Chapter-7

Asher

This was fucked up on a whole other level.

“You are being unreasonable,” Mac said flatly as I stormed into my room and slammed the door shut. “Just accept it. You have a mate now. How long do you think you can run? Isn’t it pretty clear you can’t? It’s fate, Ash. Otherwise, you won’t run into her again. Mates are for life, just accept it. She is the one for you.”

“Shut up! Shut up!” I growled, my mind spiraling.

I just…I had no idea how to process this. That night when I ran into Ivy, I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t in my senses and out of no fucking where I had a mate. My mind was so fogged, those sudden hits of emotions weren’t something I could handle. My reflexes made me turn and run for my life. I was scared. I was so damn scared for whatever reason. Maybe it wasn’t the obvious reaction when you find your mate, but this was me and that was exactly how I felt.

And still do.

I wasn’t ready for a mate.

“It isn’t a big deal,” Mac assured me. “Just let her in, and you will see how easily everything falls into place.”

“No, it’s not. It’s too much work…it…no, I can’t,” I flopped down on the bed and placed my head in my hands. I was hardcore panicking, sweat beading on my forehead. I have never dated, never had a conversation with a woman that didn’t start with sex and end with sex. Heck, I don’t even know how it feels to love someone. I love my family fiercely, but I’m sure it wasn’t the same thing.

“Asher, open up,” I clenched my jaw as my brothers knocked at the door before flinging it open.

“Way to welcome me,” I sneered, glaring at them.

“Just calm down, okay?” Logan offered. “I know this is shocking…”

“Shocking?” I exclaimed. “I came back after eight months and boom…there’s my mate? Shocking doesn’t even begin to cover it, Logan.”

“Yeah, okay…but surely she isn’t that unfamiliar to you. I mean, you did meet her before and chose to run. Do you think the matebond is a joke?”

“If you make me repeat this one more time…I will kill you,” I snapped. “I was drunk and not in my senses. It all happened so fast that I couldn’t process it, and that’s why I ran to get my wits together so I could face her. But by the time I returned, she was gone. I tried to find her but I couldn’t, so I dismissed it as a drunken dream.”

“Okay, but now she is here, so it’s not a dream anymore,” Noah said.

“Precisely,” Logan agreed. “Look, Ash, we understand it can be overwhelming. Both Noah and I had a hard time in the beginning too. But eventually we had to give in because you cannot simply fight a matebond. It’s not possible.”

“Oh, watch me,” I muttered under my breath. “I mean…did you see her? I don’t have the patience to deal with a woman like her. No fucking way. I hate insolent women who think the world revolves around them, or... I don’t know.”

“Ivy isn’t like that,” Noah said. “Yes, she’s a bit outspoken and well, not your typical type, usually keeps to herself and talks very little, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t a nice person or doesn’t have warmth to her. Don’t judge her like that. You don’t even deserve to after what you did. Imagine the pain she must have felt to find her mate running away from her.”

“Yeah, sorry to say, but she has every right to be pissed,” Logan agreed. “And hey…she’s pretty in a very…unique way. I think she is the perfect partner for you.” I shot my elder brother a dark look and he raised his arms in defense.

“Ash, there is no way out of this,” Noah prompted.

“Yes, there is. I don’t want a mate, she doesn't want me…we can just reject each other and end this right here before something starts and then one of us gets hurt. I mean, you know me? What do I know of relationships or worse…love? It would spare both of us the pain. Rejection pain fades away after a time, I guess.”

“Dad will kill you,” Logan said. “And just so you know, if not Ivy, then someone else. He didn’t want you to know, but if you returned without a mate, he was going to throw a mating ball for you and settle you with the best possible match. But he wasn’t having you be without a mate anymore. So, isn’t it better to be with the one meant for you than to be with just someone as an arrangement?” I stared blankly at both my brothers, wondering if I heard them right.

“Dad…what?” I growled, and it was such a fierce one that the windows almost shuddered.

“Yeah,” both Logan and Noah nodded.

“Who does he think he is? Do I look like a kid? Am the damn Alpha of the pack! I have sworn that with my blood,” I shouted, my blood boiling with fury.

“Exactly that’s why. You cannot fool around anymore, Asher. You are way past your age of finding a mate and settling down with a family. And it doesn’t matter how many kids Noah and I have, you still need to produce an heir. That’s your duty. If dad arranges a mating ball you can imagine the kind of girls you will find there, can’t you? Rich, bratty daughters of alphas who would kill to be your luna not because they want you but because of your money and the power that comes with it. Imagine how that will end for you,” Logan said.

“Yeah. Ivy might not be the warmest of people you can meet but she is very honest and true to herself. I have seen that. And she is a warrior of blood, you can’t expect her to not be fierce,”

“Where did you even find her?” I sighed, rubbing my face.

“We found her wounded near the pack boundary three months ago. We brought her to the pack and got her treated. When she healed, she told us that her name was Ivyanka Raynott…”

“Ivyanka…” I raised a brow and Noah smirked.

“Yeah, I had a hard time pronouncing that, so we stuck to Ivy,” he said. “I think she is of Hispanic descent or something. But she said an unknown pack attacked hers and completely destroyed it, killing the Alpha and his family that she served. Apparently, she managed to run and now she was looking for whoever did that to seek revenge. She was attacked by rogues right near our pack and fighting them left her wounded.”

“And that was enough for you to let her stay here? A totally unknown woman?” I grimaced.

“No, we had our suspicions, so I sent a few men to investigate and they did find the bodies of dead rogues. She killed all five of them alone,” Noah said, and clearly by the sound of his voice, he was impressed. “Ivy asked if she could stay here and serve in the pack while trying to investigate the whole thing that happened to her pack. We were hesitant, but we let her stay and had her monitored closely. She trained with the warriors and I must say she was incredibly good. No doubt a warrior. She cleared all her tests very easily,”

“Yeah, and we’ve needed a female guard for Cora and Rose for so long. Ivy seemed like the perfect choice. She took the oath last week and when Cora gave her the choice whether she would like to take a mate as per the amended rules unlike one where the Luna's guards weren’t allowed to take a mate, she said no. Clearly, she didn’t have a good experience with that,” Logan muttered.

“Don’t guilt-trip me,” I scowled. “And if she has already taken the oath, what’s the point?”

“Cora and Rose can free her of that. And the oath only binds her to not take mate…doesn’t stop her from other stuff,” I raised a brow at Logan and he smirked.

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean,”

“Don’t even go there,” I hissed, not ready to even entertain that thought. Her scent was enough. Just a whiff of it had my dick acting up. I don’t want to imagine what would happen if I loosen my grip. There was too much drama between us to begin with. Sex would just make things worse. And Logan and Noah might have given her a green light, but I haven’t.

Who was this woman materializing out of nowhere? Where did she come from? GrayCrest has plenty of enemies, so I wouldn’t be so quick to jump to conclusions just because she was a good warrior, if she was really that good. I was the one in-charge of the warriors and I wouldn’t give her that much credit unless I see for myself. If she beats me, only then will I accept the high honor Noah and Logan were giving her.

“Just saying,” Logan laughed. “Look, just think about it, okay? Please?”

“I hate you guys,” I mumbled, feeling irritated.

“You might not when you see the surprise we have prepared for you,” Noah smiled.

“What surprise?” My brothers grinned and shot each other a look.

“You will see tonight…”