Chapter 11

Emma's POV

Ashton's conversation with my dad was a short one. My dad was eager to come and see me and he just wanted to get the formalities out of the way. Ashton didn't hesitate in the slightest giving my pack permission to cross his pack lines, but told my dad that there was a lot we would have to talk about when he arrived.

Ashton gave me a small smile when he hung up the phone and I returned it. I felt so much better after talking to my dad and letting him know that I was okay. "Rick, did you want to call your pack?" I asked him. "You're probably dying to get back to them."

I would be sad to see him leave, but he was my best friend, we'd find times to hang out together. I wasn't worried about him forgetting me, we were too close for that.

Rick nodded, smiling back at me. "I'll call them and let them know that I'm alright, but I'm going to stick with you until this is all taken care of." He stood from the couch and came over to the desk, placing a hand on the shoulder that Ashton hadn't already claimed. "Besides, I want to meet all the wonderful people you've told me about."

Ashton gripped my hand and pulled me gently from the chair behind his desk. "While you contact your pack, I want to talk to Emma," Ashton told Rick.

I watched as Rick froze in the middle of dialing the number for his pack. "Can you wait a moment?" he asked Ashton.

Ashton shook his head. "No, there are things that we need to discuss and I need to get her settled into a room as well," Ashton told him. I was thankful for the room part. I was getting tired already and it was barely noon.

I was shocked when Rick placed the phone back in the cradle. "Then my pack can wait." He waved his hand, gesturing for Ashton to lead the way from the room.

I felt Ashton tense beside me. "I would like to talk to her alone," he responded, a dangerous undercurrent in his voice.

A hard mask fell over Rick's face. "I'm not leaving you with her alone," he stated.

I knew it was time for me to step in when I felt Ashton step forward. "Rick, call your pack," I told him, telling him with my eyes not to start anything. I didn't want my mate and closest friend fighting. "I'll be fine, I promise."

He glowered at Ashton over my head. "If you try to mark her again, I will kill you myself or die trying," he warned in a growl.

I heard Ashton growl behind me and I tightened my grip on his hand in warning. "I'm not going to force myself on her," he answered angrily, squeezing my hand lightly back, reassuring me that he wasn't going to lose his temper and let his wolf take control, even if his voice sounded like he was.

"You've already tried once," Rick replied, just as angry as Ashton.

I heard Ashton sigh behind me and I wanted to comfort him. "It won't happen again," he assured Rick and me both. "I lost control of my wolf for a moment in the excitement of finding her."

Rick gave Ashton a hard look but slowly picked up the phone again. Knowing that the argument was over, Ashton gave me a comforting smile and led me out of his office and up one more flight of stairs.

Stopping at the second door on his right, he said, "This is my room. Do you mind if we talk in here?"

I shook my head. I believed him when he told me that he wouldn't try to mark me again without my permission. I wasn't worried about being alone with him anymore.

He gave me a gentle smile and opened the door, gesturing for me to enter first. His room was surprisingly neat. I remember that Will's room was always a pig sty, clothes and trash all over the place, but Ashton's room was neat and organized with a centralized wood theme. He had a king size bed with a log frame and another desk made of oak. There were two doors inside the room, probably leading to a closet and a bathroom. It was masculine, yet comfortable at the same time. It also smelled strongly of him, making Mel purr in contentment inside my head.

We sat on the bed, facing each other, and we just stared at one another, neither of us knowing how to start the conversation. Well, I wasn't sure which conversation he wanted to have.

"We're mates," he began slowly and I nodded at him in encouragement. "I know that you've been away from your pack and that you want to see them," he added and I nodded again, a small smile on my lips, "but as my mate, you're supposed to join my pack and stay here with me."

I knew everything that he said. I wasn't going to fight any of it, either. I knew that with him being my mate I would have to stay here and I knew that I would have to leave my old pack. "I know that, Ashton," I told him quietly. "However, I would like to be able to visit my pack first." I looked down at my hands, fearing he would say no. Most alphas don't like to leave their territories if they don't have to and their mates aren't usually allowed to leave without them. I would fight for this if he said no, though. I had a right to see my pack before I joined his.

I felt his finger under my chin as he pulled my face up so that he could see my eyes. "I would never tell you that you couldn't go see them," he told me. "When your dad arrives tonight, I was going to suggest that he stay the night and then we could all travel back to your pack in the morning and stay for a few days or so."

I grinned, leaping forward to hug him, so happy that he understood my desire to see my home again. "Thank you so much!" I squealed.

He laughed, hugging me tightly enough to make me feel completely safe but being careful not to squeeze too hard and aggravate my stitches. "I would do anything for you, love," he whispered in my ear. "I've waited so long to find you."

