Ashley’s POV
Four months later.
“Pandora gave birth last night. She asked for you this morning.” My classmate at the School of Machinery and Technical Training Institute informed me.
“Oh wow!” I exclaimed and rushed down to my apartment in the school. I picked up everything I had gone shopping for the week before and rushed down to the palace.
The whole palace was bubbling with activity as Alpha Rolan had spared no cost in welcoming his Luna, Pandora, home.
“Oh Ash, welcome.” Kiara’s gentle voice came from the garden. I hurried over to where she was so she did not have to walk to me.
“Hello, Kiara. I came as soon as I heard. Where’s she?” I asked politely.
“She’s in her room. I’m honestly jealous of the freedom she has now. I can’t wait to be rid of mine, too.” Kiara said and stretched lazily on the hammock that she was swinging in.
She was no longer hiding how fed up with pregnancy she was. It was funny and cute at the same time, but I bet it was none of those things to her.
“It’s going to be over in a few weeks, and you will have to deal with a little screaming human.” I teased and turned to leave.
“I’m glad you are different. You are a good person, Ashley. Never stop being that. It is who you truly are. Anything else is just going to come back to bite you in the ass.” Kiara said from nowhere and I looked at her shocked before smiling.
“Thank you, Kiara. I won’t stop being a good person.” I said and left for the house.
Alpha Rolan and Pandora were cuddled up in bed, while the twins were kept in a cradle. They had asked me to come in before I did, even though I always felt awkward when faced with all of their public displays of affection.
“Oh, Ashley! I have tried so hard to reach you. What is wrong with your cell?” Pandora asked me, struggling to sit upright on the bed.
“Good evening, Alpha, and congratulations.” I greeted the Alpha before sitting at the edge of the bed, close to Pandora.
“How are you finding the institute?” Rolan asked me, I struggled to find the answer to his question because all I’d been thinking about was him.
“Considering how I lost my phone during the hydraulic press test, I would say absolutely horrible,” I said, and we all laughed.
“I’ll have Griffin fix you a new phone before you leave,” Rolan said and stood up to leave the room. He was such a gentleman, if he were mine, I imagined how perfect and easy my life would be.
“Thank you, Alpha. How are you, my Queen?” I asked Pandora, struggling to tear my eyes away from Rolan’s buff and well-defined muscles.
“Oh, your queen indeed. It was crazy. To be fair, I considered having a Cesarean session but after seeing the knives, I had a quick change of mind. None of the two options is an easy birth, and honestly, we deserve more credit than we are getting.” She explained and I smiled.
“Well, thanks to the moon goddess, you are back home with your babies.” I said and pointed at the big gift bag I came with.
“I got some baby stuff for the twins last week. I really hope it suits them. Have you thought about a name yet?” I asked her, forcing myself to sound happy and make a conversation when all I wanted to do was wring the necks of the babies and their mom.
“Oh, that was so thoughtful of you, Ashley. I’m sure the kids will love it. So only the kids get gifts, I don’t?” She asked me, pretending to be upset as I could see the smile dancing on her lips.
“Oh don’t be like that. I got you a necklace.” I said and pulled out an emerald necklace from my bag.
“Here. Wilson asked that I give it to you when you have your babies.” I said and watched as the tears filled her eyes.
She really was pretending, everything made better sense now, this was an act that she had perfected over the years to make herself look more innocent.
“Oh, that’s so kind of him. I can’t wait to see him out soon.” She said and caressed the emerald necklace lovingly.
If she really wanted to be with Wilson, she would have stopped Rolan from having him thrown in jail after saving her life. Instead, she had just settled into the lifestyle, pretending that it did not exist.
It hurt me every time I saw her with everyone she loved while I was forced to be the sad daughter who had lost all of her family members to her mom’s evil deeds.
Even though they kept it a secret, it still hurts whenever I think about it.
“I told Rolan he can choose whatever names he wants for them. I could not be bothered with that right now.” She said and smiled, one of the twins stirred, waking up.
“Let me bring him to you.” I offered and carried the baby gently, even though I so badly wanted to throw him down or splatter his brain on the wall.
“Thank you, Ash.” She said and took the baby from me carefully.
“I’ll let you do your thing now. I have to be back in school by noon tomorrow. Director Blake is not joking about punctuality to his classes.” I chuckled, knowing that I was lying and was only leaving before the overwhelming urge to hurt someone took control of me.
I ran out of the room, amidst Pandora’s goodbyes. Running straight into a muscled chest, I looked up to see the face of Caleb. My heart skipped a bit and I steadied myself, pulling myself from his grasp immediately.
“Hello, Ash.” He greeted me dryly.
“Hello, Caleb,” I replied. Nobody said anything else, the weight of our silence heavier than if we had said merely casual words.
“How long are you going to keep denying being my mate?” He asked, and I bolted away immediately, shocked that he knew.