Choosing Mr. Destiny - Chapter 49: Chapter 49

**Ashley's POV**
I feel like there's not a day since I was being captured that I wasn't terrified. The feeling of helplessness as I thought of who our enemy was and how powerless we are compared to him was unimaginable. It became overwhelming that all I could do was crawl into a ball of myself. A supposed demigod who doesn't even know what he can do. After everything that has happened, I don't even know myself. I can't even recognize who I am anymore.
I used to be the person living a completely normal life... well, as normal as it could be anyway. But never in my lifetime did I think of any of this to occur. Never did I even think that the family I grew up in and have known, wasn't my real family. What more, having to know that my real parents were supernaturals. And then finding out my ex-boyfriend to be a werewolf who turned out to be my protector. And as if Fate didn't have enough fun with me just yet, it decided to have me mated to a werewolf. Never did I imagine this to happen, yet here I am, in the middle of a battle that concerning a powerful supernatural being that wanted me for selfish reasons.
How my life made a complete turn from the peaceful one I had grown up to is just beyond me.
But I know things happen for a reason. I strongly believe in that. Which is why I'm trying to get myself to accept that this is my life now. And I also have faith that this 'storm' will pass soon.
Despite all the bad things that happened in a short course of time I've known who I really am, I'll never trade those good things that occurred as well. Because I know I'll never have it any other way.
Now, I have to fight to keep those people that are dear to me safe.
I just have to find the courage.
"Ash get on my back, quick." Connor suddenly said, snapping my attention to him.
I sighed in relief after knowing he's alright.
"Now, Ash. We don't have much time." He ushered hurriedly as he gave the enemy a wary look.
I frowned a little.
"What about Arthur? I can't just leave him." I told him incredulously.
Suddenly, Azrael let out an evil laugh, causing me to shrink in fear from where I stood.
"Seriously, even if you run and hide I'll still find you. Where ever it is on the planet, I will always find you. Because no one, and I mean no one, can stop me from getting what I want." The devil said with the same evil glint shining in his dark eyes.
He laughed aloud once again, which made me whimper behind my mate, Arthur.
"This is entertaining and all, but the time's almost come. So I'm just gonna steal your mate for a bit. I promise to return him to you unscathed when I'm done." He said teasingly to Arthur with a wicked smile on his face. "Or not. If he's still alive, that is." He said as he let out another malicious laugh before vanishing to thin air, leaving black smoke in his wake.
A vicious growl rumbled loud and powerful from Arthur's chest as he looked around, both he and Connor are on high guard as Azrael decided to hide. The same menacing laugh echoed all throughout the forest as if he's everywhere, making it harder for us to pinpoint where he really is.
Arthur and Connor then decided to circle themselves around me for better protection. Both of them standing on high alert for when Azrael decides to show up. I crouched low as I held onto Arthur's fur like my life depended on it. Pleasurable sparks flew once again at the contact, making me sharply take a huge amount of air. I could never get used to the sensation of how it felt and how it traveled all through me. Arthur momentarily turned to face me and met my eyes. There I saw the fear mirroring my own, causing a tear to slip from my eyes that I didn't know had built up.
As if telling me everything's going to be alright soon, Arthur licked the tear away with a loving nudge on my cheek. He then went to defensive mode once again, looking around for any sign of Azrael's presence.
I was visibly trembling from the overwhelming feeling of fear that all I could do at that moment was hold on to Arthur and Connor's soft furs for support. Azrael's menacing laugh continued to echo all around us. Taunting us even more.
Suddenly, Connor was yanked away from the little circle both he and Arthur had formed to protect me.
"Connor!" I called in obvious alarm with a strained voice as black smoke was left visible in Azrael's wake as he continued to drag Connor away. And suddenly, his pained cry and whines were all I could hear as they both disappeared into the thick lush trees. And since it was pretty much almost midnight, only the light from the moon was the only source of illumination.
I was about to go to his aid but Arthur stopped me in place. Connor's cries turned desperate as it continued on, causing my heart to constrict at the sound. I wanted to go to him and help him, but with Arthur keeping me restrained, all I was able to do at that moment was listen to Connor being tortured by Azrael in the darkness of the woods. I felt even more helpless when his voice resonated full of agony, making me whimper and sob even harder.
"Connor!" I called once again as his cries slowly died down, intensifying my fear of me losing him.
I turned to my mate with the desperate plea visible on my face.
"We have to go help him. Please!" I begged. "He's hurting."
Before Arthur could react, Azrael's all-too-familiar evil laugh boomed through the woods before he slowly emerged and showed himself to us once more. His hands were covered in blood which I immediately knew came from Connor. I stared at his hands as blood dripped and fell to the forest ground making me gasp as the red substance started to haunt me.
