Chapter 5 ARTHUR: EXPOSED

I chug down the last bottle of alcohol.

Hoping I can get myself drunk, but it's impossible, dominant Alpha's like me can never be affected by such little things.

And so I trash the bottle in a nearby waste bin.

I'm still sober, sober enough to know that this is the hallway leading to my father's room, the room he's sharing with my mate.

The thought of another man's hand on my mate alone drives me crazy, I'm ready to rip their neck out but then, It's my father, Can I really kill my father?

I stand in front of my father's bedroom door. It's midnight already, they must have done it, they must have had sex.

My chest constricts as images of Ashly and my father sleeping on the same bed flash through my mind.

My jaw clenches as my fingers ball into a fist. I should have ended it all yesterday, I shouldn't have felt pity for those ocean blue eyes, and I should have claimed her as my mate, but I just had to give in to those eyes.

However, I can't anymore, the pictures in my mind with Ashly and my father is becoming more glaring as the urge to burst the door open heightens.

But just then the door opens revealing the the woman that has been on my mind the whole day.

Her face is flushed and her eyes are widened, most likely shocked on seeing me here.

My heart flutters as I meet the pair of ocean blue eyes, my clenched fingers suddenly loosen until the scent hits me and I notice her disheveled looks.

My jaw clenches at the scent of her fragrance being missed up with one so disgusting that it makes my stomach sick, her hair is almost a mess and it looks like she's unable to stand on her own.

"What did he do to you?" I almost growled as my gaze went down on her.

Her whole neck is bruised, her wrist seems like she had it pressed for too long, and I don't fail to notice how she tries to cover her body with the robe she's wearing, her gaze avoiding mine.

"We can't be seen together" She whispers as she locks the door behind her and tries to walk past me, but I move fast as I grab on to her arm and pull her to follow me. Not listening to her whispers to let her go.

I don't stop pulling her until I reach my old room. The room that was mine before my parents got divorced. My thoughts are clouded, my heart beating against my chest I shut my room door and push her against the door, caging her between my arms.

"Arthur-" She tries to speak but I'm too angry to give her a listening ear, I need to find out why she's doing this? Why she chose to get married to my father, why she chose him over me, her destined mate.

"Why Ashly, why are you doing all these, do you want fame and money so bad?" I seethed, clenching my fists on either side of her as I fight the urge to punch the door behind her.

I can feel her beginning to fidget, her gaze falling to the floor.

A pang of guilt hits my heart, the same sensation as yesterday, the same reason I couldn't tell the truth yesterday.

"Tell me Ashly" I almost growl.

But instead of responding she begins to shed tears as she mutters "I'm sorry" Her voice soft and tiny causing my heart to break further.

I take a deep breath trying to calm myself down, trying not to scare her more. But the scent still lingering around her isn't allowing me to think straight, she reeks of another man's scent and I hate that.

"I didn't have a choice" She begins, my eyes immediately meeting hers. Her eyes alone are enough to tell me she's not lying.

Tears trickle down her rosy cheeks as she lifts her gaze and looks into my eyes.

"This is the only way I can be of help to my family" She continues and suddenly my rage begins to subside, my heart aching for her as she breaks down before me.

Her cry getting louder revealing the amount of bitterness she has within her.

"I don't want this, I don't want to reject you but this is the only way Arthur" She cries, her palms trying to rub off her tears but more keeps slipping out.

I want to reach out to her and take her into my arms, shield her from getting hurt, make her forget her pain, but the minute I take a step closer to her she moves away, creating a distance between us.

"We can't be together, your father-"

Then she stops as if she just realized what she's about to say and then she begins to shake her head.

"No" She utters, continuously shaking her head and my brows furrow.

"What is it Ashly? What did my father do?"

My questions seem to add more fuel as Ashly begins to panic, her breathing faster and this time I don't let her move away from me, I pull her close locking her in a hug, even with her struggle to let her go, I don't bulge.

"We can't be together" She repeats, her words slicing through my heart, but still I hold her tight, letting my pheromones out, to comfort her.

"He suspects there's something between us and he thinks I tried to seduce you at the hospital and-" She halts again, but this time her breathing is beginning to stabilize as she begins to relax in my arms.

"It's okay, I'm here" I whisper, stroking her hair to calm her down but she continues.

"It can't be okay Arthur, he said if I ever try to be with someone else he would- he" She begins to stammer and I bring pull away from hugging her as I make her to meet my gaze.

"He will never hurt you, I promise you" I try to reassure her. I know my father, he's not a saint, I've witnessed him do awful things to people who tried stealing from him, I know my father hates people stealing from him and cheating him, most especially the things he loves, he never lets thieves or cheaters slide, not even if the culprit is me, his own son.

But I won't let him hurt my mate, I don't care if I'm disowned or denounced from taking over the Alpha title of this pack. I will pick my mate over him.

Her eyes are locked to mine. A stare that seems like she's beginning to place her hope on me and so I propose,

"Leave Lotus pack with me tomorrow"

Ashly goes rigid, and then abruptly gets to her feet and begins to make her way to the door but the words leave my mouth without further thoughts.

"I love you Ashly"

It all comes to a stop, the time seem to slow down as Ashly halts, my heart beating against my chest as her back faces me.

"I fell in love with you immediately I discovered your scent, immediately my wolf called out to you as our mate" I confessed. Now on my feet, I take a few steps towards her and halt as I come face to face with her.

"You don't love me, I don't deserve to be loved, I'm just a useless omega" She mumbles, her voice now cracked with tears flowed down her cheeks.

"I don't see you as a useless omega Ashly and I do love you and I'm confessing to you because I want to be with you" I say under my breath.

"But-"

I stop her before she continues.

"No matter what you say, I won't give up, I will keep on pursuing after you until you feel safe with me, until you decide to be with me" I continue.

"Arthur" She whispers, her lips forming a pout and I can't help but smile at her pretty face.

However, my smile drops at the sound of the familiar voice while Ashly's eyes widen as she freezes.

"ASHLY I KNOW YOU ARE IN HERE COME OUT BEFORE I BREAK DOWN THIS DOOR!"

Father yells, banging on the wooden-designed door, ready to break it down.

I shift my gaze from Ashly to the door and back to Ashly, for some reasons I don't panic.

I've known my father for years and I know how to get my way but Ashly-

She's already fidgeting by the door side, already looking as if she's about to go on her knees to beg for forgiveness.

"I told you to stay away from my son!" Father yells again, the banging on the door becoming more aggressive.

I'm about to make a dreadful move, but I have to do this for Ashly, to show Ashly how far I am determined to be with her.