“Thank you, ma’am.” Sometime later, Nancy asked Asher to step out into the hallway so that she and I could talk alone. Asher looked to me for confirmation. When I nodded, he moved toward the door. “If you need me, I will be just outside.” Then he stepped outside. “Thank you, Asher,” Nancy sa
They released me from the hospital the next day, and Asher brought me home around noon. I slept for a while before my nervous energy began to spike again. “If you are feeling up to it, why don’t we go out tonight?” Asher asked. “Nowhere far. I’ve heard that the cheerleaders are having a competitio
“If you don’t watch your weight,” my ex-coach said, hitching a thumb in Asher’s direction, “then even your boy toy here might get disinterested. I’m sure even he wouldn’t want you to get too much fatter.” “I couldn’t give a shit about her weight,” Asher growled. His fingers curled around my should
Asher and I changed into our pajamas and got ready for bed, but I wasn’t tired just yet. I was still feeling bold. I’d given Nancy’s advice some more thought, and while I still wasn’t ready to ask the big questions, I thought I might take a shot at a few tests. “Asher,” I said, after he’d fini
That night, Asher and I held each other on top of the covers as we drifted into dozing. Never before in my life had I felt so safe and happy. I still had many things to be afraid of, but with my ear to Asher’s chest, I listened to his gentle heartbeat and was lulled off to sleep. In the morning, I
The investigator came forward, stepping between the two girls. They looked annoyed at first, but after noticing the investigator’s official demeanor, they quickly backed off. “I’ve heard of your misfortune, Cynthia,” the investigator said. He watched me with his piercing eyes. I wanted to hide b
“I’m sorry,” I said. “But I truly don’t have the abilities you think I do. You are wasting your time talking to me.” The investigator showed no outward sign of reaction. He simply continued to look at me. “That is your final answer?” “It is.” I nodded. “A pity. I was truly hoping we could do t
I could hear Asher’s and his wolf’s thoughts as clearly in my head as if they were sitting next to me. Mine. Mine. Return to me. Cynthia! He was crazed, succumbed to his more instinctual wolf half. His feelings, more than even his words, beat into me like a battering ram. His desperation. His fe
“Please.” That all sounded so good. I wanted it. I wanted everything. He stood to kick off the rest of his clothes. I watched, my mouth watering as he exposed his dick. He was so big, so hard just for me. Carefully, he moved me how he wanted me, stretching out my legs farther, and then slipped
Asher guided me back into the bedroom. As I stood near the bed, he walked behind me and slowly tugged down the zipper of my dress. His knuckles traced the newly-revealed skin inch by inch, following down the length of my spine. When the zipper had lowered as much as it could go. He spread his hand
I held my breath as Dylan threw the first punch. Asher dodged back and Dylan’s fist flew through the open air. Asher then stepped forward, ready to retaliate. Dylan backpedaled, placing a few feet between them again. In a flash, Dylan moved close again. His speed was lightning-quick. I barely even
“’Might?’” He squeezed me gently. “It will be fine. Trust me.” I did trust him, with my life and more. But… this was my brother. My brother and the love of my life were about to fight a challenge with yet unknown terms that would undoubtedly involve me and my baby. I couldn’t help but be a b
I opened my mouth to begin to explain, but the truth seemed worse than even Dylan’s worst assumptions. No, Asher isn’t the father of my baby. The father is actually a terrible person who is now in prison. But Dylan wasn’t waiting for me to figure out a softer way to explain, and Asher was no hel
On the evening of the Academy’s winter dance, I slipped into my shining purple gown and checked myself out in the bathroom mirror. Gone were the days when I could pass as not pregnant. Now, my bump was a distinctive round bulge, pressing out the front of my gown – which I had bought in the materni
“I… um…” I had no idea how to answer Dylan. Panic set in, sending my heart into overdrive. Should I admit to Asher being beside me? It was getting late at night. Surely Dylan would have follow-up questions. Like, why was Asher in my room after dark. “Oh, shit, I have to go,” Dylan said suddenly.
Asher’s words stole my breath away. For a long moment, I simply stared at him, desire coiling inside of me. He stared back, his blue eyes deep as the ocean. I swallowed thickly. I couldn’t wait to go home with him and see all of his promises in action. Nancy cleared her throat from the doorway.
The real Asher was safely behind the line of fake wolves. He glanced back at me in concern. I understood his worry. Holding this many projections was a strain. But I was done running. I was done standing back. Joseph would lose. And I would help bring him down. In the circle, Joseph started to