"What did you do to him?" I yelled angrily towards the devil who only smirked in response. My anger spiked at his smirking face before my eyes landed back to his blood-covered hands.
"Nothing drastic, sweety, I promise." He said in a sickeningly sweet way, making me want to just rip him to shreds. "I only ended his misery. So instead of getting mad at me, you should thank me." He added with the same smirk on his face.
"You're a monster!" I yelled at him as my eyes started brimming with tears.
I know he's lying. I can still feel Connor through our link. I know he's alive. But I'm also afraid he won't have much time if we didn't go and help him.
His heartbeat was slowing down, telling me the impending truth that I might lose him for good if I didn't do anything.
And so I did what I think was best.
"Dad." I cried. "Connor's badly hurt, I need you to go help him and get him out of here, please," I called through our newly built link.
"What? What's going on? Are you hurt?" He asked with haste while sounding distressed.
"I'm okay. I just need you to go to Connor and fast. He's badly hurt by Azrael and I don't think he'll last long without help." I pleaded as I kept my gaze focused on Azrael's annoying, smirking face.
"I have to get you to safety first. That's my priority." He replied.
"And then what? If I did get out of here, Azrael will still find me. He'll hurt more and more people in the process just to get me back and I know he'll never stop until he gets what he wants." I cried to him.
"We'll find another way, son. I'm sure we will." He reasoned out.
"I've already had so many people sacrifice their own well being as well as their own lives just to keep me safe, Dad. I think it's time I do my part." I told him.
"If you do this, you might get hurt. Both you and your unborn child. It's too risky, Ash." My father said as I felt his fear as well as sadness. "I... I don't want to lose you again when I just got you."
"I'll make sure the baby and I will be fine. And don't worry, you won't lose me. I promise you that." I told him with obvious determination in my voice. "I just have to finish what Azrael had started."
"By how you sounded, it seems like there's no way I can ever change your mind." He stated defeatedly.
"This has to be done. All of these happened because Azrael wanted me for his own selfish reasons. Which is why I should be the one to end this."
I just have to believe that I can.
"Be careful." He said sounding genuinely scared and worried for me.
I took in a huge intake of breath.
"I will," I replied before closing the link.
I kept my gaze straight at Azrael, my mind was racing with all the possible outcomes that might happen if I did go against him. The possibilities that all of these could go horribly wrong. And if I mess up, It will probably cost me or my baby's life, or worse, both of us.
"You still don't fully embrace who you are, love. That's why you're scared. You don't trust yourself with what you're capable of, that's why you're tightly holding yourself back."
My mother's words suddenly rang through my head, causing me to ball my hands into fists.
"I know there's a lot of things bothering your mind with what exactly are you, and I completely understand that. But you won't find answers if you don't let yourself be free. It's a part of self-discovery, my love. And after self-discovery comes the answers, and when you get the answers you've been looking for, come the lessons. And those lessons will help you be the better version of yourself. I know it's hard, but there's nothing wrong with trying."
I balled my hands into fists much tighter as her words continued to echo inside my head.
I don't want to hurt anyone dear to me if I did let myself out of control. I almost did earlier when I let Ariah take over fully. And I fear that, that was only the tip of what I'm capable of.
"You're the only one who had the power to find the answers you've been searching for. And you're the only one who can free yourself. It's just a matter of courage, my dear love."
Shaking my head from the thoughts that had come swarming, and flooding my thoughts, I focused my attention back to Azrael who has now started to circle me and Arthur. His eyes calculating with the same menacing glint it always possesses.
Arthur growled next to me as he eyed Azrael carefully.
>Shift, Ash. You'd be more agile in our wolf form.< Ariah spoke suddenly.
Not even bothering taking off my clothing, I quickly shifted to my wolf. The sensation was alien to me, but I still managed. And after landing on all fours, my gaze immediately landed on to Azrael before I let out a growl I hope was intimidating enough to faze him a bit.
His eyes then scanned my body, making me growl at him even louder.
"The glorious crescent moon on your fur. It really is magnificent." Azrael said in amazement as he kept his stare on my shoulder where the said mark was.
I growled at him again, in which he chuckled in amusement.
"That's adorable." He sneered with his eyes full of malice and darkness.
It only shows that there's definitely no light left in him. He's fully consumed with the darkness that it would be impossible for the light to penetrate. I honestly thought that even with how evil he was, there's still a chance I could save him. But after seeing the selfish desires and darkness he possesses, I know saving him was a lost cause.
And before I could even manage to blink, I saw him charging towards me with unimaginable speed.
**Arthur's POV**
Time seemed to have slowed down as I watched Azrael charge towards my mate who was standing right next to me. He was incredibly fast that it was hard to catch what he was about to do. But at that very moment, I knew one thing he's set on doing and that is to get Ash.
