The Alpha Twins Rejection
Chapter Seventeen - Ashley's P.O.V

I sat down on the edge of my bed again as soon as I entered my room, staring gloomily at the dress I would be wearing to my destiny. I didn’t yet know what it was but knew that I had to square my shoulders and take it head-on. I would make certain I looked every part the Luna when I did. I wouldn’t display any signs of weakness, I thought with determination. I was Alpha Blood. God damn it.

The only time I had ever revealed any weakness in my entire life was with Alpha Dante. He had ravaged my body and stripped my wounded soul bare, twisting it until almost breaking point. I had always thought I was over the hold he maintained over me, but the other day proved that just his overpowering, sickly sweet scent was enough to have me cowering.

I would not cower from my destiny though. No matter how much it severely hurt. Letting out a frustrated sigh I stood up and walked towards my sleek black gown. It was stunning; I thought solemnly as I took it out of the protective bag and stepped warily into it. It was floor-length, had wrist-length sleeves, a deep V at the front that displayed my ample chest nicely along with a thigh-high side split. The gown was also backless, showing off my extensive back tattoos.

Cautiously looking at my reflection in the floor length mirror I realised the dress complimented my loose, curly silver hair and smoky eyes. I am in no way conceited but knew I looked good. Forcibly taking a few deep breaths, I exited my bedroom to go in desperate search of Zac. Showtime, I thought sadly.

I barely made it out of my room before I heard my name being called behind me. Turning around, I noticed my parents walking towards me hand in hand. “You look beautiful, darling,” my mother said as she approached me. “Thanks, Mum, you look stunning yourself,” I replied, leaning in to bestow a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Has Zac seen you in that dress?” my father asked, wiggling his eyebrows at me. “Yes, Dad. Who do you think chose it,” I replied with a sarcastic laugh, rolling my eyes. “Your father and I have to go and greet our guests. We expect to see you two later so that we may make all the necessary introductions Ashley. There are quite a few people who are interested in making your acquaintance,” She replied with a cryptic smile on her face.

“We wouldn’t miss it,” I replied, plastering what I hoped was a believable smile on my face. Just as I was about to walk off in the opposite direction, my father grasped me gently by the wrist, facing me back towards them once again. “Whatever happens tonight, Ashley, we are always here for you. No matter what. I just wanted you to know that, ok, kiddo,” He said softly.

I couldn’t reply. Not wanting to ruin my makeup, I took in several deep breaths and nodded at them before pulling away from my father’s grip and walking down the long hallway.

I stopped just outside Zac’s bedroom door to allow myself a few seconds to still my beating heart and gathermy wits. I didn’t want to explain why I was so anxious nor repeat my father’s words. Before I had the chance to reach the doorknob, the door suddenly opened.

Standing on the other side was Zac, and boy was he a sight for sore eyes. Rooted to the spot, unable to make my legs move as I drank in the sight of him wearing a tux. No matter how many times I had seen him dressed to impressed, it was never enough. I shamelessly allowed my eyes to leisurely roam his body, taking in every sexy line and curve of his muscular body.

When I finally settled on his handsome face, his eyes were hooded, making me let out a little squeak. It is evident by the bulge in his pants that he was thinking the same as he took in my appearance. “Fuck Ash, you are looking like a snack tonight,” he said hoarsely.

Before I knew what was happening, Zac picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. He made little time locking the door behind us as he strode over to his bed with rapid footsteps.

Realizing his intentions quickly, I swatted him on the back. “Zac,” I yelped. “We don’t have time,” I continued. I knew resisting him was futile. I would only be denying myself. There was nothing I would deny this man, and at this moment, I didn’t care how late we were going to be to the Ball.

When we finally left the comfort of Zac’s bed, slightly less elegant than a half-hour before, we made our way through the packhouse and out into the clearing that had been set up for the Ball. I held Zac’s hand tightly as we wound our way through the people who were milling around just outside of the festivities.

My mother had outdone herself this year, I thought with wonder. Even though it was dark outside, the place was lit up with thousands of tiny twinkling lanterns. Exquisite snow-white flowers hung crisscrossed, entwining with the lights taking my breath away. In the distance, a band was playing slow love songs on a timber stand. The sound filling the night air. Beside them sat a colossal dance floor that easily fit a few hundred dancers on it. With the millions of stars twinkling above us in the night sky, the setting was breathtaking.

