Chapter 17

**Elise**

When spotting the twins I couldn’t help but be amazed. Always in awe when seeing them for twins were rare and triplets rarer. Because the last time a set of triplets to ever be born were to the Moon Valley Pack. A pack that no longer stood among the rest.

*‘And now that pack is gone,’* whispers Elza, for everyone knew about the war that broke out 10 years ago in the Moon Valley Pack. As it was one of the many things they taught you when attending Alpha school.

*‘Are we going to talk to them?’* asks Elza, now curious to meet the twins as they moved to stand with their Beta. Beta Kai.

*‘You bet your sweet ass we are’* I giggle, taking this moment to approach them as I did.

“Alpha Ares, Alpha Eros, how nice to finally meet you” I chime, knowing that this was the first time we were meeting face to face. My blue eyes dancing with pride as I did.

“And who might you be?” asks Kai, his eye arched in curiosity.

“So sorry, where are my manners? I’m Alpha Hayes, Future Alpha of the Dark Moon Pack. My father is Alpha Sebastian Hayes and he’s told me oh so much about the Mystic Shadow Pack and its famous Alpha twins. I was actually hoping we could discuss continuing our alliances? Maybe even talk about the current Rogue situation?” I moved to ask, knowing there was probably a whole lot more than just that we could discuss but didn’t want to take up too much of their time.

“Indeed. I hope that we too can continue to work together as well. Alpha Hayes” answers Eros with a smile.

“Please call me Elise. Everyone else does. Alpha Hayes just seems too formal” I laugh, hoping to ease the tension I was feeling within the room.

“Okay… Elise” chuckles Ares until they both eventually turn to greet their mate. Having sensed her presence within the room. A girl no older than maybe 19 dressed in a mermaid style gown much like my own. The dress in the color blue.

Her hair done in a beautiful half up, half down with light curls adorning her features. To say she was stunning was a far cry from the truth. No, she was a drop dead gorgeous bombshell. And if you had asked me the twins couldn’t seem to get enough of it as they both moved to greet their mate.

*‘They look so cute together’* purrs Elza, only to feel a pair of arms come to wrap themselves around my waist, my body in a slight panic mode only to feel the light sparks against my skin, causing me to breathe and relax against the person in question.

My body now relaxing at the feeling of the mate bond with Ashton.

“Your gorgeous love” whispers Ashton, moving to kiss my shoulder as he did, a shiver now running along my body from the touch.

“T-Thank you” I murmured. Tingles still dancing all along my skin from the brief touch.

“Your welcome”

Smiling, I move to enjoy the embrace not wanting it to end as I move to spin around within his arms, our eyes now gazing towards one another as I did.

“What took you so long?” I ask, curious.

“Sorry… I got side tracked with Isaac. He was telling me just how nervous he was. How the Council as well as his mate both might not be helping with his current family dilemma” admits Ashton not wanting to lie to his mate.

“Council?” I question, a hint of concern now evident within my voice.

“Yes, but don’t worry about it. We’ll handle it when that time comes” answers Ashton.

“... Okay” I whisper feeling slightly saddened by his lack of trust.

Kissing my lips, do we move to enjoy our time together, knowing that after tonight’s ball Ashton would forever be mine no matter what.

Breaking the kiss, Ashton moves to look at me softly. “Come my Alpha, for I do believe I owe you a dance” chuckles Ashton, his hand gently taking mine as he moves to lead me to the dance floor to dance. Just him and I and nobody else.

-2 Hours Later-

The moment that Ashton and I had finished our dance, I suddenly here it. A commotion. The sound of a voice now yelling, drawing the attention of those within the room. Most of the pack Alpha’s like Ethan and Luke along with Logan all curious to see what was suddenly going on within the room.

“What in the Goddess?” I whisper, Ashton and I both now concerned until I hear it again, the sound of a girl's voice screaming out a name. “EROS!”

At the sound of one of the twins being called do I begin to worry, the need to go over to them evident only to be stopped by Ashton himself. “Wait here, I’ll go” then before I could even reply back does he move to investigate the situation within the room.

“Ashton” I murmur, not wanting my mate to get hurt in the crossfire but felt as if this was all because of that one girl. The one who was bonded to the Alpha twins.

*‘Don’t worry, Mate will be fine’* answers Elza only for me to gasp softly as the crowd starts getting bigger and bigger until finally the girl in blue is eventually separated from her mates, her mates now fighting the Alpha’s son, Jacob.

“ARES! EROS!” cries the girl, as if hoping to catch their attention as she’s pushed further and further away only for it to fall on deaf ears. “KAI!”

Watching her attempts, I’m quick to see the Delta of the pack approach her. Shane. “What is he scheming?” I whisper from my spot on the floor only to see him grab her by the arm.

“Why that no good slimy bastard,” I growl, about to march myself over to him and tell him to let her go only to spot Ares. Ares having somehow gotten free of the crowd before moving to approach the Delta.

“MINE!” roars Ares, now pissed at someone else touching their mate.

Deciding not to interfere, do I slowly opt for watching instead, knowing better than to poke my nose where it didn’t belong. Especially if it wasn’t needed. Ashton now making his way back over to me as he did, his arms coming to wrap around me protectively.

“Come, we should go” whispers Ashton, attempting to lead me from the room. A sense of urgency hitting in knowing it was best to leave before a bigger fight had broken out instead. The hostile energy rising from the twins to the Alpha’s son to even those within the room.

Nodding, I move to let Ashton lead me away. Not wanting to stay. Escaping the room does Ashton move to lead me towards the garden instead or the lack of garden, my thoughts now hoping that the twins managed to get out as well along with their mate.

“A-Ashton.. Where are we going?” I ask, unable to figure out what it was that we were doing.

“You’ll see” comes Ashton’s reply.

Curiosity now getting the better of me do I move to let him lead, knowing that wherever it was that we were doing it definitely had to be important for us to be outside. The moon at its highest in the sky as the rest of the sky became pitch black. Stars shining as they did.