Time is also running out with midnight closing in which is why I'm starting to get desperate with how I'm going to get my mate away from Azrael.
Before he could land a damaging blow towards Ash, I leap off the ground and collided with Azrael mid-air. We both landed back on to the forest ground with a thud. Azrael immediately regaining his balance as he stood back up. Shaking off my fur from fallen leaves and branches, I went to stand back on my feet, once again back to an aggressive-defensive stance.
Azrael's dark eyes snapped at me before turning to look at my shocked mate. His smirk once again returning back to his face as he saw Ash's state.
Growling, Azrael's attention turned to me once more. His eyes calculating me as he stood there.
"You know quite well that this play fight is hopeless." He said with an amazed smile. "So why don't you save your precious energy and hand Ash to me? Maybe if you do that, I'd reconsider sparing your pathetic life after I'm done getting back what I need." He stated, causing me to let out another vicious growl.
"I'll take that as a no." He said sounding nonchalant. "Sucks to be you then." He added before lunging towards me in a flash, catching me off guard.
Another vicious growl erupted but it didn't belong to me but from my mate. He easily matched Azrael's speed before he locked his jaws onto the devil's arm and they both crashed down on to the ground.
Ash immediately shook his head vigorously with Azrael's arm still in my mate's mouth.
"Let go of me you little mutt." Azrael gritted out as he made a move on to grabbing Ash by the scruff. But before he could manage, Ash's crescent moon mark on his shoulder suddenly illuminated followed by his eyes. And slowly, steam started to trickle out of Ash's mouth that still held Azrael's arm.
Azrael then let out a scream of pain as a white streak of light traveled up on to his arm, then to his shoulder, before it slowly burned the side of his jaw. And without a warning, black smoke evaporated off of Jordan whom Azrael used as his Physical form. He stood a good distance away from Jordan's unconscious self as well as Ash.
Azrael was holding his arm where Ash bit him. Which, by the looks of it, was severely injured. How my mate managed to do it, I would never know.
I went to take a good look at Azrael's real form and what I noticed first was his wings. They were all black, matching Azrael's devilish self and demeanor. He was heaving badly as he held on to his arm which was dripping with black looking substance I'm guessing is his blood.
Ash stepped forward as he blocked Jordan's view from Azrael. His whole aura changed from earlier. Both his eyes were still shining brightly along with his crescent mark.
"We're not done yet." Was what Azrael said before vanishing to nothingness. Once again leaving a thick black smoke in his wake.
Once Ash was certain he was gone, he turned his attention back to Jordan's seemingly lifeless form. His slow breathing was the only giveaway that he's still alive... well, barely.
Ash then went to lick on to Jordan's wounds which immediately closed after a few laps, causing me to watch in astonishment after I shifted back to human form. When my mate was done closing all Jordan's wounds and not even one scar was visible, he then slowly gave the guy's cheek a little nudge, causing Jordan to let out a low groan. Ash huffed before his brightly shining eyes slowly died down back to his original color, his mark following suit.
After he saw that Jordan's breathing was now normal, he slowly sat down with his eyes still trained at the unconscious guy.
"How did you do that?" I finally asked after a full minute that I just stood there astounded with what I saw.
My mate's gaze turned to me. And as if just noticing I was there, his eyes seemed to have lit up with happiness. He then shifted back to human form, which I easily took advantage of as I stared at his body. Specifically, his stomach which was still flat. He's still as beautiful as the first time I laid my eyes on him. Even with the obvious scratches and minor bruising here and there, he's still the most gorgeous being my eyes had the honor of seeing. And I guess I'm just that lucky because he also happens to be my f*cking mate.
After he completely shifted, he then went to cover himself with whatever was left of his clothing that was ripped into pieces.
He was sporting a light blush on his cheek. Even when there's barely any light anymore, I could still clearly see it. And boy do I miss it so f*cking much.
I miss seeing him. I miss HIM.
"I can't believe it's really you." I breathed out as I slowly advanced my way towards him.
His eyes met mine, and I could almost feel myself getting overtaken by my emotions that all these times I have kept bottled up.
Once I was close enough, I went to cup his cheeks. Instantly, after my palm touched the softest skin of his cheek, sparks erupted like crazy, as if fireworks during the fourth of July, as it traveled all through me. And seeing how my mate reacted, I'd say he felt the same.
I couldn't help the smile from showing on my face as Ash held on to my arm.
"And I also can't believe it's really you," Ash said with tears slowly brimming in his eyes.
I snaked my other arm around his waist, pulling him as close as possible to me. Then I bent my head down to snuggle my face into his neck, inhaling his scent that I dearly missed.
"I'm never gonna let you out of my gaze ever again," I said, making him shiver slightly as my breath tickled his neck.
