Chapter-13

The next morning, I woke up to a soft knock on the door. And I was about to shoot out some profanities as I opened the door, but the person who stood outside wasn’t someone I can ever shout at.

“Rosie,” I groaned, rubbing my eyes, glad that I was wearing some clothes.

“Good morning,” my sister-in-law smiled, holding up a steaming coffee mug in her small hands. “Thought you would need it after all the partying last night,” I moved aside as she walked inside and placed the coffee mug on the side table, then flopped down on the bed, patting the space beside her.

Wide awake now, I sat down and gave her a smile. I dearly love both Cora and Rose, but this one, she holds a teeny bit more of a special place in my heart. Rose was younger than us at twenty-three, but she was one of the strongest women I have ever met and the most perfect mate for my brother. My heart warmed when she peeked up at me with that sweet smile, green eyes shining.

“You look older, Ash,” she said, running her palm on my beard. “More rugged,”

“You are still the same, little one,” I smiled, squeezing her hand gently. “How have you been, Rosie?”

“Never better. We all missed you so much. Even Aurie and Theo,”

“I missed you all too, and I can’t wait to play with Aurora and Theo. But I believe since I was gone so long, there must be a shit ton of work piled up for me.”

“Will you tell me all about your time there?” she asked eagerly. “How was it there in another pack? Did you have fun?”

“I didn’t go there to have fun, Rose,” I laughed. “Most of my days were spent training hard, hunting, and then visiting more packs to forge alliances. For once, dad will be proud of me because more than half of the packs in Spain are now our allies and maybe business partners as well. But yeah, it was great there. Alpha Juan and his son, Alpha Miguel. were very accommodating. And so was Luna Adelina. I made some new friends, plus every pack has their own traditions and rituals, so I got to experience that as well. It was all great. But of course, nothing like home.”

“You won’t go away again, right?” she asked. I smiled and shook my head.

“No, not for a long time unless something comes up,”

“Well, then drink this coffee and tidy up because breakfast is in ten minutes and you can’t miss it.”

“Yes ma’am,” I chuckled. “Thanks for the coffee. I really needed it.”

“I know. Noah and I went for a quick hunt early in the morning and we saw the mess near the lake house,” she said, shooting me a look.

“You can’t blame me. Noah and Logan threw the party,” I muttered, taking a long sip of my coffee and feeling incessantly grateful for it. “Why weren’t you guys there?”

“We thought we let you have some crazy Asher-style fun on your own. Plus, you know how far Logan would go to keep Cora away from alcohol and parties. He took her out on a date to distract her and Noah and I, we'd be anywhere but at a party. We spent time with Theo and Aurie.”

“Right,” I laughed.

“I know. Did Ivy attend?” I halted, the mug a few inches from my lips and instantly grimaced at the mention of her name, quickly ignoring the flashes from my dream. I was going to ignore even the shadow of that woman starting this very moment.

“I don’t know. I was busy with my friends,”

“Ash…”

“What? I seriously don’t know, Rose.”

“You are lying. Your earlobes are turning red.” I grimaced at how well she knew me and sighed.

“Fine, yes, she came with Eli and Naya…” I answered. “I saw her once, that’s all,”

“So you didn’t talk to her or introduce her to your friends?” Rose didn’t look happy.

“And why would I do that?”

“Because she is your mate. I know all of Noah’s friends…”

“Does Noah even have any friends apart from us?” I raised a brow. Rose blushed and gave me a shrug.

“Whatever. You know what I mean. She is your mate. You ought to welcome her into your life, not run away,” she chided, shaking her head.

“She doesn’t want me Rose, isn’t that abundantly clear?” I scowled.

“She is angry at you, and she has every right to be. I would have been too. You ran away from her and then hid, as far as she knew, for more than a year. You have to make the effort, Asher”

“And when have I made efforts towards a woman? You know me better than anyone, Rose,” I said. “I am not Noah or Logan.”

“I know that no matter what you try to show on the outside, you are one of the most brutally honest, purest, loving men I have ever met. I know that when you love someone, you love with all you’ve got and there are no conditions to that love. Ivy cannot ask for a better mate. Yes, you did fuck up a bit, but I also belive, that you indeed went back for her.” She said.

“Rose, that’s how you see me. But loving your family is a whole other thing than loving and caring for another person. I brought a woman to my room last night despite having a mate and… I was going to fuck her.” I grimaced.

“But did you?”

“No…”

“Why…?”

“I…” I struggled for an answer because Rose wasn’t the person I could lie to. “I just couldn’t.”

“You just proved what I said,” she smiled.

“You don’t get it, Rosie…I didn’t even remember her name and once I was done, I was never going to call her again. And she wasn’t the first woman. I have fucked countless women so far and never, ever emotionally invested myself in them. Never cared that all I was doing was using them for their body. So, as much as I am flattered by your version of who Alpha Asher Gray is, that’s just a very small facet of who I really am.” I spoke quietly, searching for traces of judgment on her beautiful face.

“I stand by what I feel,” Rose shrugged. “I have faith in you. Now, we will be late for breakfast, but before that, I have something for you.” Rose grinned and then rushed outside. A moment later, she appeared again, and I blinked.

What was that?

“Red roses?” I frowned as she placed the giant ass bouquet of crimson roses on the bed. “You brought red roses for me?”

“No, not for you,” Rose chuckled. “Cora bought these so you can give them to Ivy and the two of you can kiss and make-up.”

“Uh…what?” I muttered blankly.

“You owe her an apology, don’t you?”

“And you want me to give her roses?” I made a face at the idea. No fucking way. And Ivy didn’t even seem like the flowers and hearts kind of girl.

“She is a girl, Asher. Of course, we want you to apologize with these roses,”

“And where in the hell am I going to even find her?” I demanded glumly.

“What do you mean? You will see her at the training, of course,” Rose said, rolling her eyes.

“I don’t understand,” I frowned.

“Asher, she is a warrior. You train the warriors. So, of course, you will meet her at the training. You probably need another cup of coffee. Anyway, I have to go but see you at breakfast. Be quick!”

I stared blankly as she walked away and then turned my eyes to the dreadful bouquet of roses on the bed. I was hungry a few moments ago, but now my appetite has vanished. Rose was right. Ivy was a warrior and all the warriors and hunters, the entire army was my responsibility–which meant most of my days starting from today were… going to be spent with her. My stomach recoiled at the thought.

This wasn’t going to be good.