Ascension of a Gamma novel Chapter 48

Chapter 48 Hard Slap

Anna

I was in the kitchens with Aunty J and the Omegas, helping them with the dishes for tomorrow. It’d been three days since the burial and the depressing aura that hung around everyone was dissipating. Also, Liam’s birthday was in seven months!

Early this morning, Rigel banged on the door to wake us up, telling me that Aunty J asked for me. It surprised me that she wanted to meet me, in her kitchen! She was still cold towards me, but I guess that was her way of warming up to me. 3

This felt amazing! I didn’t realize how much I missed cooking. I hadn’t cooked a single dish since I left my old pack!

We were now cleaning up, ready to call it a day. The Omegas started to leave, and I think we built a connection with my day spent here. We talked like old friends, got to know each other a bit more. I’d always have time for my three best friends, of course.

“Taking my stained apron off, I added it to

making my stained apron off, I added it to the pile of laundry – dirtied aprons and kitchen towels.

“Good work today, Luna,” said Aunty J with a poker face on.

I smiled at her. “Thank you, Aunty J. And please, call me Anna.”

She nodded

Goddess, this is actually happening!

“You can come by anytime you want,” she said, walking towards the door. “My girls could use more energy. Now, come. The kitchen’s locked at night.” 1

“Actually, Aunty J. Do you mind if I stay here for a bit more?” I asked nervously.

She raised a perfectly shaped brow and asked, “Why?”

I hope this wasn’t too much to ask for.

“It’s Liam’s birthday in seven months and I want to prepare an early surprise for him.”

“Here,” she said, tossing the keys in the air. I barely caught it between my hands when she was already going out the door.

uu ya L LLWLLIT TT Trum Olen she was already going out the door. “I have a spare key. Make sure you clean u

Thank you, Aunty J!” I said as the door swung back. I guess that meant she’d accepted me?

I’d talked to some really great sisters from the Red Circle. I met Liam’s mentor and one of the elders, Helia. I became friends with Luan. Her archery skills were breathtaking. Liam didn’t tell me we had a sister pack! They were all strong warriors.

I was being accepted by the pack. I was more anxious now, but I also felt like this was a huge step. The last thing I wanted now would be to let Liam down.

I went to the cupboard to gather the ingredients that I needed. Flour, yeast, milk, eggs – as I checked each ingredient in my head, I suddenly stopped.

Did Aunty J call me “Luna”?

My jaw dropped and I squealed. She did! She did! Why didn’t I notice that? No matter – I was recognized in the pack now, at least with my fellow kitchen

w, at least with my fellow kitchen warriors. This was turning out to be an amazing day!

After gathering all that I needed, I begant o follow the recipe. I taught myself how t o bake using old cookbooks I found on the shelves back at the old pack. Over time, I made my own recipes – which tasted better by my standards.

While I wasn’t entirely sure if Liam liked sweets, he wouldn’t reject what I personally made for him, would he? The timer came off and I took the cake out of the oven. It smelled so good and looked just the way I wanted it. It had to cool off immediately, so I placed it in the blast chiller.

The icing and filling were ready – all that was left was assembly. I wasn’t good at decorating cakes, but I did my best. It actually came out decent. I was happy with it. I then placed it on a box and tied a cute simple red ribbon on top. This kitchen had everything

After cleaning up, I flipped the switches off and locked the doors. It was still six – too early for bed. I walked back to the

yearly for bed. I walked back to the castle, enjoying the cool night breeze. A few warriors passed me by, and we exchanged pleasaritries. Tonight, I’d ask Liam if I could train with the warriors.

Having them fight off rogues with me doing nothing – these days were over. Next time the pack was in danger, I wanted to be able to do something as well, even if it was as support.

The castle came into view. It’d been almost about a month already and I still found it a dream to be living here. I walked faster, excited to see the expression on his face. This was the first I made for him. Butterflies flew in my stomach at the thought of him not liking i t. Lexy told me his favorite was vanilla. I added a bit of rum in the filling for an extra kick. Just a little surprise for my busy-busy Alpha.

I was just behind the hedges when Liam came into view through the floor-to ceiling glass windows. The curtains were drawn. All the lights were on. Was he waiting for me? I smiled at the thought.