"I'm sorry." He whispered apologetically.
"What are you sorry for?" I asked him as I gave the area where his neck and shoulder meet a tender kiss.
''If I wasn't so trusting and stupid, none of these would have happened." He said, referring to the time when Azrael took him.
I shook my head as I pulled away from the confines of his neck.
"It was never your fault. You were deceived by Azrael." I reasoned out to him as I held his cheeks.
"But I should've known better than to easily trust someone. My stupidity caused all of these to happen." He stated as tears streamed from his eyes down his cheeks, but I wiped them all. "I'm the reason why innocent lives were lost." He added.
"I have to finish this." He said with a low voice, causing me to frown. "I'm the one he's after, so I should be the one to end this." He stated as he looked up to meet my eyes.
I shook my head.
"No. I can't let you do that. It's too risky." I told him stubbornly.
"Arthur, pleas..."
"No!" I spoke a little louder. "You're pregnant with our child and I can't let anything bad happen to you or our baby. So no. I'm not letting you."
He placed his soft hand onto the side of my face.
"Just trust me on this." He said, but I shook my head stubbornly once again.
"I do trust you, Bunny. But I just can't risk having you and the baby getting hurt." I told him worriedly.
"I won't."
"How'd you know you won't get hurt?"
He shook his head slightly. "I don't. But I just want you to trust me that I won't."
I sighed heavily as I went back to hide my face into his neck.
"I'm not letting you face that monster alone. If you really have to do this then we're going to do this together. As mates." I told him with a voice not allowing for any more arguments.
He shook his head once again.
"I can't." He said, which made me pull away and look at him with a frown.
I was about to protest when a voice interrupted us.
"You're going to need each other if you want to end this madness, pup." A tall figure slowly approached. Once the moon's rays shone on their face, I saw it was Matthias.
"Dad!" My mate exclaimed before running towards them and giving his 'Dad' a hug. "You're okay." He told him. "How is he?" He asked obviously referring to Connor.
"He's badly injured." The guy said. "I need to get him to Linux's packhouse for medical attention fast."
And one by one, wolves from both Linux and I's pack, as well as some from Matthias', have burst out of the trees.
"Alpha, boy am I glad you're alright," Chandler said in relief.
"How are you doing as well as the guys?" I asked, in need of reassuring that I didn't lose anyone, or at least not as much as what I'm afraid it to be.
"We're doing fine. Exhausted, but fine." He said as he turned to look at his fellow pack members. "We lost six of our pack members though. Hopefully, that's all it is." He said with a hushed voice.
"How are we handling the rogues so far?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Our men along with Linux and Matthias' pack are finishing up the remaining once. We also have surrenderees as well. One of them admitted to know Ash." He said making me slowly nod my head.
"Do you know the name?" I asked.
He nodded his wolf head with his eyes still trained at me. My attention once again back to my mate who was currently checking his protector's injuries.
"Jacob. Jacob Sullivan, he said."
I nodded my head at him.
"Very well. Order some men to take him back into the pack for further interrogation once we get back. For now, focus on finish up the job while my mate and I handle the main boss." I told him with my eyes still trained at my mate.
He bowed his head in respect.
"Yes, Alpha."
After he went to tell his men what I just ordered him to do, he was once again off to finish the task.
I went towards my mate and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. He whipped his head at me with a worried look on his face.
"They need to get to Linux's pack soon, Arthur. Connor's heartbeat is slowing down. His healing isn't helping him at all. Whatever Azrael did to him, gave him great damage." Ash said erratically.
"I've had a tip that rogues are patrolling a couple of miles from Linux's pack borders. His warwolves are on high alert if in case they decide to attack. If we travel to his pack, chances are, we might get ambushed on the way." Matthias said.
"Then bring a good amount of men with you," I suggested.
"But what about you guys?" He asked with a frown. "You're gonna need all the help you can get. Azrael's strong and you shouldn't underestimate that." He added with a stone-cold look on his face.
"We'll be fine, Dad. Just take Connor as well as Jordan to Linux's pack. Please." Ash basically pleaded his father.
Matthias stared at his son for a brief moment before sighing.
"But promise me you'll be careful." Ash's Dad said sternly.
My mate nodded before giving Matthias a hug.
"I promise." He whispered into his Dad's chest before pulling away.
After calling fifteen men to go with him, they're finally off towards Linux's packhouse. I turned to look at my mate with a small confusion showing on my face.
"I saw you heal Jordan earlier, why can't you do the same with Connor?" I asked curiously.
He looked down on to his hands before looking back up at me. The confusion was also visible in his eyes.
"That's the thing, I don't know how I did it. It just kind of happened." Was all he said.
I see he still needs to figure out what he's capable of. But I'm sure he'll figure everything out soon. I hope.