His Chosen Mate (Complete- Standalone)

Chapter 28

I sleep in and my body loves me for it. I go to the gym, catch up on some laundry, and it feels like a typical Sunday. Minus I don’t have work tomorrow, cause I quit my job via a text message, one that I never got a response to. Kingston texts me just to check in, Emily confirms dinner and I spend the afternoon cleaning, reading, and pampering myself. I deep condition my hair, give myself a pedicure, and paint my nails. My mind wonders to Troy more than I want to admit. I think back to the cabin, to waking up with him, to the way he handled me on the helicopter. How perfect his smile is, how intense his eyes. Every time I start picturing him in my head, I force myself to think about something else.

I think about calling my mom, but I worry about what Troy said. I worry that I won’t be able to candidly talk about anything. So, I send her another ‘I’m doing fine, miss you’ text and leave it at that.

At 5, I get ready for sushi. Another high ponytail to go with my romper, it is a cute black overall style and I pair it with a white crop graphic tee, lots of bangles and hoops. Another text from Kingston telling me to have a great dinner and with that I am on my way.

When I get to the restaurant. Emily is waiting, desperately wanting me to spill the tea between Troy and Kingston, claiming I need to start from the top. I do my best to tell Emily, everything I can. Saying both Troy and Kingston have gang affiliations. Because that's the best lie I can think of. I can’t possibly tell her they are wolves, but I need to convey their danger somehow. I tell her Kingston is removed from it, but there is beef between Troy and Kingston. I tell her Troy and I use to know each other as kids and have a history, an attachment. I let it slip that they were both aggressive towards me and I felt threatened with both of them. She immediately suggests dropping both of them. I tell her about how sweet Kingston is being and she was like yeah, that's domestic abuse 101.

Her opinion on the situation has me noting their similarities, they are both very Jekyll and Hyde in their treatment of me. I don’t remember my dad well but every alpha I have ever met has been a possessive, aggressive, borderline psycho. I kind of assumed that was just their nature and if that is true, is that something I really want to deal with the rest of my life? The answer is no, I had already made that decision for myself when I resigned my life to living as a human.

Our waiter asks if we want anything for dessert and we decline, asking for the bill. We wrap up dinner talking about what fall semester classes Emily has to take and she mentions her residency will start in the spring. The waiter finally comes and has two to-go boxes and no bill.

“Your bill was taken care of and dessert for you ladies, compliments of Mr. Venice.” Our waiter bows and walks away.

“Who?” Emily gapes.

“Troy.”

“Oh sh*t! What’s it like to be a spoiled mafia princess?!” She singsongs as she opens her box and takes a bite out of the tiramisu.

“They are not in the mafia.” I giggle. “But it’s pretty nice.” We both laugh, walking out of the restaurant and hugging before getting into our cars.

I get back home and grab a fork, taking my dessert to the couch, before turning on the tv and settling in for some tiramisu. When I open the container, it's the envelope attached to the inner lid that surprises me.

I run my hand across my name in black ink. I open it and flip to the second page to see it's signed by Troy. A knot forms in my chest as I read it.

Ashleigh,

You want to have a conversation about our choices, our lives... I think that’s the least you deserve. I am sorry I haven’t been forthcoming with you. I only ever wanted what was best for you.

It's time I come clean about everything. What, I said was true, I’ve known you were my mate for a long time. I denied myself our bond because I wanted to protect you, keep you safe- from me. When I became alpha I took a curse intended for my father. A curse that complicates the mate bond, a curse that puts you in danger.

I’ve been able to control the curse and fight against it... I thought. But when I am near you, it's hard. No, it's impossible. I cannot control myself with you.

I was dating a girl, named Nicole when I first scented you. We had been in the Ventura packhouse to go over a treaty. War was on the horizon but I had not officially broken this treaty yet. Nicole and I were a chosen pair, I had promised her that we would be forever, that no matter if either of us found our mates, we would choose to be together. We went to the Ventura packhouse as an united front, to break the treaty and allow all wolves in our pack to have say in their destiny.

Daemon had all the single she-wolves stripped in the basement, waiting for me to claim three. The first time I saw you, scared, cold, abused. I went mad with bloodlust. My pack got me out of there, my reaction had been so chaotic, it was a beserking feral rage. I lost control.

After I saw you for the first time, I knew that I had lied to Nicole. There was no one else in the world for me but you. I didn’t know about the curse yet, I just exploded when Nicole tried to keep me away from you, to keep me from claiming you. I ended up hurting her trying to get to you. Your old alpha at the time, didn’t know who I scented as my mate but he knew it was someone in his pack.

The treaty between our packs was established when my father helped Daemon take down your father. Both of them had a deep fear and hate for women. They exchanged females, for breeding, for abuse, for disposal... a show of power. To put them in their rightful place, he once told me.

I was trying to end the treaty peacefully, Daemon had other ideas, trying to hunt down my mate in his own pack, he blamed me for all the lives he took. During this time, the curse had been revealed to me, that my fated mate was destined to die at my hand, that I was destined to destroy the thing I was meant to love the most. I decided then, that it was as simple as getting you as far away as possible.

