Chapter 13 13
Ash's pov
"Ash, can I speak with you briefly?"
Rashad and I exchange looks midway into our conversation before I look up at Layla who's hovering over me where I'm seated.
The chatters from over hundred people is capable of drowning over her words, but I hear her, although I hesitate because I'm not exactly sure why she wanted me
In the dining halls where we Omegas took our dinner before residing for the night to resume our duties in the day, drama and unspoken silence from the day ensued in.
Lovers who've been dispatched to different posts of the pack for the day, group of female Omegas who gathered to gossip on the highlights of the day mainly consisting of who slept with who, who did what and what did who. I could tell from the side glances I got and from what Rashad had told me, that right now everyone had been talking about I and Lena since she left
I and Lena were childhood friends but we didn't exactly know how to hide the way we felt about each other, it couldn't even be hidden from the Omegas.
Her being claimed by the Lycan including the Lycan sending the special package the same night after their disappearance? It certainly spread around the pack.
Today happened to be the meeting involving the head Alphas, Alpha Godric and the Alpha Twins on the abomination Lycan Lucien had done on a sacred day where mates were supposed to be joined before the Moon goddess.
A top secret meeting held in the secret underground cobblestone room of the pack which had been used previously in the past for things even I couldn't imagine or speak.
The meeting was exclusive and as such only five Omegas had been picked to serve there.
Three males and two femalea of which Lyla was among
I glared at her as I excuse myself, noting the way she stole shameless glances at Rashad who's barely paid her a glance and went back to sarvoring his meal. Lyla grabbed hold of my arm to lead me out but I snatched her wrists instead and drag her out the halls.
"You're hurting me Ash." She said quietly, but when I didn't let go of me, she kept mute. Not until we were outside the halls, I roughly let go of her, spinning her so she faced me, my back to the entrance of the halls we just left from.
"What- do you think you're doing?" I said each word with a pause in-between, my chest heaving from rage. "You have a meeting to tend to, do you not? Do you realize what will happen if they discover you here instead? Alpha Godric will change his mind as quickly as you know he does and our plan will be ruined. Don't tell me you were willing to risk everything just to have a glimpse of Rashad. I told you- "
"I know what you told me!" She snapped, cutting me off with a shove to my chest. It does nothing but only propel her backwards, but she holds her stance even after been pushed back a few steps. Her breathing turns ragged as she returns my glare before she scoffs, smirking
"You know what! Forget it .." she turns to leave, but she hesitates before tossing something at me. I make no move to catch it but I look on as a black mask drops.
"We're required to serve at the meeting wearing that. I thought you'd like to be present first hand yourself "
Between gritted teeth, I hiss "As much as I appreciate your offer, you didn't exactly think it true. I've been by the Alpha's side for years, you don't think he'd easily sniff me out? You do know there's a reason he doesn't want me there?"
Even the thought it stings, he had his reasons, but It was not fair considering he let me play a role in having Lena think she was better off with the Lycan and thinks he can suddenly exclude me from her affairs. I was pretty much involved with Lena as much as the pathetic twins. He knew that.
"Yeah. That's why there's four of us now. I, Ashley, Zion and Anthony."
"What about Gerald?"
From the ridiculously large brown hide bag hung over shoulders, she draws out some clothes and toss them. This time I reach forward and catch them. Gerald scent is thick, barely even waning over the fabric.
"What did you do to him?" I slowly pick the mask, realization finally dawning on me. The tone of the voice that leaves my lips is in a shrouded whisper like I was in no where expectant of what she wanted to say.
"I didn't kill- " she was cut off, eyes wide as I closed the distance between us, grabbing her shoulders and taking her in the alleyway between the halls and the quarters, next to the building, pressing back against the wall.
"What. Did. You. Do. Lyla?"
"Forget it then. Act like a coward, you're already acting like an ungrateful jerk, you can run back to Rashad with your tail behind your leg."
The wall cracks beneath her body as I push her hard against the wall. She whimpers, but her steel eyes are cold laden as they peer into mine boldly.
"I said I didn't kill him. He's in the quarters fast asleep and won't be awake till the next day with no recollection of what happened."
My eyes waver over her, noting her hair, styled yet seemingly out of place, the blush to her cheeks, her uneven breaths .. they narrow over the marks over her neck, the love bites her hair tried to hide but not from me whose too close for comfort. Not the way her clothes are also out of place, rumpled.
I didn't know what to say at that moment or what to feel.
"Why did you do it?"
She avoids meeting my eyes as I let go of her to back away, watching as she lets down her hair before brushing it up nervously with shaky hands.
"It was the only way to drug him without him suspecting anything."
My eyes waver, travelling down the length of her body before they meet her eyes- the same ones that darken as she grabs another pair of clothes from the bag and tossed it at me like she wished it was something much harder.
"I didn't sleep with him!"
"I find it rather hard to believe."
Her cheeks bloomed again. "I didn't let him- I knew other ways to get him to bed, but despite everything I didn't let him there .." her voice wavered before we glanced at me, coyly. "It's Rashad I want."
"You'd go so much lengths for him, you do realize you put yourself in a dangerous situation tonight. Why? We could have gone with our initial plan."
"Because I don't like to be owed small favors, Ash. I had to do whatever it took to get you into the cobblestone room first hand. You'd have no choice after tonight to get me with Rashad, because you owe me big time now."
My fingers around the cloths tightened and I stare at the mask in contemplation.
"That's If this works." I whisper.
She takes out her own masks and puts it on and I'm satisfied it covers the entire length of her face, leaving only her lips and jaw in view.
I wear the mask, and like I expected, it does the same, concealing more half my features.
"Whatever you do, don't serve the Alpha directly. We have to leave now "
"I have to tell Rashad I'm not coming back "
She grabs my arm and a tense silence passes between us as our gazes darken upon seeing each other up close. Her eyes stood out from the black mask, a diamond blue that almost turns to black slits as her grip squeezes around my arm.
"We don't have time. You can talk to your boyfriend later on."
"Fine." Between gritted teeth, I wring my hand out but she holds me back, barring my way.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"To change."
She looks at me like I've grown a second mouth.
"You're changing here."
"What? No. I'll leave for the quarters and return here and we'd head for- "
"And risk you being seen? Come on Ash, aren't you supposed to be smart one around here. How come I'm the one making the smart decisions all of a sudden"
"Well I'm not the one chasing after guy who's set his eyes on another woman, am I?" My smirk is satisfactory as her smile drops and she steps back.
"You're changing here. Or there will be change of plans don't forget I have the upper hand in this situation. "
With a growl, I close the distance between us, baring down at her, the reflection of the crimson glow in my eyes swimming in hers.
"Is that supposed to be a threat?"
"I want to get out of here Ash," her voice wavers despite her stance remains unshaken. "Now."
With a final growl, I turn away from her, my back to her as I begin stripping.