Mated To An Enemy

“Oh… ok, guess they are just going for it,” Bell commented, looking away.

Wyatt excused himself, walking around the happy couple, still locked together in their embrace.

“Seems they are in a world of their own,” he said as he moved beside Fiona and Corrine.

“Can’t really blame them,” Fiona sighed, “you remember what it was like on the full moon before you had marked each other, don’t you?”

Wyatt cleared his throat but made no comment.

The kiss continued until Galen began to clap and cheer. Then, Ashleigh and Caleb pulled away in laughter.

“Sorry,” she said quietly with a bashful smile.

“It’s time for us to go anyway,” Axel stated as he stood from his chair. Then, clearing his throat in a much softer voice, he added, “Congratulations.”

He turned to walk away but was prevented by a small hand pulling him back. Axel turned to see Ashleigh staring up at him.

Axel smiled and hugged her tightly.

“I’m glad to see you smiling,” he whispered. “But I still don’t like him.”

They pulled away from each other with a laugh.

“You will,” Ashleigh smiled.

Axel scoffed and turned to leave.

Saul and Peter each gave quick congratulations before following after him. Fiona and Wyatt chatted as they also left.

“See you lovebirds in the morning!” Bell said with a suggestive wiggle of her eyebrows as she pulled Galen away; he called out his congratulations from a distance.

“Mom!” Ashleigh called out just as Corrine was about to step through the archway.

Corrine stopped and looked back with a smile.

Ashleigh approached her.

“Congratulations dearest,” Corrine smiled. “You and Caleb should hurry along. There is no reason for you to stick around. Go, confirm your bond, you have both waited long enough for this night.”

Ashleigh knew that Corrine wasn’t just speaking of the wedding.

“Do not tell him,” Ashleigh stated simply.

Corrine stood up straight, swallowing.

“What do you mean? Tell who, what?” she asked, as though she were honestly confused by Ashleigh’s words.

“He will get the punishment he deserves, but this,” Ashleigh said, pointing between her and Caleb subtly, “is not his.”

“I wouldn–”

“You would. I know because I would,” Ashleigh interrupted. “Knowing that Caleb and I are married, that soon we will confirm our bond. It would torture him worse than all the lashings you will give him. And it would burn whatever shriveled excuse of a soul he has left inside of him hotter than any flame you set to him.”

Corrine looked away.

Ashleigh swallowed.

“But this isn’t for him,” she continued. “This is for us, for me.”

Corrine nodded.

“I understand,” Corrine smiled, touching Ashleigh’s shoulder gently. “I will honor your wishes. Now forget everything else, your husband waits for you.”

Ashleigh smiled and turned, hurrying back to Caleb’s waiting arms.

Corrine watched as her daughter was lovingly embraced by the man she loved, the one that had protected her and saved her from a monster.

She clenched her jaw, turning to leave behind the happy scene and heading towards the bloody one that waited.

Ashleigh had found a way to move forward. To put the past behind her and focus on her future.

But Corrine had always been a believer in working through your problems by facing them and tearing them down. Through Granger’s screams is how she would find her peace.

***

A cabin a short walk into the mountains from Lily’s Rest had been cleaned and prepared for the newlyweds.

Ashleigh and Caleb had walked hand in hand through the trees, enjoying the breeze and the light of the moon above them.

The arena was more than a mile away, but still, Ashleigh felt her attention being drawn to it, Caleb reached over, turning her chin toward him. He smiled.

“I am here,” he whispered, leaning down to kiss her.

His lips brushed hers in a gentle reminder, a quick soft moment that filled her with warmth and let her forget about anything else.

When they reached the cabin, Ashleigh felt her worries suddenly rising. Her heart began to beat wildly as her palms became sweaty.

They had shared intimate moments. Held each other, kissed, touched. But there had always been a stopping point. A safety net that kept her from letting down all her defenses and becoming vulnerable to him.

Caleb felt the concern in her, the fear and anxiety. As much as he wanted to be with her, to make love to her, he wanted her to be comfortable enough to complete their bond. To enjoy every moment they shared.

