Chapter 97
Josie’s POV
I pace the length of my living room, biting my nails between my teeth as if it’s going to tamp down the tension but, of
course, it doesn’t
I’ve managed to carry Lilly into my room and wipe out the blood on the floor. I can’t wait for Ashton to arrive,
When suddenly a knock lands on the door, I rush out, my heart roaring and my wolf standing up on her pawst.
Cracking the door open with my lip between my teeth, I take in Ashton’s form as he blocks the glowing beam of the moon.
“Ashton…. I mutter, my voice barely above a whisper.
Before he can finish, I flush myself in his arms, hugging him tightly as I let the tears I’m trying to hold back fall
I feel so vulnerable and paranoid
Why? I don’t know but something doesn’t feel right.
Regardless of how tight I hold Ashton, he doesn’t circle his arms around me. He’s just stiff. Not that I mind though. Only the warmth of his body and his presence are enough to calm me down.
I’m sorry I was just emotional…” I hum in a hoarse voice as I break away from his arm.
He only nods and asks. “What happened?”
I shut the door after he walks in and pad my way down to the living room after him.
“I actually thought thieves broke in. So I hit the person not knowing it was my friend.”
The words escape my lips on autopilot and Ashton stares at me with a shocked look on his face.
“Where is she?”
Instead of answering. I tell him to follow me. We silently make our way into the bedroom where Lilly’s lying unmoving.
“There she is
Wordlessly, Ashton struts over and inspects Lilly while I sit there worrying my lips between my teeth.
After a while, he pulls back.
“I can handle it here. She’s an ordinary wolf so she’ll heal with time and come back to herself. However, do you have any first aid
“Yes. I’ll be right back.”
Leaving my room, I make my way to Aria’s room. The last time I used the first aid kit, I left it in her bathroom cabinet.
Grabbing the first aid kit, I try to move out of the room but something hits me.
There’s a picture of Aria lying by the nightstand. The one she took on her third birthday.
My heart drops into my belly. What if Ashton sees this?
Hurrying over to the nightstand, I snag the picture just then I hear his voice behind me.
“What’s still keeping you?”
Holy shit!!! I scream mentally, frantically searching for a means to hide the picture.
I can’t let him see her.
Footsteps thud on the floor, telling me he’s coming closer.
No. No.
This is going to ruin my biggest secret!
I bite my lip so hard to keep my screaming as I crunch the picture frame in my hand, using all my wolf strength.
My poor daughter’s picture frame shrinks in my hand as Ashton pauses before me.
I don’t know, tears already rim my eyes, making him worry.
“You’re crying?” He leans close but I bite my lip harder, shaking my head.
Tm just being emotional. Hurting my friend…” I trail off.
Ashton puffs a string of breath, saying. “Don’t worry about it. She’ll be fine. I’ll take this from here. He gestures to the first aid, aiming to grab it from me.
I allow him to, and he walks out of the room. As his footsteps fade, I release my hold on the picture and take in its rumpled look, watching the huge grin on my daughter’s face.
She looks just like him. Even her smiles.
We just took this picture in our backyard when she was trying to build a treehouse with sand.
I place the picture on my chest, drawing strength from it.
I walk back to my room and find out that Ashton is on the finishing touches of addressing Lilly’s wounds.
Lilly’s still unconscious and I take that moment to think things through.
How did she get the keys to my house and why?
I don’t remember giving it to her.
What in hell was she doing here?
Many questions flood my mind, making me confused.
บ
The last time I checked, only Ms. Beth and Diego had the key to my house.
How did Lilly get them?
What was she truly doing here?
Who in hell is Lilly?
I can’t believe I’m asking this but I do
It’s like I don’t know her anymore.
The clang of scalpel and scissors pulls me from my train of thought.
“You done?” I ask,
pacing i
into the roomL
Ashton nods, wrapping up the end of the band–aid on Lilly’s forehead.
“Yeah.” He grinds out, surging to his feet.
I take a moment to take Lilly in but all I feel is strange emotion.
Did I make a mistake by accepting her as a friend?
Will she be like Lena or worse?
“She’ll wake up soon. Just a matter of time.” Ashton’s words pause my raging thoughts yet again.
“Thank you.” I spew, grateful,
He nods, resting the first aid box on the dresser.
“It’s a pleasure.”
Back in the living room, the both of us swim in suffocating silence.
I have questions to ask but I don’t find myself doing it.
Eventually, I spew. “It’s been days since we had our classes…
“I’ve been busy.” He cuts me off abruptly..
“Oh. I understand. I shrug, managing to look into his eyes.
We’re standing by the doorway to the living room. My back is perched over the door frame as well as Ashton’s but across
from me
I can practically feel his breath on me, so rough and minty.
As he pins his beautiful gray eyes on me, I watch him too. Too lost to blink my gaze away.
“I should get going…” He says, his eyes darting down to my lips, my heart surges.
“Yeah.” I whimper slowly. “Thanks for coming.. I add.
“Don’t sweat it.” The words flow like a hymn from his lips, tingling my body.
“I know but I can’t help it.” I utter, unconsciously biting my lip.
“Can you?” He growls.
I’m not oblivious to his roaring heart. Hell, it thuds with ferocity against his chest, a complete reflection of mine.
“L… I’m now a stuttering mess especially when I see him bringing his hand up, inching it close to my face.
My wolf purrs, shaking her furs in glee.
Disappointment clashes over me when Ashton pulls his hand back and steps away.
“Good night, Ms. Rose.” He offers.
For a moment there, I couldn’t speak. I just froze like I’ve been electrocuted.
Getting myself, I walk in tow with him and as he slinks away from the house, I offer in return
“Good night, Mr. Ashton” Then I slam my door closed with a heavy heart.
The sizzling of the scrambled eggs breaks the cloud of silence in the kitchen.
I woke up a few hours ago but I spent time on the couch, reminiscing about what happened last night.
I felt how Ashton wanted to kiss me.
Maybe it’s just my assumption. He can’t want me after what happened.
Well, I shouldn’t want him to. Not when I have a man like Diego.
Hi. Rose.
I bristle at the sound of Lilly’s voice. Staring at her, I take in her current look.
She looks good now. Stronger.
Tm sorry.” the both of us echo at once.
Tjust wanted to surprise you, Rose. She offers when I become silent.
“How did you get my keys?” Finally, I ask the question I’ve been dying to get answers to.
You gave them to me the last I was here, remember?”
“Oh. I did?”
“Yeah!”
Something glints in her eyes, making me feel what she just said isn’t true.
Regardless, I push it aside, nodding.
“Alright then. Want some scrambled eggs? It’ll be good for you.”
I serve Lilly the food and eat mine. Still, my mind keeps telling me something is off. I don’t know what.
Later on, before Lilly leaves the house, she hands over the keys.
I take my bath and dress up. I can’t spend time here again without teaching Ashton.
He must attend my classes with him.
That’s what I keep telling myself as I board a cab and head over to his pack house after confirming with Ms. Thorn that Ashton won’t be at the hospital today.
After a long drive, I arrive at the gated luxurious mansion that is Ashton’s pack house.
When the cab driver leaves, I make my way into the pack house.
Why am I here? I ask myself but may feet won’t stop moving neither does my wolf stop purring.
“What are you doing here!? A growl comes from my right , chilling my blood.
Turning ever so slowly, I see the zeta, Dane.
Oh, oh. His face looks lethal.
All the breath in my system escapes me as the man starts lunging towards me.
TBC.
