Thor's POV
Damn!...
I don't know why women would kiss and tell their friends about every fucking detail after. I would never have believed it if I was told that Victoria would open her damn mouth and blab about us after she had found her mate and the conversation we had!
How could she be so comfortable talking about the situation between us to someone she just met? Someone that unfortunately turns out to be the mate I've been searching for.
God, I'm so fucked.
I laugh bitterly inside me at the irony of how I saved Victoria's life and she turned out to destroy mine out of stupidity. I wouldn't have gone to her cell if I didn't think it necessary to speak to her privately about the death of her father, and if Eric's warden friend had not told me her cell was private and convenient enough for me to have that conversation with her.
Everything happened so fast...
I become surprised and confused the moment I enter the cell the warden takes me to and I'm overwhelmed by the sweet, heavenly essence of the mate that my wolf, Kane, made me realize used sorcery on me.
Why is that woman's essence all over Victoria's cell?
Is she Victoria's cellmate?
Has she been in prison all these while that I thought she ran off after seeing my feral state?
Was she using the cell before she was moved to another cell?
Or could it be that she has been released?
I hadn't had the chance to process these questions running haywire in my head when Victoria noticed my entrance and quickly left whatever she was doing to hug me.
She was emotional, talking as she clung tightly to me but I wasn't paying attention to her words. My mind wasn't with her. I was busy taking in the state of her cell if I could call it that since the place looked like a studio apartment instead of a cell.
The essence was so strong. I wanted to ask the warder about all the questions that were bothering my mind but he already left. He mumbled something about giving us the privacy to talk before he left.
All of a sudden the room became awash with the smell as if a gust of wind just blew it in afresh. Despite my worries and unanswered questions about my fake mate with the right essence, I couldn't help but relax and bask in the ambiance of the essence that smelled like fresh-cut flowers... From soothing-scented lavender to sweet-smelling hyacinth, roses, lilies, and subtle notes of spice that I couldn't place
'We're not alone?' I asked myself when I heard what sounded like someone choking on their cough.
I opened my eyes that had drifted shut earlier and I was surprised to see a girl watching us. Immediately our eyes meet, she looks away but not before I see her tear-stained eyes
Who is she? Why is she crying and what is she doing in a place like Council Yard Penitentiary when she barely looked sixteen?
My eyes narrow out of curiosity as I disengage myself from Victoria's hug to be able to look at her closely.
There's something vaguely familiar and– alluring about her. I'm trying to concentrate and figure the mystery out when Victoria hurries to her side to hold her arm
"Ash, he's here!..."
I freeze the moment I hear what Victoria called her. I can no longer comprehend the rest of her words as everything else has faded into the air except for the girl.
"Ash?" I ask Victoria with my eyes still on the frail-looking girl before me.
"Yes, Alpha. She's my friend. Well, we just met but she's now my friend. She allowed me to stay here with her and..."
Does this belong to her? Why is she hiding her face? "Raise your head!" I command.
My command seems to work on Victoria too as she instantly stops talking and the room becomes silent. I seriously look at the slip of a girl before me, apart from her essence, she's alluring. Stunningly attractive like...
'No, that can't be... What would she be doing in prison if she were my mate? Eric promised to take care of things and he wouldn't let that happen! No, he wouldn't!'
I watch as she cleans her tears before she slowly raises her head to look at me. I feel a thud in my heart the moment my eyes meet with her beautiful amber eyes. It's like there's a strong, invincible string-like connection, tugging my heart to her.
'Mate!'
'My one true mate!'
The essence that's all over the room that I thought belonged to the fake mate actually belonged to her! Kane would have instantly connected with her essence if I had not put him to sleep in the morning before going to the legislative meeting as it was required.
For a moment I considered waking him up but I decided against it because I knew he would be all over my mind and won't allow me to think.
Even though the Ash Kane described is not spot-on with the Ash before me, the similarities are obvious
Kane's Ash is as beautiful as a goddess. The loveliest of all women with golden tresses that cascaded down her back and beautifully tanned skin that glowed whenever the sunlight shone on her. This Ash looks frail like she has been sick and just recovering. She indeed has hair the color of golden wheat field just that her own is short and ruffle.
