Rejected and Regretted (Ashen Wolves #1)

33

I didn’t know what had gotten into me. Avril had made it crystal clear that she didn’t want me. Even though Columbus insisted he could sense her heart felt otherwise, I couldn’t bring myself to keep pursuing her against her will. I had brought her here solely to keep an eye on her and ensure she wouldn’t be in danger alone at Whispering Hills.

However, the moment I saw her in the dress I had gotten for her, my judgment grew hazy. It was already hard enough to resist the pull I never stopped feeling toward her; I craved her with every fiber of my body and spirit, both human and wolf. As we danced at the center of the floor, surrounded by other leaders, I dove headfirst into a beautiful fantasy.

I pictured Avril as my Luna, carrying the title that was meant for her all along. I could see us ruling side by side, achieving the peace I had always dreamt of. I fantasized about the night I would claim her and how magnificent she would look with my mark adorning her neck. We would attend many more events together, but I knew that every time we had a chance to dance, like we were doing now, it would feel just like the first time.

I could get used to this. I would fight for this to become real.

Yet, I didn’t expect my first battle to be against my right-hand man.

When Gregor challenged me in the middle of the event, all I could think about was protecting Avril. I didn’t think twice before letting my wolf out. Col immediately jumped at our beta, desperate not to let him get too close to our former mate, and the two beasts collided mid-air.

Columbus clamped his powerful jaws around Gregor's neck, applying just enough pressure to secure his hold. I couldn't fathom why our beta was acting this way, but I was determined not to harm him unless absolutely necessary. If there was any chance to resolve this peacefully, I would seize it. With a swift, forceful jerk of his head, my wolf hurled the other beast several feet back, sending him sprawling across the floor.

A pinch of relief settled in once Col succeeded in distancing the threat from Avril, and I finally noticed the tension surrounding us. The guests had backed away from the dance floor, now turned into a battlefield. Rotating his ears, my counterpart caught the shocked exclamations surging through the open space. From the corner of his eye, he identified the horror in their expressions. Stealing a quick glance at the woman still standing behind us, he verified that she was indeed unharmed, though her wide eyes conveyed alertness.

“Even now she steals your focus,” my beta’s voice echoed inside my head, pulling Columbus’ attention back to him. I could barely recognize the gray beast whose yellow eyes burned with rage. It seemed hatred had devoured his last bit of compassion.

“Of course!” I argued, gritting my teeth as I, too, allowed some of my anger to be voiced. “Avril is our guest, and you-”

“Cut the crap!” he interrupted me without hesitation - something he had never done before. “You don’t just see her as a guest - you want her. While you were dancing with her, for everyone else to see, you were probably thinking of making her your Luna, weren’t you?”

Col’s defensive stance faltered for an instant as we were both taken aback by my beta’s observation. Even if our friendship had been rocky for a while now, it was obvious he could read me better than anyone else.

Gregor scoffed at my reaction. “I knew it.” A rumble rocked in his chest, growing into a ferocious growl. “She’s a liability. I’ll show you how weak she’s made you by defeating you here and taking your place before you lead Whispering Hills to its downfall.”

I had no time to counter. Without warning, Reed, my beta’s wolf, launched himself at Col, jaws open, ready to snap. Attentive, Col managed to dodge him, but just barely. Reed only missed us by a few inches. When he came at us again, my wolf promptly ducked, causing the opponent to fly over us.

The tension in the room was palpable, every pair of eyes fixated on us. I could feel the weight of their expectations, their fear. I couldn’t let this go on any longer.

Once there was enough distance between us, Columbus stepped forward, raising his head, and I sought to reason with my friend again. “Stand down, Beta!” My wolf roared, emphasizing our authority. “This is not the place or time for this.”

Reed shook his head, pulling himself back up. “You’re right. I should’ve done something about this sooner!” Gregor barked back, bolting toward me again.

This time, Columbus met him head-on, our bodies colliding with a force that shook the floor. The impact sent a wave of gasps through the crowd, but I had no time to focus on them. Gregor was relentless, his attacks fueled by a fury I had never seen in him before. Each strike aimed not just to subdue, but to kill. It was then that I realized.

Gregor was beyond reason, blinded by his rage and misguided sense of duty.

Destabilized by the harsh realization, I failed to evade Gregor’s next attack. With a precise strike, Reed sunk his teeth on Columbus’ side, not holding back one bit. A choked breath was ripped from my wolf as our former friend showed us the true strength of a second-in-command. The deeper his fangs reached into my flesh, the harder it became to breathe.

Black dots compromised my vision, an effect of the excruciating pain. Just then, the sound of Avril calling out my name reverberated in Col’s ears, sending a rush of adrenaline into our veins before I could pass out. My eyes searched for her, the worry on her face hitting me harder than Gregor’s blow.

It was then that I realized another fundamental truth - Gregor wouldn’t stop after defeating me. He would go for Avril right after.

