The Alpha's Bride

Chapter 1062  Alpha Violet and Alpha Ashton (3)

Violet and Ashton didn't stay the night in the Midnight Guardians pack.

Due to the time difference between the realms, staying a few extra hours or days wouldn't make a big difference for the world that existed beyond the portal, but Violet didn't want to linger longer than necessary and give more chances for Valeria to step on her toes.

The last thing Violet wanted was for Valeria to get crazy ideas of revenge or maybe to approach Ashton carelessly. It's not that it would work, but Violet would need to punish her cousin, and Violet hoped it wouldn't come to it.

Will Valeria accept her role and they could coexist peacefully? Violet was unsure. But she knew that she was not the one who could talk sense into Valeria. In this situation, Violet was the one at the top, the one with a happy ending, and Valeria needed to hear the truth from someone else.

Violet left words of warning to Axel and Edgar, who seemed to be the most reasonable there out of the Moonrider family. She told them that unless Valeria learns to act according to her position and accepts Violet as her future Alpha, Valeria should be prepared to leave the pack.

"Val accepts you as her Alpha," Edgar said with desperation etched on his face. If Valeria leaves (or was banished) it would tear their family apart, and the pack will suffer.

"Does she?" Violet asked as her eyes moved from Edgar to Axel. "I know that for Val, I am her cousin. Her YOUNGER cousin. That worked when we were kids, but now it won't pass. She needs to see beyond family bonds because I won't allow such relationships to be a security risk for me, my family, or my pack. Is that clear?"

It was harsh, but Violet didn't see a different way out. If Valeria didn't accept her as the Alpha, there would be a risk of some people following Valeria and causing a rift within the pack; the last thing Violet wanted was to punish her pack members because they sided with Valeria, who was plagued with jealousy.

Sure, members of the Midnight Guardians pack worshiped Talia and Violet, but Valeria was a Moonrider who rarely left the pack, and it was normal that people respected her also. Damon told Violet that the biggest betrayals come from within, from the people she trusts, and Violet didn't want to risk it.

At the Dark Howlers pack, Talia welcomed Violet and Ashton with a big hug, but the rest of the Blake family was more reserved.

Violet's brothers were protective of her, and they saw Ashton as someone who came to take away their sister. Even Jacob, who was usually friendly with Ashton, was giving him the stink-eye. Damon was filled with a different level of hostility, one that was bloodthirsty and tangible, and Ashton was confident that if Talia was not there, Damon would explode into violence.

"Are you staying this time?" Talia asked.

Violet glanced at Ashton. "We didn't discuss logistics, but we would like to visit Alpha Cristian and Luna Michelle." They would probably go there first, but the portal connected them directly to the Dark Howlers pack, and it would be rude if they skipped greeting Damon and Talia, as they knew that Violet was there already.

Talia was hoping they would stay. She was used to Violet always being home. It was hard to think about Violet as a mated woman.

Talia suspected that Violet and Ashton would want to live in the packhouse of the Spring Leaf pack. It was smaller than the home Damon and Talia shared with their children, but Ashton was a single child, and with him gone, Alpha Cristian's packhouse would be left empty.

There were so many things to consider, and they were still adjusting to their bond. Talia didn't want to add to it, but she needed to mention…

"As you go to the Spring Leaf pack, avoid the Blue River pack's territory. It would be best if your uncle Max and aunt Tanya don't know you are back."

"Why?" Violet asked, genuinely worried. She didn't think about driving anyway. With portals, they can be at the Spring Leaf within a minute, and they didn't need to get close to the Blue River pack, but still… They were always friendly with open borders.

Jacob cleared his throat. "Uncle Max is angry that you destroyed his vacation house."

Violet's eyes widened when she realized what Jacob was talking about. She glanced at Ashton, who was grinning shamelessly.

Violet nudged him with her shoulder, and she asked through their mind link, 'How can you be so nonchalant about this?'

Ashton's grin widened. 'What we did was a result of our love. I didn't hear you complaining when I took you…'

'WE CAN HEAR YOU!' Talia's words made both Violet and Ashton freeze.

"You can?" Violet asked, using her voice.

Talia shook her head helplessly and stood in front of Damon, whose eyes were bloodshot, and his murderous intent was directed at Ashton.

"Your mind link might be out of reach for regular pack members, but when you are close to us, please… watch your language," Talia warned them while wrapping her arms around Damon. "Will you be here in time for dinner? We can plan a little party for you. Our people miss you and want to congratulate you on finding your mate."

"Miss me? We were away for only a few days," Violet said. It was that long in this realm.

"That's true, but everyone knows you met your mate during the pack run, and they are curious. If not today, then tomorrow or the day after?"

Violet turned to look at Ashton, silently asking him to decide.

Ashton couldn't say no to Talia, even if he wanted to. "We will have lunch with my parents and catch up in the evening. We can return tomorrow. That should give you enough time to prepare dinner. How does that sound?"

Talia clapped excitedly. "Sounds wonderful." She loved hosting parties. Their friends would gather and come with the kids. It was lively. "Invite your parents over for dinner also. It will be nice to catch up with Michelle and Cristian." She glanced at Damon. "Technically, they are our in-laws."

Damon was not so excited, but he didn't want to spoil this for Talia or for Violet.

This would be the first time for Violet and Ashton to appear at their event as a mated couple, and Talia wondered how that would turn out. She knew that Ashton never really fit in because he was noticeably older than all the other youngsters. Violet also stood out because everyone knew she was destined to lead not just two packs but also a coalition of packs. It was a lot of responsibility, but it was not a secret that Violet was the most powerful Alpha of their generation and that her abilities were still growing.

Due to her power, Violet was the only one who could keep other Alphas in check and watch over packs to prevent senseless killing over land and resources that their kind endured in the past.

Now that Violet and Ashton were mated, three packs would be under the absolute rule of one Alpha couple. The Dark Howlers pack was the largest pack in North America based on their territory and the number of pack members. The Midnight Guardians pack was the most powerful one, thanks to the abilities their pack members had and their close connection to witches. The Spring Leaf pack held its ground with profound tactics in strategizing and negotiating. With those three packs combined, no one could predict what the future would bring, but it would be inevitable for other packs to grow restless while contemplating their choices between submission and retaliation - there was no third option.