I felt Zac gently tug my hand; I hadn’t realized that I had stopped. “Ready, Ash,” he whispered close to my ear. I could hear the weariness in his anxious voice but chose to disregard it. I had promised myself I would be courageous, and I wasn’t going back on it. Not knowing what to say, so I faced him, placing a lingering, sweet kiss on his forehead, and then nodded slightly. It was now or never, I thought as we made our way deeper into the gathering.

As we reluctantly approached the dance floot, I could smell the wonderful food that people were cooking off to the side; the smell had my mouth watering. It would be nice to eat something other than hospital food I thought with a laugh. Unexpectedly, I registered something else. A scent so intoxicating. So delicious that Callie was on her feet, immediately begging for me to pinpoint the source. “Everything ok, Ash,” Zac inquired in earnest.

I frantically tried to act normal and lied, a shudder running through me. Zac mistook it as a chill and sweetly offered me his coat. “I’m fine, Zac, really I am. Thank you, though,” I replied, not taking him up on his offer of wearing his coat. I certainly wasn’t cold.

I started to feel slightly clammy and prayed that the contact with our hands would not be a dead giveaway. Could I have found my mate after six long years? I wondered uneasily. Being left confused and broken for years, I hoped the Goddess had at least chosen a suitable mate for me, one worthy of the years I have waited nervously.

Zac ran his hands through his hair and then towed me onto the dance floor, suddenly sweeping me off my feet. We had been dancing together for years so knew each others moves inside out, our bodies instinctively knew the others moves before we made them. We allowed ourselves to get lost in the music.

I had no notion of how long we spent on the dance floor, but it always felt right to be in Zac’s muscular embrace. After what seemed like an eternity, Zac suddenly stopped moving, he visibly tensed in my arms, and inhaled sharply. I noticed his eyes swirl from blue to black and knew that Callan was trying to come forward.

“Are you ok, Zac,” I asked breathlessly. His eyes stopped shifting. He had control once again. “Are you thinking what I am thinking, Callie?” I asked inwardly. Callie just ignored me, somehow I knew her answer, and she knew that I did. “You can’t ignore me forever, Callie,” I said hotly. “I merely have to ignore you for the next few hours,” she replied with a snarl that had me recoiling in shock. What the hell was that about, I wondered.

“Callie, what do you know that I don’t,” I replied bluntly, forcibly trying to put as much sweetness into my question as I could, but she just went back to ignoring me.

Zac grasped my hand tightly and steered me off the dance floor in a hurry. “Zac,” I said solemnly, planting my feet and tugging his hand until he was facing me. He didn’t have to answer my unspoken question. The pained look on his face inevitably betrayed him, so I pulled him into a fierce bear hug.

“Don’t Zac. We knew our time was up the minute we locked that door,” I said between kisses. It suddenly occurred to me that I probably shouldn’t be kissing another she-wolfs mate, but at present, I couldn’t stop myself. I wouldn’t. I didn’t care who seen us either. Not tonight.

Whatever remained of tonight was ours, I told myself foolishly—not knowing where our lives were going to take us after tonight frightened me half to death. I would, however, trust the Goddess. As much as I bitterly cursed her, I knew deep down that everything she did, she did for a reason.

I was torn in two. I hadn’t informed Zac that I had possibly smelt my mate earlier tonight either. I wanted desperately for him to replace his first so that I could let go. So that I knew he was going to survive our separation. I just knew it would tear him apart if I were to replace my mate before him.

I was sure he suspected something was up though the moment my body shuddered earlier, he too was choosing ignorance. Desperation almost had me suggesting we run away, run from our destiny. To commence a life together away from our duties to our pack. It was a foolish thought. Neither of us could leave our pack. Neither of us could forsake our mates.

Zac opened his mouth to say something but swiftly closed it as we received an urgent message via mind-link from our fathers informing us that they were ready for us to join them on stage in welcoming everyone to the annual Blood Moon Ball.

The information had Callie howling furiously with anticipation, so I massaged my temples gently. “Callie acting up again, Ash,” Zac asked immediately.“Yep,” I replied honestly. “So is Callan,” Zac said in a low-pitched voice.” Come on, Ash, let’s get this over and done with,” he continued grimly while I wondered uneasily if he was talking about personal introductions or being torn apart forever.

