The Alpha's Bride Chapter 1067 Alpha Violet and Alpha Ashton (8)

~ The Dark Howlers pack ~

Observing his surroundings, Ashton sat in an office chair within Violet's private quarters. Her space was notably more spacious than his own.

The room featured a bed, a lounge area consisting of a sofa and two armchairs surrounding a coffee table, and the workstation where he currently sat at the desk. Shelves packed with books lined the walls, alongside two tall cabinets equipped with drawers. Perched atop these cabinets were several dolls, their worn appearance proof of the affection they had received. He found himself smiling as he pictured a young Violet playing with them.

"What do you think?" Violet questioned.

Although Ashton had visited many times, he had never stepped foot inside Violet's room before. The packhouse's third floor was strictly reserved for the Blake family. Simply being present here was a significant milestone.

"Why do you keep so many books in here?" Ashton inquired. His gaze swept over light novels, historical texts, science journals, and financial guides. It resembled a personal library.

"This is my room," Violet replied, stating the obvious. "Growing up with so many brothers and friends meant every part of my life was constantly invaded. This room was the only place that remained off-limits."

"If you were worried about others taking them, why not just keep digital copies?" Ashton asked.

"It isn't really about the books themselves. It's the knowledge that no one else will touch my belongings. This is my own little piece of heaven."

Ashton knit his brows together in thought.

"What is it?" Violet asked.

"This packhouse is so massive that I never realized..." He hadn't considered that she viewed only this single room as truly hers, while the rest was communal property. While werewolves typically thrive in group settings and don't mind sharing, Alphas are a different breed. They require something that belongs solely to them. Ashton became resolute in his desire to provide her with exactly that—a place that belonged only to Violet and himself.

"What would your dream packhouse look like?" Ashton questioned.

The sudden question caught Violet off guard. "What do you mean by that?"

"Since our packs are going to merge, it doesn't seem right to stay in this packhouse or mine. Let's create OUR own packhouse."

Violet stared at him, her mouth agape. Living with Luna Michelle and Alpha Cristian wasn't her desire, but asking Ashton to move into her current home didn't feel right either. The concept of constructing their own residence was entirely new, and she found she liked it.

"Are you certain?"

Ashton gave a firm nod. "I want you to consider the number of rooms and what they'll be used for. How many floors should it have? I've always dreamed of having a swimming pool."

A spark lit up Violet's eyes. Even with a lake nearby, the idea of a pool was enticing. She could already see it... a hot tub shared with Ashton.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts before she could reply.

Violet went to the door and opened it to find the triplets: Scarlet, Page, and Robin.

"Can I help you with something?"

The triplets craned their necks, trying to see past Violet into the room. "We just came to say hello to Ashton."

"You can greet Alpha Ashton when we join the others later." Violet made sure to place heavy emphasis on his official title.

The three brunettes continued their attempts to catch a glimpse of Ashton until they suddenly froze in place.

"OK. OK," Scarlet muttered with a groan. "We're leaving."

"Make it clear to everyone that Ashton is my mate and their future Alpha. If anyone dares to approach him or even looks at him for more than a second, I'll gouge their eyes out. Do I make myself clear?"

As Violet pulled back her Alpha aura, the triplets scrambled back several paces.

Page rubbed her damp neck, her complexion turning as pale as a sheet. "Your power... it has grown."

With those final words, the three sisters hurried away.

Closing the door, Violet turned back to Ashton with a smirk. "Did you hear that? My power has increased."

In the blink of an eye, Ashton had moved in front of her. The only sign of his movement was the sudden gust of wind that whipped around her.

"You forgot to mention that if anyone dares to look at me, I'll view it as a challenge to my status as your mate and make them regret being alive," Ashton remarked, earning a smile of approval from Violet.

He reached out to touch the left side of her neck where his mark sat. "Look at this. It's beautiful."

Violet gasped, her mouth parting as she took a breath. "You actually like your mark?"

"I love my mark on you, Vi. But I was saying that you are beautiful, not just the mark."

Violet's smile broadened until it reached her eyes. "If you keep telling me I'm beautiful, I might just tell you a secret."

"Is it necessary for me to tell my Goddess how perfect she is?"

"You're such a sweet-talker."

"Is it enough to earn the secret?"

Rising onto her toes, Violet whispered into his ear, "I've never had a man in my room before. You are my first."

Ashton’s eyes immediately shifted toward her bed. Was that the reason Damon had been glaring at him as if he were a murderer? Ashton had assumed it was merely overprotective fatherly behavior from Damon. "Never?"

"Why do you sound like you have someone specific in mind?"

Ashton gave a small shrug, attempting to mask his discomfort. There was indeed someone.

"Ash?" Violet arched her eyebrows, silently demanding an explanation.

"You and Ethan were always joined at the hip, so..." He trailed off, knowing she understood his implication.

She looped her arms around his neck. "Ethan and I are close, but whenever we spent time together, it was in the garden, the common areas, or the training grounds. Never on the third floor, and certainly never in my room."

Ashton felt the tighten knot of insecurity around his heart finally loosen. He had always had his doubts regarding Ethan and Violet. If anyone had asked him during his five years of isolation which man he feared most, the answer would have been Ethan.

It was common knowledge that Violet once believed she and Ethan would be mates, and a part of Ashton had wondered how far she had gone to test that theory.

When Ashton first discovered Violet was his mate, one of his primary worries was whether he could ever surpass Ethan. While Ashton was undeniably faster, stronger, and more capable in combat, those facts didn't change how annoyingly close Violet was with the young Alpha of the Blue River pack. Ashton had frequently fantasized about hunting Ethan down and ending him. No one would have suspected him; he had silently eliminated many rogues in their own dens without leaving a trace.

"What's going through your head?" Violet asked, sensing the instability in Ashton's emotions.

"I’m thinking about how much I hated the way you smiled at Ethan, even before I knew you were my mate. And I hated the way he looked at you even more."

Violet blinked in surprise. "He's like a brother to me. I would never have crossed that line."

"Not unless you were confirmed as mates."

"Oh, Ash. If another female had turned out to be your mate, you wouldn't be standing here with me. Don't dwell on those things because we ARE mates, and there is nobody else. You are my first, and you will be my last."

He felt exactly the same way. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

"It's the same feeling I get when I think about anyone else occupying your thoughts. Our bond is still new, and our wolves are powerful and possessive. My wolf is demanding that I claim you and protect what belongs to me."

Ashton felt a sense of relief that she truly understood his feelings.