His Flamed Luna

Rescued

    ~Ember's P.O.V.~
       The King looked livid and I felt my heart slamming in my chest, his scent filling my nose so thickly I could barely breathe. Zara whimpered out from the back of my mind, still weak from the wolfsbane poisoning. 
             "So her name," The King spoke slowly. "Is Ember."
        Thomas was tense, his hand snaked around my waist somewhat possessively. "Yes your Majesty."
             "Let go." 
             "Sorry?"
             "Your hands are on her. Let go."
        By now, all the Omegas were staring at me and the King, confused and terrified. They clearly wondered if I'd done anything to anger his royalness. Thomas dropped his hands and looked at the King. 
              "Ember."
         He had spoken my name and it made my body shudder involuntarily. It sounded like music being spoken with his voice and I lifted my gaze slowly to meet his. His eyes were a dark brown, swirling with mystery, and I wanted to dive deeper into his chapters. I wanted to know this man.
              "Yes, your Majesty?" I bit my tongue, cursing myself for letting my voice tremble.
          His eyes flashed with an emotion I couldn't read or sense, but he held out a hand partially. "Come here."
          His tone was commanding and yet gentle, as if he were talking to a child. I walked over carefully, not wanting to trip and trying not to give notice to the many, many eyes locked on me. When I was by his side, his hand took mine carefully, sparks flying through me. His touch was much more captivating and mesmerizing than Thomas' had been. If he takes me home, I won't waste time in mating with him to secure our bond. 
               "Thomas, we have spoken our business. Come tonight, I will have taken my leave before the storm," His voice was low and smooth, calming for me and fear enticing for others. 
               "You're not staying?" Thomas sounded shocked. 
               "No. And Ember is going to leave with me."
          Thomas' eyes grew angry and he stood. "She is an Omega of this pack."
               "She is my mate," The King retorted.
               "There's no way!" Ezekiel laughed.
          A growl tore from the King's throat, making my pack members shrink away in terror. Thomas himself looked mortified as he looked at me.
                 "She is my mate," Thomas spoke clearly, his eyes turning back to the King.
                 "Is she now?" He asked silkily. "If that were true, then she wouldn't be an Omega, nor would she be my mate. You rejected her."
           Thomas' face fell with guilt and regret and I felt a twinge of satisfaction. I pressed closer to my mate, relishing in the sparks that danced around my body so welcomingly. His arm snaked around my waist in a rather possessive hold and his brown eyes flashed golden, a snarl escaping him. 
                  "It was an honest mistake," Thomas challenged.
             I bared my teeth, suddenly furious. "You marked me and then rejected me!" 
             Thomas flinched and the snarl that rumbled in my mate's chest deepened. "You did what."
                  "I was wrong to reject her," He interjected desperately. "Ember, please, give me a chance!"
                  "No. I already accepted your rejection. You let me be beaten and raped for over a week!" I shrieked at him, suddenly having hot tears spill over my cheeks. "You left me to die for saving this pack from an unworthy, deadbeat Luna!" 
              Thomas' nostrils flared at that. "You killed the named Luna! That's a criminal offense!"
              The King slammed his fist on the table, making the room fall completely silent and still. "Enough. I am taking my mate and leaving." 
             Thomas looked as if he were about to protest, but shut his mouth and sat back down. Without a word, I turned with my mate who led me out of the dining hall.

     ~Ashton's P.O.V.~
          I took Ember's hand and led her to the room where I'd had my things. If what she said was true, I refused to allow her to remain here one more day. Beaten and raped? My mate looked as if she was stronger than she was giving off, the wolfsbane in her system was clearly doing a number on her as most of her injuries were clearly unhealed. I was livid. 
               "You know my name," She spoke up. I turned to look at her, my thoughts broken. 
               "You don't know mine?" I asked in disbelief. 
           She shook her head. I blinked at her. 
                "Would I ask if I knew?"
                "You didn't exactly ask," I pointed out, half annoyed and half amused by her smart-ass comment. 
           I heard her sigh and my heart lurched. Had I done something wrong? 
                  "Is something the matter?"
                 "What am I supposed to call you?" Ember looked at me, her head tilted slightly. Even with the bruises littering her face she looked beautiful. Sexy even.
            The question she asked left my mind a mess. 'Babe', 'Darling', something? I was her mate after all, did she not have any idea of what to say? Based on what she claimed Alpha Thomas has done, I realized there was no way she'd understand what mate-ship was. He had destroyed this for her. Grey whined in my head and I knew his heart was aching for our mate.
                  "Well, my name is Ashton," I informed her, trying to make sure my tone wasn't sharp. Her blue eyes were locked on me and I stared into them, lost in the web that starred out in the middle. 
                  "So I call you Ashton?" She cocked her head to the opposite side and I felt my heart stop. Goddess does my name sound good leaving her mouth. 
              I joined her side and took her hand, breathing in sharply as the sparks lit up once again at our contact. It was a wonderful feeling and I loved it. "You could, or you could address me as most mates address each other."
              Ember gave me a blank stare, as if I'd just confused her entirely or as if she couldn't register what had been said. I swallowed uncomfortably. She was too calm and comfortable around me and I wasn't used to the presence of a woman who made my heart race or even a woman that made me feel the slightest bit at home. 
                   "Ashton," She began and my heart jumped again. Grey howled in delight. "I don't know what it's like to be mated, to be wanted, or to even be able to trust. Please take my willingness to give you a chance as my mate seriously."
              I could tell from her words alone she was indeed no Omega. She was a strong wolf with a strong personality and exactly the person I needed beside me as my mate, my Queen and my wife.  I nodded slowly and rested my head on her shoulder, pressing my nose to her cheek gently. The way she seemed to melt into me only made me sure that she was set on having me as her mate. Good, I don't ever want to lose her. 
                   "Once we get home," I breathe out. "We can settle everything for ourselves. Can you wait that long?"
                I looked into her eyes and saw them brighten. "Yes, I can wait that long. But I don't want to be here for too much longer. I can smell Thomas coming."
                I nodded briskly and took my bag along with her hand and marched out of the room, making sure to keep a tight hold on her. Ember didn't seem to mind the power behind my grip as we hurried down the stairs of the packhouse, her body as close to mine as it could be without us toppling over. I caught sight of Alpha Thomas leaving the dining hall and I made my way to the door of the house, not wanting another encounter with the man. I knew for a fact I would tear him apart if he so much as dared speak to me. I didn't risk the chance as I practically dragged Ember behind me and to the car where my replacement driver sat at the ready. Without a single word exchange, she got in the car and I threw my bag in the trunk, getting in beside her and nodding to my driver, who instantly took off down the road going no less than ninety. 
                     "Let's get home and then figure it out," I murmured, pressing my face to her neck and breathing in her scent. 
                    "Okay, Ashton," She breathed out, leaning into me in turn, showing she was indeed comfortable in my presence.