Chapter 17

ASHLEY'S POV

"Nice to meet you, Celine." I faked a smile, reaching my hand out for a handshake.

"Pleasure is all mine, Amanda." The blonde-haired woman smiled. I had a feeling she purposely called me Amanda.

"It's Ashley, actually," I corrected.

"Oh, my bad, Ashley." Her smile widened, reaching her green eyes, before she turned to my mate, "So, how are you coping? What is it again, three years?"

"Well, as you can see, I'm alright," Dante answered.

"Well, you normally say that when you have something troubling you..." Celine grabbed my mate's hands and began to caress them.

I had a feeling that whatever this lady came here to do wasn't fun. She kept on speaking with my mate, laughing, biting her lip, running her hands through her hair—it seemed like she was flirting with him.

"Uhm, excuse me, Selena—"

"It's Celine," the blonde-haired woman corrected.

Good, we were on the same page.

"Sorry, I'm bad with names. What are you doing here?" I went straight to the point.

"Oh my God, Dan! You have a jealous one here."

Dan? She had a nickname for him?

"Don't mind me, I came to check up on my ex-mate, hope you don't mind." The green-eyed lady rolled her eyes.

Hope I don't mind? What was that supposed to mean? It was obvious she had an evil agenda for coming here.

And I was going to find out, by any means necessary.

"Sorry, ex-mate?" I wondered. They weren't official, so they weren't mates.

"Yeah, I know it didn't work out, but I just felt I could call it that, you know." Celine smiled; it was as if she just read my mind, and I swallowed.

"Why didn't you call before coming?" Dante finally spoke; his silence had started creeping me out.

"Isn't it obvious? To look at your surprised face and that of your second chance mate." Celine caressed Dante's jaw.

God, I hated this girl. Every muscle in my body wanted to throw her a heavy punch and destroy her perfectly sculpted jaw.

"Plus, Dan, I thought you had a thing for blondes?" Celine added.

Denying Dante the liberty to answer such a question, I interrupted, "Can we continue this reunion somewhere else?" Faking a smile.

"Sure, Ashley, lead the way. By the way, I thought I should let you know, the moon goddess asked me to visit you; I'm yet to know why."

"Sorry, the moon goddess?" I was a little stunned.

"Yeah, Celine's family is blessed with the special gift to hear from the moon goddess," the dark-haired man explained.

"Cool, right?" Celine threw a glance at me.

"Yeah, it is. I want to finish up something in my room; I'll catch up with you guys later." I excused myself and headed to my room.

On my way to my room, I asked one of the guards to go fetch Sophia before jumping on my bed and forcing myself to stop being paranoid.

Even if Celine came to take my husband away from me, I should be used to it. Ryder always brought ladies home.

I should be grateful and accept the fate that no one would ever see me as a Luna but a rejected Omega who almost committed suicide.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by a knock on my door.

"Can I come in?" It was Sophia's voice.

"Yes, please." I sat up, "What the—why are your eyes swollen?"

"It's nothing, I'm just allergic to some ingredients. I'll be fine; I'm already used to it."

"No one is used to pain. After now, I want you to go and rest, Luna's orders."

"Thank you. Please, let's talk about you; you summoned me."

I had grown fond of Sophia. She was my only friend. Even while I stayed with Ryder, I had no one to talk to or complain to...

I was so glad I had someone like Sophia to dump all my emotions and feelings on; she felt more like a sister than a personal maid.

"Yes, the lady in the photo, she just arrived here."

"Now that's new. She has not visited for three years now." Sophia placed her hands on her jaw.

"What do you think she's here to do?" I questioned.

"I wouldn't know. She didn't say?"

"She said something about coming to see him and mentioned something about the moon goddess sending her." I narrated.

"Personally, I don't think she came to do anything nice. She has been very manipulative, and no one liked her apart from Lord Dante. And I'm afraid he might still like her." Sophia held my hands after she finished talking.

"But she is already married, right?" I wished to know; if she was married, then all I had to do was just call her mate when she starts making advances toward Dante.

"Yeah, she's married to Alpha Jackson, one of the most influential alphas across the continent, but he is not always at home, and rumor has it that he sleeps with multiple ladies." Sophia stated.

Damn! I couldn't do anything unless I could get proof, or maybe I should just let all of this die down.

"I'll advise you just rest for a while, then later in the evening, you can decide to speak with Dante. As much as he liked Celine, I'm certain he likes you more." Sophia counseled, patting me on my shoulder.

"Thank you, Sophia, you truly are the best." I threw my arms around her for a hug and lay down, while she tucked me in. I decided to take her advice.

____________

I woke up to the sound of metal falling on the ground. I didn't stand to check where the problem came from until I started hearing footsteps.

I slowly slipped out of my bed and went to check who invaded my mansion. I was afraid it might be Ryder, but it was a female figure, two females actually, talking in quiet tones.

"What's going on there?" I called, increasing my pace, but before I could reach them, they were standing; one of them had disappeared.

"I think you should learn to mind your business," Celine seethed.

"What did you just say? This is my mansion, and I have the right to know what's happening here." I stood firm.

"Let me make this extremely clear to you, Ashley. I'm here to stay and to enjoy my stay, I'll make sure you run back to your mate, what's his name, Ryder."