Choosing Mr. Destiny - Chapter 47: Chapter 47

Ashley's POV
I was jolted back to consciousness after hearing loud animalistic growls around me. Connor was carrying me bridal style when I passed out with my head laying on his hard yet soft muscular chest. He indeed resembles a giant, cuddly teddy bear.
After I cleared my self from sleep, I noticed what was happening, and instantly, a frown appeared on my face.
"What's going on?" I asked softly to Connor who looked down at me momentarily before sending his gaze back in front of us.
"Nothing, Ash. It's nothing." He said with an unsure tone lacing his voice, making my already frowning expression to deepen.
I turned to look at what was happening, feeling utterly lost. Some men were just standing there, carefully eyeing those that were covering me for protection.
"Sasha, don't do this." A large looking man said to a smaller, younger guy. His back was turned to me so I couldn't really see his face, but for some reason, I somehow find his back quite familiar which was weird.
"It's too good of an offer to pass, Matthias. I think you should reconsider it." The guy, who I assumed was Sasha, spoke to the towering guy with the name of Matthias.
Weirdly enough, I kind of find the name familiar too, causing me to rack my brain of where I could have heard it.
"And what? Give him my own son? I'm not stupid, Sasha." The man named Matthias said with a stern yet angry tone to his voice.
"Fighting against him isn't worth it. We're simply out powered by him. Can't you see what he's capable of?" Sasha said as he tried to convince the man that  still had their back to me.
"I thought we got over this subject before we came to give aid? Why are bringing this up?" Matthias said through gritted teeth, obviously barely restraining himself from losing his temper at the younger lad.
"It's because I thought we had a chance. But after seeing him in person and witnessing with my very own eyes what he's capable of doing, my judgments changed. And you should reevaluate yours as well. It's not worth it, Matthias. Losing your pack from a fight you know you're going to end up losing is never worth it." Sasha argued.
Matthias growled, slowly losing his cool.
"I knew I should have just left you at the pack. You're still too young with a mind that can easily be corrupted. And by how you're talking to me about this sh!t, I don't have to think twice that Azrael succeeded at doing so." Matthias said lowly.
I turned to Connor once more.
"What's going on, Connor? I have a feeling it's not good." I whispered to him with my arms now wrapped around his neck.
He turned his gaze to me, making his face only a few inches apart from my own.
He debated whether he should tell me or not. But I gave him a look saying I have the right to know since clearly, these two guys were obviously talking about me.
He sighed as he tightened his grip on me a tad bit.
"Azrael showed up after we managed to get out. Now he's got into some of these guy's heads after he offered them something sinister if they managed to hand you back to him." He admitted, causing my eyes to widen in disbelief.
This couldn't be happening. I thought to myself.
>Calm down, Ash. I'm sure they won't let what we feared to happen. I trust these guys to keep their word to keep you safe, and to protect you as best as they can.< Ariah spoke in my mind in hopes of calming my raging nerves down a notch.
>Are you able to gain control yet?< I asked a bit impatiently.
Out of the times he can't gain a single ounce of control to our body it has to be now.
>I still can't, no matter how hard I try to. I'm still locked out.< He said unfortunately, making me sigh in vain.
>How am I be of any help if I don't know how to fight in wolf form, just in case it comes to that?< I voiced out my worries to my wolf.
>I know you're inexperienced but I believe you have the instinct to actually defend yourself at times of need. It's in us, Ash. You just have to trust yourself that you can.< Ariah talked me out on it, but I was still scared out of my mind.
>Easier said than done, Ariah. But I'm afraid I couldn't do it. I just can't.< I told him deflatedly.
I was snapped out of my conversation with my own wolf after hearing loud growls emitted by those who were eyeing me like a prized trophy. Connor growled in an animalistic way as he tightened his hold on to me.
"I'll shift to my wolf and I want you to get on my back, okay?" Connor said through our link, making me nod compliantly to him.
Without uttering another word, Connor slowly placed me back onto my feet as he stepped on to his side. Not wasting another second, he shifted to his magnificent wolf form, making me almost gawk at him in astonishment.
"Get on." He ordered hastily through our link, making me snap out of my daze and quickly swing my legs as I went to situate myself on his back.
"Hold on tight, Ash. Things could get messy real quick and I want you to hold on to me as tight as you can, okay. And be sure to keep yourself low." He instructed me through the link, which I could only respond with a nod of my head.
