Mated To An Enemy

“So…” Bell whispered, leaning close to Ashleigh as they walked up the path.

“What?” Ashleigh asked.

Bell scoffed and then stopped and placed herself in Ashleigh’s direct path.

“So…” she said again, this widening her eyes and wiggling her eyebrows.

“Bell... come on.” Ashleigh rolled her eyes at her friend’s childish behavior. Then, she moved around her to continue on her way.

“You come on!” Bell laughed, linking her arm with Ashleigh as they continued up the path. “Tell me…”

“What am I supposed to tell you?” Ashleigh sighed.

“Everything...” Bell giggled.

Ashleigh shook her head and rolled her eyes.

“Come on… just the good stuff...” Bell whispered. “Like… How was he? How big? Did he–”

A low growl interrupted her line of questioning.

Bell bit her bottom lip, smiling ear to ear as she turned.

“You know we can hear every word you two are saying, right?” Caleb commented, moving beside Ashleigh.

Galen stood with his arms crossed, staring at Bell with a look of agitation.

Bell giggled and ran at him.

“Catch me!” she called out.

Galen quickly opened his arms to catch her, unable to maintain his annoyance as she shamelessly used his adoration against him.

Bell laughed as he spun her around and then set her down gently. Galen’s smile dropped into a pout.

“Aww,” she said, still smiling. “You aren’t really upset with me, are you?”

Galen looked away.

“I was just kidding,” Bell said sweetly. “I know Ashleigh would never really tell me anything, I just wanted to fluster her a little.”

Bell gently grabbed Galen’s chin and turned him back to face her. Getting up on her tiptoes, she gave him a quick peck.

“Don’t be mad,” she pleaded with a pout of her own.

Galen sighed and relaxed his arms.

“As long as you were joking,” he said.

Bell smiled and gave him another quick kiss. Then, she turned back to Ashleigh.

“I was joking,” she said loudly. Then with a mischievous look, she added. “Though if you want to share some details later–”

Her words were cut short as Galen pulled her arm back, bringing her into his arms. He held tightly to her, lacing his fingers into her hair he pulled her into a passionate embrace. Kissing her so fervently that Caleb and Ashleigh both felt the need to look away.

Once the need for air took priority, Galen pulled away but didn’t let her go. As they panted, he lifted her chin to look at her.

“Mine and ours are the only details you need,” he said in a low voice that touched her in ways not safe for public outings.

“Yes, sir,” she smiled, biting her lip.

Caleb cleared his throat to draw their attention. Bell flushed for just a moment, while Galen, just smiled.

Ashleigh said nothing, only turning to continue up the path while trying her best to suppress her laugh.

Bell hurried to catch up to Ashleigh, while Caleb and Galen fell into step with each other.

“Would a fist bump be an inappropriate response?” Caleb asked quietly.

“Not if they don’t see it,” Galen replied immediately.

They both very subtly raised their fists to each other for a quick bump.

***

“I got married,” Ashleigh whispered.

She crouched down and crossed her arms over her knees, resting her chin on her arm as she spoke.

“You know all those plans we made? All the nights we stayed up late cutting out pictures and discussing which colors would be best for bridesmaid dresses… all that hard work we did? Totally threw it all out the window.”

Ashleigh laughed softly.

“It was a spur-of-the-moment elopement sort of thing,” she continued. “It came after a lot of back and forth ‘will they? won’t they?’ sort of drama so… very romantic.”

Ashleigh took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. She reached forward and pushed away a dry leaf from the stone.

“You would have loved it.”

“You would have blubbered like a baby,” Bell interjected.

She crouched down beside Ashleigh and placed a single small flower on top of the stone, just above the fireworks she had painted for her.

“You did,” Ashleigh chuckled, nudging Bell gently.

“Yea, well…” Bell smiled. “I was happy.”

Ashleigh smiled and looked away as the tears gathered in her eyes.

“We’re not doing that,” Bell said, pointing at Ashleigh. “We are not crying.”

“No, of course not,” Ashleigh said, wiping her eyes as the tears started to fall.

“Renee, take note, Ashleigh is the one bringing down the mood. I’m just here trying to show off my studly husband, she’s over here blubbering.”

“Alright, alright, I’m not crying,” Ashleigh laughed.

“Are we interrupting?” Caleb asked, gently placing his hand on Ashleigh’s shoulder.

Ashleigh stood up and shook her head. Then, moving to lean against him, he placed his arm around her shoulder.

Bell stood up and took Galen’s hand.

“You’re right on time,” she said.

Bell looked to Ashleigh who nodded.

“Renee, I want you to meet my husband, Galen,” Bell said with a bright smile. “You might recognize him as the Summer wolf you pretty much told me to avoid.”

Ashleigh laughed.

“And this is my husband, Alpha Caleb, who you definitely told me to avoid.”

They all laughed.

The men introduced themselves and promised to take care of their respective wives. Jokes were told, and memories were shared.

As they walked down the path, returning home, the boys walked ahead while Ashleigh and Bell walked a little slower.

“Do you think she would have approved?” Ashleigh asked, watching Caleb and Galen chatting as they walked.

“I think she would have had a hard time adapting to the idea at first,” Bell replied, “but in the end, they are just too cute not to love.”

Ashleigh laughed.

“That’s true.”

Bell nodded, and then chewed on her lower lip as though she were thinking about something.

“Are you ok?” Ashleigh asked.

“Hmm?”

“You were chewing on your lip,” Ashleigh said. “You usually only do that when you are nervous or worried about something.”

“Oh,” Bell said. “Well, I am a little worried about Galen’s hair. It’s just that my dark hair with his green eyes would be so much cuter, ya know?”

Ashleigh stopped and stared at her friend, Bell turned and tilted her head.

“What?” she smiled innocently.

Ashleigh squealed in delight and hugged her.

A few feet away, Galen and Caleb glanced back.

“Guess Bell told Ashleigh,” Galen said.

“Told her what?” Caleb asked.

Galen turned with a proud smile.

“We’re having a pup.”

***

“I’m so happy for you, darling,” Corrine smiled brightly as she pulled Bell into a hug.

“Congratulations,” Wyatt said, offering his hand to Galen.

“Thank you, Alpha Wyatt,” Galen said, taking his hand.

“Actually,” Wyatt said, looking around at everyone gathered. “I am no longer Alpha.”

Corrine smiled.

“As of the full moon, I am simply a member of Winter,” Wyatt smiled. “Our one and only Alpha is Axel.”

The eyes of everyone in the room turned to Axel.

“Is this news to you?” he replied simply.

“What about you, mom?” Ashleigh asked. “Since Axel doesn’t have a mate, will you still be Luna?”

“Of cour–” Axel began.

“Axel and I will discuss that. Then, when we have a decision, we will let everyone know,” Corrine smiled.

Ashleigh nodded, simply accepting her decree.

Axel, however, caught the raised eyebrow and knowing look in Corrine’s eye. He swallowed nervously and looked away.

“I hate to interrupt the mood, but, Ashleigh, we should really get going,” Caleb said.

“Is it really a big deal if we are late? Aren’t we just going back to Summer?” Ashleigh asked.

Bell and Corrine giggled. Galen smiled.

Ashleigh glanced around and then back at Caleb.

“There’s something I don’t know isn’t there?” she asked.

He laughed.

“My mother and Galen have agreed to handle my duties in Summer for the next two weeks,” he said. “You and I are heading to the airport.”

Ashleigh’s eyes widened.

“The… airport?”