Fated for Forever(34)

there in about an hour. They will keep you safe, stay with them at all times. Nic wanted to go too, but we

can’t afford the extra men to keep him safe,” Aleks explained.

“I understand. But Aleks, I made them acknowledge me as their prince, they bowed to me. I’m no

Alpha!” Ashby said, pulling his legs to his chest, resting his head on his knees, rocking.

“Ashby, you are stronger than you think. Being an Alpha is like owning a business. Sometimes you can

plan for everything and find yourself facing a scenario you never could have imagined. Being a good leader

isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about being strong enough to ask the right people for help. Call me if

you get stuck. Gabriel is old enough that if he isn’t dead by now he will recover. You just need to hold shit

together until he wakes up. Don’t agree to anything, don’t sign anything. If someone asks your opinion say,

‘That is a very interesting point of view.’ You can do this Ashby, Rebecca and I have faith in you,” Aleks

said warmly.

“Where is Rebecca? She is being surprisingly quiet.” Ashby sat back feeling like he might be able to

face the world now.

“Oh, um, I told her that you would want cake no matter what the problem was, so she is in the kitchen

baking and crying. I don’t think she has realized I got through to you yet.” Aleks was talking in almost a

whisper.

“Of course I know you got through to him. His emotions calmed down nearly ten minutes ago.” Ashby

heard Rebecca’s voice over the phone and he smiled.

“Give me my damn phone!” There was a pause.

Less than a second later Rebecca’s voice came over the line.

“Are you really OK, Ashers? You were in so much pain.” Ashby could hear her sniffling. He forced

himself to smile.

“I’m going to be OK. Aleks is sending help. I can do this,” he said, more to ease her mind than because

he believed it himself.

“Of course you can, honestly Ashby you aren’t the half-wit doormat you think you are,” Rebecca

argued.

“I don’t think I’m a doormat!” Ashby protested.

“See, you’re not,” Rebecca countered.

“What?” Ashby asked confused.

“Exactly!” Rebecca said. Ashby stared at the phone exasperated before bringing it back to his ear.

“I love you Becca,” Ashby said, feeling like he had just stepped into the sun after being locked in the

dark.

“I love you too Ashers. Now show those vampires who’s boss!” Rebecca said excitedly.

Ashby ended the call and stared at the picture of Rebecca beaming up at him from his contact list. Aleks

was right, he wasn’t alone.

Chapter 12



“I demand accommodations!” the coven leader Dorian screeched in Roman’s face. Ashby clenched his

fists and stepped forward. He could see Roman grinding his teeth.

“Purgatory isn’t just a club, it is also this coven’s home. You have no right to impose upon us to see to

your needs. Prince Gabriel is recovering as we speak. I see no reason for you to stay at all,” Ashby said,

wedging himself between Roman and Dorian. The tall, slender man looked down at Ashby with a sneer on

his face. Ashby wanted to shift and scratch the man’s rather pointed, rat like nose.

“How dare you speak to me that way? You are nothing. Shifters cannot assume the title of prince.

You’re just a well-used hole that our prince is playing with. You have no authority here,” Dorian spat out.

Ashby felt the blood drain from his face. It took every ounce of determination in him to fight his body’s

natural instinct to drop his eyes to the floor. David and Daniel’s words flooded his heart. He was their

prince and if he allowed this man to treat him like a whore, no one would be safe.

“Baptista, if this man speaks to me like that again, throw his ass out and ban him from ever returning,”

Ashby said, staring down the coven leader’s beady eyes.

“Yes, my prince,” Baptista said taking a step closer to Ashby.

“But you’re a shifter,” Dorian said, his eyes going to Baptista nervously.

“I could be a polka-dotted blue alien stepping out of the Tardis—it doesn’t matter. This coven, in

particular these men recognize me as their prince, so when I order them to throw your bony ass out of our

home and make sure they break several bones in doing so, they will do it,” Ashby said, clasping his hands

behind his back taking a more solid stance. He imagined his eyes going cold the way Gabriel’s did when he

was irritated.

“Prince Ashby, are you sure that Prince Gabriel will recover? You must understand, he may be the