Mated To An Enemy

On Ashleigh’s return to Summer, she had expected to see Caleb, Clara, and possibly even Fiona waiting to greet her.

What she had not expected to see, was a small gathering of at least fifty.

As she came around the car, she looked on with confusion at the people who smiled and waved at her with delight. She waved back of course, but it didn’t change her lack of understanding.

“Ashleigh,” a voice called.

Ashleigh was happy to see the owner of the voice, Miss Stacey.

“Miss Stacey, how nice to see you. Is there something going on today?” Ashleigh asked pointing at the crowd.

Miss Stacey laughed and waved for someone to come over.

“These people are all here to greet you, Ashleigh,” Miss Stacey replied.

“They are?” she asked, looking out at the crowd. “Why?”

“Because they like you,” Miss Stacey laughed.

Just then two small children, a boy and a girl that Ashleigh recognized from her time at the school, appeared.

“Hi guys,” Ashleigh said, squatting down to greet them.

They both smiled at her and then offered her a paper.

“Is this for me?” she asked, smiling.

They nodded and she took the paper. It was a drawing of a group of kids being carried by a stick figure woman with large muscles and blond hair. Behind them was a tent on fire.

Ashleigh laughed with joy.

“Guys is that me?” she asked.

Both children smiled brightly and nodded their heads enthusiastically.

“I love it!” she smiled, opening her arms to hug them.

Both children immediately jumped into her arms, almost causing her to fall back. Ashleigh laughed as she wrapped her arms around them.

“All the children helped to make the drawing, they took turns coloring and putting small details here and there,” Miss Stacey said. “We didn’t get a chance to give it you after that night, so they have been waiting eagerly for this.”

“Thank you,” Ashleigh said looking up at Miss Stacey. “It really means a lot to me.”

“It’s nothing, you saved us that night, and we wanted to show you how much we appreciate you.”

“Well, thank you,” Ashleigh began, standing up as the two children moved back to stand by Miss Stacey. “But it wasn’t just me.”

“We know,” Miss Stacey answered. “And we did thank the others, but they made it very clear that it was you that came running, they only followed.”

Several others agreed and cheered. Ashleigh could only laugh and thank them all.

“Here I thought I would have my mate all to myself when she arrived,” Caleb’s warm voice called out over the crowd.

“She’s our future Luna, you must learn to share!” a voice in the crowd called out with laughter.

“You can keep her to yourself after you get married!” another joined.

“I wanted to marry her….” said a very sad small voice.

Ashleigh’s eyes widened and she held back a laugh. It was the small boy standing beside Miss Stacey.

“You can’t marry her!” the small girl pouted. “I want to marry her!”

Ashleigh couldn’t hold back her laugh.

“I’m afraid neither of you can marry her,” Caleb said, appearing behind Ashleigh quicker than she had anticipated. “She is already marrying me.”

He smiled at his mate.

“Miss Stacey, I don’t like Alpha Caleb anymore!” the girl grumbled.

“Me neither!” said the boy.

Both children crossed their arms and turned away from Caleb.

“You see this?” Caleb said looking at Ashleigh with mock accusation. “You’re turning my own people against me.”

Ashleigh chuckled then turned to the children.

“I am very flattered that you both want to marry me, but I do love Alpha Caleb very much. And I would be very sad if I couldn’t be his wife.”

Ashleigh gave them a sad look, they both crumbled, hugging her immediately.

“Don’t be sad Ashleigh!” the boy said.

“Yea, you can marry Alpha Caleb!” the girl said. “We can be your friends!”

“Really?” Ashleigh asked. “Do you promise?”

They both nodded with enthusiasm.

“We promise!” they said together.

“I’m so glad!” Ashleigh laughed.

“Alright children,” Miss Stacey said stepping forward and putting her hands on their shoulders. “I think it’s time we head back to the school.”

“It was so good to see you!” Ashleigh called after them.

“Thank you for entrusting her to me,” Caleb said, trying to play along.

The boy turned back with a scowl, and the girl stuck her tongue out. Caleb raised an eyebrow. Ashleigh burst into laughter.

***

“What the hell is this?” Axel growled throwing a folder down on Wyatt’s desk.

Wyatt raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Instead, he picked up the folder and reviewed the contents. He was familiar with it already. He set it down and looked carefully at Axel.

“It’s the report of the rogue attack on Summer.”

“Yea… yea, I can read, Dad,” Axel said. “But I want to know why I didn’t see this report when it arrived?”

“Because I received it,” Wyatt said flatly.

“And why didn’t you tell me about it?” Axel said, trying to keep his composure.

Wyatt took a breath.

“Axel, I have been Alpha since before you were born, you have been Alpha for a month,” Wyatt said. “I’m used to handling all of these things, I forgot.”

“Bullshit….” Axel growled softly.

“Excuse me?” Wyatt said.

Axel couldn’t help but note that there was no growl or offense in his father’s response.

“You kept it from me on purpose,” Axel said.

Wyatt sighed.

“I just thought it would be best to handle that report myself.”

“Did you? And Ashleigh had nothing to do with it?” Axel asked.

“She didn’t ask me to keep it from you if that’s what you mean,” Wyatt said.

Axel took a breath.

“You and mom told me that Ashleigh lost control in a training simulation,” he said. “It didn’t make sense, but I chose to believe you because I had too many things on my mind already. That was my

mistake.”

“Ashleigh is fine, she came home, and Saul said her treatment had no issues,” Wyatt said.

“Ashleigh lost control of her rage fighting rogue wolves while visiting another pack. Rogue wolves that included Granger,” Axel growled. “An enemy of Winter.”

“Yes,” Wyatt replied.

Axel clenched his jaw, holding back the anger he felt. He took a deep breath.

“You and Ashleigh decided that you would retire,” Axel said.

“Yes, because–”

“You decided that I would take on my role as Alpha long before I was ready,” Axel stated.

“That’s not–”

“Someone recently told me that I am Alpha of Winter now, and that I needed to make sure people remember that” Axel said, pausing to lick his lips and thinking for just a moment. “She was right. And I think the first two people that need to be reminded of that fact, are you and Ashleigh.”

Wyatt stood up with a growl.

“Granger, Dad? He was there, and yet, we aren’t doing anything…” Axel said. “I don’t see anything in any of our reports that say we sent a team to look for him, or to track down the rogues that he was

with.”

“Summer is handling it,” Wyatt replied.

Axel growled.

“The attack was on them; it is their right to investigate the matter. Caleb will share with us anything he learns.”

“Granger is OUR enemy. Therefore, it is the right of Winter to chase him to the ends of the Earth if necessary!” Axel shouted.

Wyatt only growled in response.

Axel sighed and moved on.

“Berserkers are Winter Warriors, our most elite and our most dangerous. We don’t allow a high number of them because of the fact that they are so dangerous, and yet, our top rank berserker is in another pack and fighting their battles,”

“Should she have sat back and watched as the attack happened, then?” Wyatt growled.

“No, every warrior of Winter will participate in any battle that presents itself, that’s not the problem,” Axel continued. “She lost control, and from what I read in this report, it was worse than ever before. And yea, Saul cleared her, but his recommendation was that she stay and continue meditations for at least two more weeks.”

“I gave her permission to return to Summer.”

“Under what authority?” Axel demanded.

“I am still Alpha!” Wyatt shouted angrily.

“You have retired!” Axel growled back. “You chose to step down. Your title is honorary at best.”

Wyatt growled at his son.

“You made that choice, Dad,” Axel said. “Now live with it.”