Chapter 1049
[ 1,261 words ]
Ashton was aware that other than Talia and Violet, his parents were also watching, and that put additional pressure on him to make this work.
He was Alpha Ashton Pascal, the only heir of the Spring Leaf pack, and failure was not an option.
Unfortunately, the man in front of Ashton was not just a doting father or an overbearing Alpha. That was Alpha Damon Blake, the man who is leading the largest coalition of werewolves known to history, and he wouldn’t be able to achieve such a feat if his power could be measured.
Ashton knew how possessive and protective Damon could be. Ashton was not a child clinging to Talia; he was a grown man wanting to claim Damon’s daughter. Actually, Ashton had claimed her already, but they didn’t seal the bond, and Ashton hoped that Damon would see that as a good thing.
“Alpha Damon,” Ashton spoke in his official voice. “Since I came of age, I knew that the Moon Goddess blessed me with Violet Blake for mate. However, she was too young, and I decided to step away and give her space to grow into the formidable female she is now.”
Damon snorted. “You wanted to say it was too much for you to watch her without touching her.”
Ashton’s stomach tightened. Damon was right. If he stayed, it would be a matter of time before his wolf would take over and claim Violet, regardless of if she was ready. Ashton was able to control his wolf 99% of the time, but there was that one percent when his control slipped. Someone would get too close to Violet or look at her in a certain way, and Ashton would snap and do something he would regret forever.
Damon raised his chin victoriously. “Don’t try to sell me stories about chivalry. Do you think you can deceive me? What kind of a man leaves his underage and unaware mate unprotected?”
“Vi was not unprotected. She had you, her mother, and her brothers, and she is not weak either. I knew Vi was in good hands.”
Damon grimaced. Ashton was right, but Damon didn’t want to acknowledge it because that would be a sign of approval.
“I am here to ask for your blessing,” Ashton said.
“You need my blessing?”
No. “Yes. It is something that would make Violet happy, and I want her to be happy.”
“I am not a person who gives blessings,” Damon said ominously. “You want to be my daughter’s mate? Just the will of the Moon Goddess is not enough. You need to earn it.”
Ashton’s expression didn’t change a bit, but the air around him became prickly and feral. “That’s why I’m here.”
Luna Michelle was an emotional mess. On one side, she was happy to see her son after a long time, and she was delighted that he found his mate, and she was proud that Violet was his mate, but… why did it look like she was about to lose her son? Was she about to witness her son being brutally murdered? The only thing stopping her from going between those two males was her mate’s hand on her shoulder, holding her firmly, keeping her grounded.
“Vi,” Luna Michelle called in a small voice. “We have known you since you were born, and you know Ash, he is gentle and caring. Can you do something about this?”
“Ash changed, Aunt Michelle,” Violet said. “He is gentle and caring, but he is also determined and skilled. If I interfere, it will be a sign that I don’t trust him, and I trust my mate.”
“I’m afraid that just trust won’t be enough when facing your father,” Luna Michelle said.
“If Ash can’t do it, he wouldn’t be my mate.”
‘Good job, Vi,’ Talia spoke through their mind link. ‘Send those emotions to Ash. He will need them.’
Violet glanced at her mother. She was talking bravely, but the truth was that she was scared. Not because she doubted Ashton but because she knew her father.
The only person who could stop upcoming carnage was Alpha Natalia Moonrider, but instead of worrying about the happiness of her daughter, Talia was looking at her mate with sparkles in her eyes. Would Talia allow Violet to be a young widow?
Violet held her breath as it seemed that the whole world stilled. There was no wind, the sounds of nature were muted, and no movement could be detected as far as she could sense, like everything was focused on this showdown between two Alphas who didn’t move a muscle, yet their auras were flaring as they were engaged in a motionless battle of minds.
Ashton could feel Damon’s pressure on him, and he had to balance his response delicately. Too much would be perceived as provoking and disrespectful, but too less would brand him as weak and unworthy.
‘Krrr-SNAP!-CRACK!’
Twigs on the ground were snapping, and the trees crackled under the energy that filled the air. If any human were in the vicinity, they would suffer heavy injuries, and stronger creatures like werewolves would find it difficult to breathe and probably faint. Alpha Cristian, Luna Michelle, Talia, and Violet were able to witness this showdown because they were powerful, and Luna Michelle was unsure if she was queasy due to the aggression or due to stress.
“Ah!” Luna Michelle stifled a cry when Damon and Ashton moved with such speed that they left afterimages behind.
‘BOOM!’
Their fists collided in much more than just physical contact, sending a gust of wind in all directions.
‘Don’t worry, Vi,’ Talia said to Violet, who visibly paled. ‘Your father is just testing him. Ash is doing well.’
Violet didn’t respond. If this was just a test, she didn’t want to know what the real thing would look like.
The thing was that Violet knew that her father was amazing, but Ashton’s power left her in awe, and she wondered what he had gone through to reach that level.
Violet didn’t want to be condescending, but Ashton’s father was an Alpha, while Luna Michelle didn’t have an Alpha aura from birth; she got it after Alpha Cristian marked her, and everyone knew that their fighting power was below average when compared to other Alpha couples. The Spring Leaf pack prospered thanks to their diplomacy and negotiation tactics, and not because of power, so… how was it possible that Ashton was so strong?
When they were frolicking through the forest, Violet observed that Ashton moved with unexpected speed, but this was much more than just speed. There was strength, and… was that magic? From where would Ashton get magic? There were no items or chants, and she didn’t see him drink any potion. It was like it was coming from him directly, but werewolves didn’t have magic unless they had mixed bloodlines like her mother, and Ashton was definitely a pureblood werewolf Alpha. What was she missing?
‘Don’t doubt your mate, Vi,’ Talia’s voice sounded in her mind.
‘What are you not telling me, mom?’
‘Ash will tell you everything you need to know in due time.’
Violet pressed her lips into a line. ‘I do not doubt him, mom. I just feel that he suffered a lot.’
‘He did it for you.’
‘I don’t deserve it.’
Talia smiled. ‘That’s the thing about mates, Vi. They give us everything, even the things we believe we don’t deserve. He is a good mate. Treasure him the way he treasures you, and you will be happy.’
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