CHAPTER 64
The packhouse was quiet when Asher returned that evening. I had been nursing my sore muscles, sprawled across my bed, wishing the day had ended without another challenge. But Asher had other plans.
“Trinity.” He said, leaning against the doorframe with that infuriating grin. “Get dressed.”
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Get dressed.” He repeated. “Not in your usual training clothes. Something… a lot more fitting for tonight.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Fitting for what?”
“You’ll see.” He pushed the door open, stepping inside with a confidence I couldn’t quite match. “Trust me. You won’t regret it.”
I wanted to argue, wanted to tell him that after a full day of training, I didn’t care about ‘fitting‘ for anything. But something in his eyes–soft, excited, proud–made me stop.
“Fine.” I said reluctantly. “But if this is a trick, I swear-‘
“It’s not a trick.” He promised, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “Just… trust me.”
I sighed, shoving my sore body off the bed. “Fine. But only because I can barely move anyway.”
Asher grinned and handed me a small package. I unwrapped it, finding a dress inside a deep emerald green that would bring out the color of my eyes. My mouth fell open.
“This… is…” I trailed off.
“Perfect for tonight.” He said simply. “Now go. I’ll wait here.”
I changed quickly, trying to ignore the strange flutter in my chest. When I stepped out, he was grinning, eyes lighting up like the sun itself.
“Wow.” He said softly. “You look… incredible.”
I felt heat rise to my cheeks. “You’re ridiculous.” I muttered. “But thanks.”
He held out his hand. “Shall we?”
I took it, and he led me through the packhouse, past familiar halls, until we stepped into the gardens.
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The scene made me stop in my tracks. The soft glow of hundreds of candles lit the paths, reflecting off the flowers and casting shadows across the walls. A small table for two was set near the fountain, complete with a crisp white tablecloth, fine dishes, and flickering
lanterns.
“I-” I started, words failing me.
“Surprise.” He said, a small laugh escaping. “You deserved a night off. Just… you and me. No training, no threats, no shadows in the forest. Just us.”
I felt my chest tighten. I hadn’t expected this. After everything–after the exhaustion, the constant push of training–he had gone to all this trouble just for me.
“It’s beautiful.” I said finally, my voice soft.
“I’m glad you think so.” He gestured toward the table. “Shall we sit?”
I nodded as he pulled out my chair. Sitting, I felt peaceful–soft light, the scent of flowers, and the gentle fountain. Almost surreal.
We shared wine, laughing over small things and telling stories from before the packhouse. Asher’s charm made me forget pain, exhaustion, and my parents‘ tension.
“Remember that time you tried to teach me how to hunt?” I said between bites.
He groaned dramatically. “Don’t remind me. I almost lost my lunch that day.”
“I still can’t believe you missed that deer.” I said, laughing.
“Hey, I was distracted.” He smirked. “You were… very convincing. And I was already smitten with you because I knew you were my mate. You could have done anything to distract me that day.”
I rolled my eyes but laughed anyway. The sound felt good, light, and unburdened.
We talked about everything and nothing–future plans, small jokes, old memories, the kind of conversation that made the world shrink to us. We had such a massive past that I don’t think either of us realized how much we were involved in each other’s lives. He was just the older brother of my best friends back then. That’s all I ever saw him as.
Just as I was starting to relax completely, a shadow fell across the garden.
I froze, my instincts screaming. Asher’s hand tightened on mine as they rested on the table.
A woman stepped into the candlelight, her presence sharp and deliberate. She was tall, with dark hair and eyes that gleamed with something I couldn’t quite place–malice, maybe, or
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ambition. She smiled at us, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Asher.” She said, her voice smooth and controlled, “I didn’t expect to find you here.”
$25 Points
Asher’s grip on my hand didn’t loosen. “And I didn’t expect to see you.” He said evenly, his jaw tightening.
I tensed, glancing at him. “Who is she?”
