Chapter 1054 Alpha Violet (11)
Valeria's eyes widened as she processed Violet's words.
"Mate? You and Ash?"
Valeria wanted to be happy for her cousin, but she couldn't stop the bitterness that swelled within her.
Valeria was the oldest one among cousins with the Moonrider bloodline, and she worked hard, yet she will never be a true Alpha with a pack. No matter how much their people respected and supported her father, the true Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack was Alpha Natalia Moonrider. With Talia being the official Alpha, Talia's oldest child was set to be the next Alpha.
How Valeria saw this, Violet had it all. Superior genes, talent, looks, and smarts, and now she also snatched Ashton.
Violet was younger, yet she had found her mate!
This was one more confirmation that Valeria always came second, at best.
Valeria hoped her mate would be someone like Ashton. He was tall, handsome, kind, and smart, with undeniable skills in strategizing. Everyone knew that Ashton had tremendous contributions in dealing with rogues, and Valeria spent many days fantasizing about him, yet here he was, with his arms around Violet.
Valeria forced a smile. "Congratulations."
Violet narrowed her eyes at her cousin. If Valeria thought that her fake smile fooled anyone, she was mistaken. Violet's pride didn't allow her to let this slide.
"There is no need to pretend, Val. If you want to let out some steam, I'm available and willing to whoop some respect into you."
Ashton's brows came together in disapproval. "Angel? Don't tell me you want to fight."
Violet looked up at him. "Val's hostility is tangible. It's better to let it out than to let it fester. If she disapproves of me being your mate, she is welcome to try proving she is better."
"No one is better than you," Ashton said. "My mate is not determined by how she fights or uses abilities. You are my mate because the Moon Goddess said so, and because you are the female I dreamed of for many lonely nights, and because..."
"Thank you, Ash," Violet interrupted him, her cheeks flaming red from embarrassment. It was one thing for him to be lovey-dovey when they were alone, but now they had an audience of several dozen pack members, Axel, Edgar, and Valeria. Those last three were her relatives!
Ashton thought she was adorable. "Don't interrupt me when I'm telling you we are perfect for each other, and if anyone doubts that, they will need to deal with me."
"I know that your feelings are true. I don't doubt them," Violet said. "However, others have doubts and need to be reminded not to wish for what's not theirs. If I can't defend my right to be by your side, I'm not worthy of being your mate. Wouldn't you think the same?"
Ashton took Violet's hand into his and played with her fingers. "I don't want you to strain yourself. I don't want you to get a bruise or a cut or anything that would mar your skin. It is my duty to protect you. If you believe someone needs to be taught a lesson, I will do it for you. Will you allow me that, my love?"
Violet was lost in Ashton's deep eyes, full of emotions, and she held her breath as he went down to his knees.
"As your mate, I have the right to be your champion," Ashton said for everyone to hear, and then he added through their mind link, 'If you deny me this, it will signal you don't see me as worthy of fighting for you. Do you want your people to think of me as a weakling who hides behind his mate?'
Violet was speechless. 'You are cheating, Ash.'
'Maybe,' he drawled. 'I will do anything and everything for you, Vi. If I can go down on my knees in front of an audience, a little cheating is nothing.'
"You want to fight me?" Valeria asked Ashton in disbelief.
"No," Ashton responded without turning to look at Valeria. "I want to fight instead of my mate. It is irrelevant who the opponent is."
Valeria smiled bitterly. Her pride was hurt. "You think you can match someone from the Moonrider family?"
Everyone from the Midnight Guardians pack had abilities, and even though Valeria was not mated and her abilities didn't reach their full potential, thanks to her mother's bloodline, she was able to perform way above the level of an Alpha. As children, Valeria and Violet would often end their fights with a tie. Ashton was not a match for someone from the Moonrider family, no matter how impressive his fighting accomplishments were. How Valeria saw this, her fighting Ashton would be like bullying a child.
Ashton got up to his feet and faced Valeria. He would kneel only to his mate. "Your bloodline doesn't matter. A worm or a God, if they understand. Until then, you will learn through experiences that if you challenge one mated person, you are challenging her mate as threaten my mate, I will be her weapon and her shield."
"Just because she is your mate?"
"Yes," Ashton responded flatly. "Once you find your mate, you will understand. Until then, you will learn through experiences that if you challenge one mated person, you are challenging her mate as well. Even if their defeat is certain, they will stand tall and do their best to protect what matters."
Ashton's every word was like a knife in Valeria's heart.
"This is between cousins. I have no interest in fighting you," Valeria said.
"How about we make it a double?" Edgar chimed in. Violet and Ashton were at a standstill, and Edgar wanted to finish his sparring. How he saw this, Ashton was not much of a problem, and Valeria could get her fight with Violet, and then they could get back to their sparring.
"Our first fight together," Violet said with a smile, and Ashton could feel her excitement. "Let's do this."
"Is using of powers allowed?" Valeria asked.
"Up to you," Violet responded. "As the unmated one, my abilities will put you at a disadvantage. But I don't mind going easy on you, like always."
Valeria sneered. "No need. Feel free to go all out. I'm sure I can handle it."
"Now, now, kids," Axel tried to defuse the situation, but he knew Valeria won't give up. Maybe it was time for her to learn the hard way. "Let me call Yasmin to set up proper barriers." If Violet and Valeria go all out, they might destroy the whole realm.
"As you wish," Violet said, and turned her attention to Ashton. "That gives us some time. Do you want me to show you around?"
"Is there a sight more beautiful than you?"
Violet giggled. "I don't know about beautiful, but it's definitely different. Come."
Valeria was fuming after Ashton and Violet. "Where are you going!?" Pack members swooning after Ashton and Violet only fueled her anger.
"Let them go," Axel said.
"They are disrespectful."
"Respect is earned, Val."
"Are you saying I don't deserve it?"
"Right now, no. They are a newly mated couple. You don't need to be happy for them, but you need to understand that they are adapting to the new bond, feeling vulnerable, and will be overprotective of each other. I know you don't get it because you didn't experience it, but a true Alpha learns and adapts without going through it herself."
Valeria lowered her head. She knew that Axel was right, and normally, she would be more patient and reasonable, but seeing Violet walk in proudly with Ashton by her side ignited all Valeria's insecurities at the same time, and she felt like an idiot. Was it too late to apologize and start again?
She glanced around. Too many people saw what happened, and if she backed down, people would label her as a weakling. It was better to fight and lose than to chicken out without giving it a try.
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