The Alpha Twins Rejection
Chapter Forty-One - Ashley's P.O.V

My anguished heart shattered into a million pieces the moment Zac took Mia’s life. I was not tormented that she was dead. No, I was troubled by what Zac had sacrificed for me. Brutally killing your mate was generally unheard of in Lycan society.

Once werewolves mated, they were mated for life, for better or for worse. My bewildered brain could not process what had just happened. Once the light had drained from Mia’s life, I could see the same in Zac’s eyes. The light was going out of them, fast, and I did not know what to do to help him.

While Kane and Rayne got cleaned up, I just held Zac in my arms, trying to soothe some of the pain that he was inevitably feeling. Although he and Mia had not been together long, it was apparent that Zac had still cared about her. It was who he was, the kindest person I had ever met.

Zac had a heart of gold and was loyal to a fault almost. I did not know how either of us was going to move forward from this day on. Zac was young and had lost his mate so early in life. While losing your mate was not a death sentence, it was undoubtedly a fate that no one wished on, even their enemies. It was not something to quickly recover from and to see someone that I loved so dearly go through something so traumatic ripped my wounded heart from my chest.

After what seemed like hours, I was pulled from my musing by Rayne. “Sweetheart, we need to start the meeting shortly. It is important that you are there as their Luna to reassure them that everything is ok and that we have a plan in place to get the Midnight pack back on their feet as soon as possible,” he said softly via mind-link.

While I did not want to leave Zac’s side, I knew deep down that Rayne was right. I needed to push myself above the current grief and put my big girl pants on to address the Midnight pack. “Ok”, I merely replied with a sniffle, not knowing what else to say. Pulling away from Zac, I wrapped my hand gently around his and lugged him slowly towards the door. Before I was given no choice but to leave him, I thought it would be best to help him shower so that he was no longer covered head to toe in Mia’s congealed blood.

That was the very least I could do for him today, I thought with a sad sigh, wash his mates still warm blood off him. The terrible thought chilled me to my core. Carefully following the scent of my mates down a long hall and into a spacious bathroom, I found Kane and Rayne were already showered and dressed in clean clothes and talking quietly with Beta Miles along with River Runs Beta’s Will and Henry.

I stopped briefly, leaning in to give both of my mates a swift kiss on the cheek, not wanting to get more blood on them now that they were clean.

Both leaned into the kiss, no doubt also needing reassurance after what had just happened. I felt terrible that I would not be able to provide that for them right now, not when Zac was on autopilot. It felt so wrong to be kissing my mates in front of the love of my life, and a pang of guilt ran through me. My stomach rolled and I bit down the bile that threatened to spill forth.

Knowing that Zac had killed his mate to save my life felt like being brutally stabbed, and the knife slowly twisted into my heart so that I would not miss any of the torturous pain. Zac was going through the motions of being alive today but was not truly there. Something I knew I had to change, and fast.

The sight of him shattered like this was something I could not stand. Closing the bathroom door behind us, I continued solemnly to lead him into the huge shower room and began slowly peeling his bloody clothing from his stiff body, making sure to leave his boxer briefs on.

Turning on the showerhead to warm and prodding Zac to stand under the spray, he made no objections but just stood motionless under the warm current. Sighing loudly, I quickly peeled off my blood-splattered shirt and pants and climbed in behind him.

It felt so wrong to be in the shower with Zac like this with my mates only a few feet away, but I knew I needed to help him through his grief. Grabbing the loofah and body wash, I washed away all traces of blood from his body and out of his hair.

Zac mumbled a hasty thanks and quietly stepped out of the shower, leaving me to wash myself off quickly.

Once we were all finished and ready for the meeting, I headed to the hall that the Midnight pack used for pack business. It was a vast hall and easily fit all members.

When I entered, you could have heard a pin drop. No joke, all the pack members were seated and had their heads down. I had heard how Alpha Dante had ruled with an iron fist and was cruel, but this was beyond a joke. The Midnight pack members were genuinely frightened of authority, something I knew I just had to change and soon.

Making my way to the front of the congregation, I spotted Kane and Ryane waiting patiently for me, lost in conversation with one of the Midnight pack members, one whose face I had never seen before.

As I approached them, Rayne and Kane instantly looked towards me simultaneous smiles pulling up the corner of their lips. “Penny, for your thoughts,” I asked them via mind-link, a crooked smile creeping up my face in return. “Just wondering how we got so lucky,” They replied in unison, making me blush like a teenage girl receiving her very first compliment.

It was not them who were the lucky ones. In the weeks that I had gotten to know the twins, they had both proven themselves loyal, funny, protective and intelligent. They were the entire package, and as I slid my eyes over their bodies, I could not help but allow an even bigger smile to creep over my features.

