Beauty
57

Chapter 57 – Asher

Another usual night of me working late. So much additional work to do with Caleb on Daddy duties while Eden was on bed rest. Though listening to his tales of his mate being restricted to bed, she was far from an ideal patient, I definitely think I had it easier with additional work! Poor Caleb sounded knackered and ready to pull his hair out. I think it is safe to say both Caleb and Eden were ready for this little bundle of joy to arrive, and soon!

Sitting at my desk in my office, I knew I would be there for a few more hours, so I had wanted a coffee, though I had run out of coffee in my office. So, a much needed wander to the kitchen had been needed. Stretch my legs too. However, one person i did not expect to see was Bailey wandering the corridors too… (well no, that is a lie, I would not expect to see anybody because nobody was in the packhouse at this hour, but that is beside the point). I had expected her to be tucked up safely in her room by now. But, her room had minimal facilities, like many of the packhouse rooms, so perhaps she needed a drink?

“Bailey?” I called out to her, and saw her visibly jump a little at my words, making me smile. So much for being aware of everything around you as a werewolf. Seems this one was off in another world. It was a good job it was only me. It was only as she turned to look at me, and I got a little closer that something caught the light of the corridor lighting. Tears. I was sure of it. Had she been crying? Had someone upset her? “Have you been crying?” I found myself asking, though I know in truth it was nothing to do with me, and I doubted she would want to tell me either.

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“Erm…” her voice faltered a little as her gaze moved away from mine, suddenly looking down to the floor.

“Should I take that as a yes, but mind your own business, Asher?” I asked, and she suddenly looked up at me. Her big brown eyes looked in pain.

“You don’t want to know. It is pathetic.” She said with a shrug. “I was just going to grab a drink, I am sorry for being out of my room.”

I found myself frowning. “Bailey, you are not in a prison, if your need to be out of your room, it allowed, you know? Yes, I have lived alone in the packhouse for quite some time, but that does not mean I expect you to stay in your room the moment you arrive here.”

I have heard the things said about me in the pack. The nasty rumors. Comparing me to a monster living in a castle. All alone in the packhouse because nobody else is safe to live with me. No, in truth, I live here because I could no longer face living in the Beta home I had begun to share with my mate. If that meant living alone in the large packhouse, then so be it. It would be the way it was. I preferred to be alone anyway.

Bailey simply shrugged as we stood awkwardly in the corridor now. “Come on, let us go and get you a drink. I need another coffee. I ran out in my office.”

Bailey nodded and followed me as I began to walk along the corridor. As I glanced across at her, I could see tears still fresh within her eyes. Even Zion was whimpering at the sight of her like this… and that made my heart clench at the sight too…

“Bailey, I know we said some things were difficult to talk about,

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so I apologize for asking, but I don’t like to see people cry. What has happened? Is something wrong at your pack?” I asked.

She looked over at me with a small smile. “Aww, there is a little heart in there somewhere, isn’t there Beta?” she teased, and I smiled, but before I could respond she shrugged and continued. “Not a clue what is going on in the pack actually, still awaiting an update. All hell breaking loose I would imagine.” Then her eyes widened like she realized she had said too much. “Forget I said that.”

I raised my brows at her, desperate for her to tell me what the hell was going on. All these little pieces of information were not giving me anything and I needed to know more. I wanted to know what risk this girl brought to our pack.

“Please?” she looked at me almost pleadingly. Before, I found myself nodding as we walked into the kitchen.

“Thank you.” she said, placing her hand upon my arm, the contact making me jump. “As for why I was crying, the guy I was kind of seeing, well, he just found his fated mate. Pathetic, I know.”

I raised my brows again. So she had been seeing someone? That was always dangerous. Feelings become involved and when you are a werewolf, you know there are fated mates, and once they come into the picture nothing else matters. The feelings that were once there become almost invisible to you, because the draw to your fated mate is everything. It is why we are advised not to date. The pain can be too much.

“I’m sorry, that can’t be nice to hear.” I admitted, knowing how hard it can be, having seen my friend go through the same a number of years ago before he had met his own fated mate. He

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was all for taking the girl as his chosen… until her fated mate came into the picture, and suddenly it was like he was barely visible to her. Nigh on broke his heart.

“It was one of the reasons I turned down his offer to be his chosen mate. When he offered me a way out of pack.” She said, gazing distractedly out of the window. I don’t think she realized just how much she was saying. This guy had thought enough of her to offer to be her chosen mate. He wanted her to be his. That meant a lot. Yet she had said no… did that have more to do with the control her pack seemed to hold over her?

“He must have thought highly of you to offer you that chance, Bailey. He will be hurting as much as you.” I reassured her, but she looked at me confused.

“He definitely did not sound like he was hurting. He sounded happy.” She said with a sad smile, but I nodded.

“Of course, it will be a mixture of emotions right now. His instinct would be all for his fated mate. We are built to want them. Crave them. Desire them. We wait for them…” my voice falters a little at that as I instantly think of Isla, and I see Bailey looking up to me, concern within her big brown eyes. “You know what, I will give you the space you need Bailey. But trust me, he is likely hurting too.” I said as I rushed from the kitchen, needing to be alone. The thoughts of Isla suddenly took over my mind. I do not need Bailey witnessing me falling apart…