The Alpha's Bride

1039   Young Alpha Violet (12)

Violet's brain stuttered. Ashton was impossibly close and she could see his eyes flashing dangerously.

Did he ask if she would give herself to him?

Ashton's proximity would always put her at ease, but now the anxiety was tying her stomach into knots. Ashton's aura was sharp and volatile, threatening to consume her.

"Whaaaat?" Violet squeaked.

Ashton took a step back and shook his head. "You are not of age, but you should know that not everyone is easygoing. Keep doing that, and someone will take advantage of you."

"But you won't," she said with all the confidence she could muster while trying to conceal how flustered she was.

Ashton could see she was faking her courage, but he didn't want to call her on it. Did he overdo it? He released a long breath and decided to switch gears.

"Do you hate me that much? If you don't want me near me, just say so, and I…"

"Woah! Woah!" Violet exclaimed. "Where did that come from? I don't hate you. You are one of my favorite males."

Ashton smirked. "Really? I find that difficult to believe."

"Why?"

"If your father saw us with you sticking to me, I would be a goner." He knew very well what overprotective Damon would do, and the dark Alpha was guarding Violet as much as he guarded Talia. "How can you call me your favorite, when your acts will bring me a slow and painful death."

Violet opened her mouth and closed it. She couldn't deny it because Ashton was right. If scary Damon Blake saw his only daughter clinging onto Ashton, her father wouldn't ask any questions before inflicting heavy injuries on the said boy. But Ashton was not a boy anymore. He was a man, the one who was searching for his mate, and that meant sex and other outrageous things Cornelia mentioned. Did Ashton have sex already? Violet tried not to think about it.

"When are you leaving?" Violet asked.

"Tonight."

Her stomach dropped. "Why so soon? Why not later?"

"Later? What should I wait for?"

"My birthday is next week."

He nodded in acknowledgment. "If I stick around for every birthday and celebration, I will never leave."

"Do you need to leave?" Violet realized her question was ridiculous. Of course, he had to leave. Just as Ethan was leaving. "Sorry. I didn't mean to be selfish. I just…" She exhaled sharply. "I wish you good luck, Ash. Train hard and return victorious."

Ashton smirked. "You are talking like a true Alpha."

"It takes one to recognize one." She raised her fist and punched his shoulder weakly. "Don't do anything reckless. Return in one piece. Safety first."

"Don't worry about me and focus on yourself. I won't be here to keep an eye on you, so I will leave you with one advice."

Violet's eyes were open wide. "Which one?"

"Don't do anything you will regret later."

Violet nodded earnestly.

"Train hard, Vi. When I return, I will check on your progress with studies and we will spar."

'If your mate allows it', Violet thought but she didn't say it aloud because she didn't want to spoil the mood.

Somehow, she had a feeling that when she sees Ashton the next time, things will be different. Will he be with his mate?

Violet couldn't picture it properly. Would his mate be tall or short? Blonde, brunette, or a redhead? Will she have freckles or dimples when she smiles? No matter what, Ashton will worship her, and Violet will be a friend, or maybe just a fellow Alpha he seeks when there are pack-related matters.

She knew that she shouldn't obsess about it, but she couldn't help it. When a werewolf finds a mate, everything changes, and they were close to the age when that will happen. The uncertainty was unnerving.

Her heart ached at the thought that things will never be the same.

"Ash?"

"Yes, Vi?"

"Can I get a goodbye hug?"

He opened his arms and she stepped into his embrace.

"I will miss you, Ash," she said while fisting his shirt.

He patted her back. "I will miss you too, Vi."

…

Violet didn't feel like partying anymore. Her two favorite males were leaving, and things were changing, and she didn't like it.

She went to the garden and found a bench hidden between rose bushes. She would go into the forest, but they had guests and she knew that she would end up in trouble if she just disappeared now. A few more hours and the guest will leave, and then she can go and be sad on her own.

"Vi? Why are you here?"

Violet cursed internally because she thought she was being sneaky. She wanted to be alone, but Lavender found her.

"I just wanted some air," Violet said.

"Can I join you?" Lavender asked, but she was already sitting on the bench. "Why are you sulking?"

"I'm not…" Violet stopped talking when she saw Lavender's who-are-you-kidding expression. "I just have a lot on my mind. That's all."

"Why are you so secretive? Is that some Alpha stuff I won't understand?"

"Not really." Violet slid down and stared at the star-speckled sky. "Aren't you worried about what the future will bring? Things are changing and everything is uncertain, and I have no idea how to deal with it. People expect of me to be the leader and fix everyone's problems and I don't know how to fix mine."

"That's some deep transcendental shit that belongs to another dimension."

Violet frowned. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"No one is expecting you to fix anything. Look at you. You are not even thirteen. I, for one, have no intention of letting you anywhere near my problems. As for the future, you just need to take it one day at a time."

"Easy for you to say."

"It should be easy for you also. I have no idea why you are stressing about things that are not here and that might not happen. I don't know what you are imagining, but I can tell you that from this exact point in time, there are endless possibilities and there is no way we can be ready for each of them, so we might as well relax and enjoy the ride. We will deal with things as they come."

"Those are some wise words. Did your dad tell you that?"

Lavender smiled. "It was my mom."

"She did?" Violet always thought of Mindy as her mother's noisy friend.

"You know that my mom is from an Alpha family, right?" Lavender asked and she waited for Violet to confirm before continuing. "My mom grew up as Mindy River, the Alpha female who was handling multiple charities and had a bright future ahead of her. That's how others saw her. My mother was not so optimistic. She feared her future as a Luna, entangled in politics and packhouse drama, and trying to keep her Alpha mate from sleeping around. But then she met my dad. He was older, without a rank, and it was nothing like she was imagining it, yet it all fell into place perfectly. She realized that all her anxiety about the future was because it was not right. With my dad, she managed to maintain her identity, work on her charities, finish school, and don't give up on anything that was important. She is happy."

Lavender turned to Violet and looked at her seriously. "Your options are to stress about things or to enjoy the present while making the most of it. In the end, it doesn't matter which path you choose, because your fate will make sure that things happen in the way they should. That's how the Moon Goddess works. Trust her and things will be alright."

Lavender smirked proudly. "What do you think?"

"I think you sound like an old woman."

Lavender was outraged. "An old woman? Do you hear yourself? Worrying about anything and everything like the world will collapse if you don't stress about it!"

"Doesn't that make us a good team?"

Lavender's hostility sizzled away. "I guess it does."

Violet looked up at the moon. Lavender said that the Moon Goddess will make things right. Violet

knew that werewolves believed in that, but Violet was not a regular werewolf. She had the blood of Violet looked up at the moon. Lavender said that the Moon Goddess will make things right. Violet knew that werewolves believed in that, but Violet was not a regular werewolf. She had the blood of Gods in her veins, and it came with powers she was yet to understand. Did that mean the Moon Goddess' rules didn't apply to her? Could she make her own destiny?

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