He moved to stand in front of her, she gasped and swallowed as she looked up at him. He gave her a comforting smile and then offered his hand. She took it and he guided her to the couch.

“Where are we going?” she asked, glancing back toward the bedroom.

“Sit,” he said softly.

She did as he asked and then he sat down beside her. He took her hand in his and looked at her.

“I’m sorry that I couldn’t give you the wedding you deserve,” Caleb said.

Ashleigh furrowed her brows and looked at him with curiosity.

“And what kind of wedding do I deserve?” she asked.

“The kind that people talk about for years to come,” he smiled. “With decorations, bridesmaids, a whole show of it.”

Ashleigh smiled at him, feeling his intention, his pure desire to make her feel comfortable.

“I wanted to give you the wedding of your dreams,” he said.

She thought back to the thick binder that had lived beneath her bed for the better part of two years. Of all the nights cutting pictures out of magazines, as she talked with Bell and Renee about color schemes, gown silhouettes, and styles.

All the details she had focused on in her wedding to Granger.

Ashleigh took a breath in and let out a soft laugh.

“I planned my dream wedding before,” she said. “A fancy dress, decorations everywhere, flowers, matching bridesmaid’s dresses… all of it.”

Caleb looked at her, swallowing down his feelings of guilt for not having been able to give her what she had wanted.

“We can do that,” he said quietly. “We can do another ceremony in Summer, with all of it. Decorations, flowers, a big fancy dress, whatever you want.”

Ashleigh laughed.

“No,” she said still smiling. “You don’t understand.”

She turned to face him.

“I thought all those things would make my wedding special. Because I was looking for something to make it feel that way,” she said. “But you and I, we are the special thing.”

Caleb smiled.

“I know I sprung all of this on you, and I didn’t think about what you wanted,” she said quickly. “But for me, our wedding was everything I could have dreamed of.”

Caleb leaned forward, giving her a sweet kiss.

“All I have ever wanted,” he whispered, “is you.”

Ashleigh felt her heart racing once again.

Caleb grabbed her shoulders gently and turned her so that she had her back to him.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“You look beautiful,” he whispered, running his hands gently over her shoulders.

Ashleigh swallowed nervously as she felt an electric tingle everywhere his fingers grazed. She gasped as she suddenly felt the brush of his lips against her throat.

“This must have taken a lot of time and work,” he whispered, his hot breath caressing the sensitive skin as his warm fingers trailed up to her hair.

“Axel… did it,” she said in a throaty whisper.

Caleb smiled. He enjoyed the way she reacted to him.

“I hate to ruin his effort,” Caleb said, as he began to carefully remove the small flowers scattered across her hair. “But I’ve noticed that the only time you ever wear your hair down, is when you are with me.”

Ashleigh was surprised by his observation. He wasn’t wrong, she never wore her hair down. Even freshly out of a shower she would often immediately tie it back in a loose braid.

“It’s a comfort thing,” she whispered, looking back at him over her shoulder. “I was trained to tie my hair back so it wouldn’t get in the way during a fight. I trained so often that I just got used to always keeping it out of the way. I only ever wear it loose when I don’t need to worry about a fight. When I feel… at home.”

Caleb nodded.

“Because of that,” Caleb replied warmly, “I have developed a taste for it.”

He carefully and skillfully removed the flowers and pins.

“I’m selfish,” he whispered as the gathered twists and curls fell to her shoulders. He licked his lips and let out a shaky breath. “I want to be the only one that gets to see this side of you.”

Ashleigh felt his desire growing. He turned her to face him, and she saw the dark swirls in his eyes. Her own cravings were rising.

She took a deep breath and put her hand on his chest, preventing him from moving forward as he leaned in to kiss her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice thick and low. It pulled at her resolve.

“Wait,” she whispered.

Ashleigh pushed away from the couch, getting to her feet and backing away. She licked her lips nervously.

“We should get comfortable,” she said, glancing toward the bedroom door with a blush.