I pulled her closer and bit her lower lip this time. “It’s none of your business. Just get me my drinks.”
Sasha smirked, then licked her lips, before. sauntering off to fetch my order.
A few minutes later, she returned with a tray of Blood Beer. I wasted no time, grabbing the first can, cracking it open, and downing it in one go. The sharp burn coursed through my system like fire, but it wasn’t enough. I reached for another, then another, until three cans were empty at my feet.
The alcohol began to dull my thoughts, but I wasn’t done distracting myself yet.
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Turning to Sasha, I cupped her face and licked her lips, before pulling her into a rough, hungry kiss. She met me with equal intensity, her tongue making its way into my mouth.
Heat surged through me. I trailed my lips down her neck, my hands finding her breasts, which I kneaded firmly. My fingers then played with her nipples, pinching them hard, making her moan out my
name.
Then, my phone chimed.
I untangled myself from Sasha, my attention drawn to the buzz of my phone. The message was from Tiana: I’ve been trying to mind–link you, but it seems like you’ve turned your link off. Where are you?
I sighed, quickly typing back: Just finishing up some pack duties. Almost done.
Barely a moment passed before her reply popped up: Alright. I’m here at your mansion, and I’m horny. Do you think
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you’ll be here anytime soon? I miss you.
Damn.
I stared at the screen for a moment before responding: I’m on my way.
With that, I turned off my phone, adjusted my shirt, and turned to Sasha. “I have to go. I’m sorry,” I murmured, sliding my payment onto the table. “I left a tip for you too.”
Sasha gathered the payment but rolled her eyes. “You’re such a playboy, Ashton. You’re already mated with Kathryn, cheating on her with Tiana, and still having an affair with me. Disgusting.”
I chuckled darkly, locking eyes with her. “Sasha, you’re just a stripper. I’m paying you
for a service. You don’t get to count yourself as part of my affairs. Stop being delusional.”
Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked out of the bar, leaving her seething.
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Tiana was a better–more effective-
distraction anyway.
Tiana’s Point of View
Before Ashton arrived, I prepared meticulously, slipping into something alluring from Kathryn’s expansive closet- now mine, as Ashton had reminded me.
I selected a red thong and matching bra, accentuating my curves. After tying my hair into a messy bun and applying a bold red lipstick, I sat on the couch.
Minutes passed before I heard the click of the doorknob. The door swung open, revealing Ashton.
“You’re finally here,” I murmured, draping my arms around his neck.
He leaned closer, his breath warm against my skin. “I couldn’t resist you, Tiana,” He whispered, capturing my lips in a deep,
fervent kiss.
I melted into him, returning his passion as
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he guided me back onto the couch. His hands explored me, each touch igniting sparks. Piece by piece, he stripped away my clothes, and, along the way, he got naked too.
Now on top of me, Ashton didn’t waste any time inserting his full length inside me. Each thrust grew harder and more painful, but every pull brought an unexplainable satisfaction.
He was so good at it, and I found myself craving more.
Strangely, though, he finished our lovemaking quickly. He usually took his time, wanting to savor every moment with me, but tonight, he didn’t even kiss me after finishing. Instead, he put his clothes. back on and headed to the kitchen for a
glass of cold water.
After putting on a robe, I turned to him, noticing the deep concentration on his face. “What’s on your mind?” I asked gently.
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Without hesitation, he replied, “Bryan is dead. And Kathryn said my blood donation came three weeks late.”
I stepped forward, wrapping him in a gentle hug. But as his face remained buried in my shoulder, a deep, dark smirk curled at my lips.
This was exactly what I wanted.
“I’m so sorry for your loss, Ashton,” I whispered, my voice trembling with feigned sorrow.
He pulled away, running a hand through his hair as he exhaled shakily. “Tiana, I don’t understand why my stupid son’s death is hitting me this hard. I can’t get him… or Kathryn… out of my head.”
My expression darkened at his words.
This wasn’t part of the plan.
Ashton leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips before holding me close. “I’m sorry, Tiana, but I need to go.”
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As he turned to leave, I grabbed his arm, my grip firm. “No, please don’t leave me here.”
“I’m sorry,” He muttered again, his voice hollow.
I gritted my teeth. “Where are you going, then?”
“Fuck it, I don’t know, Tiana.” He ran a hand over his face, his voice cracking. “But… Kathryn. I can’t shake the feeling she needs me right now. Fuck, I have to see her.”
And with that, he rushed out the door, leaving me for my beloved sister…
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Kathryn’s Point of View
Not knowing where else to go, I decided to stay at my parents‘ old house. Thankfully, I still had the spare key I’d kept all these
years.
As I unlocked the door and stepped inside, I was met with thick layers of dust, spider webs that draped across corners, and a suffocating darkness. I flicked on the lights, illuminating the familiar yet forgotten
space.