Ever since Kane told me everything he knew about her I couldn't help but wonder why she kept quiet and allowed another woman to take her place despite the special mate bond we shared. Now I know it's because she has been in confinement.
But why? What crime did she commit? Why didn't Eric get her out when he promised to take care of her."
The way she keeps cleaning the tears off her face breaks my heart. I want to move toward her to console and find out why she's crying but her countenance stops me. She looks furious, her eyes full of hatred, making me wonder if Eric ever explained to her that what happened between us is not my fault. Did he let her know about the seer's words that what we're going through had been predestined to happen and it has to run its course for us to live a longer life?
"Ash, why are you crying?" Victoria asks one of the questions that I badly need answer to.
"Tell me, please. If you're scared that I'll leave you behind, then don't be. I'll convince my Alpha to talk to your Alpha and help you get out of here. You don't have to cry, alright!?"
'My mate's Alpha locked her up!? For what!? What crime did she commit to warrant being locked in prison?' I wonder. I begin to ask myself yet again why Eric didn't think it necessary to get her out of prison when she replies to Victoria...
"He is your Alpha? The one that made you his concubine?"
My heart sinks further down
I'm in shock and feel like killing Victoria right then for not knowing when to keep her damn mouth shut. How could she be so thoughtless as to discuss our private conversation with someone she just met? What kind of a person does that!? If only I'd listened to Eric, this wouldn't have happened.
"Hi, Thor. How have you been?" Her voice is soft but her tone, cold and chilling.
I'm at a loss for words. How was I supposed to answer her?...
'I've been okay?...
'I've been busy?...
'Eric said to wait for a month before seeing you?...'
Fuck! Nothing I say right then will sound sincere to her. Not when I took a concubine while she was in prison. No wonder she can't stop crying. No wonder she hates me so much. Who wouldn't!? I would also hate myself if I was also in her shoes.
Now, what am I supposed to tell her? How am I supposed to convince her as to what the truth is? Eric was supposed to take care of my mate. Have my back in situations like this. Didn't he tell me to leave every decision concerning my mate to him? Didn't he promise he would take care of everything that concerns her on my behalf!?
I should say something. Apologize. Explain the situation to her but I don't. I can't. My guilt won't let me. It's eating me. It's seriously eating me up. I just stand there like an idiot, listening as they discuss me.
My heart jerks painfully when she says...
"Victoria. My friend. I'm afraid that we have the same Alpha... Your master is my mate, my mate is your master. You know, the mate I told you imprisoned me? That is the bastard!"
'Wait, what!?' Her words send another shock wave rushing through me.
"Imprisoned you!?" I say out loud in disbelief.
"Oh, see who finally found his voice!?" She replies. Her voice is heavy with sarcasm.
"Tell me, Thor, how is Miranda, your fake mate these days? And I see you got yourself a concubine. A concubine who happens to be your real mate's friend isn't that wonderful!?... I'd like to know though, Isn't Miranda satisfying you in bed!?" She screams, throwing a plate at me.
I feel rooted in place. Too shocked to dodge the flying plate. Her hateful words are like a heavy blow to my gut.
I put her in prison!? But why in hell would I want to do that to my own mate!?
No! I accept the blame for taking a concubine but I won't accept this since I'm sure I would never put my mate in prison! Eric would never, ever let that happen!
The more she cries and pours out her mind, the more guilty and confused I get. I stand despondent before her, feeling as if my life is over.
Who the hell is this Miranda and why did she do this to us!?
She picks another plate of food to throw at me but it falls out of her hand. Her furious face suddenly furrows with pain.
"Oh goddess, I'm bleeding!..." She looks directly at me as she whispers.
'Bleeding!?'
I follow Victoria as she hurries to her. Stupefied, I look to Victoria for help.
"What is the matter? Is she getting her monthly flow?" I ask. That's the only explanation I can think of at the moment.
"No!" Victoria shouts in reply.
"We need to get her to the hospital right now. She's not getting her period, she's pregnant!"