Chapter-6

Ivy

My mind wasn’t ready to process this. There was a reason I came to GrayCrest. There was a mission I needed to accomplish. And there was no way I could afford to fail. The stakes were too high. I have lost most of my family, watched them die right in front of my eyes. My father was my only family now, and his life hung in the balance that I was holding. One little slip and everything will fall apart.

What Killian wanted from me, I wasn’t sure of that yet. All I knew, as of now, was that I was kind of acting as his spy here. I needed to keep an eye on the pack, on every little thing, and report it back to him when he asks for it. Ask how? I wasn’t sure of that either. 

Did I think it was going to be easy? No, of course not. Regardless, I was prepared to face whatever comes my way. I was an Alpha's daughter and a warrior by blood. There wasn’t much that scared me. But I think I gave myself too much credit too fast.

Because now I was scared.

GrayCrest was the last place I ever expected to run into my mate. I wasn’t even looking for one after the whole mess with Asher two years ago. It was humiliating and left me with an annoying, weird gaping hole in my chest. Being away from him and busy with my life didn’t make it so profound. I almost convinced myself it was a bad dream. But now that he was in front of me, standing in all his alpha glory…how was I going to fight the bond even if, by all means, he was the last person I wanted as my mate?

I have heard things about him. Apparently, people love to gossip. He was a player and every night there was a new woman in his bed. And the rumors weren’t lies because when I ran into him at the club, he was sticking his tongue down another woman’s throat while finger-fucking her.

No.

Asher Gray can’t be my mate. I don't want him to be, nor can I afford him to be. It would complicate everything. It would destroy everything.

“Ivy?” Luna Rose probed. I dragged myself back to reality, not really sure what she was talking about.

“Sorry?”

“Is the fact that Asher ran away the only reason you don’t want him as a mate?” I glanced at the man beside him and there was that annoying thudding in my chest again. Asher peered back at me with that intense smoldering gaze of his, his right brow raised as if challenging me to speak.

“That’s a reason enough, don’t you think, Luna Rose?” I prompted. “What kind of person runs away from his mate and then hides the fact from everyone? I don’t believe his excuse because if he was really drunk, he wouldn’t be eating up some random woman’s face.”

“Are you jealous?” Asher asked, and my scalp prickled when he shot me a smirk.

“No, disgusted,” I retorted, before turning to Rose again. “Would you have accepted a mate like this? How can I even trust him? Plus, as I already said, I have taken an oath and I take that seriously. If that’s not enough, I have other things I need to deal with. Alpha Logan and Noah already know of it.”

“Well, that settles it then. There’s no other choice but rejection,” Asher said flatly.

“You will not utter the word rejection again,” Alpha Joseph warned. “It’s high time you take a mate, Alpha Asher. It’s your duty to the pack,”

“What else can I do if she doesn’t want me? Beg? I am an Alpha I will never beg. This is enough. Stop testing my patience,”

“You will prove yourself worthy of being her mate,” Alpha Joseph said. “You made a very big mistake and even a bigger one by hiding this for so long. It’s understandable that she doesn’t want to trust you. You two are mates and there’s nothing turning this around. Rejection is not an option, so settle it between yourself. I don’t care what needs to be done. I won’t have people making fun of us because the Alpha of GrayCrest doesn’t want to give up sharing his bed with random women and finally settle down with a mate.”

“You can’t talk to me like that,” Asher growled, his face darkening.

“I can. I am still your father and an Elder of the pack. It’s high time, Asher,” Joseph said, his voice firm.

“I agree with dad,” Logan nodded. “There’s some serious misunderstanding that happened between the two of you, but nothing that can’t be sorted. Take your time, get to know each other. There’s no rush. And once you two have figured things out, we can discuss the wedding and stuff.”

“I am with Logan,” Noah agreed. “If people find out about this, it would be seriously embarrassing,”

“Screw you all. I am not doing this!” Asher snapped, and everyone jumped as he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

“Goddess, I have no idea how this will turn out,” Luna Grace grimaced. “My head hurts.” She glanced at me and it was unnerving the way she assessed me from head to toe. No doubt gauging whether I fit with her perfect son.

“He needs to grow up. Let him be for now,” Alpha Joseph muttered before stomping out. Luna Grace followed, as did Noah and Logan.

“What a day!” Cora shook her head before turning to me. I didn’t like the grin on her face.

“Finally, we get to meet Asher’s mate. You have no idea how long we have waited for this moment. And he couldn’t have found a more perfect person. Right, Rose?” Luna Rose smiled softly and nodded.

“Absolutely. Welcome to GrayCrest, Ivy,” she said.

“I have been here the last three months, Luna,” I pointed out. Rose smiled and, reaching out, gave my hand a squeeze.

“This time as its Luna. I know you are upset, hurt and angry with Asher and this wasn’t a perfect beginning for the two of you, but trust me when I say this…you’re very lucky.” I pursed my lips, suddenly overwhelmed by an urge to cry.

Was I?