My gaze was immediately drawn to the picture frame hanging on the wall. It was a photo of my late parents on the day of their mating ceremony.
Despite the dust covering it, I reached out, brushing my fingers gently against the frame. A sad smile crept onto my face.
“I wish I had a mate like my father,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Mom, Dad…
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I wish you were here with me right now. The pain is becoming too much. I don’t know how much longer I can endure it.”
The house remained silent, but the ache in my chest seemed to echo louder than ever.
I sobbed uncontrollably, tears streaming down my face. After locking the front door, I turned back off the light and made my way to my childhood room. Dusting off the bed, I sank onto the edge, feeling the familiar yet hollow emptiness settle in.
I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing…
“Bryan… I miss you so much. Please appear even just in my dreams…” I whispered through choked sobs, the words barely escaping my trembling lips.
Weakly, I lay flat on the bed. Above me, a hole in the roof allowed me to see the vast night sky, its stars scattered like distant memories. One star burned brighter than the rest, and in that moment, I knew it was Bryan. He was watching over me,
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somehow.
“I love you…” I whispered before my eyes fluttered shut into sleep.
When I woke up, sunlight was already streaming through the cracks in the roof. Despite having slept through the night, my body still felt drained, heavy with my grief for Bryan.
Each passing day only made the pain harder to bear.
Hours slipped by, but all I could manage was to sit up in bed. My stomach growled, but I couldn’t bring myself to eat. The thought of food felt meaningless.
Is this how my life will be from now on?
If so, why can’t I just die and be done with
it?
As I sat there, lost in despair, a sudden mind–link interrupted my thoughts.
“I’ve been searching for you the whole night, Kathryn. Where the fuck are you?”
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Chapter 8
Ashton’s voice rang in my head, sharp and urgent.
I didn’t respond. I ignored his mind–link, just as I ignored his countless text messages and the fifty missed calls piling up on my phone.
I wondered why Ashton was so desperate to find me. To kill me, perhaps? It didn’t matter–Bryan would always stay alive in my heart, while I would consider Ashton as good as dead.
Out of nowhere, an idea struck me; to go through Tiana’s old bedroom. Her
belongings were left untouched since she left for her training.
As I lingered, I opened one of her drawers out of idle curiosity. Inside, I found a stack of notebooks and loose papers. Among them was a crumpled piece of paper with “Tiana and Ashton” scribbled on it.
A smirk tugged at my lips as I recalled how, even as young she–wolves–barely ten years.
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old–Tiana had nursed a silly, innocent crush on Ashton.
I could still picture her picking wildflowers by the riverside, carefully arranging them into makeshift bouquets. Then, brimming with excitement, she would sneak off to the Fire Heart Kingdom. Omegas like us weren’t allowed inside the kingdom, so she would leave the flowers in their mailbox, hoping Ashton might one day notice her
efforts.
I doubted he ever received them.
I also never expected that Tiana, of all she- wolves, would be the one to tear my mating bond with Ashton even further apart.
Annoyed, I tossed the crumpled paper aside and turned my attention to the notebooks in the drawer. One of them
stood out the most–a small notebook with a delicate lock clasping it shut.
Curiosity burned through me as I picked it up. It had to be Tiana’s diary. Without
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hesitation, I snapped the flimsy lock open and flipped to the first page.
My suspicions were confirmed. It was her personal diary, filled with her private thoughts and secrets.
The very first entry sent a chill through me: I wish Kathryn was dead! I hate my sister so much!
I wasn’t surprised, though.
I had felt her resentment for years.
Then, something compelled me to keep reading, turning page after page of her bitterness until I landed on one of the latest entries.
“If I have to lie and invent stories to take Ashton from Kathryn, just to secure my place as the future Luna, then I’ll weave the biggest lies and tell them as if they’re true.”
“So they have a son now? Another hindrance to my plans, another problem I need to solve…”
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“If killing’s what it takes to have Ashton, then I would sharpen up my sword.”
“I fucking need Ashton in my life!”
My head tilted at her words.
I didn’t fully understand them.
What did she mean by that?
Had she already acted on it?
Puzzled by my thoughts, I suddenly felt a thick liquid dripping from my nose. Moments later, I noticed blood onto the notebook I was holding.
Shit.
My nose was bleeding.
I tilted my head up to stop the blood from flowing, but the motion made my surroundings spin. Before I could process what was happening, my vision faded into darkness.
Strangely, I didn’t panic. A sense of calm washed over me, as if my body surrendered
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to the inevitable. As my eyes
shut
completely, Bryan’s face appeared in my mind–smiling, free of pain, vibrant and healthy.
“Mother… Please don’t give up on life. Live your life for both of us,” Bryan said, his voice clear and steady, as if he were right
beside me.
A few moments later, I felt someone lifting me and carrying me out of the room…
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