Beauty and The Beta (Bailey)

Chapter 0119

I could see Asher struggling and I feel so bad for even asking now. For even encouraging this sort of talk. This was all my fault. I didn't like seeing him hurting. I know I had said some choice things about him when I had arrived, but I truly hated seeing him struggle like this. He didn't deserve to be in pain, I was sure of that...

I slid myself along the sofa, noticing his eyes were closed as he breathed heavily like he was trying to compose himself. Maybe I should leave? Give him some space? He seemed like the sort of guy who needed his space... Yet, instinct had me reaching for his hand instead.

The touch seemed to make him jump, as he instantly opened his eyes to look at me in shock. His big green eyes were looking at me with confusion. “Sorry.” I muttered, going to move my hand, but instead his fingers gripped mine, as his eyes fell upon our hands. “Maybe I shouldn’t have asked.” I whispered.

“No, I understand.” He said, exhaling deeply. “I don’t talk much about it all. It is not easy as you can imagine. I lost Isla soon after we had met. Before being able to build a life together. But, the bond was already there, forming. And we had just moved into our new home together. Both so excited at the thought of what the future would bring for us. I couldn’t go back once she had gone. It was always going to be our home. The home we planned our future in. So, I moved back here…”

I felt the pain within his voice, and I can sense Akira whimpering within my mind at the suffering this man next to us must have gone through. I thought what I had gone through was bad, but this poor guy had lost the one he was destined to be with. The one he had thought would be by his side for the rest of his life. The one he had been waiting for. The one the moon goddess chose for him. He must have been heartbroken. There was no worse pain, I would imagine. My own heart clenched in pain for him. In truth, I desperately wanted to throw my arms around him and hug him, but he doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would appreciate a hug...

The darkness that lingered over him made so much more sense to me now. The pain he must battle daily if this was what he struggled with, must drag him down. Dim any joy within him. Grief can be overpowering…

“I am sorry you had to go through that, Asher.” I said faintly. “You have done amazing to continue being such a wonderful Beta. Your pack is lucky to have you.”

He laughed, a dry and almost ironic sort of laugh, causing me to look up at him. “I think my Alpha and Luna may beg to differ on that opinion sometimes.” He told me with a wry smile. “I think I am slowly driving them insane.”

“Hey, with all the favors it sounds like you do for them, I don’t think they can complain much.” I told him, and he grins.

“Finally! Someone who sees it from my point of view!”

I laughed. “I am sure they appreciate all you do. You will get your chance to gain all your favors back one day. Seems to me, they definitely owe you some.”

“Hmm, that would be a whole lot. Caleb may not be quite so agreeable, and don’t even get me started on Eden. You think the Alpha runs the show? In truth, it is our little Lady Luna.”

“She knows you call her that?” I asked him, finding it funny, and I could tell just from the way he spoke of them that they were all quite close. This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

“Hell no, nor would I want her to! She would whoop my ass if she knew for a second I called her anything other than her name. Especially right now. Pregnancy hormones and Eden do not mix.” He grinned at me.

“I will be sure to tell her then.” I teased him, and the way he looked at me feigning shock, made me giggle.

“Aww, now come on, Bailey. Surely you wouldn’t want to get me into trouble, would you? I am sharing my chocolate stash with you, after all. Doesn’t that make us friends now?” he questioned. And I found myself looking at him with a feeling of confusion filling my head. I definitely didn't expect that when I arrived...

“Yeah, I guess it does…”

“Wow, that look upon your face tells me the thought of being friends with me is far from a good thing.” He said with a shrug.

“Huh?”

“The deep frown.” He signals to my face, over-exaggerating a frown upon his own face, making me stick my tongue out at him, aware he was teasing me.

“I didn’t frown. Or not intentionally.” I explained.

“Don’t think I could blame you. Not like I have been the best at making an impression upon you since you arrived.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize you were trying to make an impression on me.” I teased.

His eyes met mine, and the way he looked at me made my stomach churn. Or was that butterflies? “Neither did I.” he grinned, making me laugh again.

Suddenly, my phone began to ring from by my side, causing me to pick it up out of curiosity, wondering who it would be. But, I didn’t recognize the number. So, I thought I had better answer it. What if it was someone at pack?

“Hello?” I answered, smiling politely at Asher to apologize for the disturbance, but, he simply smiled in response, as he picked up his soda, and leaned back into the sofa.

“So, thought you’d got away from me, did you?” a voice I thought I had got away from hissed down the phone at me. And my hands began to tremble. “I may be away from pack for now bitch, but I will be back, and when I am, I will make you pay for the shit you have caused Bailey. Mark my words. Difference will be, I will have a new mate by my side, and you will be all alone.” Miles’s voice snarled at me, as tears filled my eyes, while I saw the eyes of Asher looking at me with a look I wasn’t able to read…