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“Hi, baby,” Granger smiled at Ashleigh as she stepped out of the trees.

Ashleigh stopped, surprised and immediately on guard.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“What do you mean?” Granger replied, “I came here looking for you, babe.”

He took a step towards her; she took a step back.

Granger stopped. He clenched his jaw and looked at her with a severe expression.

“Are you scared of me?” he asked.

“Are you surprised?” she replied.

Granger sighed, “I told you I was sorry.”

“I told you it wasn’t enough.”

He took another step towards her.

“I already warned you before, Granger,” she growled. “I won’t let you touch me again.”

“Ash,” he said. His tone was calm yet eerie. “I’m your mate. We need to get past this.”

“How did you even know how to find me?”

Ashleigh knew her mother would never have told him where she was, especially not after knowing what he had done.

“Why are you acting like this?” he asked, “I know I screwed up, but you’re acting like I’m stalking you or something.”

“Are you?” she questioned.

She looked around the area. Not far from where he stood, there was a backpack. Beside it was a water bottle and trash bag.

“How long have you been here?” she asked._.

“Not long,” Granger smiled. “Just a few hours.”

“You shouldn’t be here,” Ashleigh said, moving past him towards the road.

“Why not?” he called after her. “Because I’m not Caleb?”

Ashleigh took a deep breath.

“No, Granger,” she answered with irritation. “No one should be here.”

She turned around to face him again.

“Again, how did you know where I was?” her tone became more aggressive. “The only person who knew was my mom, and she wouldn’t have told you.”

“Why not?” Granger smiled, “Corrine loves me.”

Ashleigh clenched her jaw. His confidence had long past shifted to arrogance.

‘Was he always like this?’ she wondered to herself.

“She knows about the bond with Caleb,” Ashleigh said, holding his gaze.

He looked away, but not before she saw the anger.

“Yea, I know,” he replied.

Granger lifted his eyes to her. The anger was gone, just vanished. All that was left behind were the same kind eyes she had stared into almost every day for the past two years.

Only now, they felt cold.

“I heard something about a kiss?”

Ashleigh felt a heaviness in her stomach.

“There was a kiss. Yes. He kissed me,” she said.

Granger smiled again, a soft, weak smile she recognized, as though he were telling her that he forgave her. Ashleigh swallowed down the anxiety that had been growing in her chest.

“And I kissed him back.”

His anger, the rage she had only glimpsed in passing moments she had convinced herself weren’t real, returned.

“You chose me,” Granger stated flatly.

“I did,” she agreed with a nod of her head. “Before.”

Granger stared at her, his expression unreadable.

“You’re choosing him now?” he asked.

“Granger, I–”

“You’re just…changing your mind?” he interrupted, stepping towards her.

Tears glistened in his eyes alongside the visible anger. His words were angry, hurt. Ashleigh didn’t respond.

“Is that what they told you?” he asked, pointing towards the trees. “These magical mystical bullshit hermits told you to abandon me!”

“Granger–”

“No!” he shouted. “No!”

He clenched his jaw. Tears streamed from his eyes. Then, crouching down on the ground, he grabbed his hair and let out soft sobs.

Her vision was blurred from the tears that had filled her eyes. There was a growing pit of guilt, shame, and misery in her stomach.

Granger had changed. He had become possessive, jealous, and devious, hurting her deeply.

But…

For two years, she had loved him more than anyone else in this world. Even knowing who he had become, it was still painful to see him like this.

Ashleigh took a step towards him. She bent down, reaching her hand to touch his arm. However, she was caught off guard when he grabbed her.

He pulled her down towards him, turning her to wrap his arms around her stomach tightly.

“It’s not over for us,” he whispered, nuzzling against the side of her head with his. “We are the ones that belong together, Ashleigh. You are mine.”

Ashleigh struggled against him. The panic she had felt days before when he held her overwhelmed her senses.

“We can get through this,” he said. “Just like you promised.”

He kissed her neck gently, and she felt a wave of fear rush over her.

‘Not again!’ she screamed inside her mind.

The absolute fear of repeating her mistake overwrote her panic. Finally, she found her footing against the gravel and dirt of the forest road. She used her strength to press her feet down into the earth and shove her body roughly against him.

Granger was not prepared for it, he fell backward, and though he pulled her along with him, he could not maintain his hold on her.

Ashleigh rolled away from him and jumped back up to her feet. She turned to face him, preparing to fight him if she needed to.

Granger sat up. She could see that he wanted to come after her.

She growled.

He scoffed and settled himself on the ground.

“You will choose me,” he stated.

She growled again.

He smiled.

“It’s ok,” he said. “I know we have some things to work through, but, you’ll love me again.”

Ashleigh stared at him. She didn’t understand how he could be so different from what he used to be.

“You’re crazy,” she answered.

Granger smiled.

“I’m crazy for you.”

Ashleigh was disgusted. She shook her head and turned to leave.

“You don’t actually have a choice,” he called after her.

Ashleigh didn’t turn or acknowledge his words. Instead, she just continued to walk away.

“I hoped you would come around on your own. Realize that we are meant to be together!” Granger shouted after her. “It was always meant to be us, Ashleigh!”

“Just stop!” she finally shouted back at him.

“Ashleigh,” he called.

She ignored him.

“Ashleigh!” he demanded.

She ignored him again.

“Do you really think that Spring and Autumn will just stand by while Summer and Winter unite through a marriage between the Alphas?”

Ashleigh stopped.

“Not a chance, baby,” Granger smiled.

Granger got up off the ground and started to walk in her direction.

“You and Caleb being mates isn’t just a problem because of Alpha Wyatt,” he said. His voice was arrogant, “Though, to be clear, your daddy hates Caleb.”

Her heart was racing as she listened to his words, to their meaning.

“You can’t choose Caleb because it would literally cause a war,” he growled.

Ashleigh turned to face him, her pain and anger combining as she spoke.

“Even if you’re right, even if I can’t be with him. I won’t be with you!” Ashleigh shouted, “I will remain an unmated wolf!”

Granger smiled.

“I won’t let you,” he stated coldly. “And if Caleb feels even half of what I do for you, he won’t be able to either.”

‘Reject me now, or not at all.’

Caleb’s words haunted Ashleigh now. Granger was right. Caleb had made it clear he would pursue her as her mate. He wouldn’t accept her rejection anymore.

“Like I said, you will choose me.”

Granger’s arrogance pissed her off.

“Just because Caleb and I are mates does not mean that a war will break out!” she shouted, “You have no idea–”

“But it is a risk,” Granger said. “A huge risk to both your people.”

Ashleigh clenched her jaw but didn’t look away from his taunting eyes.

“You won’t take that risk, Ashleigh.”

“You don’t know me,” she growled through gritted teeth.

“I do, though,” he stated, his mouth tilted in a bitter grin. “You are the best of us, the first daughter of Winter. You know better than anyone the code we live by.”

Ashleigh swallowed. Her brave front was faltering.

Granger leaned in close as he whispered the words she had heard so many times before.

“Duty before heart.”