赤裸裸的滑稽故事

“You... what!? How could you make such a ridiculous oath!� Ashleigh shouted, standing from her place on the couch.

Axel did not reply. He only looked at her with the same guarded expression. Not showing her shame or confidence. He was neutral.

“Axel!� she shouted. “Answer me!�

“I don’t owe you any explanations,� he replied.

“Yes, you do!� She growled. “I am not asking you to answer me as your sister. I am demanding that you answer me as the Luna of Summer!�

Axel’s expression changed just slightly. A darkening in his eyes told Ashleigh what she already knew. No alpha liked to be challenged.

Ashleigh took a confident step toward him.

“Explain why the Alpha of Summer is risking his life while you stay here and hide. While your men are sent out into the war, risking themselves daily, how could you vow to stay here!�

Axel still did not respond, but she could see that he was agitated. His hand was curled into a tight fist, and his jaw was clenched. It was clear to her that whatever the reason he made the vow, it wasn’t his idea.

Then it hit her. Of course, it wasn’t his idea.

Ashleigh scoffed and narrowed her eyes at her brother.

“This is Alice,� she said softly.

Axel looked up at her, his eyes held a warning, and she knew she must have been right.

“You don’t know what you are talking about,� Axel growled.

“She demanded this oath of you, didn’t she?� Ashleigh scoffed again. “She made you promise to stay in Winter with her. I cannot believe that you would put her wants above the needs of Winter! Of all werewolves!�

“You think that I make my decisions about this pack based on the wants and needs of my mate?� Axel asked.

“I think that is pretty clear,� Ashleigh replied. Seeing the anger in his eyes, her confidence was shaken, but she clung to what little remained and straightened her back to face him.

“That is... interesting to hear from you of all people,� he said, leaning back in his chair and narrowing his eyes at her.

“What is that supposed to mean?� Ashleigh asked.

“You and Caleb,� he replied.

“What about us?�

“You accuse me of the very thing the two of you are guilty of.�

“What?� Ashleigh replied with indignation. “That’s not true.�

“Oh?� Axel asked, leaning forward and placing his elbows on his desk. “When our packs were still on unfriendly terms, and you were still engaged to another, Caleb brought an elite group of soldiers from Summer to Winter to protect you.�

“He saved Winter that night!� Ashleigh shouted angrily.

“Yes, and we are grateful,� Axel replied. “But it was not in his pack’s best interest, just yours.�

Ashleigh growled.

“That is nothing like this!� she shouted.

“How many times has Caleb given complete control of Summer to his mother or Galen to be by your side?�

Ashleigh swallowed. He was right. Over the past year, Caleb had relied more and more on Fiona and Galen to help with his tasks in managing Summer. But it couldn’t have been just because of her, could it?

“He trusts them. Since when is it bad to believe in the people around you?� Ashleigh replied defensively. “It wasn’t always about me. He needed to gather allies for this war. You were out there too!�

Axel nodded.

“And if you ask any of those allies what the most important thing in Caleb’s life is, they will all answer the same.�

Ashleigh swallowed.

“Summer,� she said.

“His wife,� Axel replied.

Ashleigh looked away, feeling angry at his implications.

“He is a strong and capable leader. I am not questioning his devotion to his people Ashleigh,� Axel continued. “I am saying that loving your mate doesn’t mean you can’t be a good leader too.�

She clenched her jaw and looked back at him. He looked at her with confidence, and it filled her with frustration.

“That and this... they are not the same thing!� she shouted. “I would never ask him to make an oath as selfish as the one that Alice asked of you!�

Axel growled.

“Ashleigh, I am warning you....� Axel growled.

“Please, Ashleigh, stop,� Corrine said.

“No!� Ashleigh shouted.

“Ashleigh, please,� Corrine tried again. “You really don’t know what you are saying.�

Ashleigh shook her head.

“This is all about whatever Alice went through to save Myka,� Ashleigh continued. “Whatever the cost was that has her so upset. I understand that she is in pain and wants to be comforted by her mate.�

Ashleigh noticed the way that Axel’s body stiffened. He was angry.

“But this is too far. We all suffer and sacrifice but preventing you from joining the war is insane! And you agreeing to it....� Ashleigh scoffed. “I knew when you insisted on staying with her that you had made a bad choice. One that would hurt Winter eventually. But I never realized just how stupid and selfish you really are!�

Axel stood from his chair with a force that flung it crashing against the wall as his fists slammed into the desk with a cracking sound.

“You go too far!� he snarled at Ashleigh.

Ashleigh swallowed nervously. Suddenly, faced with his rage, she lost all her confidence.

“In Moonguard, you saw the monsters that the infection would create, but now, because of Alice, we have a way to save not just Myka but all the other wolves from such a fate. Do you know how she did that?�

Ashleigh was unable to speak.

“She took the infection into herself to slow the process inside of Myka. But because of her human genetics, Alice has natural immunity, so it didn’t and won’t change her. So instead, the infection will always lie dormant inside of her.�

Axel’s cold gaze sent a shiver down Ashleigh’s spine.

“You and I,� Axel whispered, “are the only ones that cannot be inoculated against the infection. Because the Dark Queen used my DNA to create it....�

Ashleigh heard the quiet pain in his voice as he spoke, but she understood too late why it was there.

“I, her mate, am the one person on this earth with whom Alice can never have a child,� Axel said, with angry tears escaping his eyes.

Ashleigh gasped.

“Axel...�

“If we ever conceive, the infection inside of her will violently attack our child and possibly kill her in the process,� he continued.

Despite himself, Axel sniffled and let out a pained breath. He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes.

“The only thing she has ever asked for herself is to have a family with me,� he whispered. “And now, after learning the cost, she has asked for something else. To wait until after the war before she has her ovaries removed.�

Ashleigh felt the tears roll down her cheeks, and a soft sob escaped her lips.

“Alice has not made me do anything for her. The only comfort she has sought from me is to hold her and pretend that I don’t know how heavy her heart is or that she cries late into the night, every night.�

Axel suddenly felt very tired. He let out a heavy breath and relaxed his shoulders, allowing them to slouch forward as his weariness grew.

“Axel... I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I never meant to–“

“I know,� he whispered. “You never do.�

Ashleigh sniffled.

“But sometimes, you turn your ignorance to the suffering of everyone else around you into a weapon,� he sighed.

Axel took another deep breath.

“I have nothing else to say,� he whispered, pushing away from his desk. He turned to leave the room.

He looked back at his mother when he reached the door, she nodded, and he returned the nod before leaving them alone.

Ashleigh let out a soft sob and moved to the couch.

“It’s horrible,� she whispered. “And I’m sorry for them, but....�

She paused, looking up at Corrine.

“I still don’t think it’s a good enough reason for him to have agreed to stay out of the war.�

Corrine sighed and then approached her daughter, sitting down beside her.

“Ashleigh,� she said. “Alice isn’t the one that asked Axel for an oath.�

“What?�

Corrine smiled.

“I am.