Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Ashley

My face was hurting badly from the slap I just received from Jessica and hot tears gather up in my eyes.

But I was quick to blink the tears away because I didn't want her to see me as a weak girl.

Even if that was my current situation, I was still a bit weak after I had donated two pints of blood at the pack's clinic.

I have not had an opportunity to do so since I started living with Alex. Grace was already out of the blood and needed to make the healing portions for a few soldiers that were attacked by rogues. Though they were not badly wounded, their wounds got infected making their healing rate a bit slower than normal.

Alex was always with me whenever I visited the clinic ever since I started living with him. But, yesterday he left me with Grace for some hours and that is how I was able to donate the blood.

Even though Grace had kicked against it because I was going on this journey, I insisted as I was not so sure that I was going to come back to the pack alive.

And secondly, someone important to me might need the healing tonic when I am away.

What if Alex is badly injured, even though we are faking this whole mate thing, but my heart is softening towards him.

It's hard to admit but I think I love him, and I know it's so wrong of me to think of him that way. But I can't help it.

“If You think you can use magic or witchcraft, or whatever it is that you have charmed Alex with, and get away with it, then you are in for a big surprise. Because the Alex that I know will never stoop so low to mingle with a common slave,” Jessica ranted in my face before walking passed me in anger.

Her voice brought me back to my sad reality, will Alex ever believe me when I tell him that I love him? Or will he just laugh it off?

Does he feel the waves of emotions between us especially when we kiss? Does the kiss even mean anything to him or he is just using it as a means to convince the pack members that we are true mates?

I bent over to carry her bag without saying a word, I knew this journey was not going to be an easy one and I still decided to follow through with the plan.

Even if I decide to run back to the pack now, it does not change anything. Everyone would see me as weak and Alex would certainly not get his crown.

That would make me even sadder, even though he does not want me after this deal, I still want him to be happy.

My heart would be happy to know that he is happy.

Jessica watched me with a scorned face while I struggled to carry her heavy bag alongside mine. We continued the journey in silence as I became very mindful of what I did or say around her.

I knew I had to try and complete this ceremony if for no one's sake but Alexander's sake. I know Jessica would do everything humanly possible to see that I fail in this mission, but I will try my best.

I notice while we walking that she was always cautious of herself as if she feels someone was following her but when I look around I saw no one.

It was getting dark and so far we have not had any unusual surprises.

“Put the bags down and go and fetch us some woods to set up a fire,” she ordered.

I almost objected to the idea of setting up the fire as it could attack rogues and any other wild beast of the forest.

But for the fear of getting slapped I kept my silence and went into the woods to set up the fire.

All through I noticed she was restless as she constantly looked behind her, and honestly, her actions were beginning to freak me out a little.

I wondered what she was up to and prayed silently in my heart that nothing bad happens to me.

Even if she decides to kill me right now, nobody is going to question her, she will only tell them that she did her best but was overpowered.

I waited for her to sit down before I too sat down. She brought out a pack of chocolate chips and was munching away.

Which was my cue to get something to eat as well, as I have been very hungry.

I searched through my bag to get some snacks, but as I was about to open the snack, she stretched her leg and knock off the snack from my hand. The snacks all fell into the fire.

“Just so you know I do not like you,” she said while she munched on her chips.

Oh, please someone tell her that I already knew that. And I am not a particular fan of her either so I guess her feeling is mutual.

I was salivating and so fucking hungry that I subconsciously gulped down on my already thickened saliva.

“How can you be a luna when you can't stand hunger for a few days, should we get attacked now what will you do?” she asked me tauntingly.

“I know how to defend myself,” I said quietly but it seem my words hit the wrong switch in her brain as she quickly transforms into her wolf and pushed me to the floor.

“I could just kill you right now and get this whole act over with,” she said running her paws over my face.

I was terrified as one of her long nails kept circling my eye.

“What if I decide to pluck out your little eyes first, will my Alexander still want you,” she questioned

The fact that she called Alexander, her Alexander made me mad, I felt like fighting her or hitting her with something but what can a slave girl do, as that would only complicate issues for me.

Wait, he is not even my Alexander.

And perhaps, why should I be mad that she is referring to Alex as her own, they have known each other for years and I only came into the picture a few months ago.

And she might still end up as his luna, after the one-year deal is over, I will be back to being a nobody.

