Challenged Mate: Alpha Games Book Two, page 19
Asher was the Wilds Pack alpha.
It couldn’t be.
Someone would have told me.
Right?
Countless conversations about the alpha replayed in my mind. The dots slowly started to connect.
I sucked in a shaky breath.
Axel’s arrival had coincided with Asher’s.
Both brothers lived in the house above my apartment, and they were, obviously, both Kayla’s brother.
Every moment I’d assumed Axel was the alpha, nothing ever contradicted it. He shared so many traits and relationships with his twin, there was never an obvious discrepancy from what I’d been allowed to assume.
I stared at the back of Asher’s head, the intensity of my stare demanding he turn around and offer an explanation for the deception.
He didn’t. His attention remained on Stanley.
Movement on my left drew my gaze. Axel stood at the table. “Your challenge was accepted, Stanley. You are no longer welcome at the luncheon. Leave.”
I was surprised when Stanley complied. But not before his eyes, once again, trailed over me. Asher growled, but Stanley was gone before Asher could act on his silent threat.
Kayla appeared at my side. “Let’s get some air.”
I watched Asher shoot Chase a pointed look before walking out of the tent. The Wilds beta followed wordlessly. I didn’t resist when Kayla touched my elbow and gently guided me after them.
The tent was abuzz with a mix of excitement, unease, and dread. I tuned out the sound as I continued to reevaluate every encounter and conversation I’d had since arriving in Alaska. No one had ever outright said Axel was alpha. I’d assumed. And no one had corrected me.
But why?
What was the point in hiding the truth from me?
The sun hit my face when I exited the tent, but it did nothing to warm the cold that crept over my body.
In the distance, Asher and Chase kept walking. Kayla and I trailed after them. They moved too fast for us to catch them.
“I’m sorry,” Kayla murmured.
I looked away from my deceptive, fated mate. Genuine remorse painted her face.
“Why?”
Kayla bit her lip, dropping her hold on my elbow. “When you first arrived in Alaska, Asher pulled me aside and explained how he won the Alpha Games.”
We stepped off grass and onto the asphalt street, moving towards the lots filled with a few cars and many four-wheelers.
Kayla continued, “He didn’t ask me to lie about him being alpha, but he asked I avoid revealing it if possible.”
My temper flared. Again, I asked, “Why?”
“I’m not sure,” she admitted. “Axel and I both tried to tell him that his secrecy would cause more harm than good, but he insisted. That was before I knew you two shared a bond.”
My hands trembled.
How much grief would I have been spared if I’d known the Wilds Pack alpha and my fated mate were one and the same?
How many nights had I tossed and turned, wondering how I was going to go through with honoring the Alpha Games prize while my soul yearned to be with another?
Why would Asher let me suffer like that?
As if sensing the tide of my rising temper, Asher stopped walking at the corner of the next cross street.
My feet ground to a halt, refusing to move any closer.
I wanted answers, but I was also afraid of them. Despite what transpired between us last night…
The feel of his body pressed against mine filled my mind.
The way he held my face like I was the most precious thing he’d ever touched…
There were plenty of moments when Asher could’ve told me the truth.
But he didn’t.
“You should talk to him,” Kayla’s whisper was pointless. The males ahead would hear every word.
“No.” I took a step back, prepared to retreat to lick my wounds. “There’s nothing to say.”
Kayla pressed her lips together, but she didn’t push me.
Her brother, however, had no qualms about doing so.
In a blink, Asher appeared in front of me. I stumbled back, still unused to his impressive speed.
Asher grabbed my arm to steady me. I immediately pulled away. “Don’t touch me.”
Asher’s hand fell to his side.
Our eyes locked.
I held my breath, waiting for an explanation.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Kayla stiffen. “I don’t think that’s—”
“Go, Kayla,” Asher commanded, this time out loud. “Blair and I need to talk.”
Chase moved to Kayla’s side, tilting his head, motioning for her to walk away with him.
Kayla pressed her lips together, watching me with concern. “Maybe you should give her space, Asher. Focus on the challenge first.”
“It’s fine,” I said, interrupting whatever Asher was about to say.
I glared at the male who simultaneously filled me with longing and heartache. “Let’s talk.”
Twenty-Nine
I expected Asher to lead me somewhere private. Instead, he gestured for me to follow him as he moved between two buildings. The alleyway was clean and empty and covered in shadow. It was the last place I thought we would have this conversation.
Back on the street, Chase and Kayla waited. The beta was unable to convince her to leave. I heard them muttering to one another, wondering how Asher should handle Stanley’s challenge before a barrier muffled the sound of their voices.
I turned my attention to Asher. My eyes trailed over him on instinct, noticing his expensive slacks and form-fitting dress shirt, and my heart clenched.
He’d dressed up for the mating luncheon—our mating luncheon.
Pressure built in my chest as we remained staring at each other in silence.
Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore.
“You’re the alpha.”
“I am.”
My throat tightened. Hurt sprung tears to my eyes. “You lied to me.”
“I never lied.”
I squeezed my eyelids closed. “But you never told the truth, either.”
