Kayla
I had no idea how to face my family members and the council, if I told them the truth they might start a war with Asher and I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to recruit new enemies for him. He did nothing wrong. It wasn’t his fault that he was in love with Emily, and it wasn’t his fault that his heart, body, and soul accepted her. He may care for me but not as much as he cared for her.
I was only but a substitute wife and Emily was his legitimate wife and true mate.
I sighed as I looked at the council walls in front of me. I had decided to come to Maria and Celia. They would also be pissed with Hunter but not to the extent that my brothers would.
I tried to control my emotions as I stepped onto the council premises but it was difficult to do. The only image that kept flashing through my memory was Asher and Emily together. I felt my heart squeeze at the thought of him holding her at night. Being held by Asher was something I cherished so much. He always made me feel protected. I had never for once felt unsafe in his presence. Some moments when my life was in danger, he made sure to save me, even if it meant putting his life on the line.
My traitorous mind recalled back what it felt like to have his lips on mine. There were so many beautiful memories with Asher, and it was so difficult to part from them. No one else would be able to take his place. He will forever hold a special place in my heart. Even though I wasn’t the woman for him, I still wanted him to be happy. Asher was my sunny pill, my world in a mystic bubble.
I sighed and wiped away my tears as soon as I heard footsteps approaching.
“Kay,” Celia called, as soon as her eyes fell on me. “Is something wrong? You look like you have seen a ghost?” She whispered and wrapped her arms around me.
I didn’t know what came over me and I lost control of my emotions. I dropped to the ground beside her and buried my face in my palms, shedding tears profusely.
I was far from in control of anything, especially my emotions. I felt a grueling gruesome sensation steer in my bones. There was deep turmoil in my broken soul.
My heart was completely broken and torn into a million pieces. This was all too much to bear. It hurts. It hurt so much.
Why couldn’t Asher just love me? Why couldn’t he choose me? Why was I not good enough for him?
But why is that with everything that had happened, I couldn’t find it in me to hate him? Why was he still the sweetest person that I know? Why does my heart still yearn for him?
“What’s going on?” I heard Maria scream. “What’s wrong with Kayla? Why is she crying?”
“I-I don’t know.” Celia stuttered. “I found her here and the moment she saw me, she fell to the ground in tears. She didn’t talk to me so I had no idea what was wrong with her.”
Maria pulled me up into her arms and rocked me back and forth like a child. “It’s okay.” “I’m here.”
“Tell me what’s wrong Kayla? Why are you like this? Please, please talk to me.”
I buried my face in her dress and kept on crying. I could feel the tension in my sister’s body as she begged me to tell her what was wrong. I still couldn’t utter a single word. I didn’t know how this weakness and pain were able to consume me and I couldn’t seem to pull myself out.
I kept on crying until there were no tears left to shed. I didn’t know how long I stood like that when I finally looked up and saw that all my family members had gathered and a few of the elderly wolves and they were all staring at me.
“Are you ready to tell us what happened?” Maria asked again. “I have never seen you like this before Kay. We need to know what’s wrong. Did Asher do something to you?”
I shook my head at her. “Asher would never intentionally harm me, just that she is back.”
“Who is back?” Celia asked, her wide eyes scrutinizing me.
“Em- Emily, she came back”
The entire chamber went dead silent at my confession. Celia and Maria gave each other a muddled look.
“The Emily that we all know was Asher’s dead wife and mate. She can’t possibly be the one you are referring to?” Davies asked
I nodded. ” She is the one and still very much alive. It is a long story but the only important part is that she had returned back to Asher and it meant that our marriage had been nullified since he was still married to her before the supposed death.”
I didn’t have the strength to give a more detailed explanation of the entire situation. It only brought back the memories that I was trying to avoid.
“Did that monster throw you out after his dead mate showed up? Davies growled.
I shook my head immediately. I didn’t want anyone to think badly of Asher. He had already been misjudged so much in the past because of Emily. I didn’t want my family to hate him for the wrong reasons.
“I left on my own will. I just couldn’t stay in the same house with the two of them. It hurts seeing another woman beside him” I answered. Davies’s eyes were on me as I fought hard not to break down again but I couldn’t win against the tears that gathered in my eyes.
“Fuck!” Davies hissed
“What do you want Kayla? Just say it and I swear by the heavens I would have both Asher and that bitch kneel before you and apologize. I just hate to see those gazes of yours in pain.” Marco offered.
“No! No! Please don’t do anything that will cause him pain. Just let him be. I left so he could be happy. I just want to move on with my life from now on.”
Maria held me tightly in her arms. “Do you love him?”
I brought my gaze to hers. I couldn’t lie or hide it from her. She would be able to tell before I even answered her question.
“I love him so much,” I whispered. “I know everyone thinks he is a ruthless monster but he was never like that with me. He cared for me and shielded me from evil. He was always gentle with me. I just want him to be happy, he deserves it.”
“Alright, none of us will interfere in Asher’s life since that’s your wish. But you must let us interfere in yours. We can’t leave you like this. Let us help you heal from this.” Maria said,
I smiled and hugged her tightly. My family was my pillar of support. I needed them more than ever to get through this pain.