Mated To The Beastly Alpha
Chapter 56

Nicole spent the whole evening and night pondering the latest events with Asha, Rose, and Maya. She was confused and wanted to understand what Maya meant. Since Liam was very busy planning for the full moon run that was to take place soon, she didn't get a chance to discuss it with Liam.He knew that something was bothering her, but each time they tried to broach the subject, something distracting came along. And Nicole herself wasn't willing to talk about it because she wasn't sure of the right question to ask. Maya's words created a thousand scenarios in her head that, in turn, created even more questions.

The first thing the next morning, she went in search of Asha, and unsurprisingly, Asha was nowhere to be found. She went cutting around the park, asking around for her, but no one had seen her, and most people thought she followed Liam's troops into the forest.Another thing Nicole noted was the not-so-subtle hostile looks that were being thrown at her, especially by the female folk. Nicole's heart sank as she observed the change in dynamics within the pack.

The once-familiar faces now seemed distant and guarded. The whispers and glances directed her way made it clear that something was amiss...

Determined to confront Maya and uncover the truth, Nicole seeks her out in the pack's gathering area. Maya's body stiffened as Nicole approached, a guarded expression on her face. Nicole's voice quivered with a mix of hurt and confusion as she spoke. "Maya, what's going on? Why are you avoiding me? I thought we were friends," Nicole pleaded, her eyes searching Maya's for answers.

Maya sighed, her gaze shifting uneasily. "Nicole, it's not that simple. There are things happening, things you don't understand."

Nicole's frustration grew, her voice tinged with urgency. "Then help me understand, Maya. Tell me what's going on. Why are they all turning against me? What lies have they been fed?"

Maya hesitated, her eyes filled with conflict. "I can't... I can't say anything. It's not safe."

Nicole's heart sank further, the weight of isolation crushing her spirit. "Maya, I need your support. I thought we were allies. Don't abandon me now."

Maya scoffed and then folded her arms. "I'm sorry, Nicole. I can't be involved. It's not just about us anymore. There are forces at play, and you're caught in the middle."

Nicole's frustration turned to desperation, her voice trembling with emotion. "Tell me, Maya. Tell me what you know. I can handle it. I can't fight these battles blindfolded."

Maya rolled her eyes, "I'm only going to tell you that the females in Dark Moon are very angry at you. And it has to do with the malicious rumors that Rose is spreading plus other contributing factors."

Nicole sighed. She still couldn't grasp what Maya was saying.

"I wish I could be open with you, Nicole. But it'll only make you seek me out, and I don't want that. For now, you need to stay away from me. It's for your good as well as mine."

Confusion and anger welled up within Nicole, her hands trembling at her sides. "Safety? From what? Are you saying I'm not safe in my own pack?"

Maya snickered, "Your own pack? I believe that was a silly slip. I pray you're not delusional to think that you've become welcome here. Oh, you're loved, respected, and even feared by the general folk, but you're not welcomed by a particular sect.

That secret is something you'll have to replace out by yourself. Nicole, you don't understand. It's not just about them. It's about something much bigger, something that threatens all of us."

"You're speaking in parables, Maya!" Nicole screamed.

Maya shrugged," Look within, Nicole. Start with yourself, then scrutinize your rumored mate. What do you really know about Alpha Liam? What picture did stories of him paint in your head before you met him? What were those stories? If you're smart, you'll figure it out."

Nicole rubbed her throbbing head. Nothing was making sense. She couldn't understand what Maya was talking about.

"Where's Asha?" She asked, hoping to replace answers about why her closest friend disappeared.

Maya chuckled, "She's wherever you are not, Nicole. The truth burdens her so much, and it's so much that she can not stand you and your cluelessness. I don't blame her. It must be so hard for her."

Nicole groaned. Fear began creeping in. "Help me understand, Maya."

Maya shook her head, her voice tinged with sorrow. "I can not help you. No one can, Nicole. There are things you're not ready to face. When the time is right, you'll know everything. Until then, stay safe and be cautious."

With that, she began walking away. Nicole swallowed as she watched her go.

Suddenly, Maya stopped and turned to her. "For what it is worth, I believe in you, Nicole. You're a better option than all the others combined."

With those words, Maya turned away, leaving Nicole standing there, her heart heavy with the weight of uncertainty. As she watched Maya disappear into the crowd.

Nicole's mind was filled with even more questions than before. What did Maya mean by looking within? What was she hiding, what was within her, and who was Alpha Liam before they met?

Nicole didn't believe that there was any change in Liam from when they met and now. She only understood that as she got to know him better with time, she felt like she could understand him.

Maybe she needed to ask questions, but who was she supposed to ask? Rose? Rose wanted to beat her up. Maya? Maya was being cryptic, and Asha was nowhere to be found.

Nicole entered her old room, feeling a mix of exhaustion and confusion. She was startled when she found Asha sitting on the edge of her bed, her gaze fixed on the floor. The atmosphere was heavy with tension, and Nicole could sense the walls that had risen between them. Asha looked up, her eyes cold and dull. "We need to talk," she said softly,

A shiver swept down Nicole's spine. "What's going on? Why have you been acting so...? Maya has been saying things."

Asha sighed, her eyes meeting Nicole's briefly before looking away again, "Nicole, it's complicated. There are so many rumors circulating about you and Alpha Liam, and I don't know what to believe anymore." Nicole's brows furrowed as she sat beside Asha. "What rumors? And why are they affecting our friendship? Shouldn't you know better?"