I smiled against his shoulder where my face was pressed. He maneuvered me carefully so that I was snuggled in his lap, his arms wrapped around me and my head tucked against his chest. It was a very comforting position that made both me and Mel release a sigh of contentment and I heard an answering rumble from Ashton.

"I'm sorry about earlier," Ashton told me, his voice soft with shame. "I didn't mean to let Axel take over and try to mark you."

"It's okay," I told him. I understood what had happened and I didn't hold it against him. "I know how it usually is with mates. If the past two years hadn't have happened, I wouldn't have fought against it."

I felt his chest vibrate with the growl that erupted from him at the mention of my past. "You'll never be treated that way again, Emma," he promised me fervently. "I'll take care of you."

Warmth blossomed inside of me. I'm a strong and confident she-wolf, but it's always nice to hear someone, especially your mate, promise to protect you.

"Will you tell me about it?" he asked me, whispering as if it would make the question easier on me.

I shook my head against his chest. "I'm not ready yet," I told him sadly. "I promise that I will tell you eventually, but I'm going to need more than a day to come to terms with the fact that it's really over."

I felt his lips against the top of my head. He kept them there for a moment before saying, "I'm here when you're ready to talk."

I smiled and tilted my head up to kiss the bottom of his jaw. It was the only part of him I could reach. "Thank you, Ash," I told him, nestling my head back into his chest.

I would talk to him when I was ready. I would need someone to talk to about it before I could ever truly get over what had happened in that jail cell, but as of right now, I knew I wouldn't be able to get out the words. Not until I felt as safe as possible.

We stayed in that position in silence. We'd talked through what needed to be talked about and now we just wanted to enjoy each other's company and revel in the fact that we had finally found one another. After a little while, I felt my eyelids growing heavy and I snuggled closer to Ashton, trying to get as close to him as possible, before slowly falling off into sleep.
•
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Suddenly, I was thrown back into that dark, cold cell in Max's basement. There was the smallest beam of sunlight trailing through the bars of the window, barely enough to see by. The sun was rising and I knew that meant that the two guards would be down soon.

A tremor ran through me as I sat on the cold cement floor, Rick's hand holding mine tightly. We both knew what was coming and we both knew there was nothing we could do to stop it.

Rick looked at me, his eyes full of sympathy. He didn't bother trying to comfort me with words; there were no words that could bring comfort. His presence was the only thing he could give me and he did it every time.

The door at the top of the stairs banged open, causing me to jump and whimper while Rick gripped my hand tighter. I heard the men's laughter as they tromped down the stairs. It was full of malice and sinister excitement.

If only I could contact Mel. I had never realized how much strength she gave me until she was taken away.

I waited, terrified, as we listened to their boots clomp down the fourteen stairs to the basement. They came around the corner and their evil, black eyes clamped on to me, scanning my naked body with twisted eagerness, malicious grins adorning their faces.

In their hands they carried knives and a silver whip. I cowered in fear as the leered at me, the taller one hurriedly unlocking the door, eager to get started with this morning's torture. "How are you today, lovely?" he rasped.

"Are you ready to play?" the second one asked, his voice clearly portraying his intent.

I cowered away from them. I knew it wouldn't help, but it was instinctual now to try to get away from them. I hated myself for doing it, knowing that it only made them more excited.

I felt Rick squeeze my hand in comfort before I was ripped away from him by my hair and thrown to the floor. The tall one laughed when I cried out in pain and the short one fell on me, quickly pinning me down so that I couldn't move.

I thrashed, but there was nothing I could do to get him off me. I was too weak.

The tall once came forward, twirling a pure silver knife in his gloved hands, smirking at me malevolently. I shook my head, tears escaping my eyes no matter how hard I tried to keep them back. "No," I whispered pleadingly. "Please don't." I knew it was no use but I had to try anyway. I knew how badly that knife hurt and I knew how long the injuries took to heal.

He laughed in my face, striking like lighting and slicing through the skin on the inside of my arm. I tried to stay strong and not make a sound. I didn't want them to know how much it hurt, but a whimper escaped me anyway.

"Now, I think we can do better than that, can't we?" the short one mocked, leaning down and trailing wet kisses down my neck.

I shook my head, weakly pleading for them to stop. It didn't work, but then again, it never did.

I watched the knife come towards me again, looking into Rick's pained eyes at the last second, seeking any kind of comfort I could find. He was pressed against the bars between our cells, gripping them tightly like he was trying to get to me. Tears streamed from my eyes and I screamed as the knife dug deeply into my stomach.

~~~*~~~Author's Note~~~*~~~

So, that was a little dark O.o Sorry if it was too much for you. I don't foresee many of those flashbacks, but there may be a few more before the book ends.

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter today. Let me know your thoughts on it :)

Claribelle tomorrow for those of you anxiously waiting ;)

~Haley~