My heart was hammering like mad inside of me that I thought it was going to burst out of my ribcage with how erratic it was. My breathing was uneven as I anticipated what's going to happen, seeing as how some of these wolved we thought was on our side, now is also targeting me. My mind was filled with scenarios I'm afraid might come true if things do get out of hand.
My eyes landed on to a guy that went to stand next to Connor. He was massive like everyone else, but what caught my attention was how he kept Winter protected behind him. And speaking of Winter, he had his eyes shut as he held on the larger guy's arm. I reached out to hold on to his shaking hand causing him to snap his eyes open, and his gaze focusing on me.
I gave him a small reassuring smile which made him smile back in response.
"We'll be okay." He mouthed to me reassuringly even when I wasn't sure if it was actually going to be the case, but I didn't want to be pessimistic so I decided to give him another small smile.
The large guy's eyes turned its focus towards me, making me fidget a little.
"Make sure you don't trust anyone except yourself, Ash. You don't know who will turn their backs on you when they got a chance." Connor spoke through our link, making me frown in fear. "Anyone who you thought was deserving of your trust could betray you behind your back. What Azrael offered was something that was hard to pass up, so I'm sure there's more of them that got their heads corrupted. We just don't know who those are so I'm telling you right now, be very vigilant. They could be pretending they're still with us but turns out to be just simply waiting to attack at the right time." He added, making me sigh out a breath shakily.
"Winter will never betray me. I know he won't." I told him as I trained my eyes at my friend who was still holding for dear life at the large guy I forgot whose name was.
"Like I said, this could be the way to prove who is loyal to you and who isn't." He added, causing me to bite my bottom lip that was trembling a little bit from fear.
"Don't do this Sasha." I was once again snapped out of my conversation with Connor when this Matthias guy spoke.
I heard a low, evil chuckle, causing shivers to run down my spine from the intensity it possessed.
"Too late." Was what he said before I started hearing multiple growls from multiple wolves surrounding us.
"You'll regret this," Matthias growled before I begin to hear bones cracking, signaling me of their form shifting back to their wolves.
And just like that, a bloody fight commenced right before my very eyes, causing me to shut them from how gruesome it was. Remembering how Ariah was just like them a moment ago. The same look and desire for blood was definitely showing on their faces. How aggressive and determined they are to kill each other.
Connor and I were at the center of the circle our supposed allies had come up with. Some stayed on their human form as they held a firearm in their hands. Now that the fight has begun, I saw who turned on us and who stayed loyal as they kept me safe and protected. It hurts me deeply to see how they tried to get to me. How their desire for power from Azrael's promise overpowers everything, especially their ability to feel any humanity left in them. All I see was greed and selfishness which Azrael definitely possesses, and now he corrupted these wolves' mind with the same flaw, causing them to turn on us.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I could faintly see a figure at the top of a tree. And considering it was dark and I was focused on the fight happening, I decided to shrug it out. But after I noticed it again, that's when I decided to turn my gaze and see what it was. It was also at that exact moment it suddenly leaped towards me and shifted to their second form midair.
"Connor." I shrieked but was too late as the wolf tackled me to the ground.
Snapping its razor-sharp teeth at me, I tried my best to push it away but was struggling to. Thankfully, after Connor got his balance back, he went to my aid and took the wolf by the neck. He threw the thrashing wolf away causing it to land on its side. But before it could stand back up on its feet, another wolf went straight for its neck and ripping it out if its body like it was an easy feat. I gasped out loud while I covered my mouth as blood started pouring out of its headless body and make a puddle on the forest ground. I looked away as I felt myself almost gag at what I just witnessed.
The wolf who did such act walked towards me as it licked the blood of its mouth, making me shake visibly from where I was seated on the damp ground. In an instant, Connor appeared in front of me, shielding me from the other wolf's view. Connor let out a warning growl at the wolf from which it didn't even give out a single reaction. It just stood there looking disinterested at what Connor was displaying. The wolf huffed out causing Connor to stand straighter on all fours. It was like they're conversing through their mind, but I doubt they are considering Connor and this other wolf aren't from the same pack. And from what I've gathered, only fellow pack members can access the mind link. Those from outside of the pack, can't.
Connor let out another huff before moving aside and letting the wolf walk to me looking all calm and gentle, making me watch the large beast in confusion. It stopped with its face only a few inches away from me, and instead of it causing me to be terrified like a lost puppy, I surprised myself by staying still. I couldn't push myself to be scared of it because, for some odd reason, the wolf doesn't look like it meant to inflict pain on to me, but instead, to keep me safe.