Their large muscular frames and panty-melting looks earned them the attention of every single she-wolf they typically encountered. No doubt if the women of this pack were not so scared of every person they met due to how harshly Alpha Dante treated them, they would all be drooling. Buckets in hand to catch the waterfall spewing from their mouths. “Penny for your thoughts”, they teased, making me blush as I realized they had guessed my train of thought had taken a dirty one.

“Just wait until we are alone, kitten”, Rayne purred in my head, his words dripping with delicious promises making me clench my thighs together. As I joined them on the stage, I gently squeezed his arm to remind him we were in public and to behave appropriately, causing him to snicker.

My nervous steps faltered momentarily. How could I forget that other males would be able to smell my arousal? I thought with a sudden shock, making my cheeks flush with considerable embarrassment. I did not think my cheeks could get any redder until I observed several males in the front rows of the hall sneaking a peek at me from their bowed positions, their nostrils flaring slightly. Talk about first impressions, I sighed.

Argh, well, best to get this over and done with, I thought. Heading straight to the front of the stage, I addressed the gathered crowd. “Hello everyone, my name is Ashley Miller, and these are my mates Alpha Rayne and Alpha Kane. Yes, they are twins. Yes, it is unusual to have two mates, but it is also unusual to be a ruler of three packs, but here I stand,” I say, making sure to answer as many questions as possible I can see in their eyes at once.

“I am sorry for how slow things have been with the takeover, but I can assure you that after today we will make sure that all issues are sorted out and all concerns addressed,” I continued, taking Kane and Rayne’s hands in mine to show solidarity. Giving them a little squeeze, I continued earnestly addressing the crowd. “As of tomorrow, there will be new Betas appointed for the Midnight pack. They will move into the packhouse along with their families. Other roles will also be delegated along with the choice of relocating to either the River Run pack territory or the Blood Moon pack territory”

Members of the congregation started whispering between themselves as I continued with my speech, making me smile that they at least feel comfortable to do that. “My Alphas and I will take up residence at Blood Moon and will delegate roles to run help the joining of all three packs to go smoothly. You will have 24 hours to let us know of any position you wish to apply for along with any plans to relocate yourself and your family.” At that, the crowd went crazy, as if they have never been given options before, and by the time I had finished addressing them, they were on their feet applauding us.

After the meeting, an enormous weight was lifted off my shoulders. Unfortunately, it was soon replaced with a crushing weight upon my chest. The meeting with the Midnight pack may have gone smoothly, but my high soon disappeared when I found Zac in the master bedroom rotten drunk with tears streaming down his face and the furniture splintered at his feet.

It was apparent he was not coping with the death of his mate. “Zac”, I call out from the doorway gently. He looked up at me with red, unfocused eyes, I ran across the short distance separating us and took him in my arms. “I’m so, so sorry, Zac. I sincerely wish things had ended differently. I truly do,” I said while placing light kisses across his forehead, wanting to ease his considerable pain.

I did not know what to do but seeing Zac like this nearly killed me. I loved Zac with my entire being, and seeing him broken threatened to break something in me. I held him in my arms until his body stopped shaking and then removed his jeans, shirt and shoes and hauled his drunk body onto the bed.

“Guys, I don’t think Zac should be alone tonight. Do you mind if I stay with him,” I said via mind link, praying fervently that they understood the situation and how much Zac genuinely needed me right now. When I heard glass smashing coming from the direction of the private office, I knew at least one of them was not happy with the situation, but still, Kane answered me several tense minutes later.

“Sure, Kitten”, he replied tightly. I did not push it, so I just let them both know how much I dearly loved them and that I would see them both at breakfast.

Racing into the bathroom, I quickly brushed my teeth and slipped into one of Rayne’s oversized shirts before climbing into bed behind Zac to hold him in my arms. “I am such a fuck up”, he hiccupped.“Shhhhh, Zac, you are far from a fuck up”, I soothed. “I am Ash. I lost you and then murdered my mate. That makes me a huge fuck up,” he said so softly, I could barely hear him.

Tears spilled from my eyes, and before I could reply, his ragged breathing became even, and he let out a soft snore. Thank god for small mercies, I thought sadly. I spent the rest of the night crying silent tears and reassuring my mates that everything was ok.

They had both reassured me that they understood that Zac was grieving and why he had killed his mate to protect me, but I knew deep down that they were still jealous of me being in bed with my ex-partner, and I couldn’t blame them one bit. I would be insane with petty jealousy if they were in bed comforting their exes. It was a small consolation knowing the bitches had died today. A death they truly deserved.

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