Gamma's Daughter

Chapter 8

Sienna's POV

"I wish for Asher and you to marry each other. You would be the Luna and the Gamma. Asher would have an heir. Everything will fall into place" I hear Yolanda say.

Or maybe I am imagining things. I am not sure.

"I'm sorry, I guess I didn't hear you right" I smile but no one does.

I look at Asher and the look on his face says a lot. I heard what she said. And I am not imagining things. She is dead serious about what she said.

"Are you all serious?" I scoff and look at my mom.

She doesn't say anything. She is staring at me and then she looks at Asher. I wonder what must be running through her mind. I walk to her and sit beside her.

I hold her hand and look into her eyes.

"Talk to me, mumma" I whisper.

But she still stares at me. With no reaction. I am starting to get worried at this point. I sigh and stare at the floor not knowing how to face this. I can face thousands of enemies but this is something so delicate. Marrying my best friend? What the f**k!!

"If you are okay, so be it" I hear my mom's voice.

I look at her through tear filled eyes. I should not cry! I should not cry!! But I cannot help. This is the first time she talked to me today.

"Do you like this idea?" I ask her again.

She shrugs and stands up.

"Never forget one thing. Do what your heart says. If you want to walk out, do it. I don't want to force you into anything. I believe you are brave to make your own decision" she says again before walking out.

I sit on the couch in the pack house.

"Now that you made your point clear, leave!" Asher says in his stern voice.

I am staring at the floor but I can still feel everyone's presence around me. No one left even though Asher asked.

"Now you all don't want me to use my Alpha tone, do you?" I hear Asher.

And this time, I feel them leaving the place. Asher sits beside me. I don't want to talk about anything yet. I need silence. Asher is asher, who knows me inside out. He doesn't talk anything for a while leaving me alone in my thoughts.

Marrying my best friend? I never really thought of that. Now this is true fuckery. Absolute bullshit. I don't even.. I don't even understand where to begin with.

"Asher this is-"

"I know. I know this is all absolute bullshit" he says making me smile.

He gets me so well sometimes I feel we have the same soul in two different bodies. He moves closer to me and he holds my hand.

"Tree house?" He asks.

"Yes please" I chuckle along with a sniffle.

We both start running. At this point, we don't care what the pack members might think of us. If they think we both are in relationship, then screw them. They cannot differentiate.

Asher is the first one to climb up and he gives me his hand.

"I am capable, you know" I smirk and climb up on my own making him smirk and shake his head.

We sit at the entrance with our legs hanging in the air. We look at the woods before us and it looks like it might rain any minute now. My stomach growls in hunger. It is then I realise I did not eat anything since the ritual.

Asher laughs as he walks inside the tree house. I sigh as I look at the trees and bushes before me.

"Tell me what to do, dad" I whisper into the air.

"Chips?" Asher yells from inside and I chuckle.

"Fine" I say and in a minute, Asher walks out with Pringles.

I shove one into my mouth and the flavour of sour cream and onion explodes in my mouth. Asher also passes me a tin of coke and right now, he looks like a saviour to me.

We both finish the chips and our sodas in silence and the only sound that is audible, is the sound of chips.

"What do you think?" I ask Asher.

"About?" He asks back.

I glare at him and his eyes go a little wide realising the issue. He nods and looks away again. It is getting so awkward and I don't like that.

"I don't know. I don't understand" he whispers followed by a sigh.

"Ditto" I smirk finishing the last sip of my coke.

Silence engulfs both of us and we just sit there. The air grows a little chiller and I shiver a little. I look at Asher to see if he is trying to be a gentleman but I notice he has nothing but a tee shirt on.

"Wait" he whispers and walks in.

He wraps a blanket around me and I smile at him. I open an arm and gesture him to scoot closer and he does. It really might rain at any time now.

"People would really think we are in love" Asher chuckles.

"Maybe we are. But not in that kind of way. The love that two friends has" I shrug and he nods.

The branches and bushes starts to move before us. Like they are dancing to the rhythm of wind.

"The pack needs a Luna just as it needs a Gamma" I hear Asher again.

True. This pack cannot have a Luna unless Asher imprints on someone. But to be the Luna of our pack, a she wolf needs to have immense strength and guts. Because our lands are the most wanted. Prized possession.

"A Luna needs to have strength, Asher" I say.

"So do you" he says back instantly and I don't have another answer.

I sit silent staring at the clouds. I weigh all my options. I have two options. It's either I take up the Gamma title that my dad is supposed to pass down to me. Or I let someone else take it and end my family's legacy. The second option is not that appealing to me.

