She paused briefly, her grip tightening slightly around the phone. "I'll be fine here." A faint, bittersweet smile touched her lips, one her mother couldn't see. "Just… give her my gift," she added quietly. "But don't tell her it's from me."
Her smile lingered, fragile and a little painful, but sincere.
After all…
She was only returning what had always belonged to Maddison in the first place. And maybe, just maybe, given enough time… Maddison might forgive her even if she could never truly accept her.
Brent and Blake also sent her apology messages, along with gifts meant to make up for what they had said and done on the day she was banished. Because of this, Ashley slowly began to feel that her life was finally moving in the direction she had once hoped for.
At the same time, she started thinking about how to atone for her biological mother's past action toward Maddison. The guilt lingered, pushing her to find ways to make things right, not just out of obligation, but with genuine sincerity. She began treating Maddison like a true sister, doing what she could to support and care for her.
Knowing that Maddison was the real daughter, Ashley made a decisive choice. She gave up all the shares that had been granted to her by her father and brothers in the family company, the very source of their immense wealth.
Altogether, her shares amounted to fifteen percent, which, at the current market value, was worth around 1.5 billion dollars. The company had only recently gone public and was rapidly expanding, with many believing it held tremendous potential for the future.
Despite relinquishing her ownership, Ashley did not completely distance herself from the company. Instead, she poured her efforts into developing its future plans, structures, and business models.
Even as she grew increasingly busy fulfilling her role as the Luna of Nathan's pack, she ensured that the company would continue to thrive and move forward without disruption.
Because of all this, along with the preparations for the upcoming mating ceremony, Ashley became so busy that she completely forgot about her biological mother, not even sparing a moment to ask about her.
At the same time, Nathan began easing her into her role as the Luna of his pack. He tasked her with revising the pack's management system, as well as its rules and regulations, and overseeing the businesses that served as the foundation of the pack's wealth, something the entire pack depended on.
Nathan trusted her judgment. He knew Ashley had a sharp eye for business and a natural talent for organization, so he deliberately entrusted these responsibilities to her. It wasn't just about strengthening the pack, he also wanted to keep her occupied, hoping that the weight of her duties would prevent her from dwelling on other thoughts.
But driven by her determination and a sincere desire to atone for past mistakes, Ashley did far more than what was asked of her. She didn't just manage Nathan's pack businesses; she also extended her efforts to assist the Black Mountain Pack.
Even with countless sleepless nights and an overwhelming workload, she managed to stay ahead of everything. In truth, it wasn't as if she had anything else to focus on. She didn't need to socialize; no one really wanted to see or speak with her anyway.
Even Nathan's Beta treated her coldly. Whenever he came to deliver more work, he would often lace his words with sarcasm and slip in backhanded remarks. Ashley noticed it, of course, but she chose not to react. She let the words pass through her ears, refusing to dwell on them.
All she held onto was a quiet hope that one day, her dedication and sincerity would be seen… and perhaps, finally acknowledged.
With her work finally completed, Ashley felt a rare sense of lightness. Wanting to reward herself, she decided to surprise Nathan by visiting their marital home, the lakeside villa, and take a moment to unwind. After all, their mating ceremony was set for the next day, and the thought of it made her both excited and nervous.
The villa itself held special meaning for them. Built a little distance away from the packhouse, it was meant to be their private sanctuary, a place where they could truly be alone, away from prying eyes and listening ears.
Long before Ashley's coming-of-age ceremony, they had already decided they would live there together. Nathan, possessive and fiercely territorial, had insisted on it, wanting a space where no one else could intrude on what was theirs.
Back then, Ashley could only laugh at his intensity, feeling deeply cherished by the depth of his affection.
Now, with the ceremony so close, Nathan had mentioned he would be busy the entire day, finalizing the last preparations. Taking advantage of the time, Ashley planned to visit the villa ahead of him and prepare a few surprises of her own, something special for when they would finally return together as mates.
After all, over the past four weeks, they had barely seen each other, both consumed by their responsibilities. This felt like the perfect chance to make up for that distance.
Unfortunately, her good mood didn't last long. While she was driving, the car suddenly sputtered before coming to a halt.
"Ugh… just my luck," Ashley muttered under her breath.
She unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out, walking toward the front of the car. The moment she lifted the hood, a thin stream of smoke curled upward, confirming her suspicion; either the engine had overheated, or something inside had gone wrong. She wasn't entirely sure.
Letting out a quiet sigh, she pulled out her phone. "No choice… I'll have to call for a tow."
She contacted the pack's repair shop and asked them to come pick up the car. On the other end, she could hear faint grumbling, and she could easily imagine the eye rolls that accompanied it.
Even so, they didn't refuse. Despite everything, she was still set to become their Luna, and that alone was enough to make them comply. Soon enough, a team was dispatched to retrieve the vehicle.
Not wanting to waste any more time, Ashley decided not to wait. The lakeside villa was already close, and she still had things she wanted to prepare.
So, leaving the car behind, she continued on foot.
As she walked, Ashley reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of masking spray. Since she was planning to surprise Nathan, she intended to go all out. The last thing she wanted was for him to catch her scent too early and ruin everything. As an Alpha, his senses were far too sharp; he would immediately know if she had been there.
A hint of playful excitement flickered in her eyes as she sprayed herself thoroughly, using the entire bottle without hesitation.
"Better to be fully masked than sorry," she murmured with a soft chuckle, tossing the empty bottle back into her bag.
Thankfully, she had chosen to wear sneakers that day. Even after walking for nearly forty-five minutes, her feet didn't ache. Before long, the lakeside villa came into view.
Everything seemed quiet, normal.
Taking the shortcut through the back mountain path, she approached the villa from behind and used her spare key to slip in through the back door.
But the moment she stepped inside, she froze.
Two familiar scents lingered in the air.
Her brows furrowed slightly as unease crept into her chest. Moving silently, she made her way deeper into the villa, her steps light and cautious. When she reached the master bedroom, she stopped.
At first, the sounds were faint… almost indistinct.
Then they became clearer.
Soft moans. Low groans. A man and a woman.
Ashley's entire body went cold.
The chill started from the soles of her feet, creeping upward until it wrapped around her whole body. She trembled, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her, her heart pounding loudly in her ears as the realization began to sink in.