In The Alpha's Ashes

THREE

I nodded my head and headed to the kitchen to make breakfast and give my mom her drugs. As soon as I was done, I had my bath, dressed up, and rushed out of the house to meet Jasmine. The pack hall loomed like an ancient cathedral, its stone pillars tangled in ivy and shadows. I pushed open the heavy double doors and immediately winced at the high-pitched squeal of chairs scraping against the wooden floor. Inside, it was a storm of chaos; girls running around with ribbons, streamers, trays of glassware, and buckets of flowers that looked like they'd rather wilt than cooperate. Most of the girls there chattering amongst themselves in their various groups, they were organizing the hall or something, I wasn't sure. They were all full of excitement, I could hear words like 'Mate Selection Ceremony, Alpha' it was all so confusing.

I was on the lookout for Jasmine who I spotted at the far end of the hall holding some flowers, she seemed……well….. occupied. Jasmine was hunched over a giant vase, trying ..and…. failing to force a bouquet of rebellious roses into something resembling order.

'Work with me, you thorny devils! Oh, for f***s sake, damn flowers' Jasmine cursed as the flowers kept falling from where she placed them. One particularly stubborn stem bounced out and smacked her in the nose. 'I swear I will eat you.'

I bit back a laugh. 'Please leave the poor flowers alone, they did nothing wrong to you'

Jasmine straightened with a dramatic huff. 'Isabel! Thank goodness. Save me. These flowers are possessed. I don't know why we are doing all these things, they should just get servants to help them clean out the hall. Do I look like a slave?'

I adjusted the flowers while shaking my head 'Of course not, you do not look like a slave at all. You're just….ermm…what's the word?.... 'bad' at arranging them.'

'I'm bad at forced elegance,' Jasmine replied with a sniff. 'I'm a wildflower kind of girl. These roses have too much attitude. I told my parents that I didn't want to come here but, they refused. They said and I quote 'His people will be on the lookout to scrutinize the girls lined up in the hall for him so, you need to go to the hall and help out. Even if you don't clean, just act like you are, please. You don't know who is watching.'

'Seems like you have a huge news/gossip to share' I said after I succeeded in arranging the roses properly.

Jasmine looked around quickly, then leaned in close. 'Yes girl, I have news. Gossip. Life-changing information. Also, because, my mom thinks I need to 'be seen participating more.' She made air quotes so aggressively that one of her earrings nearly flew off.

I turned to her with a confused look on my face 'I'm confused Jas, can you kindly explain what is happening here? Every girl seems to be on their best behavior and why are you all cleaning?'

Jasmine pulled me closer and started giving me all the details 'Apparently, the Alpha is coming back to find his mate. We really don't know what he looks like but, my parents already told me all I needed to know.

'The Alpha is coming back? To find a mate?' I asked. I didn't know much about the Alpha aside from the fact that he left the park a long time ago and he was a man of great power.

Jasmine nodded her head in agreement and brought down her voice in her usual gossip-like way. 'Yas b***h!!! He's coming back here; you know he left here a long time ago after the death of his mate who died while giving birth to their child'

'I didn't know that' I replied and watched Jasmine roll her eyes at me.

'Damn girl, you don't know a lot of things happening in this park. Thank heavens you have me, without me, your life would be so boring' she said with a pout.

'If you say so anyway, tell me more' I answered as if I was interested in knowing more when I clearly wasn't.

'This information is not for free girl; you'll have to do something for me later' Jasmine said winking at me with a smile.

I gave her a funny look 'Why do I feel scared all of a sudden?'

'Don't be my poor baby'

I raised a brow. 'Okay, hit me.'

'Not literally. You're holding scissors.'

'Jasmine!!!!.' I yelled faking anger.

'Right, right. Okay, let's go back to the gist.' She lowered her voice to a dramatic whisper.

'The alpha now has a kid, and he has gone rogue for a long time nobody knows what he is doing or where he is doing it. My parents told me that their source told them that the Alpha was forced to return. Apparently, his throne is on the line. If he doesn't find a mate by the next moon cycle, the elders will strip him of his title and pass it on to one of the hungry beta sharks circling.'

I frowned. 'Harsh.'

'Well, yeah. But, you disappear into the mafia for years and return wearing black leather and growling at people? The council's not going to be thrilled.'

