Chapter-16

                                                                       Asher

“Be nice to her,” Eli warned, handing me the bouquet of red roses. “You already said enough back there. I thought you were trying to protect her?”

Eli told me all about how the warriors hated Ivy and what Graham had tried to do with her and what she had done in return. It was funny that she almost broke a powerful warrior like Graham’s nose, but I was also a bit proud of her for standing up for herself like a true warrior should. He suspected that it might be Graham who pushed Ivy into the lake. And I swear if he was right, Graham and I would have a little talk of our own.

“I am. From now on, she'll be training with me," I stated, grimacing at the beautiful flowers.

“You questioned her abilities right in front of that dickwad, Graham,” Eli pointed out.

“That's because Ivy doesn't seem like the one who would want me to be publicly protective towards her. And I didn’t want to make it too obvious. That was the only way.”

“So you do care.” Eli smirked.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I frowned. “Of course I care. Yes, we didn’t start on good terms and I don’t particularly like her but that doesn’t mean I would stand her being bullied. Especially for a reason as stupid as her being a female warrior and being competent. That’s bullshit. And I would have protected any woman in Ivy’s place, anyway.”

“Hmm…so you would ask just any other woman to train with you, the Alpha of the pack?” Eli raised a brow.

I shot him a scowl in response and waved him away because I didn’t have the answer to that, heading towards the primary perimeter where, hopefully, my mate was waiting. Noah and Logan, who stood near the Omega shelter talking to the head of the omegas, shot me goofy grins, which I reciprocated back with my middle finger.

To my surprise, Ivy was waiting with her back turned to me. I quickly hid the bouquet behind a tree and took a moment to compose myself. She wore gray track shorts and a black halter-neck cami that showed off her toned arms and body. Unable to resist, my gaze lingered on her perfect curves, imagining how it would feel to explore every inch of her with my tongue.

“That’s some healthy thought,” Mac retorted. I blinked, my ears turning red. Kicking the dirty thoughts away, I shook my head and, squaring my shoulders, dragged myself over to her.

“Ivyanka,” I muttered. Ivy turned around and blinked at me, her eyes widening for a moment before she quickly put herself together and shot me her trademark scowl. I affected her alright and, just like myself, she didn’t like it. And I don’t know about myself, but she wasn’t very good at hiding it. Women never are.

“Now what?” she demanded glumly, raising a naturally arched brow at me. She had a very sensual face with a sharp jawline and cheekbones. And looked even more sensual when her lips parted reflexively while looking at me. She was beautiful. But a different kind. And it was hard to explain in words.

“We shift and run…I thought you knew the drill.” I rolled my eyes.

“Just confirming in case sir had any other demands,” Ivy said. “You want me to strip right here?”

“Do you have the magical ability to shift without stripping?”

“No, but you might have the ability to be decent and turn around?”

“I am your mate,” I pointed out.

“And that gives you the monopoly to see me naked as you please?”

Yes.

“No, that’s not what I meant,” I scowled.

“Then turn around please,” she sighed, sounding like she was scolding a toddler or something.

“It’s cute,” Mac chuckled.

“Right,” I nodded. “But before that…” I walked over, my heart ‌frantically beating in my chest as I picked up the bouquet of roses. Oh man, how do you do this? Should I just give it to her? Am I supposed to say something?

“How about starting with an apology?” Mac offered. “If you can’t do it, let me. I have plenty to say to her.”

“No fucking way,” I hissed. I know what a disaster that would be. Shaking my head, I turned around, my mouth dry as hay. Ivy stared blankly at me, as if I had lost a limb or something.

“Er…this is for you,” I muttered, shoving the bouquet in her hands.

“For me?” there was no hint of surprise or happiness or even the slightest wonder in her voice.

“I gave it to you, didn’t I?”

“Oh…and what did I do to deserve this privilege, may I dare ask?” she demanded, cocking her head to the side and raising that perfectly arched brow at me. A cinnamon tendril trickled down her forehead and I had to fight very hard to stop myself from reaching out and tucking it behind her ear. She looked cute and fuck, a bit intimidating, both at once.

“I um…I wanted to apologize for what I did,” I said, clenching my jaw to suppress the urge to grab her pretty braid and kiss the fucking daylights out of her just so she would stop looking at me like that.

“Excuse me?”

“For running away like that…that night,” I grimaced. “That was wrong, and I do realize that I disrespected you, but trust me, that wasn’t my intention. I just…got scared and running was almost like a reflex for me. But as I said before, I tried to look for you the next day but couldn’t find you…”

“Did you try to look for me again? Is that what you were doing all these years…trying?” she demanded.

“I tried…for a month.” That was the stupidest answer ever, but I would never lie. I wasn’t proud of what I did, but lying about it would just make it worse.

“A month, and you didn't even think to ask your brothers for help, did you? No, you hid this from everyone. You made some half-hearted effort to find the woman you left stranded in the middle of a club, the woman who is your mate and just fell back into your life. And now you're here trying to apologize with a bouquet? Apologize for something you did in public, in private. Why? Would it hurt your Alpha ego to apologize like a man in front of everyone?” Ivy snapped.

“Ivy…listen…”

"Don't call me Ivy," she snapped. "It's Ivyanka. Ivy is reserved for those who've earned my respect and love, neither of which applies to you, Alpha Asher Gray. So, here's your bouquet. Thanks for the apology, but I'll pass. Maybe give them to the blonde you fucked last night." With that, she thrusted the flowers into my hand, shot me a dark look, and almost ran. I stood there, speechless and shocked, until she unexpectedly returned, her blue eyes glistening.

“And by the way…I hate roses,” she hissed before stomping away.

For the first few minutes, I wasn’t sure how to react. But then it hit me…fury. I let out a growl, crumbling the roses between my hands as she disappeared from my sight. No one, simply no one, has ever talked to me like that. How dared she treat me like some piece of garbage? I was the damn alpha of this pack, and I was her mate. I commanded respect, and she needed to get that into her brain big time.

“Can you blame her entirely?” Mac grimaced. “I mean, what she said wasn’t wrong. And this was a truly pathetic way to apologize.”

“Shut up,” I snapped, panting with anger. “Stop defending her,”

“Stop being an asshole, then.”

“Alpha!” Before I could respond, one of the omegas came rushing to me, and he maintained a distance as I shot him a glare. It wasn’t intentional, of course.

“Yes?” I asked, trying to calm myself down.

“Alpha Joseph is asking for you. It’s very urgent, and he wants to see you right now.”

“Why?” I demanded.

“I don’t know, Alpha.” I pinched my eyes and nodded.

“Thanks. I will go see him. You can leave.” He gave me a nod and disappeared.

“Now what did you do?” Mac muttered. I grit my teeth and shooting a dark look at the crumpled roses in my hand, I threw the bouquet away.

“I guess we will know soon.”