Chapter 10
Ashton’s POV.
My fists were clenched as I watched her leave.
And I couldn’t do anything about it.
I was mindless of the people walking about on the sidewalk as I stared only at Josie’s disappearing figure.
Her name was Rose?
How could that be?
She changed everything about her formal identity. I guess that said so much about my inability to find her after checking records.
I couldn’t get over the fact that she looked insanely different but in a good way…
She was running away from me.
But only if she knew the truth.
Only if she knew I did what I did to save her back then.
I pushed down the emotions flowing through my veins and took one last look as the cab she entered vanished into the horizon.
Then I went back to my office.
What a messed up moment.
I looked at the company’s flyer and I decided to keep it.
What if she changed her mind?
I hoped she would.
I opened my drawer and dunked the flyer inside.
I couldn’t help hoping she returned.
Something brought me back to the hospital and I stayed the rest of the evening.
Chapter 10
Even though I couldn’t concentrate at all.
Only thoughts about Josie filled my mind. I tapped endlessly on my computer, lacking the focus to get the work done.
That was until my door was flung open and I looked up, only to see…
“Dane?” I called out, my eyes taking in my friend standing at the door frame with his military
uniform.
Dane fluttered his hands out and a smile ghosted his lips.
“That’s right, alpha Ashton. It’s your one and only Dane.”
I barked a short laugh as I stood up and walked over to him.
“So good to see you again, ever since,” I muttered, slapping his shoulders.
Dane had a buzz–cut, just like all military men in the pack did.
He had been away for intense training since he was now the pack’s zeta, a position he took when his father retired.
I could the muscles he had grown all over with veins decorating the sides of his head.
He looked quite scary if I must add.
“Come on in, man.” I shooed him inside and he took a seat, dropping his backpack on the other chair. “I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
“Yeah, it was my wish to surprise you, Ashton. So here I am.”
I snickered. “It did work. Glad to see you here.”
I went back to my seat and sunk into it.
“I thought as much. What’s up, man? So what they said about you is true.” He said, taking everything around the office.
My brows were scrunched at his words. What was it they said? And who are they?
“What was it they said?” I probed, gazing up at him.
“That the famous alpha doctor has no social life.” He shook his head and I saw a flash of disappointment in his eyes. “Man, that’s so unlike you. I mean, what had gone wrong?” He looked
serious now.
I managed a grin at his words. Having a social life was literally far from what I was thinking.
“Maturity happened, I guess.”
Chapter 10
Dane made some noise at the back of his throat and snapped. ” maturity, alpha…”
1 gaped at him as he leaned close.
“Have you forgotten those times we took several women? them until they couldn’t walk?” He quirked his brows.
I hated him reminding me about my playboy life years ago.
Dane, of course, was oblivious to my irritation as he continued.
“Yeah, that’s what they call maturity.” He drawled. His hand curled his hair together and he continued. “And, oh, man, being in the military camp hadn’t allowed me that opportunity.”
“That’s sad.” I rendered.
Dane chuckled and then..
“Yeah, sad. But it’ll be sadder if I fail to booze, woo, and frolic now that I’m back in the pack.”
“Hmmm….” I hummed, thoughtfully. “Then I suggest you go and enjoy.”
“No, Ashton. I suggest we both go out there and enjoy. Yeah, c’mon.”
“I’m out!” I threw my hands
up
but he chuckled.
“Trust me, alpha. You’re in.”
“I already booked tickets for a buzzing club downtown! Let’s have a fun night, man.”
I didn’t want that but Dane already gave me that guilt–tripping look….
“Fine. I’ll go.”
He stood up, dancing around.
**Josie’s POV.***
I gushed the air I didn’t
know I was holding when I got out of the cab and found out Ashton didn’t follow me.
Thank goddess ‘cause I didn’t want anything to lead him to my precious daughter.
I paid the driver and I started off for the porch when I saw Ms. Beth wandering around the lawn.
Chapter 10
It was already evening so I didn’t expect her to still be here.
“Ms. Beth?”
I turned and walked closer.
“Oh, Rose. You’re back.” She grinned, warmly.
“Why are you still here?” I asked, concerned.
“I’m uh, waiting for Diego to return with Aria. He took her for a little pastry shopping.”
I shook my head at her words.
