Chapter 7
Ryder’s expression changed drastically as he looked at the newcomer, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at me, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
But I didn’t even spare him a glance. I only looked at the man walking toward me, and couldn’t help but smile. “Didn’t you say you’d be back in two days?”
Ashton approached, and the stern look on his face softened immediately. His voice was low and filled with an undeniable tenderness.
“The official timeline was two days, but I had to push hard with the higher–ups. I told them–this is my fated mate. If they delayed my sealing the bond and starting a family, I’d howl outside the werewolf castle every day until they agreed.”
Can you imagine it?
An Alpha of the bluemoon pack, throwing a tantrum in that solemn facility, forcing his way through to come find me.
But that’s Ashton–when he says something, he gets it done.
The warriors in the training camp often joked, “It’s like the ironwood finally bloomed, and it blooms in such a flashy way.”
The old Ashton, outside of training and missions, had been cold, distant, and aloof.
His Alpha aura was so strong that no one dared approach.
But after I came into his life, he became a different wolf–wild, assertive, passionate, and stubborn.
He placed his arm around my shoulders, unconcerned with the curious onlookers. He bent down and placed a light kiss at the corner of my lips. “Honey, I haven’t seen you for twenty–six hours, and I’m going crazy thinking about you.”
I blushed and scolded him softly, “Stop it, there are so many people around.”
“What’s wrong? I’m your boyfriend–if I don’t kiss you, who should I kiss? Don’t you miss me? Hmm?”
Saying that, he lifted me up in his arms like a child, holding me effortlessly, his arm as firm as a rock. He was domineering, with no boundaries.
People kept passing by, stealing glances, and watching us.
I buried my face in his chest, hitting his shoulder in embarrassment. “I miss you! I miss you! Put me down!”
Ashton chuckled softly and gently set me down, but his hand didn’t leave my shoulder. He kept me close, possessively.
He turned to Piper, giving a polite nod. “Hello, I’m Ashton, Sienna’s mate and the current Alpha of the bluemoon pack.”
Piper raised an eyebrow and nodded back. “I’m Piper, Sienna’s childhood friend from the newmoon pack.”
After a brief exchange, we all continued walking into the mall.
I noticed that Ashton was always very measured around other women, neither too familiar nor distant. But with me, he always had an Alpha’s unmistakable focus–his eyes, his breath, and his mind link were all centered around me.
This was the instinct of a true mate.
But just a few steps later, Ryder, not willing to
Up, came rushing toward us.
His voice was hoarse, like a dying beast struggling for breath.
“I don’t believe you’ve just let go of me, Sienna. This is all just a misunderstanding… let’s talk…”
Ashton turned around, his eyes sharp as blades, his presence erupting in an instant.
The Alpha pressure around him was palpable, crushing Ryder’s aura.
He growled coldly: “Ah. So you’re the ex mate who che,
Chapter 7
with Kendra but still expected a harem ending? How charmingly with Kendra but still expected a harem ending? How charmingly
delusional.”
Ryder’s face twisted, as though his skin was being peeled off in front of everyone. “I didn’t cheat! I…”
I interrupted him coldly, “Leave. Now. Or I’ll call the police. It’s your choice.”
Ryder, grasping at his last hope, shouted, “Sienna, does it really have to be like this? You haven’t been able to contact the outside world for five years–don’t you know what happened between me and Kendra?”
“After she turned eighteen, I had her move out of the pack house! I cleared everything out! I haven’t hugged her, I haven’t let her sleep in my bed, and I haven’t played any of those ‘adventures‘ you mind… look, I’m really changing!”
He spoke so self–righteously, as though these meager “changes” were some huge sacrifices.
But those were the bare minimum–what any mate should have done. They were not gifts!
I couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on him. I pulled out my phone and called the pack patrol hotline. “Someone is continuously harassing me.”
In less than five minutes, two werewolf officers arrived and forcefully took Ryder away.
He was pinned to the ground, still desperately looking at me. “You won’t give me any chance?”
I stood there, unmoved. “We have no relationship left.”
Late feelings are the cheapest. I wasn’t moved at all–only disgust and indifference remained.
If you really loved me, why didn’t you care for me during the ten years we spent together?
Ryder was finally taken away, and the air around us became clear.
Piper, Ashton, and I continued shopping.
Well, “shopping” was mostly just Piper and me trying on clothes, picking out jewelry, and testing perfumes, while Ashton, like a loyal and dignified wolf, silently followed us, holding all the shopping bags. His expression was calm and patient.
After a while, I had drunk too much and needed to go to the bathroom. They were both distracted, one staring down, lost in thought, the other quickly scrolling through his phone, like two NPCs loading,
But the moment I came back–everything changed.
“Honey, when will you take me to meet your parents?” Ashton immediately leaned in.
“Sienna! The new Taco place is so good!” Piper excitedly interjected.
The two of them, like wolves filled with life and energy, were suddenly alive again.
By the time I got home, I noticed a message from an unknown number:
[Sienna, I never meant to hurt you. I just feel like we have too many misunderstandings, and giving up like this doesn’t seem right. Don’t rush into marrying that Alpha. Give me a chance to talk, maybe you’ll change your mind.]
I immediately knew who it was.
I replied briefly and decisively: [Fine. Tomorrow noon, The Golden Bean.]
After sending the message, I realized Ashton was standing next to me, his expression dark and his brows deeply furrowed, his eyes dangerous and displeased.
