CHAPTER 46

When Shana woke up late into the morning, Asher was dressed and bending over her.
"Morning sleepyhead," he whispered as he dropped a kiss to her forehead. "I thought you were never going to wake up."
She felt disoriented and tired. She tried rising from the bed but Asher stopped her. "You should sleep in. Armando will come get you later. We've a marriage to register," he said smiling at her.
He rose from the bed and walked out then appeared again with a mobile phone. "I thought you might need this." He dropped it on the vanity and she mouthed a groggy "Thank you."
Then he was gone moments later.
She rose from the bed on wobbly feet, all her muscles aching and protesting at every move she made. If only her mate had looked half as exhausted as she looked in the bathroom mirror but no. He had looked as fresh and yummy as ever.
Her hand went to her tangled mass of hair and then, she noticed the sparkling diamond ring on her finger. She held it before her face to admire it.
It was so beautiful it took her breath away and to think he had slipped it on while she was asleep. He was too cocky for his own good, she thought smiling.
She soaked in the bathtub for a while as the hot water soothed her muscles. Then she got dressed and went down the stairs.
"Good morning Luna," Elise greeted her as she descended. Shana had totally forgotten a housekeeper was going to be a regular feature in her daily life.
"Good morning. Please just call me Shana," she said smiling. The woman gave her a friendly smile in return.
"Breakfast is ready," she said as she led the way into the large kitchen.
"Thank you but coffee is good."
She thought about what she was going to do before Armando came to get her. She was going to be needing Ellie's help with finding the friendly lady from her kidnapping the night before. Because, one thing she was going to be needing within the pack was a friend, or friends if possible.
There, standing with her head lowered was her friend from the night before when Shana entered the kitchen.
"Good morning Luna," she said quietly.
"Morning. Just stick with Shana."
"Shana, this is Mila. One of the pack's Omegas. Rose thought it would be a good idea to have someone your age around the house," Elise stated.
Shana absolutely appreciated Rose's thoughtfulness. Although, she would have gone to Mila if she did not even come to her.
"Nice to meet you Mila," she smiled and the girl smiled in return.
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"His mate is a Crier?," Collins asked the timid man before him.
"Yes," Thomas replied quietly.
"But how?"
"I've no idea my Alpha. He believes she's not a pale one but his grandmother knows and she's playing along with the girl's lie."
He laughed boisterously at that. Maybe the woman did not love him as she had led everyone to believe. "And your source?"
"My daughter," he whispered the word reluctantly. The more he got to know the psychopath Collins, the less he wanted anything to do with him but it was too late. He hoped it was not too late for his only daughter. He did not want her involved or even mentioned in their plot any longer.
Collins laughed with glee at the latest information. "To think the bastard doesn't even know it. He loves her you said?"
"Yes. He's quite protective of her."
"As he should be. They are bonded mates," Collins said impatiently.
"It isn't just about their bond. He truly cares about her."
"The untouchable bastard. Now, he's got a chink in his impenetrable armour," he said snickering.
"When should I break the news to him?"
"Are you stupid?," Collins thundered. "You will keep this to yourself or you would pay for it. You should also warn your daughter. I wouldn't want to hurt my future bride," he said with a wicked grin. Thomas' head swung up in surprise. He had nurtured the idea of Adele being Luna with Collins but he had never voiced it out.
"Don't be so surprised," he said grinning. "That was what you wanted all along. That was the only reason you came to me. And I'll make sure your daughter becomes my Luna."
"Yes my Alpha."
"Good. Now, the opportunity to take him down has just presented itself in the Crier. We are going to use her to get to him but we wait and watch the lovers' bond grow strong and then, we strike when he's most vulnerable. If we are going to do that, he mustn't know what she's or what she's been up to because she would only lose her value. Do you understand?"
"Yes my Alpha," he said quietly.
"And from now onwards, you only need to give me a call for updates. I don't want you coming around any more. Your presence on my territory is raising suspicions and I do not want Asher alerted," he said coldly.
"Yes my Alpha," Thomas said again. He could not bring himself to say anything more than that. The plan was getting more and more out of his control but he was too scared to go against Collins or pull out.
"You may leave," Collins commanded.
Thomas scurried away in fear. Collins smiled to himself.
That was what he wanted, the fear that struck people when in his presence.
His thought went back to his current nemesis. He still had his doubts about Asher being in love with his new mate. The man had never struck him as the type to fall in love, even if it was to a woman chosen by the Moon goddess. He was too cynical and hard for such whimsical feeling. That was the only reason he decided to wait it out. He needed more information about how Asher behaves around his around his mate.
But what did he know? Maybe his kind was weaker and softer than he always believed. He was more than happy to be an exception to that.
A discreet knock at his door brought him out of his thought. It could only be one person.
"Come in," he called and Ethan limped into the room.
"Alpha," he said bowing his head.
"What is it?," Collins asked irritably.
Lately, he hated seeing his brother's Beta. The man was still fearful but he had this gleam in his eyes he did not like the barest bit.
"The pack is a little disturbed by the unpermitted visits of the wolf."
Collin's eyes changed color in anger. It was true that wolves needed permissions to cross from their territory into another. It was a rule as old as time in order to keep peace. But who said he wanted peace? Who said he cared about rules? Those rules had only made his race become weaker and weaker as time went by. And the preaching of peace when everyone knew peace was unattainable was something he had decided a long time ago he was not going to continue to put up with.
"To hell with the pack. This territory is mine and anyone who is my guest can come in without a permit." Nobody had the right to question what he decided to do on his territory.
Ethan remained silent.
"Leave." His silence was only grating on Collins nerves. He could kill him but he did not want him dead yet. He loved watching the man suffer helplessly.
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Ethan limped away as angry waves radiated off him. He hated the feeling of helplessness that plagued every minute of his life.
Collins was up to something with the wolf that came and went as he pleased on their territory but he did not know what they were both up to. He was working on finding out.
Since the old seer's murder, he had not been able to shake off the hope that his pack could still be saved. In light of that hope, he had taken a bold step he had been unable to take before the seer's death. Ethan had been able to gather a few wolves within the pack that had held on to the same thin thread of hope for a salvation.
So far, they had been able to meet discreetly twice and they were all thinking of how they could kill Collins without any suspicion but there had been no progress so far. The man had too many people around him all benefitting from his wicked ways and they would not hesitate to put his group down even before Collins finds out about them.
Perhaps, they were all going to lose their lives very soon but Ethan had decided he would die fighting than otherwise.
The next thing he needed done was to find out who the wolf meeting with Ethan truly was. He could not do that himself as he knew Collins was weary of him and always monitored his whereabouts. Someone from his little group had been instructed to follow the man discreetly.
He bent over in the living area to rob his disfigured leg. He believed he had suffered the less painful fate unlike Cole. He still missed his friend and Alpha. He had been a good Alpha to the pack and a good brother to his crazy twins. Cole had loved the bastard and completely ignored the dark personality of his twins. He had trusted Collins with his life and Collins had not hesitated to take that life.
He and his rebel group might not be the chosen ones like the old seer had seen. They weren't even the chosen ones. None of them had any special gift but they had chosen to fight for their pack.
Even if they die trying.