The One The Whole Town Abandoned

Chapter 23 Staying a Little Longer

Ashleigh's POV

After another passion-filled love-making session, we finally separated from each other reluctantly. I would spend all day and night here with him in this complete and utter bliss if I could. But, I do have to get back downstairs to my baby and hold her in my arms once more... Also, our stomachs are starting to growl since we haven't ingested any food at all today and had two invigorating workouts, plus everything else today... I need food.

We get dressed as we stare at each other grinning a sheepish grin. You couldn't slap the happiness off my face at this point because I have never been this happy with everything in my life as I am right now. It was nice to experience for myself what lovemaking should feel like and it was unforgettable, to say the least.

Once we are done getting dressed, with some of his help because I'm still in pain, we depart from his room. He quickly climbs down the stairs as I saunter, descending the stairs behind him. Once I enter the main room, all the eyes trail across the room and connect with my frame. This makes me a little uncomfortable because I don't understand why I'm getting this attention right now.

That is until Nate stands up hugs Dominic, then turns and hugs me with a pleasant greeting, "Welcome to our pack Ashleigh, I couldn't be more proud to call you my Luna." He bows in front of me as Wesley and Dominic's other guards do the same. I'm sure I have confusion written all over my face as I turned to Dominic, looking for some type of explanation.

He wanders over behind me and whispers in my ear. "My love, they can smell me on you since I have marked you... They know we have mated and marked, which means your going to be with me and them forever, so they are happy to just have you as their Luna." My natural blush converts into an even darker shade of red at this thought. He told me they would know, but I didn't think they would know right after the exact moment.

"Thank you, that's very kind of you," I say to all of them a little shyly, as they stood up, heading back to their seats. Nate sits down next to Stefanie and she leans in whispering to him. I'm sure she is probably just asking what happened like I just did. I see him whisper back to her as her eyes go wide and she turns to me with the biggest smirk across her face. She slowly claps to me, making my face transform into some unknown shade of red in embarrassment. "Yes, that's my girl! Finally! Took you long enough!" She yells as I glare at her saying, "It hadn't been that long at all Stef!"

She retorts back, "longer than I would have waited." She says winking at me, then turning back, locking eyes with Nate as the match grins, just staring at each other. Aurora is playing with kids across the room completely distracted. She finally looks up hearing my comment back to Stef as she hops up and yells, "Mommy! Daddy!" she runs across the room and jumps into my arms. I hug her so tightly to my body. I'm so afraid if I let her go something else might happen.

So I just hold her like there is no tomorrow. She will always be my everything and today was too close of a call and I never want that to happen again. I'm brought out of my motherly embrace by Dominic's hand on the small of my back. I look at him as he smiles and takes Aurora out of my arms. She willingly lets me go, which honestly makes me a little sad, but I do love how much they love each other, it just melts my heart. He holds her whispering in her ear and she kisses his cheek his smile getting bigger at that same moment.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, now gaining my attention. I turn around to see my father and he smells in the air beside me, then smirks at me saying, "It's nice to know you're going to take your rightful place in the werewolf community, by your wonderful mate's side."

This new shade of red I guess will be the permanent color of my face all night tonight. I feel my face heating up again as he chuckles and continues, "Come on let's have some dinner."

I agree and follow him across the main room, past the kitchen, and to the dining room. There are two dining rooms, one is smaller with one bigger dining room table in it.. and the other is a bigger dining room with multiple tables inside. Most of the people go to the bigger room, but I just keep following my father who leads us to the smaller dining room.

He gestures for me to sit next to him as my half-brother and half-sister sit across from me, glaring daggers at me. I swallow the knot that's in my throat, looking away from feeling ashamed because we all know why they hate me... I already feel guilty enough that I'm part of the cause of her soon-to-be dead, no matter how evil she is. I hear a deep growling from beside me as I look up and to the side, I see Dominic glaring back at my siblings with Aurora still in his arms. My dear sister looks shocked but differently.. like she didn't know we were together. Maybe she liked him. I mean look at him who wouldn't? Of course, this action from Dominic gains the attention of the Alpha as he glares at his children too.

"Hey! We have had this talk already! Ashleigh is not the reason for your mother's execution tomorrow, it was your mother's reckless and disrespectful decision-making that led her to this point... She has trafficked and sold people and she murdered HER mother, who was MY goddess-given mate! She deserves punishment! You do not get away with murder, no matter who you are! That is FINAL!" He blares this statement out. It was so loud as if a speaker was sitting right next to my ear and on full blast. I glanced up and across me as they both let out a loud huff. The sister aggressively stands up, knocking her chair over so it falls to the ground loudly, echoing in the whole room, as she storms out of the dining room.

I watch her leave the room as I hear another huff. This catches my attention while I turn my gaze back to my half-brother, Mike, who has his strong arms flexed and crossed across his chest in a tight hold. He is still glaring daggers at me, making me feel uncomfortable under his furious stare. It is just weird to think he is my brother because not even a week ago he was trying to take me home forcefully.. no wonder I was never attracted to him at all, no matter how good-looking he is.

