Chapter 13 : F*ck Training Tonight

Vika's POV "Well, well, look who showed up," a voice said behind me. I squeaked, jumping around to face Asher. I pushed his shoulder. "You scared me!" I snapped. Asher just kept smirking. "Wanna have a walk first?" he asked, holding his arm out. I nodded and felt my cheeks heat up. The gardens were a complete labyrinth of pathways through hedges, flowers, and trees. Most of the flowers were closed at night, but a few night-blooming ones opened up in the moonlight. "Vika, Devi didn't do anything else to you today, did she?" Asher asked. I shook my head. I didn't know why Asher was so concerned. "I'm fine," I assured him. I fought the irritation that built in my chest. Did he think I couldn't take care of myself? That's why I had to keep training myself in fighting. It was the only way to protect myself and prove to others I could take care of myself. "Okay. I'm really sorry for my impulsive actions. I should have considered you before stepping in," he said. My irritation evaporated instantly. I smiled shyly and looked away from Asher again. Why was I still so bashful around him? 'Pull it together, Vika! You've got this! You don't have to be so squirrely around him. He's your mate!' I took a deep breath, but that didn't calm my racing heart. Being so close to Asher was exhilarating and confusing. I bit my lower lip and raised my eyes to his. I was strong. I could face my mate. "I want you to know it wasn't my idea to marry Devi," Asher said with a sigh. "I'm listening," I raised an eyebrow. He had told me he didn't like Devi. Why did he mention his engagement? Asher chuckled and shook his head. "My parents, especially my father, believed marriage would be beneficial for me. You know I hadn't found my mate in over eight years. I guess I sort of gave up, so I accepted their engagement." I sighed. Asher's confession made me really sad. I had always been there, just out of reach, but he couldn't know I was his mate until I turned 18. "It is so unfair," I said, stamping my foot. Maybe King Regent Vadon had his thoughts about arranging this engagement, but it still felt unfair for Asher. Asher stopped walking. He chuckled softly, apparently amused by my frustration. I sniffed and rolled my eyes. "I just mean that you should be allowed to choose who you marry, not the pack," I explained. "I agree," Asher said. He patted my hand, and we kept walking. "That's why I am going to break off the engagement." "What? Asher, can you even do that?" I asked, my eyes nearly popping out of my head. "I guess we'll find out." Asher shrugged. "It doesn't matter what the pack thinks anymore or what my father thinks. I know that I don't love Devi, and I'm not spending the rest of my life with her. Especially not now that I've met you." "Are you really willing to give up marrying a princess because you found your mate?" I asked. I looked sideways at Asher. He turned toward me. "You're definitely worth it to me." "But, Asher, I'm just a maid. You're a prince," I pointed out. "It is my life and my choice," Asher said with a firm nod. I cupped Asher's hands in mine and held them against my chest. His eyes were soft, his arms powerfully strong, and his lips so inviting. My breath trembled from just looking at him. Was I going crazy? Was it crazy to think that as Asher's mate, I was supposed to be more than just a maid? "Life and choice..." I repeated what he just mentioned. "It just seems like I should have more with my life, that I should be doing more," I said, turning away from Asher. "What do you mean?" Asher walked closer to me, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. "I don't wanna being the princess's maid," I confessed, shaking my head. "I want to train as a protector of the kingdom. There is so much more for me in life than being Devi's maid." Asher put his hands on my shoulders. His touch was warm. His breath on the back of my neck sent a shudder down my spine. I couldn't even think straight around him. "I agree," Asher whispered, his lips so close to my ear. I shuddered again, his hot breath tickling my ear. I giggled and pulled away. Every time he got that close, I just couldn't think. Was that what love felt like? "Keep training, Vika, and I'll help you. One day, I bet you'll do it," Asher said, grinning at me. His eyes brightened with pride and encouragement. My heart swelled in my chest. I couldn't remember the last time someone really believed in me. "Ever since I saw you on the training grounds the other night, I knew you were meant for great things. I saw how strong you were, and I was immediately attracted to you, even before you shifted," Asher said. "What did you see?" I asked, chewing my lower lip nervously. "I was mesmerized by your beauty," he said in a deep, husky voice. "What made you think I'm beautiful?" I asked coyly. I turned away from Asher and glanced at him over my shoulder. I saw his eyes light up, and he followed after me eagerly as I started walking. "That night, I saw you training...." Asher trailed off. "You were so graceful and beautiful, so talented and determined. I was captivated." I hung on to each word Asher said. No one had ever said anything so nice or romantic to me before. I squirmed inside my skin. "After you shifted and I knew you were my mate, I was grateful that the Moon Goddess destined me for someone like you," Asher murmured. "Are you grateful that your destined mate is an Omega?" I teased him, giggling. Asher cupped my cheeks in his hands. He studied my face with deep, serious eyes. I could feel him all the way into my bones. I smiled back, wrapping my arms around my fluttering stomach. I looked away from Asher. Every rumor I'd heard about him was true—his attractiveness, his kindness—but he was even better than I could have imagined. "You know, you're not half-bad yourself," I said, winking. Asher sighed playfully. "No?" he asked. I shook my head. "After all the rumors I'd heard, you were like the god of the pack. Everyone's fantasy. I was no exception," I admitted. "But those were just rumors," Asher said. I saw his brow crease. I shrugged. "I knew from that first morning in your room that they were all true," I said. I looked down at my feet, my cheeks burning. However, the more I realized how good he was, the more I suffered because of our identity gap. "You are something," Asher said. He cupped my cheeks, and I faced him again. "It doesn't matter," I said, looking away from his eyes. "It is useless for us to feel anything for each other." "Why?" Asher asked. "We are fated mates. Do you really think to Moon Goddess makes mistakes?" "No," I said. I shook my head. I tried to pull away, but Asher wouldn't let me. "Then, why can't we let ourselves feel this way toward each other?" he asked. "We are part of different worlds," I said, tears springing to my eyes. "We are both pack members. We both belong to the kingdom of Bitha. Our worlds aren't that different," he scoffed. 'Asher, you're Prince Regent. I'm a maid. Whatever we have, it will only ever be a fling with a maid.' I blinked my tears back. I hadn't said it aloud, but it felt like I was rejecting him. My heart ached, and my knees trembled. "A future Alpha and a lowly Omega, that is all we are to each other," I whispered. "No. The woman I love is not a maid. She's not an Omega. Her name is Vika, and she is one h*ll of a woman," Asher said. I brought my eyes to his. Bright with affection, he didn't waver as he looked at me. I swallowed into my dry throat. "Maid, Omega, those are just labels. They aren't who you are. I know who you are," Asher said. I licked my lips, unable to look away. My eyes pricked with tears again, happy tears. I truly felt empowered for the first time, and Asher had given that to me. My eyes focused on his lips. Our faces were close together. I wanted to feel his lips against mine. "F*ck training tonight," Asher murmured. He crashed his lips into mine.