Mated To An Enemy

“I hear everything’s been approved for the defense upgrades in Winter,” Ashleigh said as she watched Caleb getting ready for his day.

“Yep. And Galen is eagerly awaiting the delivery. Very eagerly,” Caleb groaned. “He has asked for an update three times today alone.”

Ashleigh giggled.

“Can you blame him?” she asked, sitting up in bed. “Getting these defenses up is the first step to making sure that Bell and Ren are safe from the monster that hurt her.”

Caleb nodded as he worked on fastening the buttons of his shirt.

“I understand. I just wish he would understand when I say, ‘I will let you know when the transport is on its way.’ He doesn’t need to keep asking about it.”

Ashleigh laughed again.

“Please, you wouldn’t have even called if it were you. Instead, you would have driven here and carried the supplies back in your arms,” she smiled.

Caleb turned to look at her with a cocked brow.

“So, in this scenario,” he said, turning his body toward her as he finished the last button of his shirt. “I am trying to protect my wife… and child?”

“I was just saying, if. If you were Galen, that’s what you would do.”

“Yes,” he said, moving toward the bed. “If I was Galen, and if you were Bell.”

“Mmhmm,” Ashleigh replied.

Caleb kneeled on the bed, and Ashleigh couldn’t help but smile as he moved with the grace and focus of a wolf stalking his prey.

Ashleigh laid back in bed, resting her head on the pillows as he crawled over her. He pulled down the sheet. She wore a tank top with no bra. Caleb slipped his fingers under the hem of the shirt, lifting it up just under her breast.

He leaned forward, his mouth hovering just over her stomach._.

Ashleigh chewed her lower lip as her heart picked up its steady rhythm.

“And if you were carrying our own little pup, right here,” he whispered. The heat of his breath tickled her and sent small shockwaves shooting over her body.

She drew in a shaky breath as he pressed his lips to the soft flesh of her stomach.

Ashleigh closed her eyes and arched her back, lifting her hips toward him.

Caleb smiled and kissed her stomach once more.

“If….” he whispered before pushing off the bed and standing back up. Smoothing his shirt and pants as he headed to the door.

Ashleigh felt him moving away. She opened her eyes and looked toward him, her glance filled with desire and anticipation.

Caleb smiled as he reached for the doorknob.

“If only,” he winked at her and left the room.

“Caleb!” Ashleigh growled and threw a pillow at the door.

***

Another week had passed, and still, Ashleigh hadn’t found a way to properly connect with or accept the power that Lily and the others offered.

It was becoming a point of frustration.

She tried again to meditate, to call forth the power and accept it as a part of herself.

All around her was an empty space, filled only with her own presence. Then, far off, at an unspeakable distance, she heard the howl of a wolf.

‘My Luna,’ she thought.

She felt a strong urge to run, but towards it or away from it, she couldn’t tell.

A soft light began to take shape not far from her, and then another, and another. Still more appeared.

Finally, Lily appeared before her.

“Interesting,” Lily smiled. “You managed to call us separately.”

Lily looked around at the soft balls of light that surrounded her.

“We are separate, and yet still one,” she whispered.

“Is it good?” Ashleigh asked. “That I somehow called you separately?”

“I’m not sure,” Lily replied honestly. “I told you; you are different than every other descendant.”

“What about Axel?” Ashleigh asked. “You said he accepted and embraced his power. Did he do something like this?”

“No, Ashleigh.” Lily shook her head. “Axel never denied us. On the contrary, he accepted us right away when our power touched him.”

“How?” Ashleigh asked. “What am I doing wrong?”

“I can’t answer that,” Lily said.

Ashleigh sighed.

The howl echoed in the darkness again. Ashleigh lifted her head, trying to glean at least a direction.

‘Hunt it,’ a voice whispered.

“What?” Ashleigh asked.

“What?” Lily replied.

“Didn’t you say something?”

“No,” Lily shook her head.

As they spoke, two balls of light came together, blending into one.

“What’s that mean?” Ashleigh asked.

“Again, no clue,” Lily admitted.

‘Find the Luna, make her submit.’

Ashleigh furrowed her brow, she stared at Lily, but Lily seemed to have neither said nor heard the words as she looked carefully at the ball of light that had previously been two.

“How?” Ashleigh asked the voice.

“How what?” Lily asked, looking back at Ashleigh.

Ashleigh looked at Lily, then shook her head as though clearing away a thought.

“How… did Axel know your power? How did he recognize it and accept it?”

“I don’t know,” Lily sighed. “When he was made Alpha, our power became available again.”

“Again?” Ashleigh questioned. “What does that mean?”

Lily looked carefully at Ashleigh and then turned away.

“Ask Axel,” she said.

Another howl, Ashleigh turned toward the sound.

‘Find her!’

‘Make her submit!’

“Ashleigh!” Lily called to her.

Ashleigh turned. The look on Lily’s face was surprised and concerned.

“Don’t listen,” she said.

Lily stepped between the glowing orbs, an angry smile on her face.

“I hear you now,” she whispered. “I know your game.”

Lily stood tall and placed her sword down into the earth below her feet.

“Return to me, now!” her eyes glowed brightly.

The orbs immediately flew back to her, each being absorbed into her body. The one that had combined seemed to try to resist, but in the end, Lily was stronger, and it was absorbed with the others.

“What was that?” Ashleigh asked.

“I told you,” Lily replied, pulling her sword and placing it back in its sheath. “Your ancestors are stubborn. They each have their own thoughts on how to convince you to accept what we offer. I want you to accept it because you’re ready.”

Ashleigh sighed.

“So, Axel was ready?” she asked. “And I’m not?”

“That’s up to you,” Lily shrugged. “He didn’t know he was ready. It wasn’t the same as you. He didn’t talk to us like you do.”

“Then how do you know he accepted you? How did he know?” Ashleigh asked frustratedly.

“I don’t know what to tell you, Ashleigh,” Lily sighed. “His acceptance of his mate and us went hand in hand. I don’t know what prompted his reaching to us–”

“Wait!” Ashleigh interrupted. “Did you say… his mate?!”

Lily’s eyes went wide, and then she took an exasperated breath.

“Talk to your brother, Ashleigh!”

Ashleigh opened her eyes and found herself back in the meditation room.

“What the f–”

Her thought was interrupted by her phone ringing. Looking at the caller, Ashleigh quickly answered.

“Bell!” she said.

“Ashleigh!” Bell laughed.

“Sorry, I was… surprised.”

“Ok then,” Bell smiled. “I’m just calling to find out if you will be in Winter for the Wild Hunt this year. We need to know the numbers to make all the food and sleeping arrangements.”

Ashleigh thought about what day it was. The hunt would be at the full moon. It was only another week.

She smiled.

“Oh yes, I will definitely be home for the hunt.”