Chapter 10

—Sienna’s POV—

I’d arrived home so late the night before, having walked miles north up the boundary between Nightwind and Nightfall’s pack.

Part of me had been hoping to run into Julian, though looking back, I’m very glad I didn’t.

He’d have found me at my weakest, and he very likely would have been able to convince me to fold and give up my pack. All I wanted were my problems to be fixed.

When I’d arrived home, I’d been so tired, the house silent to any other movement.

I conked right back out, sleeping like a rock until the midday rays of sun washed over my face.

My eyes snapped open at that.

Today is when the Elder inspector was coming!

I panicked. Had I missed them? If I had, things really were doomed.

Getting a no show from an inspector put a huge demerit on your status as an Alpha. Especially this soon after a marriage.

I kicked into gear, dressing as appropriately and as fast as I could, before rushing out into the living room.

Shock took over me as I saw Asher out there with the inspector, having what appeared to be a very pleasant conversation.

“I am quite surprised to hear of your status as a gamma,” the inspector said with an air of condescension. “Are you sure you have the qualifications for this role?”

“I assure you, sir, that I will excel in this position,” Asher nodded, keeping a very steady calm.

I was completely taken aback by the way Asher handled the situation - his answers were perfect, proving his knowledge in all the issues of the pack, even offering very clear solutions for a lot of them.

Asher was much more informed and experienced than I’d ever imagined.

The inspector was visibly impressed, too.

A soft sigh of relief escaped me, and I stepped out from in the hall, presenting myself to the two of them.

“I apologize for being late. I had a few matters to tend to, and wanted you to have some one on one time with my mate, here,” I smiled at the inspector.

Asher gave me a subtle nod, our eyes meeting briefly.

I was beginning to realize why my parents had valued him so much.

Maybe it was a simple case of misjudging him - while he might have appeared unreliable on the surface, in reality, he was anything but.

Can I really trust him?

I wanted it to be true. Nightwind desperately needed another competent ally.

“Nice to finally see you, Alpha,” the inspector said crudely.

Don’t let him get to you, I hummed to myself. He’d be looking for anything to write down negatively about me.

“I’m glad you’re here, because I was just about to shift my questioning to your bond,” the inspector said with narrowed eye. “Were you not fated to Julian Nightfall?”

Tension spiked in me. This was getting awfully close to talking about my wolf, and that had to stay a secret.

“And therefore, should you not be with him now, instead of Mr. Blake?” He further pressed.

“Asher here is my second chance,” I spoke up, taking control of the conversation. “I believe Julian was a mistake, despite his status as an Alpha.”

I paused, choosing my next words carefully.

“I value honestly and loyalty most of all, for the safety and security of Nightwind. Julian did not give me those things.”

I watched the inspectors face, seeing one of his eyebrows raise.

“Asher and I are fated mates. Anything that Julian Nightfall claims is only due to his dissatisfaction at our separation.” I sounded more mature than I’d ever been, and I couldn’t help but be proud of myself.

Asher betrayed the slightest bit of surprise on his face that I hoped the inspector wouldn’t see. He had to know what I was doing, right?

Before the inspector could see anything, I pulled Asher to me by his collar and kissed the corner of his lips.

Whether he was playing along or not, or it was a mix of real excitement, Asher wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into his embrace.

I could clearly feel the hardness between his legs, and my cheeks heated up.

The inspector absolutely cannot notice this - it’s wildly inappropriate.

With a quick shift of my hips, I stepped in front of Asher’s crotch, smiling at the inspector. “No need for us to further prove anything, I’d say?”

He stood there, gaping, and I knew he’d noticed Asher’s…excitement.

“Right - ” the inspector began, clearing his throat. “Moving to another topic - you’re not so social banquet tomorrow.”

My heart sank. Not the failed banquet that I was, for some reason, still going to host.

“No alpha has accepted your invitation, have they?” he pressed, and it really annoyed me that he appeared smug at that fact.

“No, sir, but we do have other attendees.” I wished that were enough, but it wasn’t going to be.

“I’ll remain here to see how the banquet fares under your command,” the inspector said cooly, Asher’s fingers tickling over my lower back. “So you’ve got me to add as one of the few attendees.”

Shame washed over me. He was doing his best to embarrass me horribly.

“Influence is a very strong sway in keeping your Alpha position,” the inspector said in more of a warning.

“You’ll be pleasantly surprised by my influence, then,” I nodded back, seeing Asher nodding beside me.

“I trust you have accommodations for me to stay through the banquet.”

“Absolutely,” Asher spoke up, a sigh of relief wedged in my throat. “Our Beta Simon will take you there.”

In the blink of an eye, Simon appeared, leading the inspector out of the house - finally.

That’s when my sigh heaved out of me.

“We’re fated mates?” Asher asked in disbelief.

“I lied,” I said softly, crossing my arms over my chest. I almost felt bad for letting him down.

Surely he didn’t really believe we were fated mates either, right?

“You know, so he’d believe us and let it go.” I waved my hand like it was nothing, a wave of nausea passing over me at the disappointment in Asher’s eyes.

I really didn’t have time to think about why he was upset - that was a needle in a haystack of other problems.

For instance, the banquet tomorrow.

Fear absolutely consumed me about it - I had no idea what to expect. The budget had been so low, and practically no one had RSVP’d.

Especially not any alphas.

“So, about tomorrow,” Asher started, my eyes cutting to him. It sounded like he had good news.

“Yes?” I raised my brows in hope.

“Alpha Lucius seems to have agreed to come.”

“What?” I choked out, shellshocked. Sure, he’d sent me that letter back, but that wasn’t an agreement to attend.

It was impossible. No way.

“How? Why? He’s the top alpha - the highest ranking. Why would he ever come to a pack like Nightwind?”

Asher’s only response was a simple smile, the slightest twinkle in his eye.

“What?” I pressed, knowing I wouldn’t get anything out of him.

His cute smirk only grew.

What are you up to, Asher Blake?