Diego was going to spoil that girl with food. And she’d grow fat.
“She’s just a child, of course.” Ms. Beth said, countering my thoughts..
Before we could even finish talking I heard a car stop in front of us.
I looked over and saw my girl bubbling in the car seat.
“Mommy!” She grinned as Diego pulled off her seat belt.
As he opened the car for her, Aria came rushing into my arms.
“Uncle bought these for me because I could draw a whale!” She laughed.
Aria loved trying so many things. Drawing was just a newfound passion and she was exploring it.
I felt Diego’s presence and I looked over and saw him with his hands in his pocket.
He looked amazing with his tousled hair.
“Hi!” I waved at him and he smiled.
“She…uh…sent me the pictures of the whale she drew…”
“She did? How?” I asked, cutting him off.
“With Ms. Beth’s phone.” He answered.
“Uncle, would read me my bedtime story tonight? I promise I’ll not sleep off until you’re done.” She asked, turning in my arms to look at Diego.
I felt a little embarrassed that Aria was demanding so much from him.
“Sure, princess. I’ll.”
“Yay!” She brightened. “Let me go shower…”
Chapter 10
When Ms. Beth had taken Aria inside the house, Diego came a lot closer to me.
“So, how was your day? Rough, I presume.” He said, lowly.
It still amazes me that I interact with Diego without knowing much about his background. Except that he was his pack’s beta and that the pack was little in the countryside.
He had told me he came to the city because he needed to handle his construction company.
“How did you know my day was rough?” I probed, giggling at how he had guessed that right.
“Your hair looks so…unkempt. Wait…” He took my arm and looked at the scratch on it. What happened to you?”
“I fell down but it’s nothing serious,” I told him, brushing it off.
Diego brought his eyes back to mine, staring at me so hard I thought he could see my soul.
“Rose….I’ve wanted to tell you something.” He muttered. I saw the way his eyes glazed over with some strange emotions.
He looked down at my lips and then brought his thumb up, sliding it over my jaw.
Some sort of tingles erupted inside me at his light touch.
“What do you want to tell me?” I asked.
“L…uh…” He stammered. Before I knew what was happening, Diego’s face was so close to mine I couldn’t breathe.
Our noses touched, and he was just about to me when suddenly a tiny voice came.
“Ew, what is that?”
I gasped and Diego pulled back. We both panted as we stared at Aria who stood by the stairs, holding the rail.
“You wanted to sin, mommy? And uncle you too?” She sagged her chin as if disappointed in us.
“No, baby. It was not that. I mean, your uncle was whispering something to me…” I stuttered.
Diego had some strange expression on his face but he echoed, “Yes, sweetness. It wasn’t what you thought…”
“I thought as much. Because
I don’t want the moon goddess to punish my mommy and uncle for sinning.” She stated, unaware of the tension both Diego and I felt.
What did he want to say to me?
Chapter 10
I noticed Diego had changed towards me.
Whenever he was around we had this strange sizzle of tension. A burst of nervous and energy that
I had never felt it before.
What was happening between us?
I gave him a sidelong glance when I heard Aria say, “Oh, uncle I’m done bathing, shall we go now for the story?”
“Sure, princess. Let’s go.”
I took a long breath the moment he left with her. But I’m still high from adrenaline from what we
almost did.
What was happening between him and me?
As I made my war.
the stairs, I heard three familiar voices.
“Girl, don’t tell me you just missed the community meeting?” Tessa’s voice boomed.
Oh, no.
Not them
I swallowed and turned with a little wide eyes as I took in the three women standing before me..
Tessa, Jane, Kendra.
Yup, three bags of trouble. Not in exact but those three could make you do what you do not wish to do.
And something told me that was why they were here.
Only, Kendra had a streak of tears on her face which meant she…
“You cried, Kendra?” I boomed, ogling at her.
She barely shrugged her shoulders.
Tessa and Jane were lycanwolves except Kendra who chapped to be the only human amongst us.
“Yup, the girl cried all because of a divorce.” Jane spat nonchalantly.
“What?” I shrieked as I rushed to my friend’s side.
“I’m sorry about that…” I tried to say but Tessa cut me off.
“What’s there to be sorry for? That ass she called husband? Oh, dammit, Ken wasn’t worth the stress
