Mated To An Enemy

Ashleigh woke to feel rested for the first time in a long while. She stretched out like a cat in the sunshine.

“Good morning,” his voice called from the small sitting area of his room.

Ashleigh glanced over at Caleb. He raised his cup to her.

“Coffee?” she asked.

“Two sugars and a splash of milk,” he smiled.

Ashleigh sat up, giving him a confused look.

“How did you…?”

Caleb laughed.

“I noticed you didn’t have your phone with you, so I asked Galen to call Bell and let her know you made it here,” he said. “She was pretty surprised to hear you had left, but that didn’t stop her from leaving some instructions on how to properly care for you.”

“How to care for me?” Ashleigh laughed as she got up from the bed. “Am I some house pet you’re taking care of for a friend?”

“I do find you adorable, and I would very much like to pet you,” Caleb commented with a lift of his brow.

Ashleigh felt the light blush creep over her face as she walked across the room toward him.

“Besides,” he continued, “it does seem like you ran away from home….”

Ashleigh sighed, standing in front of him.

“I told you,” she leaned forward to kiss him. “I missed you.”_.

He smiled and happily accepted the invitation.

Their soft and tender kiss quickly turned passionate as he pulled her down into his lap.

She laughed against his mouth and draped her arms around his neck. He pulled her closer, leaning back against the sofa and wrapping his arm around her waist. His other hand found its way to the back of her head, where he tangled his fingers into her mane.

He tugged ever so slightly on her hair, causing her to make a soft gasp and allowing Caleb to deepen their kiss.

Ashleigh felt a jolt of excitement surge through her body as his tongue pressed gently past her parted lips.

Never before had she felt anything like these moments she had shared with Caleb. Yet, few as they were, each one was burned into her soul.

She leaned further into him, moaning gently as her excitement grew. His hand was in her hair and on her waist. Ashleigh felt a painful need for him to touch her more. She sucked lightly on his tongue.

His hand on her hip squeezed her flesh, and again she felt the jolt of excitement.

The sound of the door opening, followed by a voice, sent her falling off Caleb and directly to the floor.

“Caleb, the most recent reports show– Ashleigh… here, crap.”

Galen quickly brought the tablet in his hand up to cover his face.

“I saw nothing of whatever was or was not happening, I swear,” he quickly added.

Caleb let out a low growl towards Galen while offering his hand to Ashleigh.

“It’s ok,” Ashleigh said, taking Caleb’s hand and getting off the ground.

“Sorry, but Caleb, you have a meeting in ten minutes,” Galen said, peeking around the tablet.

Caleb sighed, looking at Ashleigh. “I can’t miss it.”

“I wouldn’t ask you to,” she smiled, squeezing his hand. Then asking. “Would it be possible to use the training grounds while I’m here?”

“Of course,” Caleb smiled, “you will be Luna soon enough. You should get used to the privilege.”

Ashleigh felt a blend of anxiety and joy at his words. Of course, she wanted to be with him, which meant being Luna. But her mother was right, Luna was a big responsibility, and she knew nothing about this pack.

“Galen, set her up with access and let everyone know that she should be treated with respect,” Caleb said. As he gathered the papers, he had been reviewing from the table.

“Caleb…” Galen started to say something but found himself cut off.

“Galen,” Caleb said, “I want to make sure she feels welcome.”

“It’s not a big deal, Caleb. I’ll be fine,” Ashleigh told him. “Or I will be once I get a shower. Any chance you could arrange some clothes for me?”

“Of course,” Caleb smiled. “They should arrive anytime.”

“Oh?” Ashleigh asked. “Did you already arrange something?”

“What kind of pet sitter would ignore the care instructions they are given?” Caleb smiled.

After another laugh or two, Galen helped Caleb back into his chair, and they headed out to the meeting.

Not ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door. When she opened it, Ashleigh found a stack of four boxes and a bag.

The first had two sets of simple pajamas, and the second had a complete workout set. The third was all undergarments and toiletries, and the fourth had a couple of casual tops and jeans.

She found two shoe boxes, the first slippers, and the second sneakers inside the bag.

After a quick shower and changing into one of the workout sets, Ashleigh was ready to head off to the training grounds.

She didn’t make it very far before she leaned into a bad habit— listening in on the conversation of others.

“I heard she’s Alpha Wyatt’s daughter.”

“The one that was here before?”

“Yea.”

“You know she spent all that time here learning from Alpha Caleb but then didn’t teach him anything?”

“Really?”

“Yea.”

“Those Winter wolves really are selfish.”

“Mmhmm.”

“My mate was with the team that Alpha Caleb took to Winter… he said that several of the Winter wolves just stepped back completely when they were fighting. They didn’t even help. Just made our wolves do all the work and then kicked them out when it was over.”

“I don’t understand why Alpha Caleb is so insistent that we should be friendly now.”

“It’s her. She’s gotten him all twisted up.”

“But he just lost his mate. How could he have found someone else so quickly?”

“That’s what he thought, but she really lied to him.”

“What?

“Alpha Caleb wants the pack to believe that this girl is his second mate, that the Goddess gave him another chance.”

“Is that true?”

“No! She just lied to him and told him that he wasn’t her mate! There was something about a lost twin, I don’t remember, but the point is she lied. Alpha Caleb thought his mate died, but this girl really wanted to be with someone else.”

“How do you know all this?”

“I heard Luna Fiona and Beta Galen talking about it before Alpha Caleb returned.”

“Wow.”

Ashleigh covered her mouth to keep from making a sound. She had heard enough. Quickly she returned to Caleb’s room.

***

Caleb and Ashleigh had a quiet dinner together in his room. He had returned late and was surprised when she said she hadn’t eaten yet.

“Have there been any updates on the fae creatures that attacked?” Ashleigh asked as she cut her food.

“There haven’t been any other reports, all the old fae sites that we know also appear undisturbed. Although, honestly, if I hadn’t seen them myself, I might also have a hard time believing they were true.”

“I get it, but they had to come from somewhere,” she said.

“Agreed, and we will keep looking,” Caleb smiled.

He glanced at her and noticed how little she had eaten.

“Would you prefer something else?” he asked.

She set down her utensils.

“Not really that hungry,” she said.

Caleb watched her carefully. He felt a tug in his stomach but tried to ignore it.

“What is it?” he asked, taking another bite of his food.

“What?”

“Whatever it is that’s bothering you….”

Ashleigh was quiet.

Caleb set down his utensils.

Ashleigh took a breath and looked up at him.

“You keep telling me it’s not the time or changing the subject,” she began. “And I wanted to wait. I didn’t want to push if you weren’t ready to talk about it.”

Caleb leaned back and took a deep breath.

“But I don’t think we can put it off anymore.”