“We don’t have to be in the same bed if it bothers you,” Olivia says, hoping that Asher catches on to her honesty.“I don’t mind if it’s you,” Asher says and combs his fingers through Olivia’s locks to scratch at the scalp between the perked-up wolf ears. “I didn’t mind during the sleepover. I wasn’t uncomfortable at all, far from it, alright?”“Alright,” Olivia nods, and she could be nice, behave, and not be a brat. However, the sentence stumbles out of her mouth before she can think better of it.“Although, if at one point you’re uncomfortable, you can tell me, and I’ll go on the couch, old man.” The taunt is stressed on by a pat on Asher’s shoulder.Asher’s hand freezes on Olivia’s head. “What did you just call me?”“Old man?” Olivia reiterates, ducks out of Asher’s grasp, and takes a step back, Asher’s arm falling against his side. “Old geezer? Ancient m—”Asher lurches forward, and it’s only thanks to her excellent reflexes that Olivia manages to dodge the fingers trying to grip
Asher exhales a sigh, and he plays with the ring he gave to Olivia, rolling it between his fingers. “My clan and I rehabilitate hybrids from my world, to put it simply. We also intercept shipments, usually of predator hybrids about to be sold to the black market or any buyers, really. We help them find the freedom they were deprived of by integrating them into the system, finding them adopters or families, and if not, we try to give them their independence by creating fake adoption contracts so they can still live a normal life even if they’re unofficially not adopted.”Asher continues to speak and mentions how what they’re orchestrating isn’t legal in any way, that it requires connections he can only acquire in the underground.He also speaks about how the tournament would allow them to access the list of people participating in it, and Olivia hears the sentences.She listens to them and pays attention to Asher’s voice. However, everything is muffled by that unbridled surge of affect
Olivia emits a brief, wet laugh, and she sniffles, blinking the tears away before they can fall down.“I mean it,” Asher resumes, his breath warm against Olivia’s temple. “I’m staying for as long as you want me to.”“What if it’s selfish?”“I’m still staying.”Olivia’s fingers constrict. “What if it’s about you?”“I’m staying, Olivia,” Asher affirms, and the reassurance seeps through the oppressive apprehension. Olivia tightens her hold, encasing Asher in her arms, and she conceals her face in the neck. “Is it something bad?”“No, it’s not— It’s not bad,” Olivia says because she knows it isn’t, even if a nagging voice whispers about how it could veer into a terrible outcome. “It’s just new. It scares me a little.”Asher hums, seemingly contemplating Olivia’s words. “Does it feel bad to you?”The answer is surprisingly easy, found underneath the cloak of worry. “No, it’s warm.”“Then everything’s alright.”The conviction in Asher’s sentence is all Olivia needed to believe that everythi
Asher’s head snaps toward Olivia, and Olivia meets his gaze as she emits a curious hum.“What?”Asher shakes his head and lowers under the blanket, fiddling with the remote while he focuses his attention back on the TV. “I don’t know how many. I never counted. A few dozen at the very least, I’d say.”Olivia takes the gun, aiming it at the wall, her finger next to the trigger. “I kinda want to shoot.”“What a grand idea to fire a gun in the middle of the night in a calm neighborhood,” Asher snarks and pries the gun away from Olivia. “What do you want to watch? Maybe the Lion King movie you mentioned?”“I’m not in the mood for that,” Olivia says and loosely crosses her arms over her belly.“What then?” Asher scrolls some more, entering the sci-fi section while Olivia pensively hums. “How about a horror movie? You like those, right?”“I love horror movies, and you do too, so let’s watch one.”“Want to rewatch The Conjuring?”“F*ck yeah,” Olivia grins. “They’re some of my favorites in tha
