Chapter 1061
Violet’s smile faded when she saw two people missing at the main table.
‘Where are Val and Ed?’ Violet asked Axel through their mind link.
Axel looked at Violet guiltily. ‘Val is not in the best state of mind, and she asked to be excused from this event. Ed is giving her company p>
Normally, Violet would let this slide. The truth was that she didn’t want to see Valeria brooding during this supposedly happy occasion. However, as an Alpha, Violet couldn’t let it go.
‘She has ten minutes to appear here, or I will treat her as a traitor,’ Violet said sternly, which earned her a frown of disapproval from Axel.
Violet narrowed her eyes at Axel, releasing some of her Alpha power through the mind link, ‘It is time for Valeria Moonrider to act her age and her position. If she can’t respect me as her cousin, she should respect me as her future Alpha. Valeria will deal with that or suffer consequences. Seeing you sit there and hoping I will fold makes me wonder if Valeria is the only one challenging my position p>
Axel lowered his head, but he still spoke, ‘You are wise and kind, Violet. You know we are not rebelling, and you won’t hurt your family p>
‘Maybe I won’t. But my father will.’ This was the truth.
Damon would mercilessly punish anyone who caused grievances to Talia or his children, in that order.
And what was that nonsense about them not rebelling? They didn’t need to start throwing rocks at Violet. It was enough to not show respect and talking back and being absent from events like this one qualified as disrespect.
Every pack member was elated to see Violet in person, yet it seemed that Valeria and Edgar, two people who were supposed to be her right and left hand after she took over as the Alpha, were silently disapproving of her position.
Axel raised his head to meet Violet’s firm gaze. After a long second, he stood up and bowed. “Pardon me, young Alpha Violet. I will check on Valeria and Edgar to see what held them back p>
Ashton pulled a chair for Violet to sit on, and then he settled by her side.
She watched with amusement as he piled up the food on her plate. This was their first proper meal in public since they were mated, and she was surprised that he hovered around her just as he did in private. He disregarded his image of an Alpha and turned into a doting mate.
Ashton’s hands paused. “Did I miss something? Do you want your meat cut differently p>
Violet bit her lower lip to suppress the incoming grin, but it still happened. “Everything you are doing is perfect, Ash.” More than perfect. She felt loved, protected, cherished, and her vision blurred with tears that swelled under the onslaught of emotions that caught her by surprise.
Ashton threw the knife and fork on the table and cupped her cheeks. “Hey, hey… Don’t do that. People will think I’m bullying you p>
Violet buried her face in his neck and took a deep breath. “Do you know that you smell of carnations? I always loved those. They were my favorite. I think I scented you a long time ago, but you were always bringing me flowers, and I thought it was from them p>
“What are you saying p>
“I think that if you came once without flowers, I would realize you were my mate.” She swallowed hard. “Before you left p>
Ashton pinched her chin and looked at her. “Don’t torture yourself with such thoughts, Vi. Whatever happened brought us to this exact moment. It’s the two of us, with all this food that your people prepared for you p>
“Us,” she corrected him. “It’s OUR people, and they prepared this food for US p>
“Whatever you say, my love,” Ashton murmured and pecked her lips once, twice, and her arms snaked around his neck as she kissed him back like no one was watching.
Exaggerated clearing of someone’s throat got their attention.
Violet turned to see Yasmin giving them a stern look.
“I know you are newly mated, and hormones are raging, but…” She glanced in the direction of the crowd that was looking at them and smiling. “You don’t need to give them a live show p>
Violet cleared her throat. “Sorry, aunt Yasmin. Thanks for the reminder.” She turned to Ashton. “You need to stop using your charms on me in public p>
Ashton smirked. “I’m quite confident that you were the one who charmed me first p>
Violet was about to object, but the most delicious bite of lamb entered her mouth.
Other packs relied on hunting to get fresh meat. The Midnight Guardians pack was not against hunting, but most of their meat came from sheep and cows they were raising themselves. With their territory being isolated, if they went hunting freely, their meat supply would dwindle quickly.
Since they opened a portal directly to the Dark Howlers pack, their hunting escapades were more frequent, but it was more for practice and the thrill of it than out of necessity.
Violet studied the changes her mother brought to the Midnight Guardians pack, and she was proud of her, but a small part of Violet feared that there was nothing left to do, and she was not happy with the idea that she would always be known as the daughter of the Alpha Natalia Moonrider everyone worshiped. Her mother left some big shoes to fill, and she was still an active Alpha, accomplishing the impossible. Violet wondered if she would ever be able to top that, and in a way, she understood that Valeria probably felt the same when she thought of Violet as the future Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack. They were all of the Alpha bloodline, blessed by the powers of Gods, yet their insecurities were tangible, and if anyone thought their lives went without a hitch, they would be wrong.
Violet could feel the change in the air, and she didn’t need to turn to see that Valeria and Edgar had arrived.
The twins took their seats at the main table and started eating.
Violet glanced at Valeria. “How nice of you to join us p>
Valeria cocked an eyebrow. “I see you are eating. It’s not like you were waiting for us p>
“Were you expecting us to wait for you?” Violet asked. Before Valeria could respond, Violet asked her next question. “Do you think you are important enough for your Alpha to wait because you decided to make a grand entrance by being tardy p>
Valeria knew that Violet was provoking her, but she couldn’t stop her temper flaring. “Oh, I know that young Alpha Violet would never wait for me p>
‘CRACK p>
The glass in Violet’s hand shattered.
“I was talking about Alpha Ashton, not about myself,” Violet said stiffly. “Disobedience toward me can be overlooked because we are cousins, and we have known each other for a long time. However, I’m not sure that Alpha Ashton will be so forgiving. After all, he doesn’t know you as well as I do, and he might interpret your unruly behavior as rebellion p>
“Rebellion?” Edgar said with panic in his voice. “We would never p>
He stopped talking when Violet raised her hand.
“We are cousins, so I will share some information with you. Alpha Ashton spent the last five years fighting rogues. He saw enough carnage and death for several lifetimes. Those things change a person, and make him less forgiving. I’m sure that my mate will do everything in his power to protect his mate and his pack, regardless of who the threat is p>
“We are NOT a threat to our pack,” Valeria said through her teeth.
“Then maybe you should act like it,” Violet quipped and turned to Ashton who was ready to feed her.