Beautiful Mate

*A Walk To Forget*

Ashley could hear the growls behind her as she walked with Mr. Hank. "Do you know why everyone acted that way towards you?" He asked as Ashley just shook her head, which caused a slight pain in her neck. She touched her bruised neck softly and sighed "I really don't, I mean we were fine. Then--" She was cut off by Mr. Hank "You told them you were a Lockheart, and they freaked out." He added as she sighed "Yes." is all she said as they went back into his classroom with him closing the door. "A few years ago a hunter named Dale Lockheart killed a very special person that everyone loved, including myself." Mr Hank said with a sour look on his face. "Dale Thomas Lockheart?" She added softly Mr Hank's jaw tightened which gave her, her answer. "Just because he did something horrible doesn't mean I will." Ashley added quickly. "It's in your blood. You're a hunter. You kill vampires, werewolves, witches, warlocks. I'm pretty sure your kind would try to kill the gods and goddesses as long as it meant you would have wealth." He snapped, looking at Ashley, who took a step back. " A hunter?" Ashley asked "I fell over grass. Have you ever seen that Christmas Story Movie? The you shot your eye out ? Ring a bell? Yeah, that's me." She said softly. "I can't even stand on one foot without losing balance." Ashley admitted and felt like she needed to plead her case.

"You have hunter blood in you. It doesn't matter if you believe me or not. If I let you go, you're as good as dead." Mr Hank snapped as Ashley looked at the door "If? You are across the room. I'm sure I can get to the door before you." She stated the obvious, but, oh boy. Was she wrong? Mr. Hank smiled and in a flash was at the door. Ashley's mouth dropped. "You were saying dear?" He said, smiling, "Nothing, I guess I'm wrong about everything." She sighed, sat on a table nearby. "So why are you telling me this?" Mr Hank walked over to her and opened his hand showing a locket "Because I believe you are the mate to our werewolf friend, and if anything he's fighting his wolf on that to do with you. " Mr. Hank was right, even if Ashley didn't know it. She seen those black eyes and knew when she felt small sparks coming from the touch that it had to be something. "This locket will hide your scent from them. They will see you in class but you will be nothing but another human they don't care about." Mr Hank said and Ashley nodded softly "Okay, and what do you want in return?" Ashley asked without taking the locket "Protection." Mr. Hank said "I'm getting older and well, I'm not as fast. Hunters have been all over the property trying to go after the White Claw pack, your friends and my family. The little that remain here." Mr Hank looked defeated "Its become 4 attacks a day and I just can't keep up." He was being honest "How am I going to protect you? I'm a human" Ashley said looking down "Give me your hair bows you have on your wrist." He said about to pull them off as she pulled away quickly "I...I can't do that" She said covering them as he looked angered. "You can't or you won't?" He said grabbing her arm "I really can't I'm sorry." she said as he grinned and nodded "But I can" He said taking them off revealing cuts in all directions on her pale skin. He looked confused "And what do you think you was trying to do here?" HE asked holding her arm about the time it flew open with a very pissed off Brayden, Willow, and Jaden standing there looking at her wrist. "What the fu--!" Brayden was interrupted as Ashley took her hand away and grabbed the locket "We have a deal." She said more scared of the werewolves standing in front of her than the vampire begging for a hair bow. She put the locket on as Bryaden went for her "Please don't" He said quickly but she put it on and he looked disappointed but the revenge wasn't there anymore as he seen her wrist "I just want to talk to you." He said so quietly as Mr Hank nodded and spoke "Go ahead, talk mutt. No harm will come over her, because of my locket." He said pointing as Brayden growled "You don't understand everything. We need to talk." Brayden said calmer as he looked up and seeing his finger prints on her neck and he looked back down. "Youre a werewolf. You think I killed someone. What else is there to talk about?" She asked inching closer to the door until she opened it seeing several members of the pack as she just pushed through "Excuse me" She said loud enough for everyone to hear and move out of her way, the ones that didn't move she just bumped into. She fiddled with her back getting her keys out "Ash, pl--" Bryaden said walking with her "Ash?! You didn't just call me Ash!" She stopped and turned around looking at him "You almost choke me out and now I'm Ash? Are you mental!" She yelled shaking her head and backing away with tears in her eyes "I was so happy to find a friend. I haven't had one. Literally ever,but friends don't hurt friends." Ashley said as a tear fell. She wasn't hurt just scared now. The safe feelings she had were now gone and she just wanted to go live with Paul in Florida. "Don't worry. I will stay away from you, just promise you will do the same." Ashley said turning back around and walking away as she looked at her marked wrist and placed it in front of her covering it so no one else would see "Ashley, please. I know I was a--" Brayden was once again cut off but the buildings front door slamming close behind Ashley. Brayden and the pack just stood there looking dumbfounded "You deserve to be alone after choking our mate, she had no idea what she had done. And instead of explaining it you try to kill her right off the bat." Malice growled retreating once again into the back of Brayden's mind.

********************************************************************************************************

Poem unknown

You are strong

Despite the demons that hold you down

You are released though the fight is long

because of the one who wore the crown