Silence resumed.
“I didn’t want the other packs to know my identity.”
My eyelids parted, and I saw regret twisting Asher’s handsome features.
He continued, “You know our pack has been isolated from the rest of you. Chase and I had a target on our backs the moment we entered the Alpha Games, but it would have been ten times worse if they knew I was alpha.”
I got that. I really did.
“But why not tell me the truth after we bonded? Or when we arrived in Alaska?”
Asher tucked his hands behind his back and began pacing the width of the alley. “You were overwhelmed. First the bond, then losing your position within the Summit Pack. There was never a good time.
“Besides,” he huffed, “You made it clear that mating the Wilds alpha was a fate worse than death.”
That was because of our bond, you idiot!
I crossed my arms, holding onto myself tight, as if my grip could keep me from falling apart. “Don’t make me the bad guy. You didn’t want the bond either.”
His steps faltered. He whirled towards me with an incredulous expression. “What would possibly make you believe that?”
“I overheard you at your hotel in Laurel,” I licked my dry lips, forcing myself to continue despite the unease swirling in my gut, telling me I was wrong. “When you were speaking with Axel, I heard you say you didn’t want to be together. That it was impossible…”
His head immediately shook with denial. “I remember that conversation, and you misunderstood. Axel was trying to convince me it was okay to win the Alpha games—to bring you into our pack. But that was never then plan.
“We entered the Alpha Games as a ploy to investigate rogue sorcerers and realign ourselves with other packs. We needed to know who would stand with us if needed.”
He took a step towards me. His voice strong with conviction. “I never wanted to force you to abandon your pack, Blair. That was what was impossible. That was what I didn’t want to do. And I regret what my actions cost you every single day.”
Self-preservation warned me not to be swayed by his explanation. I’d been deceived so many times. But no amount of logic could convince my soul to be wary. My soul knew he spoke the truth.
I stared at the asphalt beneath my feet. “Were you trying to find a way out of enforcing your prize? Is that why you never told me you were alpha?” A tear escaped and rolled down my cheek.
“What? No!”
I looked up to see Asher running his hands through his hair.
“Blair, I’m no good at this. I’ve never been.”
“Good at what?”
“Expressing my feelings. Saying what I want.”
My forehead creased.
Before I could respond, Asher continued, “I was only a kid when I became alpha, Blair. I took over for my father after he and my mother were murdered, and I’ve spent my entire life since trying to become the male he urged me to be when he was alive. My only concern has been doing what is best for my pack. I never spared a thought for what I wanted. Until you.”
My heartbeat quickened.
Asher took another step. I didn’t move away. Encouraged, he closed the remaining distance between us and reached out to take my hand. “I never wanted you to lose your position within the Summit Pack, Blair. I’ve kept my distance to investigate the threats against us, but also to try and give myself time to figure out a way for you to still become the Summit alpha.”
He brought my hand to his mouth. A shiver wracked my body as he pressed his lips against the inside of my wrist, closing his eyes. “But I’d be lying if I said I would willingly let you go. Since the moment I saw you, long before the bond snapped into place, I couldn’t get you out of my head. Your scent is ingrained in my mind. Your smile is burned behind my eyelids, taunting me every time I close my eyes. And that makes me hate myself. Because while you’ve lost everything you’ve ever dreamed of, I’ve gained a dream I never even knew I had. And I wouldn’t give you up for anything.”
My entire body trembled. My wolf purred. My soul sang.
His words made me feel so much. I had so many things to say, but I could only stare at the male before me, wondering how I could have ever doubted the Mother knew what she was doing when she tied Asher’s soul to mine.
Long seconds passed, but they were far from uncomfortable.
Asher kept my hand by his face. His nostrils rested against my wrist, breathing me in. Each exhale sent a billow of air over my skin, sending shivers through me.
At last, I broke the silence. I took the conversation back to the beginning. I gave us a chance at a new beginning. “So… you’re the alpha.”
Asher opened his eyes. They flickered with specks of yellow-green. His wolf was close to the surface. “Yes.”
I felt my own wolf press forward. “And we’re supposed to mate, even though it was never your plan?”
“Correct.”
“But you want me?” I tilted my head to the side, trying to seem calm despite how fast my heart was beating.
“Yes, Blair.” Asher pressed my palm against his chest, allowing me to feel how his own heart raced. “I’ve wanted you since that night at The Iron Horse.”
The memory of Asher’s abrupt behavior, and how it had changed so suddenly at the downtown bar, brought a smile to my face. I couldn’t deny I’d felt just as drawn to him. Even before the bond snapped into place, we’d both recognized each other. Our souls had known they’d met their match.
With his free hand, Asher reached up and touched the corner of my mouth. Softly, he said, “I love when you smile.”
My smile turned timid, but I forced myself to be brave when I asked, “So, even after all of this—all this doubt and guilt and uncertainty—you still want to go through with it. You still want to mate me?”
Asher’s hand moved to cup my cheek, tilting my head back as he moved so close that his chest pressed against me.
His eyes shined longing. “Do you even have to ask?” His lips descended on mine before I could respond.
