Chapter 2 Yes, That One

Ashley's POV

Murphy grinned mischievously, and I did not need to be told that she was planning to set me up against my sister.

“Crystal said you should hurry. Her mates are waiting for her, and her luggage still isn't packed.” Murphy widened her yellow-stained teeth into a cruel smile.

Crystal must have mind-linked her. I needed to hurry.

I stepped toward her slowly. Once I was close enough, I reached for the dress, determined to take it by force if I had to. But Murphy was faster.

She shoved me violently toward the burning cooker, the dress still clutched in my hands.

She pressed me against it with all her strength and held me there until she saw smoke rising from the fabric.

“What have you done, Ashley?”

She suddenly pulled away from me and stared at the burnt dress in my hands, her eyes widening as if she was completely shocked.

“Murphy…” My voice faltered as I stared at the ruined dress. “You did this. I thought you were Crystal's friend.”

“Jealous bitch!” she spat before bursting into laughter. “Do you really think Crystal is going to believe you?”

As I stared at her, I could not help wondering whether Murphy was truly Crystal's best friend or secretly her worst enemy, waiting for the perfect opportunity to ruin her life.

How could someone do this to her own best friend?

I wished Crystal could see Murphy for who she truly was.

“Crystal said to get your dirty ass down there now!”

I clenched my jaw, gave Murphy one last cold look, and walked out.

“What happened?” Tina asked as soon as I got into the car, the burnt dress still smoking in my hands.

“Murphy… she burnt it. It was all my fault. I should have waited for her in the living room.”

“She is trying to set you up so you'll be punished. That evil friend. She needs to learn a lesson.” Tina's expression hardened.

She made a move to step out of the car, but I quickly grabbed her arm.

“Don't, Tina. Please. That will only make things worse for me. Let's just go.”

She ignored me and stepped out anyway.

“Whether I do something or not, you're still going to be punished. At least this way, she gets what she deserves.”

Tina was furious. She hated it whenever anyone bullied me or deliberately hurt my feelings.

I quickly ran after her as she marched toward the door. Before she could knock, Murphy opened the door.

“You think you can keep bullying her?”

Tina did not give her a chance to speak. She grabbed her and dragged her outside before throwing punch after punch at her until she was satisfied.

Then she dragged me back to the car, and we drove away.

Throughout the drive home, I did not say a word to Tina.

I appreciated that she had stood up for me, but I knew exactly what punishment I would face because of what she had done to Murphy.

When we arrived at the house, I went straight to Crystal's room.

She was sitting at her vanity, already completely dressed and glammed up for the day.

I stood at the doorway, my hands tightening around the dress as I tried to figure out how to explain what happened, even though I already knew she would believe I had done it deliberately to hurt her.

“So you really chose today to embarrass me?”

Crystal's voice came out sharp the moment she noticed me.

“Am I the reason you're a filthy, helpless maid?”

She rose from her seat and marched toward me.

“ Alpha Crystal, I…”

“Murphy already told me what you did. You don't need to explain.”

She stopped directly in front of me, wearing a smile that did not reach her eyes.

That smile meant she had already decided how she was going to punish me.

There was no point explaining myself. Crystal would never believe me.

“Go to my bathroom and take out my dirty clothes. I'm not punishing you today. I don't want anything ruining my mood before I leave with my mates.”

Her voice was sweet, but I knew every bit of it was fake.

I grew up with Crystal. I knew her better than anyone.

She could be more heartless, vengeful, and cruel than any living creature could possibly be.

She was never the kind of person who let an insult or humiliation slide. Maybe she could forgive other people, but she never did that for me.

And I knew today would be no different.

I quietly dropped the burnt dress on a chair and walked into the bathroom.

I looked around but could not find any dirty clothes.

I turned to leave, but before I could take a step, someone shoved me violently into the bathtub filled with hot water.

I screamed as the heat seared my skin.

When I looked up, Crystal stood over me with a smile as I struggled to climb out of the scorching water.

Just as I managed to lift myself high enough to escape, she shoved me back inside.

This time, anger surged through me.

I grabbed her and dragged her into the bathtub with me.

We struggled and fought inside the tub.

It was the first time I had ever fought back against my sister, and somehow, it felt satisfying.

We struggled violently inside the tub, neither of us willing to let go.

I held her down while I climbed out of the tub, watching as she struggled desperately to free herself as if she was drowning.

That day made me realize how powerless Crystal was against me without her wolf.

I released her and hurried out of the bathroom.

“Joke's on you, loser, Ashley! I'm an Alpha. I can heal! What do you have to say for yourself?” she shouted mockingly from the bathroom as I hurried toward my room.

My skin was red and burning hot, the pain sinking deep into my body.

The heat from the water seemed to have settled beneath my bones.

I sat on my small bed and wrapped my arms around myself, trying to figure out how to explain this mess to my mother.

A loud knock suddenly sounded on my door.

“Your mother wants you in her office right now, Ashley,” Victoria, one of the maids called from outside.

I believed Crystal had reported me.

I stood up and decided to go in my soaked short nightdress, the thin fabric clinging to my body so tightly that my nipples were almost visible through it.

Maybe, just this once, she would see what Crystal had done to me.

Though I knew she would take her side.

When I entered the office, the piercing gazes of the three evil men landed heavily on me.

I lowered my head, a deep wave of embarrassment washing over me.

I suddenly wished I had changed into something more appropriate before coming here.

I thought I was only going to meet my mother.

She usually received important guests in the grand hall, not inside her private office.

I kept my head lowered, but I could feel their eyes on my soaked body as water dripped onto the marble floor.

“Ashley?” My mother's voice sounded almost stunned.

“Yes, that one.”

I lifted my eyes and saw Ronan, the youngest of the three brothers, pointing directly at me.

I slowly turned toward my mother.

Her eyes glistened with that strange expression she wore whenever she was displeased about something but could not openly object.

Then her face was grew tight, revealing the fury burning beneath it.

Fear crawled through me.

Had the three men told her about what happened earlier?

Had they complained about the way I bumped into one of them and ran away?

“She is nothing but a low-life servant to the strongest Alpha alive!” My mother spat, barely bothering to hide her anger in front of the guests.

Her fist slammed against the desk as she rose to her feet, sweeping everything from the table and sending papers, her phone, and other items crashing onto the floor.

I flinched and stepped backwards, my body shaking – not from the cold in my body, but from the fear of what would come to me after her anger.

The three brothers remained seated, their expressions unreadable and completely unshaken by her outburst.

Then the man with the two-colored eyes finally spoke.

“Beta Selene Taylor, this contract is much more than a simple alliance between Deathveil and Blackthorn.

It will bind our packs through trade, territory, protection, resources, and military support. It will determine what each pack owes the other and secure Blackthorn's cooperation with Deathveil for years to come.”

His eyes shifted toward me.“And I am making this contract because of her.”

My heart skipped like it was going to tear me apart. I looked at him in confusion.

His eyes shifted back to my mother. “If you're not giving her to us, then you can forget about everything connected to this agreement.” He said with such finality that it was clear he had already made up his mind.

There was no room for argument, and my mother would not be able to change his decision.

“Kyle! That will never happen!”