Mated To An Enemy

Ashleigh glanced over her shoulder as she was led back towards her house, but it was already too far away. All she could see was her mother’s back.

Her friends asked question after question about Spring and Summer. Granger answered what he could, but Ashleigh was distracted.

“What about you, Ashleigh? What did you see of Summer?” Renee asked brightly.

“I mostly just trained.” Ashleigh smiled, trying to push away the memories of running through the trees, Caleb’s secret treehouse, and the full moon.

“Boring!” Bell said jokingly.

“Well, you have two members of Summer here for two weeks. So why not just ask them what it’s like,” Ashleigh replied.

“I might just do that.” Bell smiled mischievously.

“There is no reason to get close to either of them.” Granger huffed.

Bell turned to him, her expression was concerned, but before she could give voice to her concern, Renee interrupted her thoughts.

“Luna!” called Renee as Corrine approached them. “What happened?”

Ashleigh turned to look at her mother — usually, a picture of beauty — the look on her face was worried.

“I had to deliver an urgent message to Alpha Caleb. We received word just an hour ago that Summer has been attacked by rogue wolves,” Corrine answered calmly. “Alpha Caleb will be returning immediately. Beta Galen will stay to continue with the exchange.”

They each reacted in surprise. Ashleigh felt a cold grip on her chest.

“Ash?” called Bell, looking at her with careful concern.

Ashleigh glanced over to her friend, flashing her a smile.

“I need to put my stuff away and take a shower. It was a long drive.”

“…Ok,” Bell replied hesitantly.

“Excuse me, Mother, I am in desperate need of a shower.” Ashleigh laughed. Corrine smiled at her and excused her.

Ashleigh continued into the house. Once she had left their line of sight, she ran up the stairs into her room. Dropping her bags on the floor, she rushed to her window to look out at the black SUV below. Caleb stood holding on to the driver's side door; Galen reached a hand to his shoulder.

She felt that deep sorrow once more. Her breath caught in her chest as she watched Caleb climb into the car. Then, putting her hand on the window, she felt a hot tear roll down her cheek as he drove away.

‘Stop,’ she whispered in her mind. ‘You can’t have your foot in both worlds. You love Granger. Stop looking at Caleb.’

Ashleigh stared out the window for a long time, so focused on steadying herself mentally she didn’t even hear the door behind her open.

“I thought you were taking a shower,” Granger said.

She took a breath and stepped away from the window, keeping her head down as she went to her dresser.

“I’m getting ready now,” she replied.

“What have you been doing up here?” he asked, taking another step towards her.

“Just stretching a little. It was a long time in the car.”

“Stretching?” he asked coldly. “By the window?”

She pulled out a fresh set of clothes and closed the drawers. Then, grabbing a towel from the top of her dresser, she moved towards her bathroom.

“I am going to take a shower, so you need to go n—”

He grabbed her arm roughly as she tried to move past him. The force surprised her, cutting off her words and drawing her wide eyes to his. There she saw a cold fire burning away.

“Since when does a little stretching cause tears in your eyes?” he spat out in a quiet fury.

He had surprised her when he grabbed her, but her senses returned quickly. She pulled her arm away from him.

“Don’t grab me like that,” she stated firmly.

“Sorry,” he said, watching her closely.

The fire in his eyes dimmed, replaced almost instantly by his usual happy self.

“I was worried when I came in,” he gestured to the door, “I could see the shine of fresh tears on your face.”

He reached a hand slowly and caressed her cheek.

“I was worried.”

His touch was tender, but Ashleigh felt a coldness in it that she couldn’t explain. She pulled away.

“If you thought I was in the shower, you shouldn’t have come into my room anyway.”

Granger scoffed and turned away from her.

“I see you’re angry that I interrupted your tender moment with your lover.”

“What are you talking about?” Ashleigh replied.

“Do you really think I don’t know why you were at the window?” he asked.

Ashleigh felt her heart racing. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves.

“I don’t know what you think you know. But you're wrong,” she said.

“I think that the moment you heard he was leaving, you rushed up here. I think that your window has a perfect view of where he was parked.”

Stepping to the window as he spoke, he looked out to see the tire tracks where a black SUV had previously been parked. He leaned his arm against the window, not looking back at her.

“So, Ashleigh, I think that you, my mate, my love, came up to feel close to him and to miss him.” Granger’s voice was pained, angry, but filled with pain.

He paused, leaning his head against his arm and closing his eyes. Then, all of his long held-back emotions leaking through, his voice cracked as he quietly said, “Tell me I’m wrong.”

Ashleigh felt a wave of guilt rolling over her, again and again. She was dragging this man who loved her through the depths of sadness. How could she do this to him? She needed to be better.

“You're wrong,” she managed to keep her voice steady. “I am not trying to be close to anyone except you.”

Ashleigh walked over to him. Placing a hand on his cheek, she lifted herself on her toes and kissed him on the lips.

“I love you, Granger. You are the only one I choose.”

***

Every pack was a self-sustained society, complete with hospitals, restaurants, shopping centers, entertainment districts.

