Chapter 22

**Ashton**

When arriving at the Dark Moon Pack I couldn’t help but be amazed. The pack, the way it looked, had totally blown my mind. Elise’s pack a complete 180 from those of the Moon Walker Pack.

A pack who would rather spend money on the Packhouse instead of keeping a beautiful outside area for those to enjoy. Almost as if the Alpha and the Luna truly did not care enough about their pack in general.

*‘A shame if you ask me,’* whispers Xavier, wishing they would have cared more about their pack and not on what money could buy them.

*‘Agreed’* I admit back to him, attempting to shake that mental image from my mind. Hoping to never have to return there ever again for any reason.

Just then I suddenly feel the car come to a stop and the first thing I see is a beautiful yet modest home. A home just slightly bigger than the others within the pack which meant this had to be where Elise and her father stayed, where I would be staying.

Taking in its appearance I slowly continued to look at it, slightly impressed by the way it looked. The house giving off a warm and cozy vibe the longer I sat there and watched it.

“Do you like it?” asks Elise softly, her hand gently moving to squeeze mine as we now sit just outside the home. Our home.

“Yes. Very warm and cozy and very inviting” I whisper, still admiring the home, a part of me now curious about the inside and if the inside would be just as warm and cozy as the outside.

“Well if you like the outside just wait until you see the inside of it” was all that she says as she moves to climb out of the car, my mind blank for words as I move to quickly climb out as well, Iris and Krista already out and unloading the car while I continue to process everything else.

“Well? What are you waiting for? Let’s go, don’t worry about the car, Iris will handle it. She knows what to do, it’s why she’s my Delta” calls Elise from over her shoulder, her 5’9 frame slowly moving to climb up the small flight of stairs as she did.

Blinking I try to think of a response for her only to find none.

*‘Don’t keep mate waiting, go, go now!’* barks Xavier, causing me to quickly rush up the small flight of stairs and after our mate.

When finally approaching the top of the stairs do I move to hold open the door for her, my parents having taught both me and brother to be perfect little gentlemen when around a woman, mate or not, as it showed them respect and for Elise, I would always give her my respect.

“Thank you Ashton, but not necessary” smiles Elise as she moves to enter the house, my body slowly moving to follow in after her.

“Nonsense little mate. I’ll always make it necessary for you” I move to reply back, my eyes now taking in the sight of our home.

*Gorgeous, simply gorgeous,* I find myself mentally saying, the inside just as warm and inviting as the outside.

“This is just the main level of the house. On this level you’ll find the family room, a formal dining area, the kitchen, a small den where I’m often found reading, the walls literally lined with every book imaginable. My Office that I also share with my father and now you and of course an entire guest suite near the back of the house in which my father currently stays in” admits Elise almost sadly, catching my attention as she did.

“How come?” I ask, not wanting to push but the need to know growing as I did not know much about her father, something that I hoped would change during my stay with the Dark Moon Pack.

“Because of his declining health” whispers Elise, her tone taking on a more sadder role in her otherwise happier tone of voice.

Feeling my body suddenly tense I mentally move to scold myself, unable to fully imagine just what Elise was possibly going through with her father. A mental growl rising at being careless when asking about it. *How could I be so insensitive,* I scold myself, knowing that I brought up a sensitive subject like an idiot.

*‘Nice going’* grunts Xavier, having sensed her sadness as well.

*‘Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be’* I admit softly only to be pulled back by Elise’s next set of words as she continued speaking.

“Come let me show you the upper level” was all she said as she moved to lead me up the stairs.

Following silently, I move to let her guide us as we slowly move to climb a second set of stairs, the stairs leading us up to a second level only to see four sets of doors. One door on the far right side of the hall and three doors to the far left side of the hall, each a bedroom if I had to properly guess.

“Our bedroom is to the right of the stairs. The ones to the left of the stairs are all empty rooms. Blank canvases to be used as we see fit” admits Elise.

“What about Omega’s? Do none of them stay here?” I ask, knowing that every pack had Omega’s. As they were the heart of what kept a pack running besides the Alpha and Luna.

“No. In this house it’s just me and my father. And when I’m here I’m the one who cooks. The only time an Omega comes here is to clean, otherwise they're always busy attending to other pack duties and of course the Packhouse” answers Elise as she moves to enter our room. Her eyes glancing ever so slowly over her shoulder as if to see if I was following her.

An uneasy feeling now resting within the pit of my stomach at the thought of not having an Omega staying with my mate, something I would attempt to suggest to her later on but not now. Attempting to shake off the feelings with an amused smile.

Opting to follow her, I moved to see what she was scheming, not that I would complain as I carefully watched her. Wanting her to just be herself when around me. Naughty and all things that made her, her. My Alpha. My mate.

Now smiling, do I move to follow her, closing the door with my foot behind me as I move my eyes to scan the room. A large King size bed lay in the middle of her room while big fluffy bedding laid adorning the bed in the color white, the walls a soft cream. Each color, each tone, warm and inviting just like her.

“Do you like it?” asks Elise, her eyes now on mine as I continue to look over the room, a small couch off to one side of her room along with two chairs and a small glass coffee table. A flat screen tv hanging next to the wall, the tv clearly a 75 incher if not bigger while on either side of the bed stood matching nightstands as well as matching lamps, and a bench sitting along the foot of the bed to finish the look.

“Like it? Why it's beautiful little mate. This room just screams you. All of you.” I admit, slowly moving to approach her as I did. The need to suddenly feel her beneath me growing.

Once close do I move to cup her face with my hand before slowly, letting myself move to lean forward, my lips now claiming her in a fiery kiss. A soft moan rising as she accepted my kiss whole heartedly.

*MINE,* I purr to myself knowing that she was, our bodies still close to one another as I slowly begin guiding her back towards the bed, the need to officially mark and claim her now rising. No longer able to wait as my gums begin to itch. Xavier just beneath the surface of my mind, his want now melting with mine as we move to seek out our mates pleasure.