Chapter 8: Chapter Eight - Ashley

I had desperately tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to fall asleep for hours. I wanted more than anything to escape the unspeakable agony, not that I would let on just how much pain I was actually in. But I felt like it was on fire; Callie was utilising all her superior strength to try and repair my body as quickly as she could. “Calm down, Callie, please. You are hurting me more by not allowing me rest,” I grumbled. “No, you need to heal faster. I have a feeling mate is nearby, and we can’t be stuck in here. We need to find them,” she seethed, still pushing her healing ability into my ravaged body.

Callie’s words had me sitting bolt upright in the hospital bed. “What,” I exclaimed incredulously, intentionally ignoring the shooting pain the sudden movement caused. “What are you talking about, Callie”? I spluttered. “Can’t you feel the pull, Ashley?” she replied bluntly through gritted teeth, rolling her eyes at me. “You are being absurd. Now allow me to sleep, Callie. Please.” I pleaded desperately with my inner wolf. The thought of our mate had scattered my thoughts, though, a million racing through my mind fighting for attention. “What about Zac,” I said uneasily, my heartbreaking at the thought of hurting him. The question made Callie stop what she was doing and sit down on her haunches, a forlorn look on her beautiful face. “You know I love Zac and Callan, Ashley. But this new feeling building inside me is intense, and I can’t ignore it,” she said sadly. I felt terrible as she slunk away, laying down with an audible sniffle. She was feeling the same way I was. I wouldn’t hurt Zac. Never in a million years.

Callie continued to sulk, so I had thankfully managed to get a few hours of needed sleep. Even if it was fitful and I woke several times to the reality of an impending nightmare. I couldn’t be upset with her, I thought sadly. She had accelerated the healing process for me, which I knew would severely deplete her energy. The deep wound in my stomach was presently only a few millimetres deep and was barely weeping. Callie didn’t continue to argue with me about finding our mate either, which came as a relief. The thought was too conflicting to concentrate on right now. It had been many years since I cared about finding my mate. As far as I was concerned, Zac was it for me.

As the sun rose the following day, I found myself thinking about my father and Zac and how neither would relish the idea that I was already thinking about going back to running perimeter checks with them tomorrow, stitches holding up permitted. I was equally as eager to attend the Bloodmoon ball with Zac. We had attended it every year for the last three years together. It had habitually been an extremely tense lead up to each one, but once it hit midnight and we were safe in the thought that I still hadn’t found my mate, we would spend the rest of the night engulfed in each other’s arms, getting lost in the music. This year there was added stress stoking the fire in the pit of my stomach. Zac had recently turned eighteen, so I wouldn’t be the only one holding my breath. Zac’s mate may be present this year. The thought caused me to wince in pain. Maybe I should skip the ball this year, I thought miserably. I just knew it would end in someone being hurt and prayed fervently to the Moon Goddess that it was me. I would rather shoulder the unbearable grief than rip Zac’s heart out, and I knew the mate bond when he found them would help soothe his apprehension if he was the one to find his mate first. There wasn’t a thing in the world I wouldn’t do for that man. He was my everything and always would be, even if he did find his fated mate.

Deciding not to dwell on it since Callie had restored my health a lot swifter than usual, I intended to exploit my good fortune and not permit anyone to stand in my way. I will return to light duties tomorrow and attend the ball with Zac, I thought, with finality. If it was to be our last one together, I wanted it to be special. I harboured no delusions that my father or Zac would allow me to leave the hospital today but knew neither man could stop me from going home tomorrow morning. They both knew how much I did not particularly appreciate being cooped up, not to mention the sterile smell of hospitals. The smell of my room had my body shuddering convulsively with disgust, the smell of harsh chemicals burning my nostrils and making my eyes water. Besides, there was far too much to do; I couldn’t afford to lie in my PJs all day. No matter how good it felt for a change, I thought with a snicker. There was work to be done. Not only that but I was also intrigued by the twin Alphas being in our territory and wanted to meet them and their pack before they left.

Several unmated nurses had already been in here early this morning to fill me in on all the salacious gossip, winking conspiratorially and giggling behind their hands. By all accounts, the twin Alphas were swoon-worthy. I was dying to meet them to see if what they had declared about them were true or if they were just like men when describing how big the fish was that got away, I thought with an unladylike snort. It would be a welcome addition to the Bloodmoon Pack if the twins found their fated mates in our pack. A short while later, a familiar scent wafted through the open hospital room door, announcing Zac’s arrival. The pack Doctor had just completed his rounds; I was sure he had sent him in first to be assured of my health. Zac’s earthy scent instantly comforted Callie and me. It felt like home. Familiar and loving. Callie stopped ignoring me at the sight of Zac’s dishevelled appearance. “He looks terrible,” Callie noted sadly. “Do you think he senses something is amiss”? she continued. “Nothing is amiss, Callie!” I replied hotly, a slight growl to my voice. “He just looks tired.” Predictably, Callie went back to ignoring me, only occasionally glancing at Zac with longing and sadness in her eyes. I understood her feelings. I felt it too.