The wolf nudged me on my cheek, causing my frown to only deepen. Who the hell is this? and why am I not scared of him?
>That's our Dad, Ash. Our real Dad.< Ariah said excitedly and happily inside my head he was pretty much bouncing from joy even with our current situation. I couldn't help but feel shocked at what he said. >Don't be scared, Ash. He's our Dad, you can connect with him.< Ariah said and I was confused for once again.
>What do you mean connect?< I asked feeling lost.
>He's our real, real father, Ash. Which means we can connect to him even when we're not from his pack. Blood bounds us to him, making it easier to connect.< He explained, making me nod mentally.
>What do I do?< I asked.
>Rest your forehead against his and that should do the trick.< Was all he said before I went to follow what he instructed.
I was a bit hesitant to hold the side of his face, but since Ariah said he's our real Dad, I calmed down a bit and went on to connecting our foreheads.
The wolf who happens to be our father purred under my touch, making me smile in the process. And after I closed my eyes and connected my forehead with his, I felt as if something just opened somewhere in my head, causing me to frown a little.
"Hi, pup." A deep, masculine voice rang in my head, making me flinch in surprise a little.
"Dad?" I called with a question in my voice.
I heard a deep chuckle reverberate inside our link, making me giggle a bit.
"I can't believe it's really you." He said after pulling away and licking my cheeks as a greeting. "I've been so worried about you." He stated as he sniffed me on my temple. "Are you hurt? Are you in pain?" He asked frantically as he searched my body for any signs of wounds or bruises. And after he caught sight of the bruises and scratches on both my arms, he growled in anger.
"Dad, I'm okay. I promise." I told him reassuringly. Sure, I'm hurting a bit but it's not like I can't bear it.
He huffed. "Just stay close with me and Connor, okay. We'll get you out of here, I promise." He said before giving my cheek another lick.
And with that, he and Connor went back to an aggressive-defensive stance with me safely in the middle.
The fight went on and slowly, the traitors were exterminated with me safely kept at the center of the circle with guys in wolf and human form as a barricade. Everyone looked extremely exhausted as they tried to keep their ground to protect me, causing my heart to swell from gratefulness. If it weren't for their loyalty, I could have been under Azrael's grasp once again by now.
But our little victory was short-lived after rogues started to slowly show up from deep within the woods. This time, more of them came, causing me to let out a whimper from the fear of seeing just their numbers. By now, I was visibly shaking in my skin as more and more of them showed up, effectively outnumbering us by three to one. And considering most of those that survived the treachery of fellow pack members were exhausted, I doubt they'd last longer in battle.
"Dad, what should we do. We're greatly outnumbered and most of these men are already drained out from the earlier battle." I called my Dad with distress coating my voice.
"Calm down, pup. We'll manage and I'll make sure you'll be okay. I just have to work triple the effort just to keep you safe. I promise, after this, I'm not leaving you again." He said softly, causing the stress to evaporate from me a little.
"But..." I tried to argue but was suddenly cut off when gunshots began to erupt and rogues falling down lifeless one by one to the already blood covered ground.
"Tell Connor that if he finds an opening, he runs, and that's an order, pup," Dad said sternly, leaving no space for any future argument.
I didn't respond. Instead, I just stood there staring at my father's wolf form, unable to comprehend any of what he just said.
He's basically telling me to run and abandon him while he fights these rogues just so I can escape. But what about him? What will happen to him if I did happen to escape with Connor? Will he be okay?
"Pup," Dad called, snapping me out of my worried thoughts.
I've only just met who my real father was but then what if I lost him? The same day I met him? I don't think I can handle it if I did lose him.
My mind was too filled with negativity that I didn't even notice the loud shouting and pained cries of wolves as they succumbed to their deaths brutally. I was too worried that I didn't even see the rogue running straight towards me, ready to tackle me to the ground with the intent of hurting me visible in its bright red eyes.
Dad and Connor were both busy fending the rogues as far away from me as possible. But they couldn't help but have one slip under their watch and that was when it charged aggressively towards my way. But Connor was quick at retaliating first before it managed to blow a serious damage at me. He collided himself with the wolf's right shoulder, sending it flying to the ground, sending specks of dirt and fallen leaves flying as well in the process.