“Why are you suddenly quiet, say one more word and watch me rip out your throat,” she said pressing me down on the ground with her full weight.

Just then we heard a wolf barking at us viciously, which made her back away from me as she shared a steady eye gaze with the wolf.

The wolf was huge in size and brown in color, on closer look we noticed she was a she-wolf and didn't look like she was a rogue.

Even though Jessica tries to act all brave, there was fear in her eyes as she felt intimidated by the size of the wolf.

Another thing about the wolf was the fact that she didn't want to attack us. As her most attention was directed to me.

I quickly picked myself off the floor and dusted the sand off my body. Jessica barked at the wolf, but the wolf didn't even flinch as she had her gaze on me.

As soon as I was able to stand up, the wolf ran out of sight. It was almost as if she came there because of me.

“Who the fuck was that,” Jessica barked at me in rage.

“I have no idea” I replied quickly

“Then why was she staring at you,”

“I don't know”

“Put off the fire, we have to move now,” she said, aiming herself with a bow and arrow.

I needed not to ask her questions as I figured that she thinks the wolf might want to return with more wolves to attack us.

We brought out our touch light and continued walking, the forest was super dark with frightening sounds ranging from the tiniest insects to the biggest beast.

We hadn't gone far from our previous camp when saw the flashing eyes of four vicious rogue wolves heading our way.

“Who do we have here,” one of the rogues who appeared to be their leader questioned while the others circled us.

“I do not want any trouble,” Jessica said as she put up her bow and arrow in the air.

“We didn't come for you whore,” we heard Alexander has found his mate, so we decided to come and see for ourselves, the leader said flashing its ugly fangs to me.

“She is with me,” Jessica said to my surprise.

I mean, I thought she would have easily denied me in front of the rogues.

Maybe she is not so bad after all.

“Isn't that sad, to think that everyone thinks that you should be the luna, but it seems you are rather contented with being the luna's protector and not just any luna, a slave luna at that” the rogue said mockingly to Jessica who seem to be turning red due to anger.

“Oh, trust me I will become the luna,” she snorted back at him

“So what are you planning to do with this one here? We could help you kill her and leave no traces behind,” he said to Jessica who seem to like his proposal. It didn't even take her time to give in to their persuasion.

“Then I guess I have no business here then, just make sure you do as you have said,” Jessica said before casting me a wicked gaze.

After which she picked up her bag and abandoned me with the wolves who seem please with her move.

They watched Jessica disappear into the night before returning their attention to me.

“Luna's protectors are overrated,” the leader of the rogues said with sarcasm.

I tried searching my head for a million ways how to survive being slaughtered by rogues, but fear was the only thing that had enveloped my entire mind and body.

“So we hear you are going to be the kingdom next luna, Alexander's Luna. How about we taste you first before the king does,” he asked me staring deep into my eyes.

I was scared to death but I didn't want them to see that, as I quickly stood in a defense mood, even though I know that I can't stop them if they decide to come for me all at once.

But I wasn't going to let them get to me so easily, I quickly armed myself with a piece of wood that I found on the ground.

“If you know Alexander, then you should know that he would not rest till he finds you,  should any of you decides to lay a finger on me,”  I said dauntlessly.

To be honest, I was quite surprised at my bravery.

“Alexander has committed so many atrocities, that I am afraid that anyone who decides to be identified with him, will be the one to get burnt,”

If you are so mad at him why don't you go fight him instead of coming for me, are you so much of a coward that you would rather pick a woman to fight with,”

“Fight Alexander, *scoffs* no one in their right senses would dare to do that, it would take an entire army to do so. And as you can see, we are just four in number. Since we can't get to him, we decided to come for what he cherishes the most and that would be you,”

“Don't you dare touch me, he will kill you all if you do,”

“Oh don't worry, he is not going to notice anything, you guys are not mated yet so there is no harm in tasting you”

“We are mated, I have his mark, I said revealing the mark that I had previously covered up with concealer.

There was a gasp among the rogues as they looked at each other in total confusion.

He is not supposed to do that, Too bad then, we still are going to finish the reason we came here, and then we would kill you so he doesn't find out, he said as he authorized the others to get me.

That was my clue to run as I threw the wood with me at the closest person and made a dash for it before he could recover.