Asher kissed me deeply… thoroughly. His lips and tongue stroked every inch of my mouth, spiking the desire growing within both of us.
I never wanted it to stop.
I barely hid my whimper when Asher pulled his head back and asked in a husky, desire-laden voice, “What about you, Blair? Knowing everything, do you still want to mate me?”
Worry seeped into his expression. He knew all the marks against him. So did I.
Asher’s deception still hurt. Our lack of communication led to unnecessary heartache, and it all could have been avoided.
He and I had problems to work out. It would take time. But, eventually, I knew we would work past them.
We were fated mates, designed for one another by the Mother.
From almost the moment we met, I trusted Asher. More than I’d ever trusted anyone.
I trusted us, and I trusted the future laid out before us.
So, I pulled free from his grip and tangled both of my hands in his hair. Rising on my tip toes, I brought my mouth in line with his.
He sucked in a breath, and it thrilled me to know the effect I had on him. On my mate.
Right before our lips touched, I murmured his own words back to him, “Do you even have to ask?”
Thirty
A deep, satisfied growl vibrated through Asher’s chest. His hands traveled to my waist, then he picked me up as if I weighed nothing. My legs wrapped around his hips, and I pushed my chest into his, desperate for there to be no space between us as our mouths continued to move against one another.
Asher’s fingers kneaded into my butt as he held me. Every touch, every swipe of his tongue, sent delectable heat through my core. My desire had been unlocked the night he crashed into my apartment, but now it flew free. It coiled around us, tightening as it pulled us together, determined to never let us be free of each other.
“Well, it’s about damn time.”
Asher and I broke apart. So, too, had the silencing barrier around us.
Our chests heaved with heavy breaths. Asher managed to huff, “Not now, Axel.”
I kept my gaze on my mate, admiring the planes of his face up close. He was truly the most attractive male I’d ever seen. And he was all mine.
Axel cleared his throat, but he stood his ground at the opening of the alley. “Trust me, Ash. The last thing I want to do is interrupt this… moment. But we need to discuss your strategy for this evening. We only have a few hours to prepare.”
Axel’s words doused my desire like a bucket of water over a campfire.
I unwound my legs from Asher, much to his dislike. He grumbled and banded his arms around my back, holding me to his chest, not letting my feet touch the ground.
“Don’t go.”
I chuckled at his petulant expression. “I’m not going anywhere. But Axel’s right. You need to prepare for Stanley’s challenge.” Because if Stanley wins, you and I are doomed before we even have the chance to begin.
Begrudgingly, Asher lowered my feet to the ground, but he didn’t release me until he pressed one more scorching kiss against my lips. He pulled back. I blinked up at him, dazed. He smirked.
Once again, Axel cleared his throat. “Actually, Blair. There is somewhere else you need to be.”
Brows raised, I looked at my mate’s brother. “Where?”
“Your apartment.” He glanced at Asher, then back to me. “Kayla has a surprise waiting for you.”
Imagining it had something to do with the mating ceremony, I waved a dismissive hand. “I’m sure it can wait. I want to hear how Asher plans to handle Stanley’s challenge.” For too long, I felt like my life was out of my control. This challenge was the same. The least I could do was be in the know about what was to come.
“Actually,” Asher spoke up. “It can’t wait.”
I turned to my fated mate.
His hands ran up and down my arms. “Trust me, Blair, you want to see the surprise. Axel, Chase and I will discuss how to approach the challenge tonight. I will come find you after.”
I wanted to object, but I was interrupted by the voice of the male who raised as he said, “Don’t be stubborn, Blair.”
I watched my father step out from behind the building to the right, entering the alleyway with confident steps.
My mouth fell open as Stephanie stepped out after him.
Kayla followed behind. Vaguely, I heard her tell Asher that my father and best friend had refused to wait in the apartment for me. She also said Chase had gone to the park to bring the luncheon to a close.
Blood roared in my ears, drowning out Asher’s reply.
Stephanie looked at me with apology in her gaze. My father, on the other hand, was unreadable.
I felt dizzy. What in the hell was he doing here?
I asked the question out loud.
My father didn’t so much as blink at my hostile tone. “I’ve come to witness your mating ceremony.”
“After not speaking to me for a week?”
“I was busy.”
“How convenient,” I bit out. After my father’s behavior during the Alpha Games—after he went behind my back to all but guarantee I would leave Montana with the Wilds shifters—the least he could do was act sorry.
He’d ignored my calls and texts, but now he was here for my mating ceremony? Something else was going on. He wouldn’t be here otherwise.
My father didn’t react to my barb.
Stephanie stepped forward, drawing my glare away from my father. “Hey, girl. I’ve missed you.”
I stepped away from Asher to meet her embrace. I squeezed my eyes shut and hugged her tight. “I’ve missed you, too. I can’t believe you’re here.”
Stephanie leaned back, holding onto my arms, and gave me a quick smile. “I wouldn’t miss this, Blair.”
Then, her gaze flickered to the male standing behind me. “Your sister told me you’re the alpha. You must love drama to have kept that juicy piece of gossip to yourself.”
