This chapter is dedicated to @hamiltonian_mechanic for always being supportive and bearing me all the time. He proofreads most of my chapters these days, you guys (insider info: I blackmail him😂. But no, seriously, he's gr8). Thanks for being the best brother ever, Jay. I don't say this enough, but I love you!

Ashton's POV:-

"C'mon!" I shouted. "What the hell was that?!"

"I'm sorry, Alpha," Mark gritted out. "We're all doing our best!"

"If that is your best, I pity you," I spat. "Keep this up and those Crescent Moons will crush us in an instant."

"Ashton," Bree cautioned.

"You stay the fuck out of this," Xavier snapped at her. She stepped back, her wolf coming forth. She bent her head in respect and we puffed my chest. We faced the trainees again.

"Again! And the time better be less than before or you guys will not have any dinner tonight." I commanded, taking control back from Xavier. They smartly didn't protest, taking off again.

"Bro, you're being too hard on them," Noel frowned, watching the kids go.

"You're my friend, but you're my Gamma first," I sneered. "Don't forget that."

"I'm saying it as your Gamma, Ashton," his frown deepened. "You need to go easier on them."

"I don't remember asking you how to train them." I shot at him and he sighed in resignation.

"Evergreen fucked him up," Hayden muttered under his breath.

"What did you say?" I demanded though I heard him well enough.

"Nothing," he pursed his lips. I did not miss the disapproval in his eyes.

"This is my pack. I'm responsible for it. We're surrounded by enemies waiting for an opportunity to strike."  I narrowed my eyes at them all. "I am not relenting."

"You're killing them," Noel protested.

"They are Werewolves. The blood in their veins makes sure they won't die from running an extra few miles," I scoffed. "In fact, they should run a few extra miles."

"Ashton, you need to let them breathe. You're a fucking tyrant with them!" Bree said.

"Okay, listen here," I glared at her and then at my second and third in commands. "Stop being such wusses. Evergreen has way harder training programs. I went there this summer, remember? I saw them. We are doing nothing in comparison to them. And guess what? The Crescent Moon princess has been there for a few years now. Training. And she's quite popular too."

"Evergreen is the strongest pack, Ash," Hayden shrugged. "They've been so for the last century or so. And as for Cecelia, her mother hails from Evergreen. She also happens to be the only female alpha to exist in the last two centuries. Her going there and being popular isn't that big of a deal."

"And how is Evergreen the strongest, Hayden?" I asked sarcastically, ignoring the comment about the Crescent Moon. She was insignificant. And as for Evergreen, that pack was secretive as hell. Even the summer program for warriors was designed in a way such that the internal matters of the pack never reached any unwanted ears. I hadn't had even so much as a glimpse of the Alpha and his family over my entire stay. "Because I'm pretty sure that it wasn't handed down to them on a gold platter."

"They developed themselves over years, gradually," Hayden argued. "Not overnight, like you seem to expect."

"I do not expect that," I scowled.

"You seem like you do," Bree interrupted. "Ashton, you need to gradually increase their training. They weren't training half as hard two weeks ago."

"Now they are," I said stubbornly. "And so are you, starting this evening."

"What the fuck?" Noel protested.

"We are their leaders. We're supposed to set an example," I paced. "We start tonight at eight. All the way till eleven-thirty. If you want, you're free to go now. Report at eight sharp."

Without another word, they walked away.

I increased my pacing. My mind was a myriad of thoughts. I had a lot to do. My trip to Evergreen had been a huge eye-opener. The training programs there were awe-inspiring. The warriors were in top shape. Their stamina and endurance were borderline scary. Their company was thriving so they had a lot of monetary resources at their disposal.

And here we couldn't do twenty miles without heaving like we were going to die the next second.

It was a shame. Every pack dreams of being ranked in the top ten. It's a great honor. Silver Moon was nowhere near that honor at the moment.

Safe to say, I hated that.

************************

"Mathilda, for the last time," I swore. "Go find someone who returns your affections!"

"C'mon, Ashton. You know you love me," she trailed her nail down my arm and I almost snapped hers.

What kind of stupid hallucinogen did they spike her food with?!

"Get. Off." Xavier snarled. She backed away in alarm.

'Thanks,' I addressed my wolf.

'She needs to be taught a lesson,' he said.

'Dad won't like it. Speaking of, we have a meeting with him.'

'I don't like your father,' he grumbled.

'He's your father too,' I replied in amusement.

'I was sired by his wolf: Leon. So technically, he isn't.'

'Goddess. Whatever.'

I dropped my dishes in the Pack kitchen and reached for the dish soap. I had just put some on the washcloth when I was interrupted.

"Boy, you're going to get me banished from the pack," she said. 