“She’s… a problem.” He said softly, just loud enough for me to hear. “Stay close.”
The woman’s eyes flicked to me, and I felt a sudden, unwelcome heat of scrutiny. “And this must be… Trinity.” She said, her smile sharp now. “Asher’s mate. How… quaint.”
I bristled. “What do you want?”
“Oh, nothing personal.” she said smoothly. “Just… a reminder of old connections. People I cared about when I was… closer to Asher.”
“I don’t think you care about anything except causing trouble.” Asher said, his tone dark now, the playful grin gone.
She laughed lightly. “Oh, Asher. Always the protector. That’s why I liked you.” Her gaze swept over the table, the candles, the flowers, and me. “And yet… I see you’ve found someone else.
Someone new.”
I felt a flicker of anger, of fear, of confusion all at once. Something about her made skin
my crawl. She wasn’t here by accident. She was here to challenge us–challenge our bond.
Asher stood, stepping in front of me. “We’re done here. Go home.”
“Not so fast.” She said. “I didn’t come to fight. Not yet. I came to… remind you.” She turned to me, eyes sharp. “Do you really think you understand what being a mate means? That your connection is unbreakable?”
I narrowed my eyes, anger rising despite my nerves. “We’re mates. That’s not up for debate.”
Asher’s hand found mine again, gripping tight. “Don’t let her words get to you.” He said softly. “She’s trying to shake you, but it won’t work. Not with us.”
The woman smiled, a flash of something cruel in her eyes. “We’ll see about that. Time will tell, Asher. Time will tell.”
She turned and disappeared as suddenly as she appeared, leaving a ripple of unease behind. The candles flickered in the breeze, and for a moment, the garden felt colder, the shadows longer.
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I exhaled shakily. “Who… was that?”
“Asher?” I asked, voice low. “She… she wasn’t friendly.”
+25 Points
He nodded, his eyes softening as he stepped closer to me. “No. She’s someone I met when I left the pack. It feels like a long time ago. She’s… dangerous if she thinks she can interfere
with us.”
I swallowed, feeling a mix of fear and defiance. “I don’t like her.”
“I know.” He said, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “But she can’t touch us. Not as long as we’re together.”
I leaned into him, still shaken but comforted by his presence. “I don’t want anyone coming
between us.”
“They won’t.” He said firmly. “I won’t let them. Not ever.”
“Asher. You left because I said that I wasn’t going to accept you. That’s the only time you left the pack. Did something happen with her that I need to know?” I asked.
“No. Nothing happened with Amy. Not for a lack of trying on her part. I promise.” He said.
“Okay. I believe you.” I said.
We sat back down, the tension lingering but slowly fading as we returned to our meal. I could still feel the echo of the woman’s gaze, but I refused to let it ruin the night. We laughed again, shared stories, and for a little while, the world narrowed to just the two of us, under the soft glow of candlelight.
“I’m glad you did this.” I said softly. “Even with… her.”
He smiled, resting his hand over mine. “This is our night. Don’t let anyone take it away from
us.”
I nodded, feeling the warmth return–not just from the candles, but from him. The forest, the training, the weight of the day… it all faded a little when he was near.
And despite the warning, despite the shadow of someone from his past trying to unsettle us, I realized something important: no one could touch what we had. Not my parents, not the woman from his past, not even the world itself if we stayed united.
For the first time in a long time, I felt safe. Not because the danger was gone, but because I wasn’t facing it alone.
Asher leaned closer, brushing his lips against my temple. “We’ll handle whatever comes.” He
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whispered. “Together.”
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I rested my head against his shoulder, letting myself relax for the first time in days. “Together. “I echoed.
And as the night stretched on, with the candles flickering and the garden alive with soft sounds, I understood something clear and unshakable: mates weren’t just about connection. They were about trust, protection, and strength.
And we had all of that.
No one–no one–would come between us without a fight.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
SUMMARY (~1000 Words in English)