A weight drops on Olivia’s shoulder, and when she looks down, all she can see are Asher’s crown and the tip of his nose, the eyelashes fluttering whenever Asher blinks.Olivia hides her smile on Asher’s hair, smelling the faint traces of vanilla and shea butter from the shampoo. She makes herself comfortable against Asher, resting her head atop the one on her shoulder.“I’ll go grab some beef jerky,” Olivia says as they launch themselves into the second movie of The Conjuring series.“Alright,” Asher says, and Olivia reluctantly slides from underneath the blanket after Asher straightens up. “Can you fill up my glass for me?”Olivia rounds the bed, her own empty glass in hand and she takes Asher’s. “Do you want some beef jerky too?”“Yeah, I do.”“I’ll be right back then,” Olivia says and walks out of the bedroom. Her steps are quick, hastened by the eagerness to come back to Asher.She fills their glasses with ice cubes and water, retrieves the jar of beef jerky, and a couple of minut
Now, Olivia is not one to get upset at being ignored — she is —, but Asher’s playfully aloof behavior grates at her pride, Olivia is annoyed that the boss’ attention is concentrated at a place that is not her. It’s solely when the hand still on her moves to curl at the back of her thigh and bring it higher up Asher’s waist that Olivia understands. She strokes her thumb on Asher’s collarbone, enjoying how soft the skin is. “You’re being selfish, aren’t you?” Olivia wonders and she meets Asher’s gaze for a fleeting second before the boss peers behind Olivia again. “I am.” The confirmation is all Olivia needs to hear to lower, her chest bumping on Asher’s as her hand skids to cup the joint of Asher's neck and shoulder. He kisses Asher’s cheek, speaking against it. “Is that kind enough?” Asher hums. “Hard to tell with just one.” “You’re so greedy,” Olivia dares to feign a complaint in spite of the blatant fact that she loves every single bit of Asher’s avarice. “I can be when it com
“I’m sorry, I should’ve let go,” Olivia apologizes, not that she needs to, but there is this inclination to comply that unfurls within her, this desire to listen to what Asher may request of her and rectify her own behavior when he does not.“You should have.”“I did now.”“Belatedly.”“I still did.”“And I need you to stop contesting.”Olivia’s mouth clams shut, and she squirms under Asher’s scrutiny, thumbs playing with the short hair at the base of the boss’ nape.“I’ll kiss your cheek if you let me have half of the beef jerky," Olivia proposes, and at Asher’s subtle curve of his lips, she fires her best weapon. “I’ll give you paws?”Asher’s sigh is heavy and defeated. “Here,” he grumbles.Olivia chuckles, and she lightly opens her mouth, allowing Asher to feed her the snack again and it reads like a reward in Olivia’s brain, one that she carefully preserves.Her teeth close around the beef jerky and she pauses, expectantly waiting for something she cannot really fathom.“Let go.”
Olivia’s response is a brief nod of her head. Asher’s hold tightens in reprimand, and Olivia is reminded to reply vocally. “I like it, Asher.”“Why?”“Makes me feel safe and happy. Like I can just shut my brain, and you’ll be there to take care of me. It feels really good.” When Olivia says this, there’s a flash of something — fulfillment? — on Asher’s face that Olivia cannot properly decipher. “What about you?”Asher emits a confused hum.“Do you like it when I’m… submissive?” The word sounds foreign on Olivia’s tongue. However, strangely fitting and freeing. Pleasant. Notably when accompanied by the one, she associates with Asher on the other side of the spectrum. “Or when I’m feeling soft? And what about when I’m not? Because I’m not always like that.”“I like every part of you,” Asher says, and it’s followed by a finger kiss on Olivia’s temple that he taps twice.“When you’re soft, when you’re submissive, when you aren’t. I love how playful and mischievous you are without ever rea