Asha stared into the distance, "You need to understand the history of Alpha Liam's relationships, Nicole. He's been involved with many women in the past, but he never acknowledged any of them. The Alpha you met is very different from the one we all met. Yes, he's ruthless and even more powerful, but he has developed another quality that is unbelievable; he's now loyal and even steadfast. At first, we didn't realize that there was a relationship between you two. Everyone thought you were one of the harmless strays he normally picks up.

Despite his demeanor, Alpha Liam has always been kind-hearted. So we pegged you as an unfortunate stray. But then we noticed the chemistry and s****l tension between you guys, and we guessed that you had fallen into his trap; you had become another fling, whom he would soon get rid of.

But it's been months since you came here, and his attraction to you has refused to fade. With other females, he loses interest in a matter of weeks or days. In fact, you're not his type. He prefers women with conviction, not softies like you.

And then, when you disappeared and returned, we thought it was over because you didn't give him time or attention, yet he continued following you. And now it seems you are his mate."

"I haven't said anything about being his mate," Nicole responded.

Asha chuckled, "Do you need to? I'm curious, how did you meet? I realize that the story of you meeting him is also well shrouded, like the truth about your relationship with him. It should explain a lot of things. I've never really asked why he brought you suddenly. There are rumors about you, Nicole. So how did you meet?"

Nicole scrunched her nose. The Asha talking to her was very different from the Asha she remembered and loved. And she didn't think it wise to reveal anything to her, not until she was certain of where her loyalties lay. "At a bar," she muttered, remembering the moment perfectly.

It was a clear picture that had been ingrained in her memory forever.

"But why does it matter? What's important is..." She started saying, but Asha interjected her.

"What was the connection like?" Asha asked, leaning forward, completely intrigued.

"I was drunk, I don't remember." Nicole lied, waving her hand dismissively.

"You asked how it matters, right? Oh, it does. Because everyone who has known Alpha Liam forever knows that the last thing he can ever have is a mate. His wolf is a beast. Werewolves are brutal, and males are rough, but Alpha Liam is another thing altogether. It has so much power that no female can stand it for too long. He said it himself. He can never have a mate, and he has lived that way. That's why your connection to him is suspicious."

Nicole's blood turned cold. Suddenly, Maya's words began to make sense.

"So Nicole, you see why Rose is mad. I wouldn't blame her. Or any female. They were all gunning to be Luna. Rose, in particular, thought she was his favorite, and she believed she would become Luna. And now rumor has it that you're his mate?" Nicole's lips pressed together. Her wolf was angry at the way Asha addressed her. Its newfound dominance, which it drew from Liam, made It want to challenge Asha into submission, but Nicole knew the importance of looking weak. Something about Asha was unsettling. There was so much bitterness in her voice as she spoke.

"You know what I think? I think Alpha Liam is using you. And that's smart. He knows he can never have a mate, and he's collaborating with you as the witch bane. It's a good move." Nicole swallowed.

"And he's acting so well, too. Do you know? Pretending to be head over heels. He has an amazing mind, Alpha Liam. You know how I know that all this is a sham, Nicole?" Nicole shook her head.

"Because if he was really your mate, he would have marked you on your first night together. It would have shown immediately. A dominant beast like Alpha Liam would not be able to stop himself from completing the bond.

He would have made it known the instant you met. How is it that you have met for months, but it was only after you became a witch bane and went through trauma that he became your mate? It's not possible."

Nicole's wolf raged within. But she had long mastered the art of looking helpless, weak, and even shocked. She didn't know why it took so long for her and Liam to realize that they were mates.

But she was certain that it had something to do with her subdued nature, her traumatic experience, and the fact that he didn't believe that it was possible. Both of them had been fighting their attraction to each other from the beginning. She wanted to argue, she ached to put Asha in her place but she didn't.

"So, you're saying that Rose is spreading these rumors to undermine me?"

Asha smirked, her eyes lighting up. "It seems that way. She's threatened by you by the possibility that you might be Alpha Liam's mate. She wants to take away everything she thinks is rightfully hers."

Nicole's mind raced, trying to process the information. It didn't sit well with her. Something was missing, something Asha wasn't telling her. What did all this have to do with Asha? She seemed angry at something. It was like she had completely excluded herself from the equation.

"Anyways, another way to reveal the truth is to wait for the full moon. Our human nature may lie, but our wolves can never lie."

Nicole felt a lump in her stomach.

"What does this have to do with our friendship, Asha? Why are you angry?"

Asha laughed, "Angry? No, I'm cautious. The Dark Moon would be torn apart if you ended up as mates. Liam has broken so many hearts. He has even destroyed so many mate bonds and ruined the chances of many females replaceing their mates that if he had a true mate, chaos would reign, and trust me, neither he nor his mate would survive it."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you think the witch sprung out from nowhere? There are curses, and a particular one is for Alpha Liam and his mate. Anyways, I know you're here until we defeat the witch, and then you can go away." Nicole was out of words.

Asha's voice was much kinder and quieter when she spoke up again. "I hope you know what you're doing, Nicole. Just... be careful. Liam uses and discards. You may think his feelings for you run deep, but it's a sham. I've seen him do it to a lot of women."

Nicole nodded and fell to the bed. She found it difficult to breathe. As they sat in silence, the weight of the unspoken words hung heavily in the air. Nicole couldn't help but wonder what secrets Asha was hiding and how they would impact her journey to uncover the truth.But for now, she knew she had to stay vigilant and navigate the web of rumors and deceit with caution, all in the hopes of replaceing her place in a pack that seemed more divided than ever before.