“You look like shit,” I said softly, gazing into the endless depth of his blue eyes. “Look who’s talking,” Zac shot back with a chuckle, leaning over and placing a tender kiss on my forehead. As he pulled away, I stiffened slightly. What was that delicious scent? Callie was no longer sulking. She was up and pacing wildly. Trying to find the source of the smell. “You smell different,” I blurted out without thinking. Zac’s eyes widened slightly at the mention of a different scent before quickly narrowing them. A muscle in his jaw started twitching, and I wondered what that was about. “It must be the lingering scent of the Alpha twins,” he practically spat. Whoa, what was that about, I wondered anxiously? “I am guessing you don’t think as highly of them as the females of this pack seem to,” I laughed awkwardly, plastering what I hoped looked like an indifferent smile on my face. Zac sat down with an audible sigh, leaving his lush lips. “Long night”, I inquired, cocking one eyebrow in his direction. “You could say that,” he replied tersely, massaging his temples. “Alpha Kane and Alpha Rayne are intense and have a weird constant mind-link thing going on. It is unsettling, to say the least,” he said, looking elsewhere but at me. It was glaringly obvious that Zac didn’t want to talk about them, so I shifted the subject. “Did you pick up your tuxedo from the dry cleaners yet, Zac,” I asked expectantly. Zac’s eyes snapped back around fast and found mine, a questioning look in them. “You don’t think you are leaving here any time soon, do you,” he replied incredulously. A slight laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. He reminded me of an adorable gaping fish, staring at me while opening and closing his mouth, not knowing what to say. “You and I both know I will not stay in bed a day longer than need be. You of all people should know that, Zac,” I replied earnestly. At that, he at least had the decency to stop gawping at me. Firming his jaw, he replied, “You will be the death of me, Ashley.” I could see the gears turning in his head and wondered what he was thinking. After a moment, he reluctantly agreed to collect his suit with a resigned sigh and assured me he would also collect my cocktail dress. “I’m sorry, Ash, I know I barely got here minutes ago, but I need to get going already”, he continued with a sad expression marring his handsome face. “Your father has organised for me to collect Alpha Kane and Alpha Rayne this morning from the guesthouse and go over security protocols with them so that they may help with perimeter checks,” Zac said, mild irritation in his voice. I could see it pained him to leave; it looked like he hadn’t slept, and his golden hair was sticking up in all directions, no doubt from him running his hands through it a million times in the last twenty-four hours. I couldn’t help but think how handsome he looked with the light stubble on his well-chiselled jawline. He looked delicious. “Don’t bite that lip, Ashley. You know what that does to me”? Zac groans seductively, his eyes blazing with frustrated desire. I didn’t realise my wayward thoughts had turned me on until I noted Zac inhaling sharply from the corner of my eye, the corners of his mouth turning up into a knowing smirk. I clenched my thighs together, feeling small sparks licking at my core. My lust had no boundaries or self-respect around him. “Calm down, Ashley. I can’t afford to be late and make a bad impression on the Alpha twins,” he growled playfully with a slight whine to his voice. Leaning down, he placed tender kisses all over my face, each kiss sweeter than the last and making me long for his touch. I couldn’t breathe. I wanted Zac so bad. I tried desperately to lean in closer, daring him to deepen his kisses but wincing in pain as a hot stabbing sensation ripped through my body. “Fuck,” I exclaimed harshly through clenched teeth. “I’m sorry, Ash, I didn’t mean to hurt you”, Zac said, concern etched on his gorgeous face. Typical Zac, I thought, constantly trying to take the blame for everything. “You didn’t do anything, Zac. I am the one who wanted more,” I reply breathily, biting my lip again in an attempt to distract him from his wayward thoughts. “I miss your touch,” I continue honestly. “It has only been twenty-four hours, Ashley,” he mock scolded me. “I must admit, I miss you too,” he replied sheepishly before blowing me a kiss and retreating out the door with one last longing look over his shoulder. After Zac had left, I tried to sleep, the memory of the intoxicating smell all but gone.

Around noon I was startled awake by the sounds of myself screaming at the top of my lungs. Shit, I thought, embarrassment suddenly engulfing me and cloaking me in shame. Why here, why now, I thought bitterly. It was bad enough that I woke myself in the packhouse, but this was a public place. I felt my cheeks burn with humiliation at the thought of who might have overheard me and what pack members would think of their fearless Beta. My throat felt hoarse; I had no idea how long I had been screaming for. Reaching over to the bedside table to grab a glass of water, I notice an enormous bouquet that was not there earlier. Weird, I wonder who left them for me. Momentarily forgetting about the water, I shuffle myself into a sitting position as gently as possible to admire the arrival, taking care not to strain my stitches. Leaning over carefully, I pluck the white card off them and turn it over in my hands several times to examine it before opening it. Strange, all it stated was Get Well Soon, RRP in small, neat handwriting. Surely it wasn’t from the River Run Pack. I hadn’t encountered any members yet and had no connection to any of them. Hmmm, maybe they merely wanted to display concern for my father’s Beta while in our territory, I thought. I didn’t know what type of flowers they were or who exactly sent them, but Callie and I agreed that the smell was intoxicating. It surrounded us and made us feel content and, weirdly enough, safe.