Chapter 59
“Alpha, it is time. Everyone is waiting for you.” Theo said to Ashton, who was standing at the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the setting sun.
“Honey, you will do. I believe in you.” Maya who was beside him said in a low voice.
“Mmh, we will do it.” Ashton nodded and lowered his head to kiss her on the lips.
“Let us go. Has everyone gathered?” Ashton asked.
“Yes, alpha. We are more than ready to set off.”
“Good.”
After gathering everyone, they decided that they won’t use the portals to travel back to the ash band pack. They wanted to run through the woods as they experienced the magic of nature.
They had approximated that it will take them three days to reach the ash band pack. It was perfect timing because Kelly and Matthew will be facing each other on that same day.
“Why don’t you stay and come with uncle Eliphas after three days?” Ashton looked at the woman beside him and asked. He remembered the first time they came to this place; they had spent weeks on the road because he had not known the exact place.
They had gone through many dangerous encounters, but the little ones, who had not even shifted at that time, had not been afraid.
“I don’t want to.” Maya denied it without a second thought. There was no way she was going to remain behind and let him face the danger on the way alone.
Although they have found a short and safer way through the wood, no one would be sure whether something happen along the way. She almost lost him once, and she was not going to do it again.
“I am just worried about you. I don’t want you to tire yourself out.” Ashton said.
“I don’t want to be separated from you.” Said Maya, holding his hand and acting coy.
Theo could not help but clear his throat. ‘Dear luna, if you continue to act like a spoilt princess, aren’t you afraid that people will look down on you?’ he thought in his head but he did not dare voice it out loud.
Hearing that she could not bear to be separated from him, Ashton smiled at her lovingly before he took her hand and led her outside. They were about to start their new life. After three days, everything will have a fresh start.
They will have a new family, and new friends and everything will start all over again.
“Go safe. May the moon goddess be with you as you embark on this new journey.” Eliphas said to Ashton.
“Thank you, uncle Eliphas. We will be seeing you in three days with your team.” Ashton said as he bowed to Eliphas. It was a bow of gratitude and respect. Maya also followed suit and bowed her head. This man was the reason they were still alive.
“Go on. Remember to send me a message once you arrive.” He said to Maya. Over the period, he had spent his time teaching Maya all that she needed to know about her powers. Maya was also eager to learn so she absorbed as much as she could.
After spending more time with her, Eliphas knew that just like Ashton, she was one in a million. Together, they will form a very strong team.
After bidding Eliphas goodbye, Ashton turned to the people who were patiently waiting for him. This was his new family. The people who had entrusted their lives to him.
“Thank you, guys, for putting your trust in me. We are now a family. This is a new beginning for all of us. We are only going to fight for what is ours. Claim our land back and protect our loved ones. We don’t want to shed any blood. We have to be ambassadors of peace!”
“Yes alpha!” the people shouted.
“There is one more thing that I wanted to tell you. You don’t have to submit to me and swear your allegiance to me. The world I want us to build is a world of freedom. Everyone is free to do whatever they want as long as it does not affect the life of your neighbor negatively.”
“There are many alphas and many great leaders, I cannot force you to submit to me against your will. Doing that will benefit me nothing I might even lose a good friend in the process. Chose whatever leader you want, or whatever pack you want as long as you advocate for peace.”
“We want a world where everyone. No abused slaves, no rogues, just peace and prosperity.” Ashton said. Maybe this was the first time he had uttered so many words in his entire life. But he felt that it was worth it. If these people continued to follow their leaders blindly, they will never realize their potential in them.
The people were very touched when they had Ashton. They knew that Ashton was a man of his word, and whatever he promised he must deliver. Where else could they find such a leader?
They did not know who started it but just in a few seconds, all one hundred-plus people were kneeling on the ground with their heads lowered in submission.
“You are the only alpha that we know. We are happy to embark on this mission with you. We will gladly give our lives for yours if need be. We don’t need another leader; we only want you.”
Ashton looked at them and smile wryly. He did not know what to do with them and turned to the woman by his side. Maya shrugged her shoulders innocently like she too had no idea what to do.
“They worship you and view you as their whole world. Most of them have been fighting by your side for many years. Besides, your speech was so touching that I almost find myself crying, how could they not be touched.”
“Darling there are some things, even with your powerful brain, you cannot change. We are humans and on the other hand, we are also beasts. Even as humans we cannot live without a government to govern us, but about beasts. These are people who have not seen much of the world. A pack without alpha is not a pack. Besides, they should have someone to lead them in the right direction, you want peace right, there must be someone to advocate for that.”
“Who do you think can do that if not an alpha? I know what are you trying to do but darling, this responsibility is still yours, so take it up.” Maya said. These people knew that they needed an alpha to survive. Even if the world was full of freedom and there was peace, they still needed someone with the power to point them in the right direction.
What Ashton needed to achieve will take time and a lot of perseverance.
Seeing that his wife had given him words of wisdom, Ashton did not continue to advise these people otherwise. Once the time comes; the change will happen naturally.
Ashton and Maya shifted to their wolf forms. Seeing that, everyone followed suit and shifted. Ashton looked at the round moon in the sky and howled. He was asking the moon goddess for guidance, because only by her blessings will he be able to achieve his mission.
After howling at the moon, all the wolves left, following the lead of their alpha and his luna.
……
After Kelly brought Lily back to the house, he immediately called for the pack healers. She was in a state of confusion and she seemed to be slowly losing her mind.
The pack healers took care of her. They had to be careful because she was pregnant and they could not afford the consequences if anything happened to her.
“Alpha, rest assured, she will be back to her normal self once she wakes up. She has been in a state of denial but there is nothing serious.” The leader said carefully.
“Okay, thank you for your hard work,” Kelly said. The pack healer was shocked. When did this hard-to-please master become so polite? He could not believe what his ears had just heard.
“Is there anything else?”
“No. we will take our leave.”
“Good!”