My Older Alpha Mate

chapter twenty one

Ashton's POV

The bags that found a home under my eyes became a common reoccurrence after my mate went missing. We would search for her nonstop during the sunlight hours and every night that resulted in the sun setting and returning to my bed without her made me feel weaker by the day. I explained to Jon that I was sure my twin had died years ago and that there was no way he could be behind this. I reassured Jon that my mate had not run away from me. That this was all a big misunderstanding.

After two weeks, it would not stop raining in the village. The sun never seemed to make an appearance anymore. I refused to wash my sheets because her scent still lingered carelessly on them. I would imagine her small figure, cuddling up close to me. Her soft scent of vanilla gently caressing my nose. My wolf felt weaker by the day. When I received the phone call from an unknown number, I am unsure what I expected. I immediately paged Jon and Jake to my office while I tried my best to function and grasp that Jax had my mate. Once my betas came into the room, we immediately began planning.

I was terrified of what Jax would do to win the unfortunate game he had been playing his entire life. Frustration pulsed through my veins as I never wanted to participate in his shenanigans. I would do whatever it took to see my mate again. I informed my guards but obeyed his commands. Jon kissed his mate goodbye and us three left to trek towards the coordinates I had received for the same night retrieval of my mate. "This is ridiculous, Ashton. What if he has an army waiting to slaughter us when we get there?! We need more time to plan," Jake rambled as we edged closer to the meeting point.

I tuned him out as the idea of my mate overruled anything he could summon. I needed her and I would do whatever it took to get her. We arrived early at the points, scoping out the area. Then we waited. Darkness crept over the forest and suddenly we heard footsteps approaching. We looked in every direction until we saw my twin brother, Jax emerging from the tree line. He held my mate bridal style and leaned down, dropping her onto the ground. She was blindfolded and handcuffed which made me furious. She appeared to be scared but physically okay, no visible wounds.

I let out a sigh of relief as I started approaching her. "Ah ah. Not so fast," Jak spoke, pulling out a sharp blade from his pocket and holding it too close to my mate. "Back up. Now," Jax spat at me. I gave him a face of rage but obeyed him, worried for my mate's well being. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Ashton the Great. Not so powerful now, are you? You know, I've dreamt of this moment for years but now that it's happening, it's so much better than I could have ever imagined. You look like shit," He laughed cockily and spoke like a movie villain.

He reached down to my mate and pulled off her blindfold showing her tear-stained eyes as she looked around, scared. She locked eyes with me and her tears began to fall faster as she pursed her lips. I inhaled sharply, looking at her alive. My beautiful mate was alive and I was going to get her back. Relief washed over me.

"There's something you haven't been telling Aurora, Ashton. Something I think you may want to tell her in a timely manner," He said, smirking then squatting to be eye level with my mate. Immediate confusion washed over me. "What are you talking about, Jax?" I asked, genuinely not understanding what he was saying.

"Tell her the truth about Ashley," Jax looked me in my eye and I felt my heart sink. I scolded the man who was my genetic duo in disgust. I pried my eyes to look at Aurora who stared at me, tears constantly running down her cheeks. I bit my lip and looked back at me betas who also gave me a confused look. "Jax..." I started, reaching my hand out.

"Do it or I promise you I will kill her," He never broke eye contact with me, tightening his grip on the blade pressed to my mate's neck. She whimpered and audibly begged me to just tell her. I grabbed a fist full of my hair before spitting out the words that followed the most uncomfortable silence I was ever forced to be present during.

"Ashley didn't have a miscarriage. I made her get rid of it... After she got rid of it, I forced her to leave the village because seeing her was a constant reminder," I finished, shaking my head but keeping a straight face. I didn't dare look at my mate. Only Jax. I was going to kill him.

"What else, Ashton?" Jax said, smiling now. I shook my head, "I don't know what you're talking about, Jax" I spat. "When's the last time you saw her?" I shook my head again, my thoughts clouding. There was no point in lying. He knew. I don't know how but he knew.

I immediately locked eyes with my mate who stared at the ground now, tears pouring from her eyes. "Baby, I'm so sorry. It meant nothing to me," I spoke softly to her. Jax removed the knife from her throat now, smiling. Aurora began shaking as she shook her head.

A crackle in the woods distracted us from the ordeal. We all turned to the direction of the disturbance to see Olivia walk from behind a tree. "Olivia! I told you not to come!" Jon's voice bones loudly from behind me.

Olivia shook her head and kept her eyes glued to the ground. "Oh, Olivia didn't tell you? She's a trained guard from my pack. She was playing you all," Jaz cackled dryly and gestured for her to come to him and she obeyed, avoiding eye contact with all of us.

Jax dropped the knife in Olivia's hands now. Jon whispered a 'no' from behind me and the world began to spin again. Nothing was going the right way.

"Jax, let's do this the right way. I challenge you to a dual for Alpha. If I win, I get my mate and you never come near me again." I growled loudly at him.

"If I win, I keep your mate forever and kill you in front of your pack," Jax smirked s as he crossed his arms cockily.

"Deal." I said confidently. I pray to the moon goddess that this goes the way I need it to.