I didn’t have the heart to request clarification, so I reluctantly accepted his outstretched hand, firmed my jaw, lifted my chin and strode confidently beside him while people openly stared at us. Blood Moon pack members knew we were more than just friends; we had only ever fooled ourselves that we had them convinced otherwise. They just didn’t know how deep the connection actually ran, I thought sadly.

Zac and I weaved our way through the parting crowd, and I noted that people either looked at us in awe or with a contemptuous sneer on their face. Being high ranking and good looking, most people erroneously assumed that we were stuck up. They couldn’t be further from the truth. It seemed to be only unfamiliar faces that held the distorted features. And it only seemed to be females. I could only guess that they were jealous that Zac was on my arm and not theirs, I had seen it year after year, and I couldn’t say I blamed them.

Zac was arm candy rolled into the most loyal, gentlest guy anyone could ever dream of. Whomever Zac was mated to was one fortunate woman, I thought almost bitterly.

As we reluctantly made our way up to the front of the stage, my father promptly introduced us, and the crowd went wild with wolf whistles and cheering. It was as if we were on parade for all to see because we were both eligible bachelors, I thought with a snort.

When the crowd settled down, my father urged me to step forward to adress those gathered, but just as I was about to, all hell broke loose. Suddenly menacing howls were coming from all around us, and the anxious group started to break apart with unease.

“Dad”, I mind-linked.“What’s going on,” I asked hastily. “The rogues have breached the perimeter,” he replied scornfully. “What? How,” I replied impatiently. “Alpha Rayne and Alpha Kane let their guard down,” he snarled viciously. I almost paled at the crushing reply.

All of the short-lived joy I had held wanting to make their acquaintance left me at once and was replaced by one of absolute revulsion. I didn’t wait for my father to continue. I could hear the agonized screams and panic of our guests piercing my miserable soul.

Wasting no time I shifted, barrelling towards the forest line, ready to defend our packs and those visiting. I didn’t have to stop to know that Zac flanked my left side with his father on my right. Our standard formation.

In no time we came across the fierce fight between roughs wolves and our men. I charged towards the rogues, seizing the nearest one by the neck and biting down hard. I quickly ripped his throat out and flung him to the side. I narrowed my eyes at the next rogue in my vision and did the same. After that, I lost track of time and how many rogues I killed.

By the time we were done, I was covered in blood and still shaking with fury. Those fuckers, I thought, my chest heaving in and out as I fought to regain my breath. I looked around to make sure Zac and Beta McMillan were still with me and then headed back towards the Ball.

“Dad, where are you?” I asked via mind-link. “Near the stage, the threat has been neutralized and the perimeter secured,” he replied. “Good job, darling,” he added swiftly. As the stage come into view, I noted that two enormous unknown men were standing in the middle of the field wearing nothing but sweat pants while talking to a few of our men. Zac noticed my gaze and let out a low warning growl.

Callie was doing the polar opposite. She was yipping and carrying on about allegedly replaceing our mate. She inhaled deeply, and sure enough, an earthy, manly scent engulfed my acute senses. It almost washed away the relentless fury that had spread through my body. “Settle the fuck down, Callie,” I spat contemptuously.

I wasn’t in the mood; I was too furious that two blundering idiots had threatened the lives of hundreds of wolves and ruined my night with Zac. As we approached them, I realized that the two imposing figures must have been the Alpha Twins, Rayne and Kane. They were identical. The realization had me shaking with anger. I was confident they would be able to feel it rolling off of me. About ten feet away from them, they sensed our presence and slowly turned to face us. I noted that their faces quickly changed from grim to one of what, lust? Hope?

I couldn’t work it out. I didn’t want to. I promptly shifted from my wolf form and approached them. I didn’t care that I was stark naked. Nor did I care that they were openly checking me out, their jaws on the ground. Zac stood behind me, growling savagely with his gritted teeth bared in hostility.

Before either of them realized what I was about to do, they both muttered the word MATE. It caused me to falter a second, but I was too angry to register their words. I pulled my bloodstained hand back and did the first thing that entered my mind. I struck them both hard across the face and spoke the words I wasn’t sure I would ever use “I Ashley Miller, reject you Kane and you Rayne Smith”

Turning to walk away, I realized quickly what they had possibly been staring at, other than my naked form, all of the stitches in my stomach were busted open, and my raw wounds were spewing blood. I awkwardly placed my hand on it, desperately trying to stem the blood loss. FUCK. That was the last thing I thought before darkness consumed me.