I hear another deep growl from Dominic which sounded more like a warning to Mike. Dominic hasn't moved a muscle since the first time he growled, still holding Aurora protectively. Mike locks gazes with Dominic as they stare at each other down for a moment. I can see both of their arms flexing and unflexing with so much warning and almost threat in their intense stares.. After the most tension-filled family dinner moment of my life, Mike lets out a small growl as he huffs again and looks away from him in submission.. showing Dominic he won that dominance-filled staring contest.

Dominic's POV

I really enjoyed seeing my men praise Ashleigh and welcome her to the pack since we are mated and I got to mark her.. luckily.

She looked so shocked and confused, it was adorable. I could tell that she was silently asking me what was happening by the look on her face. So I walk behind her explaining what's happening and why, as her face blushes slightly. Even though I did tell her my scent would be on her after the marking, I still don't think she knew it would be instant. Then what topped off the moment, was her best friend giving her so much harassment about it, but hey, what are best friends for if not to embarrass you while making you smile?

But one of the best sounds was hearing Aurora yell across the room for both of us, not just Ash but me too, making me feel so loved! That girl is a gift from the goddess for sure. I watch her run into Ashleigh's arms as she picks her up, hugging her so tight. I'm sure everything today scared the hell out of her.. but I'm glad we were able to get everything figured out and Aurora back unharmed.

I felt myself getting antsy, wanting to hold Aurora as well, so I put my hand gently on the small of her back, getting her attention. I put my arms out for Aurora as she willingly comes to me, making me so happy. She kissed my cheek softly, making my smile so big, plastered across my face. "Hey princess, I missed you... Thank you for being such a big kid today. You were strong for mommy and me, we're so proud of you." I whisper in her ear as she smiles big at me, hugging me tighter.

I can hear the Alpha talking to Ashleigh about letting me mark and mate with her and her face gets redder than before. Poor girl. The thing about being in a pack is that everyone will know your business and since Ashleigh is used to being by herself she is not used to everyone knowing her business. I know that will be hard for her to adjust to, going to the pack life.

I love all the acknowledgment of her being my mate, that makes me feel so much better, she is ours and everyone knows it.

Miles states as I roll my eyes, but at that same moment, Aurora squeezes my neck tighter.

Awe Aurora is just as sweet as her mama. I love it! I just love both of them so much.

Miles says as I smile bigger than before. I hear the Alpha inviting us for dinner. So I follow behind my Luna at a protective distance because I will never leave her side if I don't have to now... She follows her father across the pack house since she obviously doesn't know her way around. We drifted through the house to the same dining room that I ate at when I first got here.

I walk into the dining room and what catches my attention instantly is that I see Ashleigh looking away and ashamed. This instantly makes me mad. Who is making my Luna feel bad? I look across the table and see her supposedly half-siblings glaring daggers at her. I bet it's about their mother and that's why Ashleigh feels bad.

No one looks at our beloved with a threatening tone... No one threatens our own. I'll make sure they know who they are messing with!

Miles says sounding so livid at them for being disrespectful to her. But we are on their property, so I will make sure they know who they are threatening, giving them a warning before I start anything. I hate anyone staring at her like that so I let out a growl telling both of them that I see their glares and don't like what they are doing to my mate. The sister who was eye f*#king me the day I got here and offered herself to me, looks shocked... I'm sure she didn't know I was her mate, but I know Mike knows for sure... I have had problems with him and have seen him harass her before.

Alpha Dave gets instantaneously mad at their outward dislike of her as he yells at them trying to defend and explain on Ashleigh's behalf. This doesn't sit well with them both. The girl, I can't even remember her name at all, looks pissed now as she stands up and storms out of the room. But my gaze doesn't waiver from Mike at all because it's not the sister I have had problems with, it's Mike. He has hassled Ashleigh a lot before, so I'm sure he will today too. He is still glaring at my Luna, pissing me off that he is not listening to me.

He needs to stop this s**t now before I make him stop!

Miles says this with so much malice in his voice... Man, he is already so protective over Ashleigh. I knew he was going to be especially after the marking, but I didn't think he would have 0% tolerance for anything against her.

Calm down man, we will make sure he knows we're not f*#king around and give him a chance to stop.

I say back to Miles, trying to make him feel a tiny bit better. I hold Aurora tighter to my side, as I let out a louder, deeper growl, letting him know he is pushing my buttons and those are not buttons he wants to push. That's my mate and no one treats her like that, not while I'm around. He starts glaring back at me and that makes me livid. Is he challenging me right now? Bring it on motherf*#ker, I'm sure he has no idea who he is dealing with and at this point, I would love to show him. Because if he knew about me he wouldn't be challenging me right now, unless he is stupid, which is a possibility.

