Tana guided me to a group of women sitting around a smaller fire, away from those that were dancing around the bonfire, she introduces me as the princess and immediately they swarm me, asking questions that I couldn’t answer, running their fingers over my skin and hair, small gasps coming from the women as they spot the mark on my lower back “It’s really her”, “She is here”.
The closeness of the women made me feel uncomfortable and when I look up Tana is gone and everyone continues to surround me “Princess, we will look after you”, “Princess are you hungry?” they kept throwing question after question at me when I just wanted to be alone.
“Ladies, give the princess some space”
I look up to see that Tana had returned, fully clothed in a long dark dress, boots and a cardigan. Immediately the women drop their fingers and leave a pathway between me and Tana. Rushing forward, Tana embraces me &ldq
Hours turned in to days and days turned into weeks, every time I saw Amber she couldn’t speak but she would drop notes either telling me Daryl was okay and he was working hard or saying that she was working on it but either way I was never allowed out my tiny room and guards stood at my door day and night.Daryl constantly talked to me, yet no matter how hard I tried, he couldn’t here a single word I was saying. I was growing desperate by the day and even begged the guards to let me out to stretch my legs, I didn’t even care if they came with me. At least at Black night even if I was confined as a punishment, they would allow me a guarded walk and then there were the times I was working, this though, this was pure hell.I hadn’t seen Tana either since I was put in this room and I still didn’t understand what they meant when they told me I had to stay here until I was old enough to take back control. I was old enough to be mated.Sin
The women from Tana’s pack were forced to join Daryl’s and any who didn't, risked their lives as they tried to flee, but as they registered me as his mate, the person they called a princess, they all took an oath to accept Daryl as their Alpha. It was weird though, they all had to take a sip of his blood and pledge their allegiance to him, yet watching these women take it in turns to lick the droplets of blood from his wrist had jealousy racing through my veins.Daryl’s eyes never left me as the women all took their oaths, more of Daryl’s pack had arrived to help round up the women and drive them back to Crescent pack, and as Amber was the final one to pledge her allegiance, Daryl nodded his head to her, telling her that he would be forever grateful for ensuring that I was safe. Amber bowed her head and rushed back to Cole’s side, who was only too happy to have her back in his arms.“Daryl?”, He turns to face me “Why can&
The rest of the car ride was uneventful and for that I was grateful. Amber held my hand all the way and gave me regular smiles and little squeezes but I was starting to wonder if it was more for her own benefit than mine, after all she was coming to a new pack as well.As Cole steps out the car, he holds the door open for Amber and Daryl helps me out on the opposite side, ensuring I don’t slip in the snow. Daryl tells them both that they are to stay in the packhouse and Amber and I would be permanently assigned Jordan as our guard. Amber looked alarmed about having a guard but I reassure her it was just Daryl’s way of making sure we were safe.Daryl shoots me a wink and I realise I had used his words on someone else, woah, when did that happen?Inside we sit down in the large living room, and I grab a packet of crisp from the snack bowl when the urge to vomit washes over me and I run out the room closely followed by Daryl as I launch myself into the
I had no idea how long I was out for and when I woke I could still taste the blood, the images of Daryl holding his wrist against my lips fresh in my mind.I felt different, I felt energised, like nothing could stop me. Remembering how my canines had come out, I run my tongue over them, they had retracted but they were sharp, sharper than what I could remember.Clambering out of bed and running to the mirror, I look at myself, my amber eyes seem brighter and my messy black hair more glossier than usual.A small knock raps on the door and Amber trots in with a smile that could light up the room, finding her mate had done her wonders.“You’re awake, I wasn’t sure if it was true but you’re finally awake”She embraces me and wraps her arms tightly around me whilst giving me a little squeeze and as she pulls away I see the small blue mark behind her ear, a mark that matched the one on my lower back exactly.I don&rsq
He lies next to me, his eyes drifting close with a satisfied look on his face and I wonder how long he had been waiting for this, waiting for me to give him my virginity.I had decided I was ready when I was locked up, being away from him had been driving me nuts, the pain from not seeing my mate was nothing I wanted to experience again but hearing his voice all the time was the one thing that reassured me, even when I couldn’t talk back to him.His arm reaches out and wraps around my waist, pulling me tightly into him “You are not going anywhere” he whispers and he presses his lips against my cheek, the stubble from his jaw grazing against my skin, it was an odd sensation, yet I enjoyed it.A firm knock raps on the door and Daryl groans letting go of me so I can go to the walk in and he can grab some clothes.Coles voice drifts in from the bathroom “More heads have appeared…”His voice trails off and I guess th
“Do you now?” he makes me jump and I turn to see him leaning against a tree, a smirk on his face, his dark hair falling loose from his bun.“Daryl, I.. I” and he holds a hand up to stop me“Jordan, I need you to be Ashley’s guard alone and protect her with your life, do you understand?”Jordan bows her head “It would be my honour”“No she can’t, people die because of me, I can’t let you do that to Jordan” as much as I appreciated what he was willing to do for me, I couldn’t get over how he didn’t tell me that he loved me.“It’s done Ashley, I need you protected at all costs. If you are not with me, then you are with Jordan” his dark eyes focus on my own which makes me drop my head. If I had stared back at anyone in Black night, I would have been punished. “Do you understand Ashley?”“Yes” the word came out more
“Ashley, this is Alpha Christian”Alpha Christian stands and bows his head to me, he takes my hand and plants a kiss on the back of it“Luna Ashley, I hope you are well”I don’t speak, I couldn’t, to much was running through my head, I didn’t want to be taken away from Daryl, I didn’t like this man, I didn’t want him to challenge Daryl.I turn to look at Daryl, a single tear rolls down my cheek and Daryl’s voice enters my head “You are safe”“I will have to apologise Christian for not telling you, Ashley does not speak much, she prefers to be.... quiet”A snort comes out of Jordan “You have something to say?” Alpha Christian snarls at Jordan“No Alpha, I think some dust must have caught in my nose”I watch as Alpha Christian narrows his eyes, annoyed with Jordan’s comment, he was expecting Daryl to say something, bu
Jordan and I stay in my room for a while, chatting, I wasn't ready to face anyone just yet. She tells me that there might be a way we can stop the Alpha’s from fighting, but it would require me to speak to Alpha Christian and tell him that I was having some sort of breakdown when I said I wanted to leave. When I asked her if she was certain it would work, she looked doubtful and tells me all I can do is try.Heading back downstairs to grab some food, we find Cole in the kitchen cooking, he gives Jordan a disgusted look yet apologises to me for his behaviour, how could I forgive the way he attacked me?!.You could cut the air with a knife from the tension between them as I sat at the table not knowing where to look. I had to say something, “How’s Amber?”Cole curls his lip up in disgust “She is right where she belongs, no one disrespects my Alpha” his words still surprise me, what I thought I knew about mates has turned out to