Group chatAsh: Is everyone here?Ash: We need to talk about the tournament nowAsh: Olivia received the invitationAJ: What?PS: You received yours as well Asher?Ash: I didn'tSL: You're not even her adopter yetAJ: That's weirdAsh: It may be because of NicolasAsh: Either way it happened and Olivia is participating in the tournamentAsh: I need everyone to be here so we can talk about itAsh: Olivia got the letter along with her keycard and a phoneWG: What did the letter say?OF: A summary of what TSM is and the rules about itOF: The fact that they kept using 'it' while talking about the hybrids pissed me offOF: F*cking a*sholesAsh: Hybrids are nothing to them aside from a source of money and entertainmentWG: What's TSM?Ash: The name of the tournament aka The Scarlet Masquerade, TSM for shortAsh: As I said previously TSM is a match to death with, more often than not, only one survivorAsh: It's brutal and unforgiving and no one ever comes out unscathed from itMC: Are you s
Ash: Olivia??Ash: What's happening?Ash: OliviaAsh: Members of the clan are on the wayAsh: They'll be there in less than thirty minutesOlivia: No Don'tOlivia: Call them backOlivia: I'm fineAsh: What the fuck do you mean you're fineOlivia: I made it sound worse than what it actually was and then I lost track of time dancingAsh: You'reOlivia: Don't be mean worried AsherAsh: I need a minuteOlivia: SorryOlivia: I should have sent another text to say I'm fine but it slipped my mindAsh: I thought something bad happened to you OliviaAsh: You can't do shit like thatAsh: Fucking hellAsh: I was a moment away from upturning the cityOlivia: I'm sorry...Olivia: I just wanted to distract myself from the creepy letter I gotAsh: A letter?Ash: This is what it's about?Olivia: YeahOlivia: There was a letter in my mailbox but the very creepy kindOlivia: There isn't even a returning or my own address on itAsh: Does it have a logo on it?Olivia: YesAsh: Red?Olivia: YesOlivia: Ho
Both stare at each other silently. Asher’s words ring in the silent room. His face is filled with uncertainty and hesitation but also assurance. He is willing to do that only if Olivia will accompany him during those nights.Olivia without even hearing his words understands the turmoil in Asher’s heart. “Of course, Asher. we can call, facetime, or text whenever there's one. I’ll always be there with you”“Thank you.” Asher’s face breaks into a smile.The genuine smile makes Olivia’s heart tingle “We'll make a bunch of good memories about storms so that the bad ones are gone.” She says with a smile.Asher looks surprised and delighted with the suggestion “I'd love that.”“Me too.”Olivia looks at Asher and suddenly she remembers something “Also, I'm learning how to bake.”“What? Why?” Asher looks confused and surprised.“I was supposed to give you a gift some time ago but it slipped my mind with all the mess that had been happening. And now I changed the present I want to give you.” Ol
They both go silent after that, looking at each other's faces not knowing what to say."What?” Olivia starts, she was offended by the silence from Asher “Did I say something wrong?" she asks Asher with a smile.Asher’s face lit up and he shook his head "No, not at all."His answer made Olivia satisfied, she nodded her head with a happy smile on her face. "Was there a thunder on your side?""Yeah, something like that." Asher’s face dims remembering the situation he was trying to ignore.Olivia notices and asks with a soft voice "Do you want to talk about it?"Asher looks startled "About what?" he asks with confusion."Why you're scared of storms."Asher peruses his lips and goes silent. His tongue comes out to lick his dry lips. He shifts on his bed curling on to himself "There's nothing much to say.""I'm still listening if you want to share." Olivia doesn’t prob, but still tries to talk to him.Asher is not someone who opens up to someone about his shortcomings. He has been trained t
Oly: What bad blood?Mia: I don’t know and Walter doesn’t know eitherOly: That’s weirdMia: A little yesMia: Plus he seems to really antagonize me for some reasonsOly: I seeMia: You’re starting to speak like himOly: Who?Mia: Ash -.-Oly: That’s because we’re rubbing off on each other :(Oly: I like him so much Mia he’s amazingOly: He has trouble understanding feelings and emotions and human relationships but he tries to despite everything he went throughOly: He could have given up, you know?Oly: If I were in his place I would have and I wouldn’t care about understandingMia: He’s an intelligent manOly: He isOly: I really like him a lotMia: Have you been testing the waters?Oly: A little? I don’t know how to do thatOly: I don’t flirt MiaOly: But maybeMia: Maybe?Oly: Maybe he likes me tooOly: MaybeOly: We’ll seeMia: That’s progress it’s okayMia: Anyway, I have to studyOly: Yes, yes, good luck and/or have funMia: Bye, will talk to you later* * * * * * * * * * * *A