"Ash, snap out of it and shift to your wolf right now," Connor yelled through our link as he turned to attack the rogue who tried to come at me. I shook my head and focused back on what's currently happening.
"Now!" Connor yelled once again when I didn't make a move, which had me scrambling on my feet at the intensity of his voice.
Taking deep breaths as I focused myself on trying to shift to my second form, I told myself to calm down. Though it wasn't an easy feat, I still managed. And thankfully enough, I succeeded in shifting to my wolf.
Dad momentarily shot his gaze towards me, and that's when I saw him smirk, if that's even possible.
"There you are." He said gratefully, making me frown at him in confusion through our link.
"I've always been here?" I stated.
Despite our situation, he still manages to let out a very manly and deep chuckle.
"No, I meant your wolf. I knew you'd find out about him, but I didn't think it'd take you this long. But I'm still glad. I was a bit worried when you didn't shift on your sixteenth birthday." He stated, causing me to frown even more. How does he know all of these? I asked myself. "I'll explain later, okay. For now, let's deal with these pests first." He said after obviously hearing my thoughts.
Before he went back to fighting, he returned his gaze towards me. This time, with a firm and stern look, telling me that whatever he's going to tell me, I'd be in trouble if I don't obey.
"Remember what I told you, okay? If you or Connor see an opening, you both run as fast as your paws would let you. Don't turn back, just keep going. Understood?" He commanded, once again, not leaving anything for future arguments.
All I could do was nod my head in compliance.
"That's my pup." He praised with a proud glint in his eyes, causing my heart to leap in happiness.
"Promise me you'll be okay," I told him before he could go back into full battle.
He walked towards me and licked the side of my face reassuringly.
"I promise." He said gently through the link. "Besides, I still have a lot of catching up to do." He said with a light tone to his voice, in hopes of easing the stress that's slowly building up inside me. "Also, I may be getting old but I still have the strength of a young wolf. I'd finish them all off without breaking a sweat. So don't worry, your Dad's strong. Ain't nobody's taking me down. Rrrrr." He said while playfully nudging my face with his snout, making me let out a soft giggle and him chuckle.
And with that, he's whole demeanor changed from the soft father he just was a few seconds ago to a full-blown killing machine, causing me to shiver at how his aura drastically changing.
"Stay behind me, Ash," Connor spoke this time as he tried to fend the pesky rogues off.
Deciding to be a little help, I will myself to fight and take down some of the enemies, seeing as most of our men were getting even more exhausted.
Surprising myself, I managed to stay upright in my own feet... I meant paws, as I fought two rogues. And even when I didn't get to end their lives, I was still able to injure them quite a lot. And by a lot, that means, ripping some of their limbs from their bodies. I kept surprising myself because I did all of it without Ariah's help. It was all me.
I was fighting them off without even an ounce of experience and that kind of made me feel proud of myself. Ariah was right, I may not have a ton of experience, but when instinct kicks in, you'll instantly know how to fight to survive and defend yourself.
I'm the son of an Alpha werewolf after all.
"And also my precious bundle of sunshine." A soft, and gentle female voice that was oddly familiar suddenly rang. It didn't sound like it was in my head because I heard it echo all throughout the forest that covered us.
I frowned and looked around me but saw nothing.
"Connor, did you hear that?" I asked him which he shook his head 'no' at me.
"Hear what?" He questioned.
"There was this female voice that suddenly talked to me out of nowhere," I told him, feeling bewildered.
"I didn't hear anything." He said before turning back onto the fight.
"Only you can hear me, my dear." The voice rang all over once again, catching me off guard.
"W-Who are y-you," I stuttered out a question.
"Did you really forget about me?" She asked a bit saddened that I couldn't remember her voice.
"You sound familiar but I'm not quite sure where I heard your voice before," I said as I looked around.
A frown instantly appeared on my face after noticing that no one from the rogues was trying to attack me. It was like, I'm... I'm invisible.
"A dream, maybe?" She mused interestingly.
A dream. I thought. I racked my memories as I tried to remember such a voice. And when something clicked, I could almost feel my eyes popping out of its sockets.
Looking around once again, I breathed out. "You're the Moon Goddess," I spoke pausing for a moment. "You're my Mother."
"Hi, my little pup." She breathed out gently with a small chuckle like she was talking to a baby.
And at that very moment, I thought... "This was an odd time for a family reunion."