Autumn by far exceeded in luxuries of life. Spring was well known for the products and businesses it created. The medical techniques and products that came out of Summer were practically miracles. But there was one area, outside of fighting, that Winter had the most outstanding achievement in.

Alcohol.

Due to their fast healing and increased metabolism, most alcohol simply did not affect wolves. But Winter had perfected the mead recipes handed down by the humans they once lived amongst. They had adapted and made it more potent than ever before. Drinking a couple of pints of the current recipe was enough to make any wolf a little tipsy. Every pack, including Summer, had a shipping arrangement for mead.

Granger sat at the bar, with his third pint almost gone.

“My friend, what a welcome surprise!”

He turned to see that all too familiar smile approaching him from the bar door.

“Holden,” he said with a nod of acknowledgment.

“You seem down, Granger. Let me buy you a drink.” Holden offered joyfully. He called the attention of the bartender and placed his order.

“What are you doing here?” Granger asked, taking a drink.

“I arrived not long ago with the woman from Autumn. She reminded me that Winter brews the best meads and ale. So I decided I would let loose this first night and try one of the dark honey meads she mentioned.”

Granger nodded again before returning to his drink. His head felt a little heavy, and thoughts traveled freely amongst his insecurities and frustrations.

“But what is the matter with you, my friend?” Holden asked with concern.

Granger looked up at him; the man was the same as ever, still short, still had curly brown hair, and still had that Cheshire cat smile.

“Is it stuck?” Granger asked.

“Is what stuck?” Holden replied.

“The smile,” he said, pointing to his mouth as he spoke, “it never goes away. Even when you sound sad or concerned, you still have that thing creeping on your face.”

He knew he was getting drunker by the minute but wasn’t that better than simply feeling angry?

“Ha!” Holden laughed, “Yes, I have heard something similar before. But, no, Granger, it is not stuck. I am simply a happy man.”

Holden sat down and focused his attention.

“I like my friends to be happy too. Perhaps I can help you?”

“Doubtful.” He huffed.

“Would it hurt to try?” smiled Holden.

Taking the last of the mead from his cup, Granger thought about what was bothering him. Maybe it would help to talk with someone who was not a part of the situation.

“Alpha Caleb, he shows too much interest in her,” Granger grumbled, playing the empty cup in his hand. “And she… does the same.”

“I see,” said Holden, smiling darkly as Granger stared at his empty cup.

The bartender dropped off the two cups Holden had ordered. Then, pulling the empty cup away from Granger, he replaced it with a full one.

“You shouldn’t worry too much, dear boy; your mate is young. However, it is not strange for her to have a passing infatuation with Alpha Caleb. He is quite the specimen,” Holden replied.

Granger growled at the last.

“Not that you aren’t, of course!” Holden quickly added, “I only mean to say that it is nothing to worry about. It is a crush at most. After all, you are her mate. Once you are bonded, there will be nothing to separate you.”

“Once we are bonded….” Granger whispered into his cup before taking another drink.

“Yes,” Holden said, “There is nothing stronger than the pull of the mate bond. A chosen mate will never outweigh one who is fated.”

‘I love you, Granger. You are the only one I choose.’ her words echoed in his mind, mocking him.

“So, there is nothing to fear. Try as he might, Alpha Caleb cannot steal that which is yours alone,” Holden whispered.

Granger looked carefully at Holden; he knew better than to trust him. While generally a peaceful pack, Spring had always been gatherers of secrets. Then again, maybe that was precisely what he needed. Secrets, information not well known.

“Have you ever heard of a wolf having two mates?” he asked quietly.

“Two mates?” Holden asked, his eyes widening with surprise.

Holden was quiet for a moment. He looked at Granger, carefully thinking.

“Ah, I see,” he said, his smile once more turning up into his familiar grin. “That is what he told her, is it?”

Granger looked up at Holden so quickly the world around him took a moment to catch up.

“What do you mean?” he asked, desperation in his voice.

“You are saying,” Holden began quietly, leaning close to Granger, “that Alpha Caleb has told your Ashleigh that they are mates, though she is already your mate?”

“What do you mean ‘told’?” Granger asked.

“I mean, two mates?” Holden chuckled. “No, no, the Goddess gives one mate and one alone.”

“But she was drawn to him; she felt the pull. So it was Ashleigh that discovered him. Not the other way around.” Granger countered.

“So, you believe that Ashleigh is the one and only wolf blessed by the Goddess twice and that the second mate just happens to be her father’s enemy?”

Granger scrunched his eyes. It was strange. But what else could explain it?

“Let me ask you, Granger, do you know anything about the old fae magic?”

Granger shook his head. He had learned all the basics, the wins, and losses, but he had not paid much attention to what the Fae had created or what magic they wielded. It didn’t matter. They had died out millennia ago.

“We know that Fae magic involves a lot of secrecy and deception.”

“So?” Granger asked, starting to feel annoyed at the man before him. His drunkenness was beginning to take hold of his mind. Holden’s words were slurring and echoing as the light in the room was dimming.

Granger looked up at his ‘friend’. That ever-present smile seemed to have grown unnaturally more giant. His voice was playful, almost excited as he next spoke.

“What if I told you that there have been reports of Summer using Fae magic?”