"You're late, May," I grinned. "I've got it."

"I know you do and that's what I have a problem with, Ashton."

"You shouldn't," I washed the dishes.

"If your father finds out . . . "

"He will not," I said firmly. "Have a seat. Would you like some water?"

"No," she sighed. "You're a good, sweet boy. Why is everyone so wary of you?"

"Because I'm the Alpha's rebellious kid," I dried them.

"It's not like you're asking for something wrong." 

"Tell them that."

"If it helps, all us Omegas have your back."

"Thanks, May. It means a lot."

"Chin up boy. You will have the helms someday," she smiled. "We waited so long. We can wait a few more years."

"I know." I smiled back. "But I can't wait."

****************************

"You called me, dad?" I walk into his office at the Pack House.

"Have a seat," he told me without looking up. I did.

"What's up? I have a school to get to," I said when he didn't speak. He looked up with a glare.

"Who made your bed today?" He asked.

"Daisy," I lied easily.

"I'll ask again. Who made your bed today, Ashton?"

"Daisy."

"Lies!" He banged his fist on the table. "You fired her again."

I exhaled. So he found out.

"I did," I put my ankle up on my knee and leaned back. I had a feeling it would take a while.

"Why can't you follow simple orders?!"

"Why can't you understand that they're too inhumane?"

"We're not human. We are Werewolves!"

"We're half-human, dad."

"We are half wolves, too," he growled. His eyes darkened as Leon took control.

"Leon," I nodded. "Xavier says hi."

'No, I don't,' Xavier scowled. I ignored him.

"Why can't you listen, pup?" He hissed.

"Why can't you?" I countered.

"I am your Alpha. You listen to me, that's the law."

"I'm not doing anything illegal," I shrugged.

"You're letting the Omegas off of their job. That's illegal."

"In what century? The nineteenth?" I retorted.

"What I say, goes." He growled.

"Not for me. You can make the entire pack do what you want using your Alpha command but not me." I growled back.

"You-" he was cut off as the office door burst open again.

"Someone told me they saw you coming up here and I came as fast as I could," mom said, closing the door behind her. She saw dad and took a deep breath. "Just in time," she muttered.

"Hey mom," I grinned at her. Dad growled at me and mom gave me a reprimanding look. She knew I was agitating him on purpose.

"Go," she told me in a clipped tone. That was all I needed.

"Have a good day, folks," I walked out.

"Leon, I thought we tal-" the door closed behind me.

****************************

When I came back from school that day, I was summoned back to dad's office. This time, mom was already there.

"What's up?" 

"We're changing your school," dad stated.

"Aiden," mom groaned.

"I don't see why we have to discuss this, Elena," he grumbled.

"Because he's our son. It's his life and he deserves a say," she replied firmly.

"I say we just-" he began.

I coughed deliberately, cutting him off.

"What?" Dad scowled.

"What about changing schools?" I questioned. 

I was being polite. Why? Because mom had spent my entire calculus lecture warning and lecturing me in my head.

Cons of a pack mind-link.

"You need to find your mate," he said.

"So?" 

"So you go to a new school, meet new people. We know for sure she's not in this pack else you would've found her."

"What if she's not of age yet?"

"You would still be able to sense her," mom said. "She's not here."

"Okay," I conceded. "I'll try. Which school?"

They exchanged a wary look.

"St. James High." Mom said. 

"Right," I scoffed. That's the school where most Crescent Moons go to. "Over my dead body."

"Ashton," mom chastised. "Don't say things like that."

"Why that school?" I grimaced. "I'll go anywhere else. There must be some other school that's ready to accept me in the middle of the semester."

"No. I mean, we haven't checked. You must have a Werewolf mate, Ashton. That's one of the largest Werewolf schools in the area." Mom answered.

"Exactly, one of them." I pointed out.

"Ashton." Mom said pointedly.

"C'mon guys." I protested. I hated those filthy Crescent Moons.

"No," dad said. "This is an order."

"I thought you said I deserved a say?" I looked at my mom. She smiled apologetically.

"It's the only way," she said. "Or would you rather take Bree for your mate?"

"This is so unfair," I muttered.

"We're not discussing it. You start coming Monday," dad stated.

"Glad we talked about this," I said sarcastically, getting up.

"Ash-" mom began.

"Bye."

*********************************

A/N:-

Heyy 

Been a while, hun? I hope u missed me, lol. I missed u guys so much! I hope you liked the chapter!! I took my sweet time building the background.

I'm excited to be back. I've been working on a few bonus chapters for this book in secret (not anymore, the cats outta the bag . . . oops😂) and I will be posting them soon. Add this book to your library or follow me so you don't miss any updates.

Until next time, all my love,
xoxo.

(24.8.21)