Love consumed her in flames but she emerged untouched
Beauty 103

Beauty 103

Chapter 103 – Bailey I looked up at Asher, my heart feeling it was going to race right out of my chest, having admitted tohim everything that Miles was doing to me, yet, oddly, he didn’t seem angry, he looked concerned. “Iwish you had told me this when I asked you that first time, Bailey.” He said softly. I sighed. When he asked me that first time, I knew he had feared for his pack, but realistically, Ididn’t think Miles would do anything to his pack, and considering the way Asher had been actingtoward me, I was not really willing to open up to him… “I didn’t really know you.” I admitted, and hesighed, his shoulders sagging, like he was bearing the weight of the world upon them. “But, you have been suffering alone, beautiful, and that cannot have been easy.” He said, reachingfor my hand, softly stroking his thumb over the palm. “Trust me, I have been coping alone with Miles for a long time, Asher, it is nothing I am not used to.”I said with a shrug. I see his face tighten into a frown. “Why are your family oblivious to it, Bailey?!” he growls, takingme by surprise. Was that him getting a little protective? “He is the upcoming Alpha, everyone thinks the sun shines out of his butt. Why would they believeme over him? I was never considered anything special in the pack, Asher. I was the geeky Beta’sdaughter. I blended into the background. Always had my head in a book. One to pick on and laughat. And because the upcoming Alpha liked to pick on me, so did everyone else. Even 12:12 Chapter 103 Bailey 288 iVouchers my own brother and sister. I got used to it.” I explained with a shrug. “Bailey, that may be something when you are at high school, but as grown-ups?” he questioned,and I could tell from the look. upon his face he was far from impressed. I looked down at my feet, unsure how to explain. I know what he is saying is right, but I had justaccepted how things were. I was what my life had become, and I focused on what I had wanted. Onmy studies. “It just kind of continued.”

Suddenly, Asher’s arms were around me, pulling me close to him. “I hate that you had to tolerate allthat. I wish I could smack your brother. He should have been protecting you.” I found myself smiling. “He realizes that now. He is trying to fix his errors. Meeting his mate seemsto have made him grow up. Either that or it diluted the effect of Miles.” “Well, you are safe here now, you know that, right?” he softly brushed my hair back from my face,looking down at me, a tenderness within his eyes I don’t think I had seen before. “I hope so.” I smiled, so touched right now by the kindness he was showing me. This was definitelyan unexpected side to the dark and moody Beta I had first met, “No. There is nothing to hope, Bailey, we will keep you safe. When you feel ready, we will talk aboutthe things he has done. But, I promise, I won’t let him hurt you, Bailey. Caleb wouldn’t either if heknew.” “No!” gasped. “Seriously, Asher, you can’t be telling him anything.” 12:120 Chapter 102-Bailey The look of shock upon Asher’s face took me by surprise, as I pushed him away from me, but Iwould not risk anyone else knowing all of this. Luna Eden knew little pieces, but not full details.Alpha Caleb was the Alpha of the pack, and it could alter his view of my pack if he knew all of this. Icould not risk that. Pack image and reputation were such a vital thing to Alphas, and I know AlphaMarshall would never forgive me if I betrayed our pack that way. I would be in so much trouble if thatwere to happen. “Bailey, he would not do anything, both him and Eden think highly of you and would want to ensureyou were safe.” He attempts to reassure me, but I don’t think he is seeing this the way I am. “No!” I snapped. “I do not want him knowing. It brings the name of my pack into disrepute. I cannothave that happening because of me, Asher. The trouble that would cause, all because of me, itwould bring my Dad into it all too, I just can’t!” I went to unlock the door to my room, desperate nowto get away from him, he cannot do this to me. “Bailey, is that what you think would happen? The information would go no further.” He reached for

my hand as I pushed my room door open, but I pulled it away, adamant he would not hold me hereany longer. He would not convince me this was the right thing to do. I was rushing now to get insideof my room. I needed to get away from him. Away from this conversation. But, as I went to close myroom door on him, Asher pushed his shoulder into the door, stopping me. I glared at him, as he pushed his way into the room. “We have done this before, where we wereupset with one another, and we stormed off, Bailey, and do you know how s**t that made me Chapter 103-Bailey 288 iVouchers feel?” he muttered, and I faltered at his words. He felt bad then too? I thought he was angry at me.He avoided me afterward… I moved away and went and sat on the edge of my bed nervously, feeling oddly uncomfortable withAsher suddenly inside of my room. “We need to talk, get this sorted, then I will leave you to sleep,okay. Let us at least clear the air, or I will have even less chance of sleeping than normal, Bailey.” I felt my heart fluttering at his words now. I hate the thought of him not sleeping because of me. Hehad already said he struggled sleeping, but I didn’t want to be a reason that was any worse, so Islowly raised my gaze and nodded. Watching as he turned and closed the door behind him. “I don’t think I will be doing the pack run tomorrow.” Asher muttered as he leant against the wall nextto my bed. I couldn’t help but smile, assuming he felt uncomfortable at the thought of joining mesitting on my bed. “Pack run?” I questioned, not recalling any mention of it. He nodded. “All in the information I gave you. Good to know you read it.” He grinned, and I smiledbashfully. Okay, he may have got me there. I am not even sure where it went. Thankfully, I assume Iam not expected to take part, and tomorrow is my day off… “Bailey, I think it would be good to tell Caleb all the stuff with this tool of a former mate of yours.” Hepaused, a full on scowl coming over his face. “Wait, he is a former mate, isn’t he? You did accept hisrejection, didn’t you?” his eyes were narrowed, and I am sure there was fear suddenly appearingthere. I rolled my eyes at him. Was he for real? “Oh no, I was hopeful

Chapter 103- Bailey that he may unexpectedly fall madly in love with me, Asher, as you likely saw from the snippets ofthe messages you saw, or here.” I quickly unlocked my phone, replaceing my messages, and flung thephone at him. “There are more for you to see just how charming he is. He is such a catch, and Ithink he is just playing hard to get. A man any woman would be lucky to have.” I said sarcastically,knowing I was likely being a little too blunt, but it got to me that he would ask such a s**d question.But, my words fall upon deaf ears now he has my phone, as he stands and looks at the messages.His face contorts again. I think I may have made a mistake…