The biggest treasure that my dad is passing on to me at this moment, is the title. The Gamma of Crimson Moon Pack. He nailed it as a Gamma. So it would only be valid if I do well and make my father proud. I am sure he would be watching me from the skies.

But then, the Luna issue. If I marry Asher, I will not just be a Gamma but a Luna too. Double the responsibility. Moreover I never really saw Asher that way. I also promised Avery that I will help her get Asher. Which was why I cheered when she told me the plan of asking Asher out on a date.

I will be breaking the girl code if I marry Asher now.

"I have three reasons, Asher" I whisper and he looks at me.

He nods asking me to go ahead. I sigh and I prepare mentally.

"If we marry each other, I will not just be a Gamma but a Luna too. The responsibilities of two higher ranks would be on me" I say.

"Forget about that. Be a Gamma. That is who you truly are. You can be the Luna when you feel like your presence is needed. I am not forcing you. At the same time I don't want you to feel bad too" he says.

Okay. Wow. Now I am having second thoughts when he said this is all bullshit.

"And, I never really had feelings for you Asher. I always saw you as my best friend" I say.

"Me too. Never saw this coming" he says.

The second thoughts slowly leave my mind with his words. That makes two of us. We never really saw each other as someone who could potentially be husband and wife.

We both sigh at the same time and we both laugh at it too.

"I know it is all hard on you. You lost your father just yesterday. I cannot and will not expect you to be strong right now. And I also know what my mother and the Beta family asked was too much too. If you don't want to think of it right now, then don't" Asher says out of blue.

I nod and look at the clouds.

"Thanks for understanding" I whisper and he chuckles.

"Tell me about something. About anything. I don't want to think of what my mother asked us" he says and I laugh.

"Okay. Tell me about human land" I ask and he sighs.

Asher always had the privilege to travel to human territory. Ivan accompanied him probably twice or thrice and that is it. Asher frequently goes there. He has businesses to deal with and that is how we keep our money rotating. Being an Alpha is often burdensome but Asher just carries it so well.

"It's nothing special, really. In fact the werewolf territory is better compared to human territory" he says.

"Liar" I scoff

"I swear! People don't talk to each other anymore. Phones officially took over the human land. As a matter of fact, phone is just another body part. Dancing on roads and pranking each other is the new cool. I have seen a fair share of humans backstabbing their own best friends. That s**t is crazy" Asher says.

Wow. There is so much I don't know.

"Backstabbing? What do you mean by that?" I ask Asher again.

I mean, why would someone backstab their own best friend? In their right mind?

"There is this fashion they have now they say, Friends with Benefits. To the world they are best friends but behind the closed door they screw each other. And act like the s*x never happened" he says.

It hits me somewhere. Ouch.

"Not like us. We had it once. We were drunk. It's not like we did that on purpose" Asher quickly says.

Maybe he related that to us too. That situation has a term even? Friends with benefits? What the actual f**k?!

"Though I wouldn't mind if that happens again" I hear Asher say.

And I choke on my own saliva. I cough vigorously while he chuckles. He holds me to help me sit still but I cannot feel any air in my lungs. What did this motherfucker just say?

"Tell me you don't mean it!" I scream.

"Oh I do! I really do. Not because I want to, but because I like you to that extent" he says.

And I don't really hear anything else. He likes me? And yet he denies the idea of us both marrying each other.

"My head is at a weird place right now, Sienna. I lost my mate three years ago. It took me a lot to become normal again. But once I am sober, the only girl I had my eyes for is you. You are my best friend. At the same time if there is a chance to level the bar up, then so be it" he says.

I cannot believe what I am hearing right now.

"Is this why you never gave Avery any attention?" I ask him and he nods followed by a shrug.

Silence again. And this time, it is so awkward that I can feel the elephant in the room. The first time this is happening between Asher and I.

"I am not going to force you into this or anything. Because I know you don't see this the way I do. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable about it too. Like I said, you are my best friend. I am your best friend. I can stay this way forever too. I don't really mind" he says again.

I stay silent as I look at the clouds. The first issue that is brought to me after I lost my dad, is my wedding with Asher.

"The third reason, I did not tell you" I whisper and that has his attention now.

"I will be breaking the girl code if I marry you" I say.

And he narrows his eyes. Of course, how would he understand about the girl code? Stupid me.

"I promised Avery that I would help her get you" I say and he gets the rest of it without me telling him about it.

He scoffs.

"So you both decide if I need to go out with Avery or not? Or that I should marry her or not? You tell me, Sienna. Do you think love is something that happens when someone advices you?" He asks as he pulls away. I feel a little cold once again because the blanket around me is slightly open.

