Chapter 13

ASHLEY'S POV

"Sophia! Sophia!" I called, my thoughts racing as I ran through the hallway. "Sophia!" I kept on screaming. I was scared and needed answers.

"My lady, is everything okay?" Sophia held me, helping me enter my chambers. "My lady, you haven't eaten your meal?" Sophia noticed that the breakfast she served me was still lying on my table.

"That is the least of my problems, Sophia," I ran my hands through my hair, trying to calm myself down.

"What is troubling you, Luna?" Sophia held my hands as she helped me sit on my bed.

Troubling me? A lot of things were troubling me. First, how could Emma walk in and out of the place without anyone noticing her?

The security measures had been adopted, so how was she able to—

Wait! Was she working with somebody here? Well, that would be handled later. The lady in the photo was my priority.

"Do you know who this is?" I handed the photo over to Sophia.

"Uhm, can I ask where you got this?" I noticed the slight change in her expression; it seemed like I just spoke an abomination or something.

"That doesn't matter at the moment. Who is that?" I remained firm.

"It's no one you should worry about." Sophia tried to avoid the conversation.

"Well, I'm already worrying. Was Dante mated to someone be—"

"No, not really—it's uhm...complicated."

"Go on." I pressed harder.

"I'm not entirely sure, but her name is Celine, and she is Dante's ex-mate."

Ex-mate, the answer I feared. I needed to know what happened between them.

"What happened between them?" My heart began to race as tears began to swell in my eyes.

"I don't really know, my lady. Please pardon me to excuse myself. I still have some duties to perform." Sophia stood and left me in my dilemma.

Did Sophia just leave because she noticed how uncomfortable the conversation made me feel? God, I hated how I felt.

Maybe I was just being paranoid or something, but if Dante was able to reject a mate, what was so special in me that would make him think twice before tossing me out of his life?

I couldn't help but stare at the lady in the picture, a red-haired lady with curves that every man would die for.

If he could reject her, then my skinny self would be jailed.

"I can't take this." I screamed out loud, snapping myself out of those crazy thoughts and headed to the training field to distract myself.

It was when I was standing at the training field that I realized I was still in my nightgown, but that didn't matter. Feeling better did.

"What are you doing, little wolf?" Every inch of my body reacted to his voice, but I had to force myself to not even look at him, or I might not be angry anymore.

"Ashley? Please, let's talk." He began walking towards me, and I began to do stretches, anything to avoid those silver eyes, and it even grew worse when his earthy scent invaded my nostrils.

"Ashley, I regret not telling you," he held my arms, and for a minute I stopped breathing, "Please let's settle this. No more secrets."

He was the most difficult person to get angry at, and maybe I just wanted to be angry because he did nothing wrong.

He practically saved my life; he owed me no explanation of his romantic past, but I didn't know why it still hurt me.

I was about to face him and forgive him when a guard announced that the council needed his presence.

"My Lord, the council wishes to conclude matters." The guard announced.

"I'll be right there." Dante replied, before turning to me, "I'll be with you soon, just give me a sec." He placed a kiss on my lips and headed back to the meeting.

I felt bad for him; he didn't deserve this, not one bit. I was already over the fact that he didn't inform me that my life was threatened, but an ex-mate? Why didn't he mention it?

You know what? Damn training, I headed to his chambers, maybe I would see things that would explain this Celine issue to me.

"I'm sorry ma'am, he's not here, he's at the council meeting." One of the guards guarding his chambers stated.

"I know, I wish to wait for him in there." I answered politely.

"I'm afraid my Lord doesn't like people entering—"

"I'm not just anyone. I'm his Luna, your Luna, and I'm telling you to excuse me." I stood my ground.

"Apologies, my lady." The guard gave way and let me pass.

I was a little bit proud of myself. No one had ever listened or obeyed me. I had always been the one that took demands, not made them. Maybe this was the right place for me, I just prayed my curiosity wouldn't get the best of me.

Without wasting so much time, I started looking. I didn't have anything in mind, but I was certain I would know it when I saw it.

I checked his table, his wardrobe, his drawer, and I found nothing. Did he erase everything about this lady out of his life? Was this how he was going to erase me?

But as I continued to search, I noticed something when I reached my hands under his bed, and I found a box. That must be it.

I opened the box, and it was empty. He had nothing of this Celine, and that scared me. And just when I bent to put the box back, the door opened.

"And what are you doing under my bed?" Dante asked.

I quickly froze in place. I hated the way he looked at me.

It was no longer those eyes of love and care he showered me with; it was something else. It was the look I thought I knew him for.

"Answer me, Ashley!" His face turned crimson as anger consumed his entire being.

"I-uh..." I forgot how to speak as goosebumps ran down my skin.

Dante took a few steps before me, "I will not ask again, Ashley. What are you doing in my room, and under my bed?"