That I couldn’t allow.

At once, my hesitance melted away, replaced by a cold resolve. If Gregor was set on this path, there was no turning back.

With a powerful roar, Columbus pushed through the pain, landing a single, mighty kick on Reed’s chest. It was strong enough to push the large beast off of us, his teeth tearing our skin further before he finally let go. I barely noticed the way my blood covered the dance floor as I repositioned myself, completely focused on what I had to do.

Vigorous, Reed bolted toward Col again. My wolf dodged a swipe aimed at his throat and countered with a powerful blow to our friend-turned-enemy’s side, sending him crashing into a table. The wood splintered under his weight, but he was on his feet again in an instant, eyes blazing with murderous intent.

Amidst the crowd, I found Avril, who stood frozen in fear. I was reminded that her safety depended on me ending this quickly. When Reed charged again, Col met him with full force. The two beasts clashed in a blur of fur and claws, roars echoing through the rooftop and into the night. Each moment felt like an eternity as we grappled, the world around us fading into insignificance.

Theoretically, as the alpha, I was stronger than Gregor. However, in reality, we were practically equals in that department. We trained together every day; he had to be able to overpower me just as I did him. He knew how I fought, my weaknesses and strengths.

But I had a dire motivation, something he lacked - someone to protect.

Finally, I saw an opening. With a surge of strength, I broke free of his grasp and delivered a powerful strike to his stomach. Reed staggered, struggling to find the air that had just left his lungs, and my wolf didn't hesitate. Col leaped forward, his jaws closing around Reed’s neck with a final, decisive bite. My beta struggled for what seemed like hours, then went limp.

Col released him and stepped back, our breath coming in heavy pants. Through our bloody vision, I watched the life fade from Reed’s eyes as the beast slowly shifted back into his human form one last time. Gregor’s mauled body lay still on the floor as I let it sink in that I had done that. I had killed my beta. That man had once been my best friend.

“He was too far gone, Koen,” Col reminded me, though I could sense a hint of pity emanating from him, too, as the rage of the battle started to dissipate. “He was too far gone, and he was a threat to her.”

Nodding at him, I tore my gaze away from the body, letting his words sink in. Silence reigned around me, before Avril’s voice put an end to it.

“Koen!” she called out, rushing over to Col. Her hands cradled his face, and he closed his eyes in enjoyment. That was the best prize either of us could have won. “Koen, you’re bleeding,” she whispered, one of her hands moving to the wound on our side. Col whimpered as she touched it.

Before anyone else could notice it, my wolf pulled away. I remembered where we were - I couldn’t show weakness here. Asking my counterpart back for control, I returned to my human form, and it took all of my strength to stand on two feet. I was covered in so much blood, I hoped no one could see the severity of my wound.

As soon as I was up, an omega promptly came forward to offer me a robe. I had barely finished covering myself when an Elder came forth, head high, seriousness in his eyes. One of the highest authorities within the werewolf society, at least one Elder was required to supervise each alpha meeting, to ensure it wouldn’t go off the tracks.

It was evident he wasn’t pleased with the bloodshed I had participated in.

“Alpha Koen,” the Elder addressed me, briefly turning his head to the fallen Gregor. “You have slain your own beta in the middle of the after party.”

“Gregor attacked him first! He just defended himself!” Avril argued, a mix of confusion and anger in her voice.

“So did the witnesses say,” the man casually offered, his eyes focusing on me again. “What was the reason behind your beta’s attack, Alpha Koen?”

“To be quite honest, I have yet to figure that out myself,” I replied.

My legs grew weaker by the second, making it harder to stay standing. I couldn’t afford to fall to my knees here, in front of dozens of other alphas. I was already without a beta; if I didn’t get out of here soon, my safety could be in jeopardy.

“Elder Roman, I would be more than eager to testify about the events of tonight…” I began, pausing briefly before continuing, “Tomorrow. If you would allow me a moment to rest and process what has happened… It has been quite a long night for me.”

The man narrowed his eyes before ultimately giving me a curt nod. “Of course, Alpha Koen. Rest well. I’ll see you first thing in the morning to prepare the reports on Beta Gregor’s execution.”

Once he excused me, I grabbed a bewildered Avril’s hand and led her out of the party. We rode the elevator in silence, but I could feel her gaze on me the entire time. I knew she suspected that I wasn’t feeling well, but she didn’t have enough proof to make insinuations.

You’ve got this, Koen, I encouraged myself every time the pain and blood loss made my mind hazy. You’re almost in your room. Just make it to your room.

Walking in a straight line down the hallway toward my door proved to be a challenging task, especially while trying to keep a straight face. After telling Avril that I was fine, and barely convincing her, she was ready to head into her room when my legs finally gave out.

“Koen!” I heard her yell as my vision turned black, and I stumbled onto the floor.