'So, he's coming back to find a mate?' I asked.

'Yeah, that's what my parents told me. After his mate died giving birth, and then he went full rage mode, left the pack, joined the mafia, and became like the underworld's nightmare.'

I blinked again. 'You say that like you're reciting a thriller movie trailer.'

'I am. Because this man is legendary, Isabel. My mom said even his shadow walks with a limp from all the damage he's done.'

I snorted. 'That doesn't even make sense. How can his shadow walk with a limp from what he has done? That's funny'

Jasmine waved me off impatiently. 'Focus. He's back…tonight, actually. And guess what? There's going to be an event. A big, glittery, mysterious masked... Mate Gala.'

I groaned. 'Please tell me that's not what they're actually calling it.'

'Well no, but it sounds way better than Mate Selection Ceremony, don't you think? Ugh. Sounds like a breeding program. Gross.'

'So, let me get this straight,' I said slowly. 'The terrifying mafia alpha is coming back to pick a mate? Like... shopping for shoes?'

Jasmine grinned. 'Exactly! But fancier. With masks and maybe hors d'oeuvres.'

'And why do I need to know this?'

'Because...'

A long pause.

'I need you to go in my place.' Jasmine said quickly.

I blinked. 'I'm sorry, what?'

'Look,' Jasmine said, scooting closer, 'My parents are forcing me to go, but I already have Nathan…..shhh, don't gasp….I know, I'm reckless and full of secrets. But, I love him, and I have a date with him tonight that I can't miss. If my parents find out I skipped the mate event, they'll ground me until I'm forty.'

'Jas…..I' I started but she interrupted me immediately cause, she already knew that I was about to say no and give her a thousand and one reasons why I couldn't go.

'It's a masked event. No one will know it's not me. You'll wear my dress, my mask, do a little flirty wave or two, stand in a corner, then poof! Leave. I'll even pay you. Please, I need you to take my place tonight.'

I didn't say anything, Jasmine knows how much I detested social gatherings at the pack. She wasn't giving up though, she was hell-bent on convincing me to go.

'It's not like he's going to pick me….I mean, you-as-me. Besides, you hate this whole mate drama more than I do.'

'Exactly' I muttered.

'Pretty please?' Jasmine begged, folding her hands dramatically. 'With chocolate chips and debt relief on top?'

'Jasmine NO!!'

'Okay, fine.' Jasmine leaned back again. 'Guess I'll have to text my boyfriend and tell him I can't come because my best friend won't pretend to be me for one night and save my romantic life.'

'Manipulation noted,' I said, fighting a smile.

Jasmine smirked. 'So... yes?'

A long pause.

'Fine,' I muttered. 'I'll go.'

'Yes!' she shrieked, pumping a fist. 'You're the best friend ever! You know that, right? Like, ever-ever.'

'Uh-huh. I'm happy you know that' I replied showing my teeth.

We both laughed and for a moment, the heavy world lifted.

Then, I remembered Mark and my smile faltered. Jasmine noticed the change in my mood immediately.

'Hey, what's wrong with you?' she asked pulling me close.

'It's Mark he..ermm….he dumped me, he lied to me. I was never his mate, he used me' The words rolled out of my mouth so painfully. I couldn't cry, there were no more tears left in my eyes cause, I wept a lot yesterday.

Jasmine was so angry 'That piece of s**t dumped you! That…..that piece of fur-brained garbage with a superiority complex dumped you? I knew he was up to no good. I knew he was trash. I called it. He had 'heartbreaker' written all over his brooding cheekbones.'

'I feel like such a fool for allowing him to use me in this way'

Jasmine pulled me to herself and gave me a hug 'Baby girl, you are not a fool, you simply opened your heart for the first time to love but, you fell for the wrong person. It's not your fault, do not let that shapeless fool of a man make you feel worthless. Okay?'

I nodded and smiled at her 'Thanks Jas although, we both know he's not shapeless.'

'Well, he's shapeless to me' Jasmine huffed and we both laughed at her words. The laughter really made me feel at ease and soon I started telling her about my ordeal with Josh.

And all she could say was 'Phew, girl my day was a whole lot better than yours. How do you even get some of these imbeciles you call men?'