Mia: He is a human Olivia, he's not a hybridMia was so confused about how did Olivia even got that thought in her pea-sized brain. She was still contemplating when Olivia replied to her message.Oly: What if he's just hiding it?Mia: He can adopt a hybridMia: Hybrids can't adopt another hybridMia tries to talk sense into Olivia who is very stubborn to listen to any of her explanations.Oly: Unless they falsified their documents and make themselves pass as a humanOly: Steve could have done thatMia: This is insaneOly: You didn't see him the way I didMia: Is it bothering you?Mia: Is this what it's about?Olivia is quick to rejectOly: NoOly: It's about how he behaved and the fact that I know he's hiding a secret from meOly: Which is fineOly: But I can't stop myself from wondering, my mind keeps circling back to thisMia: Olivia that'sMia: OkayMia: Let's say that hypothetically Ash is a hybrid, what would he be?Oly: I'm not sureOly: A predator one I guess?Mia: Hypothetical
Olivia: Are you being an a*shole or genuinely asking?Ash: The latterOlivia: Because I like the idea of us having matching pics and contact nameAsh: Why is that?Olivia: Because It's hmmOlivia: It's comforting?Olivia: And it's a little intimate and just usOlivia: Which I like a lotAsh: [Picture attached]Ash: Like that?Olivia: ...Olivia: I'm okay it's making me feel weird to actually see itAsh: Do you like it?Olivia: I doAsh: How do you feel seeing it?Olivia: HappyOlivia: Very happyOlivia: And then it is ticking inside my chestOlivia: [Picture attached]Olivia: How do you feel?Ash: The same as you, I like it a lotOlivia: Me too but we can barely see the heart because of the dark mode :(Olivia: AnywayOlivia: I suppose you have work to doAsh: I'll be busy until later tonightAsh: You've nothing planned today?Olivia: Nothing at allAsh: MC will also be freeOlivia: What about her?Ash: It's time to talk about the tournament and it'll happen tonightAsh: Everyone wil
“I could live in this car.” Olivia sighs into the leather seat.“I don’t think Mini would appreciate that,” Asher says from where he’s bent over, his arms propped on the edge of the rolled-down window.“Good point. She’s tiny but needs a lot of space, a bit like Steve.” Olivia snickers at her own joke, two duffle bags brimming with Asher’s clothes thrown over the seat next to where she’s installed at the back of the car.“I’ll tell him you say that.”“Go ahead, I’ve been meaning to fight him after Airhead.”“Brat.”Olivia peers up at Asher, catching the fond smile on the boss’ lips. “Thank you for the date.”“You’re welcome, and thank you too,” Asher says, his face close to Olivia. “You enjoyed yourself?”“Mhm, the most,” Olivia grins as she fastens her belt when the driver enters the vehicle“Me too,” Asher whispers, and with his index, he brushes a strand of hair away from Olivia’s forehead. “I won’t be able to text you much today, but I’ll do what I can to try.”“It’s fine, don’t w
When Olivia wakes up a few hours later, it’s to an empty bed, Asher’s side on the mattress tidied up, the phone and iPad on the nightstand gone.It doesn’t take long for Olivia to figure out where the mob boss went when, and after relieving herself in the restroom, she climbs down the stairs to make her way to the dining room.Asher is seated at the end of the table installed in the corner of the bay windows and Olivia trudges up to the mob boss.Hands shoved in her pants pockets, Olivia knocks her foot on the leg of the chair Adam is occupying, the one directly on Asher’s left.“Move,” Olivia orders when Adam does not budge.Adam swivels around. “Say that again, GaintDog?”“That’s my seat. Move.”“How about you f*ck off before I shoot you in the knee?” Adam snaps when Olivia kicks the chair again. “It’s no one’s seat, however right now it’s mine because my a*s is on it.”“Adam, come on,” Walter intervenes from where he’s lounged further down the table, Mia by his sides. “They’re in t