The abuse and destruction that Daemon brought upon both packs was atrocious. I helped your mother get you out before the worst of it. I’ve helped in any way I could over the years to keep you safe. The war that Daemon launched against Venice was brutal, he didn't just attack us. He had new and creative ways to torture and destroy our well being. He smeared my name, he tried to hit our business, our money, our women. Eventually, with help from several in the Ventura pack, we took him out. It’s been peaceful since. Your Uncle moved the pack further from the city, selling properties to redistribute money to fix the Ventura, recoup after the war. Everything had been going well for a few years, till Mac tried to extort me. Ventura was in massive debt, years of Daemon's rule had destroyed everything your father had achieved for the pack. Mac somehow knew you were my mate and he threatened you. To prove he had control over you, he had the alpha you were dating beat you up and send me pictures. I lost control of myself again, I had been with Vince and Tabitha, his sister when I got the messages, and I just snapped. I don’t remember it but I hurt them both.

I’ve been controlling my wolf with wolfsbane, it weakens him and I thought I could keep in control. When Vince scented you, I couldn't believe you were so close. I only wanted to see you, allow myself a small taste of you. But after smelling you again after all those years, I couldn't keep away, I didn't know how. When we first met in the hotel, I thought maybe it was best if I could push you away, make you hate me. I loaded myself up on wolfsbane before seeing you and it did work. I was a sweaty, weak, irritable mess. But it had worked, I had kept control of my wolf.

Spending time with you, your sharp mouth, your smirk, your curves, the moans you made when you ate. I had it so bad for you, I nearly forced myself on you in the shower that first night, I am sorry for that. I just, I had craved you for ten years.

I wanted to beat this curse for you, to find a cure. In a moment of passion, I claimed you, I believed I was strong enough, that I had control of my wolf. I wanted to be the man you deserve. But then I hurt you and I am sorry. I am so ashamed that I can’t keep you safe from me.

I realize the best thing I can do for you, is to stay away. I have always looked out for you and I will continue to do so. This is why I am writing you now, Kingston is not what he appears to be, he is dangerous, and you need to stay away from him. I will accept when you chose another. But not him, not anyone who would hurt you.

I am thankful for the time I did get to spend with you. The warmth of your smile, the smell of your hair, the taste of your skin, the touch of your lips, your memory is burned into my flesh and I will cherish it for as long as I live.

I am sorry I can't be the man you deserve. You will always have my heart.

Troy

I read the letter four times. Halfway through the second read, I was crying. I let myself have a proper f*****g sob.

I picked up my phone and called my mom.

“Ashleigh, honey. I’ve been so worried.”

“Hi, Mom.” I know I sound defeated and sad.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, but I need you to tell me everything, the contact you’ve had with Troy, Mac. All of it. Since they helped us leave the pack.”

There is a long pause. “I wasn’t permitted to talk about it.”

“He told me, so I think you are off the hook. Just tell me.” My voice breaks.

“I never knew the name of the person or people, I guess, who helped us. Not until recently. We had financial help and protection as soon as we left Ventura. It was never obvious but there were times, coincidences that just didn’t seem natural. Too many to count really, I didn’t realize it was intended for you until your recital, do you remember all those flowers?”

“Yeah.” My junior year I had a piano recital after being recognized for my participation with the jazz band. A local community arts program featured a handful of local musicians. I had been selected and the night of my recital, my house had been overflowing with white and pink floral arrangments. Orchids, roses, peonies, tulips, daisies. I felt like a princess.

“Or that time when you got a flat tire but didn’t want to be late for work. It was fixed when you left work that night. That necklace on your senior prom.” I can hear the smile in my mother’s voice.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I did in my own way, I knew whoever was behind it loved you. He thought you knowing his identity would put you at risk, so he never told me. But he took care of you in a way that I knew a fated mate would. He got you out of Ventura before the worst of it. He always did things for you. I always made sure to tell you the joy and absolute privilege of having a love like that.”

“Did he tell you why, it would put me at risk?”

“No, but I assumed it had to do with the pack war, when Mac reached out to me a few years ago, he told me everything was settled, there was peace in the packs. I had hoped things would change and you could be reunited with your mate.”

“Our bond is cursed,” I let out a small sob. “I mean he himself is cursed but he turns feral, has no control over his beast toward me, and he blacks out to bloodlust because of our bond.”

“Oh. Oh no, Ashleigh. I’m so sorry sweetie.”

“Yeah that's the real reason he pushed me away all those years, kept me at a distance.”

“Well, he protected you honey. He did the best he could for you.”

“It’s whatever, I’ve never liked the idea of some bond dictating my love life.”

“You know it's more than that, it's the other half of your soul. A person designed for you, to love you just the way you need. A connection so complete. I use to be a big nonbeliever too, your father would tell me he would have chosen me bond or no bond.”

“That's the bond talking mom.” I roll my eyes.

“Even so, I would have fought for our love with or without the bond. We had 7 years together and outside being your mother, it was the greatest gift, the best experience of my life. Even though I lost him, I’d do it over and over again.”

I start to cry. I wish I remembered more of my father. I wish my mother could find that love and happiness again, and almost as if she heard my thoughts. She responds, “Oh, sweetie. It’s okay. He is with me every day, I still feel his love and I know he will wait for me as long as it takes.”