What I saw next made my smile drop. Salina came into view, and she was

Salina came into view, and she was looking as stunning – no, more beautiful than the last time I saw her. The jade dress she wore fit her perfectly. I hid behind the hedges. They were talking but I was too far to hear them. Salina smiled a t him. Even ladies would fall for her after seeing that.

What was she doing here? Liam said the Blue Moon Pack was no longer welcomed here after he won the Alpha Duel.

She placed her hand on Liam’s arm. That made me mad. No one touched my man!

Liam promptly took it off and raised both his arms in surrender. That’s my Alpha! I t seemed like they were having an argument because Liam pinched the bridge of his nose, but Salina was still smiling at him.

I was about to step out of my hiding place to tell Salina off but the moment I raised my head, my heart clamped. Liam had his hands on her hips. She had her arms around Liam’s neck and her lips… on his. They both had their eyes closed. I immediately hid again, refusing to watch i t for a second longer. 1

mor Serond longer.

My knees felt weak, and before I knew it, tears rolled down my cheeks. That… how could he? They were all this time, they

were…

I couldn’t wrap my mind around what I just saw. I thought they were never together. Wasn’t Salina his first mate’s sister? I thought it was us now. Wasn’t he committed to me? He marked me. He opened himself up to me. I gave myself to him, completely. So why – why would he cheat on me?

Am I not enough for you, Liam?

Was she so beautiful, was he so in love with his first mate that he would do this t o me? I understood that I was nowhere close to being her. She was stunning and I wasn’t. She had a wolf, and I didn’t. She was a strong woman… I was trying to be

One.

Am I not enough?

Was he lying to me all this time? Making me fall for him just so he could keep his

affair with Salina?

My heart tore. Something clawed at it and

heart tore. Something clawed at it and squeezed it mercilessly that it was getting hard to breathe. I heard the door open and her heels click on the pavement, then the crunching of small pebbles. I hid further into the dark, hoping she wouldn’t notice me when she passed by.

With a hand over my mouth, I breathed i n relief when she continued walking past me I sank on my knees when she was out of sight, the box held out in front of me.

It hurts, Liam. It hurts so much more than getting rejected.

They played me well. I hope they were happy. How could he – how could he when I did everything I could to measure up to everyone’s expectations of me.

Maybe Flynn was right. My sole purpose for living was to atone for my sins. Maybe it wasn’t over yet. The Goddess was still punishing me. I was destined to live my life in penance, never receiving the kind o f love my father gave to me. He was the only one who truly ever loved me. He was the only one who truly accepted me.

Head Gamma Aiden Fiora – my father, m y best friend, my shoulder to cry on. He

est friend, my shoulder to cry on. He was the only one who saw me for me and drove me to become stronger. Now that h e was gone, the rest of the world just wanted to use me.

If this was what the Goddess wanted, I condemn it. I glared at the full moon.

For countless nights and mornings, I prayed to You. I believed in You. Do You hear me now, Moon Goddess? I condemn this path You chose for me!

No more. No more mates. No more Alphas.

I loved with all in me and this was what I got in return – pain. My chest ached like my heart wanted to be out. If I could rip it out myself just to stop the pain, I would. H e didn’t deserve me.

You jerk. You bastard. You cheater. I love you. I love you so much that the pain of losing you scares me to death.

I wiped my tears with the hem of my shirt. My eyes stung. Taking deep breaths to calm myself, I forced a smile on my face.

Look at that.

Lookat utal.

I still got it. Who knew it was this useful? 1

I made my way to the mansion with a skip in my step and a grin, and a painfully tight knot in my stomach. He was seated a t the foot of the stairs when I opened the door. Immediately, his head shot up and h e promptly strode to me.

“Where were you?” he asked worriedly.” Aunty I said she _«

“I wanted to surprise you!” I exclaimed, smiling even more as I pushed the box to him.

“Have you been crying? What’s wrong? Did you get hurt?” He asked the questions in one breath as he balanced the box in one hand and grabbed my shoulder with the other, his eyes roaming all over my body

I felt disgusted. Those eyes that saw all of me saw all of her

Treacherous.

His voice pained yet gentle, it awoke feelings of sympathy for him that I immediately squashed. Anger. I should be feeling angry at him right now. Even more so, I was furious. Furious that he lied! He lied to me even when his memories were hidden. He lied to me right in front of his first mate and child. H e lied to me right in front of everyone, and I was blinded by my feelings for him t o see it.