Chapter 26

**Elise**

When waking up the next morning was complete and total bliss. Warm strong arms currently wrapped around me gently yet firmly was enough to have me snuggling back into their warm and inviting embrace.

*Mmm… a woman like me could definitely get used to waking up like this daily,* I muse, not wanting to move nor check what time it was as I continued to enjoy this moment alone with Ashton without a care.

The sky barely bright enough to see anything truly important outside, which meant it couldn’t have been no earlier than 5 or 6 in the morning based on how the sky looked through my bedroom window.

Snuggling again, I continue to listen to the steady rise and fall of Ashton’s chest. His breathing even, which meant he was still sleeping peacefully, unaware of his surroundings which causes me to smile softly.

*‘Ours’* whispers Elza, clearly smitten with our mate, our Luna just as much as I was.

*‘Indeed he is and no one and I mean no one shall take him from us’* I move to say back to her. Determined to keep our new Luna safe even from the Sky pack as much as possible.

*‘Speaking of new Luna, we should probably introduce him to the pack and to our father soon. Including Krista, Aerin and Kat,’* I move to say back to her as well, knowing that our pack needed to be told who their new Luna was going to be along with who was going to be the mates of my Beta, Gamma and Delta as well.

*‘Agreed’*

Smiling once more, I finally snuggle back into Ashton’s warm and inviting embrace, content with how things were. The sound of his soft breathing eventually enough to send me back into dreamland once more.

A short time later.

It’s about 9 in the morning when I finally begin to stir once more. Having slept for an additional four hours more that I instantly awakened with a start, confused momentarily.

My still naked body now in a sitting position as I move to look to the side of me. Ashton currently gone from the bed. A sliver of fear now rising at where he could possibly be now.

“Ashton?”

Scanning the room, I try to see if I can spot him anywhere else from within the bedroom, only to frown when I don’t. Annoyance making its way forward as I wind up alone within my bed, deciding to see if he was downstairs only to pause when the door to the bedroom opens. My hands instantly grabbing at the blankets for cover only to sigh when I notice that it's Ashton who walks in all while carrying a tray of food over to me.

“What’s that?” I say, mentally scolding myself for the stupid question when I could clearly see what it was.

“It’s breakfast. I thought I’d surprise you by bringing you food in bed. After all, you were exhausted after yesterday’s fun and didn’t want to disturb you while you slept so I decided to let you sleep in while I cooked” admits Ashton, just as he manages to come closer to the bed. The tray he was holding now offering an assortment of things to pick from.

My mind amazed at what he could do becomes mind blowing.

“Ashton… Did-Did you cook all of that?” I ask, awe rising from deep within me as he moves to set the tray down gently in front of me on the bed.

“I did, why are you surprised?” asks Ashton with a smile.

“I-” I attempt to say to him only to pause.

“It’s just… normally I do all the cooking for me and my father so I guess… I guess I’m just shocked that someone else knows how to cook as well.”

Chuckling at my response does Ashton move to kiss me on the lips. Being gentle as much as possible before moving to pull away, his eyes shining with love as he moves to sit down next to me on the bed.

“Don’t mention it. My mother and father made sure that both me and my brother knew how to cook as well as take care of the needs of our mates. They wanted to be sure that we knew what to do as it’s our job as mates to ensure that your well being is well provided for and then some” admits Ashton before pausing.

“Even if the roles are somewhat reversed. You being the Alpha of course. And me, an exBeta now turned Luna.”

Blinking at his words, I move to reach for his hand, my hand now carefully holding his as I move to speak up not wanting him to feel like he was anything less than the perfect mate for me.

“You're not just an exBeta. And you're not just a Luna either. Your mine. My mate. Sure our roles are slightly different than most but that doesn’t mean I love you anyway differently. It just means that I’m more spoiled than most because I get to have a wonderful mate like you to take care of me and I, you.”

Smiling that smile that I seem to have fallen in love with each passing second does he move to squeeze my hand back gently.

“Thanks, little mate”

“No problem” I move to say back only to pause. “Um… Ashton? Did my father eat breakfast yet?”

“Yes” says Ashton. “He and I had breakfast together while you slept. He’s a very nice man once you get to know him.”

Blinking again, I try to connect the dots slowly.

“You- You did what?” I ask in utter disbelief.

“We had breakfast… Together”

“Oh Moon… Please tell me that he didn’t say anything embarrassing to you while I did, please” I groaned, not wanting to know of all the possible things my father could have sat there and said to Ashton as they had breakfast with one another.

“No, he didn’t trust me” chuckles Ashton. “But he did say that after the pack introductions that he did want to sit down with the both of us and just chat” offers Ashton, another smile gracing his features as he did.

Nodding now lost for words do I move to eat my delicious looking food that was cooked by my wonderful mate. My worries temporarily forgotten as I silently enjoyed this time with him and only him.

*‘Mmm… mate sure knows how to cook us food’* purrs Elza happily.

*‘That he does. It’s actually kind of nice knowing that there’s an extra set of hands to help within the kitchen’* I tease slightly.

*‘You say that now until you ban him’* laughs Elza, knowing how I liked to be in charge of certain things.

*‘I would not’* I counter quickly.

*‘Would so’* counters Elza knowingly.

*‘Na uh’* I say right back to her.

*‘We shall see’* is all she says before leaving me to my own devices.

Now shoving our playful banter to the side, do I manage to go back to enjoying my food before reaching out to Shaun via the pack link, deciding that I needed him to help organize the pack introductions.

*‘Hey Shaun?’* I called out to him hoping he would hear me.

*‘Yes my Alpha?’* answers Shaun almost instantly.

*‘Can you please assemble the pack? We have a welcome party to host’* I move to tell him, hoping he would get the idea of what I was hoping to accomplish right this second.

*‘Sure thing. I’ll get right on it.’* offers Shaun, knowing better than to reask questions and just do as he’s told.

*‘Thanks. You're the best Beta ever’* I say to him happily, knowing that he was.

*‘Don’t mention it.’* finishes Shaun just as he moves to close the link to do as I ask of him.

Smiling again softly, I moved to go back to what I was doing before reaching out to Shaun and that was enjoying my breakfast that my wonderful mate had made for me while I slept peacefully.