And I don't have an answer. Because he has got a point too. Love doesn't just happen just because I help her. It depends on the person on the other end too.

"Don't think of breaking the girl code when the other girl is not even here" Asher whispers again.

And even in such anger, he still wraps the blanket around me and scoots closer again. I smile to myself.

Now I have answers to all my three reasons. And I weigh my options all over again.

I will be a Gamma first. I can take the role of my father and protect what he once protected. I can make him proud. I can be a Gamma, that is in my blood. Who I am truly by nature. I can be a Luna whenever a Luna is necessary.

There is no problem with the titles and responsibilities. Even if it is burdensome,I need to. Because this is my pack after all. I need to take care of it.

The second one, I never saw Asher that way. But Asher did. He is still my besti friend. He still treats me as his best friend. He never really rubbed his feelings over me. And maybe, I need someone like him right now.

I did not find my mate. I have searched all packs and every corner, still no sign. Sometimes, there are cases where a person dies before finding their mate. And their mate doesn't even experience matebond break because they never found each other for the matebond to even work.

I guess that is what is happening to me. Maybe my mate is no longer here. The Crimson Ritual failed. That means we need to stay alert all the time.

And we still don't have a Luna. We don't have a Gamma too. Our pack must seem weak to others looking at us.

"I can hear your brain working" Asher comments and I playfully shove him.

He chuckles and stays silent again. The breeze is growing colder and colder. I want to get in but I need fresh air to breathe and think too.

Coming to Avery, she is not here too. Asher made it clear that he never really had feelings for her. It's not like I am ready to take her man away, because I don't love him either.

I don't know. I don't understand. This all seems like a contract marriage. Like, we marry and I get a Luna and you get your Gamma title. Only little point here is Asher likes me.

Oh my God that thought is driving me crazy! Now I understand why Ivan is always around us. Maybe he saw what I didn't see in Asher.

"Since when did you hide this?" I ask him and he smiles.

"Not too long. Maybe an year, I guess. I hurt my ankle during a fight and you were there with me till I was fine again. That day, I saw you different. I just wanted you to be with me everyday. I was afraid that one day you would find your mate and if possible, you would even leave the pack behind. I don't know what Moon Goddess is trying to say, you never found your mate" Asher shrugs.

I don't know what Moon Goddess is trying to say, you never found your mate.

The words keep ringing in my ears. Is Moon Goddess really trying to say something? If so, what can it possibly be?

"I don't understand, Asher. It's all confusing. My heart is a mess. I like you. I love you as my best friend. I want to marry you because the pack needs a Luna and a Gamma. But I also don't want to marry you because I never really saw you that way. It is all a mess" I almost shout.

I hold my head with both my hands and I sigh. I really don't understand anything. I wish my dad was here to help me sort this out.

"You don't have to stress yourself, Sia! The ultimate decision is up to you. I always told you and I will tell you again, I would be your best friend even if you don't want this. I will gladly be your best friend and your anchor. I want this marriage to be-"

I don't hear any of his words anymore. I look at him and he is still talking. He is ready to be my best friend again even after all of this.

What do I want in life? I am capable of everything but at the end of the day, all I crave is for the Gamma title and a man to love me to no ends. Maybe because I have no mate.

Asher is all of that. He can be my route to Gamma title. He loves me already. He has been in love with me since an year but he still chose to be my best friend. And he nailed my best friend role even though he had feelings for me.

Maybe this is what Moon Goddess wanted too. My father and Asher were always alike. So I guess my father would be happy too.

Most importantly, I would be happy because it is Asher we are talking about. He would take care of everything else and I can focus on my responsibilities as a Gamma.

I see Asher's lips still moving as he talks about something. And I don't know what has gotten into me.

"Yes, I want to marry you too" I say and his eyes go wide.

"What?" He asks and a rain droplet falls on my thigh at the same time.

It will start raining in a few seconds and maybe we need to go inside. But Asher holds my hand and pulls me towards him. My hand falls on his chest and the next second, rain starts pouring as his lips find mine.

There are no sparks like mates would have, but I can feel my heart racing at the kiss. The rain, the kiss.. it is all just so perfect. And maybe this is what I truly want. Maybe Asher is what I really want.

My other hand finds its way to his jet black hair. I pull him closer to me and he is quick enough to pull me on to his lap as our lips move against each other's perfectly.

The rain, the Kiss, Asher and my decision for the wedding. Maybe things will fall into place for Mom and I now.