I keep staring him down and flexing trying to hold Miles back because he wants to murder him at this point... I can feel the tension between us building as he finally lets out a small growl letting me know I had won as he looked away from me and my Luna.

That's f*#king right! Don't mess with me or my own.

Miles says to me, making me smirk internally at him. I put Aurora down next to me as I take the seat next to my Luna. Aurora sits next to me along with my Beta next to her and Stefanie next to him. My Gamma is across the table sitting next to Lucas and to say they all look nervous is a little bit of an understatement.

The Alpha looks at me and I meet his gaze as he apologizes. "Alpha Dominic, I'm so sorry for any disrespect to you or your Luna, my daughter Ashleigh. My kids are obviously still mad about their mother's situation, but that is not Ashleigh's fault and I have told them that.. But their mother has told them something different, so they are still mad obviously. But no disrespect meant you can stay as long as you would like. I would appreciate extra support and help around the pack lands tomorrow if you can stay. The execution is tomorrow morning and I honestly don't know how it will affect me and I don't know how well I will do with helping my pack tomorrow. I know you have done a lot for my pack already, but if you could stay and help our family for a little longer I would be forever grateful." He says to me as I look at Ashleigh first. This is her dad and her area, but I don't know if she wants to be around for an execution... especially one she has been blamed for multiple times already.

I think Ashleigh can tell I'm staring at her, so she looks up at me as I get down, whispering to her, "Baby don't feel obligated to stay at all, but I wouldn't mind helping your dad out further.. this is going to hit him hard because the Luna might not have been his fated mate, given to him by the goddess.. but he was still bound to her by marking so once she dies, a part of him will die too and he is going to need all the love and support he can get right now. Especially since I don't know how much of that he is going to be getting from his own kids."

She nods in understanding at me as she thinks about it for a second before she nods back at me saying. "I think we should stay to help too if your sure that's ok?" She is so sweet, wanting to stay to help support a man she didn't even know was her father until recently.

"Of course, that's fine my love, I will just have to call my father and inform him that we will be staying later and why, since I haven't been able to talk to him about everything yet," I say softly back to her.

I look up at the Alpha and respond, "We have agreed we want to stay for a little longer to help out in anyway we can to help support you in your time of need. You are family of course." I say giving him a slight bow showing respect as he bows back responding, "Thank you again.. both of you."

Ashleigh's POV

I'm pretty starving so I finish my dinner in no time at all. The Honey Garlic pork chops with potatoes and steamed veggies were amazing I couldn't get enough. But after filling up with food, the exhaustion was hitting me tenfold at this point. I look down at the table and see my baby girl is looking just like me. "Thank you so much for the amazing dinner, but I'm completely exhausted and I can see my baby is too. So I'm going to head off to bed. Thank you so much for your generous hospitality. We will see you in the morning. Thank you again." I say as I stand up and Dominic, along with all of his men, stands up with me.

The attention and formalities displayed are crazy to experience, especially when you're not used to it at all. I slightly lower my head bowing to them, not knowing how to respond and hoping I don't look like an i***t. All of them sits down except for Dominic.

He leans down kissing my cheek and whispering into my ear, "Stay in my room and take Aurora with you to the room and I'll be up in a little bit my love." I smile and nod as I squeeze around his broad muscular frame. I get to Aurora and she is looking run down. She slowly stands up as I pick her up into my arms and walk out of the dining room. I make it to the bottom of the stairs and ascend the stairs slowly as I feel Aurora getting heavier and heavier in my arms, which indicates she is falling asleep in my embrace. I keep trekking along until I made it all the way down the hall and walked into Dominic's room.

We are both exhausted at this point so I just get her undressed and into some PJs. I lay her down on the bed as I just take all my clothes off except my bra and thong... I grab one of Dominic's shirts and throw it on as I lay down beside her. She turns to me and asks in such a hushed tone as the extra long and stressful day hits us like a brick wall. "Mama, can you please read and sing to me?"

I smile and nod because I will never object to these motherly moments, since I worked nights I never got to sing her goodnight that often or read her a bedtime story.

In my depleted tone, I say a book out loud to her because I don't have an actual book to read. But I have read her favorite book a million times and I have that one memorized for sure. So I quote her favorite book for her as she cuddles into my comfortable embrace.

Once I'm done with the story, I wrap my arms around her as she lays her head on my chest. I play with her hair as I sing softly to her the first song that somehow always comes to mind. Bob Marley's song three little birds.

"Don't worry about a thing

Cause every little thing gonna be all right

Singing don't worry about a thing

Cause every little thing gonna be all right

Rise up this morning

Smiled with the rising sun

Three little birds

Pitch by my doorstep

Singing sweet songs

Of melodies pure and true

Saying

This is my message to you"

I hear a soft snoring as I look down and I can see she is passed out. I lay my head down on hers. Taking a deep breath in of her somehow calming scent, then letting it out.. I let the darkness consume me in a peaceful deep sleep with my baby in my arms.