Mated To An Enemy

Ashleigh had spent the past week in meditations and guided training. She was tired of Saul’s face and even more tired of his voice.

She was lucky he had been willing to let her go home to sleep. The first two days after she had returned from Summer, he had not been so lenient.

It was to be expected.

It had been a long time, but it was necessary.

She and Bell had taken to having sleepovers again. Ashleigh hadn’t realized how much she missed this time with her friend.

They joked, snacked, made fun of Axel, and watched movies. It was wonderful.

Bell would be married in two days, and Ashleigh would follow as soon as she could.

She had thought that five months would be too soon when Caleb had told her. But with each passing day, she hoped for the time to get shorter.

Her phone rang. She smiled when she saw his name.

“Hello,” she said.

“Hello, yourself,” he smiled.

“I miss you,” she said.

“I miss you more,” he replied. “I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

“How’s the groom?” Ashleigh asked.

“A nervous wreck,” Caleb laughed.

“Really?” Ashleigh laughed. “I thought he would be more filled with energy and excitement.”

“Oh, he is,” Caleb replied. “He’s even more of a pain in the ass than usual. Double checking everything to make sure there won’t be any reason we can’t leave on time or might get called back. He has packed and repacked his bags at least four times.”

Ashleigh laughed again.

“Then why did you say he was a nervous wreck?”

“Because, between his excitement and preparedness, he is extremely worried about Bell.”

Ashleigh closed her eyes and sighed.

“She’s ok,” Ashleigh said. “Yea, she’s nervous, but she’s not running away.”

“I know,” Caleb said, a soft smile present in his voice. “But he won’t believe it until he sees her for himself.”

“You know, huh?” Ashleigh commented. “That’s right, I forgot you two apparently got pretty close back when I was in the hospital.”

Caleb smiled to himself.

“Is that jealousy I hear?” he asked.

“Why would I be jealous?” Ashleigh asked, feeling the blush in her cheeks.

“I don’t know,” Caleb said. “Bell and any other woman I might talk with are just people to me. There’s literally only one woman that occupies my thoughts.”

Ashleigh smiled.

“I wasn’t really jealous…” she said quietly.

“No,” he smiled. “But it still felt nice to know you could be.”

Ashleigh bit her lower lip, then smiled.

“I will tell you one thing that I have never told you before,” she said.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“During my birthday party, I was with Bell and Renee, just looking around the room,” she said. “We saw you… leaving the ballroom with one of the female wolves from Spring… I wasn’t thrilled about that….”

Caleb thought back for a moment, trying to remember what she could have been talking about. Then, finally, it struck him.

“Heh,” he chuckled. “She asked for my help.”

“With what?” Ashleigh asked.

“She needed something carried to her room,” he said.

“Her room!” Ashleigh shouted, jumping up from her place on the couch. “You went to her room with her?!”

Caleb smiled but held back his laugh.

“She was in desperate need,” he replied.

“Of what!” Ashleigh growled.

Caleb could no longer hold back his laughter, and Ashleigh felt the sudden rush of embarrassment at her outburst.

‘Damn it..’ she sighed.

“Her mate was too drunk to walk. My lack of enthusiasm at the party's events made me the most likely person to be willing to help her get him to their room safely,” Caleb said. “I carried the drunk man to his room and left them there. Then I returned to the party.”

Ashleigh closed her eyes and pursed her lips. Why had she even mentioned it? All she felt was embarrassment now.

“Since the moment I met you, Ashleigh, no other woman could hold my attention, nor will they ever again.”

Her heart was conflicted.

Hearing those words, knowing the truth in them, filled her with such joy and warmth. But knowing that she could not say them back at the same time broke her heart.

How many times had she hurt him without even realizing it?

Feeling the tightness in her chest, she took a deep breath.

“Caleb…” she whispered. “I’m so sorry about everything….”

He heard the pain in her voice. He felt it through their bond.

“Ashleigh,” he called to her.

“Yea…” she replied miserably.

“Don’t let him come between us anymore,” he said.

“What?”

Caleb took a breath before he continued.

“It was a hard situation for you to be in. He fooled you. He fooled a lot of people,” he said. “You were loyal and did what you thought was right, even if you didn’t feel it in your heart. I hate that we lost so much time together. I hate what he put you through and what I went through.”

He paused, taking another deep breath and focusing on Ashleigh across the distance.

“You’ve let him take too much from you,” he continued. “And so have I.”

Ashleigh swallowed as she listened to his words. She felt him at the edge of her mind. She opened herself up to him. Closing her eyes, she felt his warm hands wrap around her waist as he lay his chin on her shoulder.

“He’s still out there, and we will have to deal with him at some point. We will deal with him together when that day comes,” Caleb stated. “But, until then, don’t give him any more of our time or energy. Be with me, think of me. Forget him.”

She leaned into their bond and breathed out gently.

“I will,” she replied with a smile on her lips. “I promise.”

As Caleb and Ashleigh enjoyed their moment together, the door to her bedroom burst open loudly.

“What was that?!” Caleb demanded.

Ashleigh straightened up and stared at the door, waiting for the source of the disturbance to be made clear.

“Ashleigh!” Caleb called out, “What the hell was that? Are you ok?”

“No time for your lovey dovey kiss kiss calls!” shouted Bell as she stomped into the room. “We have an emergency!”

“Ugh... Caleb… I need to go….” Ashleigh said.

She had a hard time focusing on her words as she stared at what appeared to be a bird trapped in Bell’s hair.

“What is happening?” Calen shouted.

“It’s fine... it’s just Bell….” Ashleigh said. “I’ll see you tomorrow!”

She quickly hung up the call and set down the phone.

“Bell… what the hell is in your hair?” Ashleigh asked, approaching with caution.

Bell growled.

“Maggie claimed that she was an excellent stylist and had the perfect style for me to wear for the wedding….” Bell explained. “The next thing I knew, there was a freakin duck in my hair!!”

“Is that what that is?” Ashleigh asked, reaching for it.

Bell snarled at her; Ashleigh pulled back her hand.

“Calm down…” Ashleigh said, trying to hold back her laughter. “If you want me to help, I will have to touch your hair.

“That’s what Maggie said!” Bell shouted angrily.

Ashleigh could not hold back her laughter anymore as Bell stared angrily at her friend.