Olivia: I'm sorry Ash: I'm not castigating you for it Ash: I'm telling you Ash: There is a difference here Ash: You pushed too much Ash: What do you say? Olivia: What? Ash: Reread what I just said Olivia: ... Ash: It's something I have replied to you in occasions like those Ash: I even did a few minutes ago Olivia: OH Olivia: Oh, I got it Olivia: I got it :) Ash: Yes? Olivia: Mhm, say it again Ash: You pushed too much Olivia: I'll keep it in mind Ash: Exactly Ash: It's not about berating you for not knowing my boundaries but telling you instead where they stand and when you cross them, understood? Olivia: Yes, understood Ash: Good Ash: Try not to be upset when it happens because I wouldn't be reprimanding you Ash: Just being honest Ash: And if you upset me, I'll let you know about you have to tell me as well because I can't read your mind Olivia: Okay Olivia: I will Olivia: Thank you, Asher Ash: I don't know why you saying or typing my name entirely wrecks m
Ash: Yet you are not leavingOlivia: I'm notOlivia: You are not too?Ash: I won't unless you want thatOlivia: I don't want thatAsh: Then we are stayingOlivia: I amOlivia: Did you really mean it?Ash: Mean what? What I just said?Olivia: No, about my tattoosAsh: I did. No lies, remember?Olivia: No liesOlivia: Thank youAsh: You are welcomeAsh: Ready to go back to the group chat?Olivia: Yes, I’m ready* * * * * * * * * *Henry stands in front of Nicolas, looking grid and a little terrified. The Mob boss sits casually on the chair, a dominant air around him making others hard to take a breath. He twirls the phone in his hand, deep in thought that nobody dares to break.Henry takes a deep breath and calls softly, "Boss?"An audible hum can be heard from the mob boss, indicating he is listening, so henry continues with a soft trembling voice, "What should we do now?"Nicolas raises an eyebrow with an amused smile on his face, and a slow, predatory smile forms on his face. "Nothin
In the group chat...Ash: Focusing one last timeAsh: EveryoneSL: Yes BossAsh: They knew about the pastries as well as the Valentine's dateOF: Date?Ash: I mean, not a date dateOF: Oh yeah, that's what I said earlierOF: A friendly dateAsh: A friendly dateAsh: YesMC: This feels like a preschool conversation of "Do you like 'like me?'"OF: Mia, shut upOlivia hits Mia with a pushy in her hand for typing that in the chat. Mia avoids the hits nothing but laughs loudly at Olivia's flushed cheeks.Ash: As I said, they knewAsh: They keep hearing what Olivia says somehow. It seemsOF: How would they even hear me?OF: The walls aren't thinSL: It can't be a bug in your phoneAsh: What about you, MC?MC: What?Ash: You were involved in every single conversation the neighbors heardMia goes rigid beside Olivia's side. There is a sudden change in the atmosphere. She looks worriedly at Olivia. There is hurt and anger in her eyes before types in the chat.MC: Are you accusing me of somethi
Asher was irritated when he saw Olivia's blunt say of how he was not her type. It hurt is something in his heart that he can't name but next comes another message which eases his pain.OF: He is more like my ideal type, which is differentOF: Just 'type' is insultingAsher’s face is adorned with a slight smile. His heart swells with something sweet, and a good kind of pain constantly remains in there.SL: Oh, I seeSL: Boss, is your type physically or personality-wise?Ash: StopOF: HmmOF: Just physically for now?OF: Have to get to know him betterPS: I see. I seeAJ: Has this group chat become a dating app?OF: You really need to get the bitterness spurt out of you, manAJ: Shut the f*ck up, Gaint DogOF: I am obliged to decline this propositionOF: Hey, Mob Boss AshOF: Am I attractive?Ash: I'm not replying, and I have work to doOF: It's late, and you are supposed to rest today, remember?OF: Am I not pretty? :(Ash: I didn't say thatOF: But you don't want to reply. Is this bec
The next day...Olivia: Greetings, Master, and good morningAsh: Don't call me thatOlivia: Liking it too much?Ash: I hate itAsh: Don't be obnoxious first thing in the morningOlivia: Here, let me make it all betterOlivia: [Picture Attached]Olivia: Slept well?Ash: Yes, I did, you?Olivia: I did too, until I woke up, and my morning was ruinedAsh: Why?Ash: Did something happen?Olivia: Yes :(Ash: What?Olivia: I didn't get a photo of youAsh: Why are you the way you areOlivia: May I have one, Mob boss AshAsh: You are so damn annoyingOlivia: Thank youAsh: I didn't wash up yetOlivia: I don't careAsh: [Picture attached]Ash: Leave me alone nowOlivia: ...Olivia: Mob boss Ashybear you are quiteAsh: Quite?Olivia: Delectable to the eyeOlivia: Thank you for the feastAsh: You sure know how to compliment someoneOlivia: IndeedAsh: How is the pain in your rib?Olivia: Always a bit sore after waking upAsh: Don't forget to eat something if you take a painkillerAsh: You have st
Olivia draws her knees up, grabbing the rim of her sweater to wrap it around her legs while she tugs on the hood and slides it over her head to shield herself from the man who cannot see her. She slouches further down from where she’s nestled on her couch under a blanket, Asher’s last text floating in her mushy mind, and she hides the bottom of her face in the crook of her elbow, pondering on what answer would be befitting of Asher’s bold assumption. Olivia doesn’t want to lie, not now or ever, but she also can’t bring herself, to tell the truth, the latter too nebulous and volatile to be grasped by her timid hand. So, she chooses an easier approach, one that she hopes Asher will comprehend and guide Olivia through. Olivia: I didn't say that Ash: You didn't deny either Olivia: You would like that? Ash: What? Olivia: What you said Ash: I would Ash: But only if it is what you want Ash: Are you waiting for me to ask Olivia: I don't even say anything, but you understand me Oliv
Mia: This is the first time, right?Oly: It isOly: Not ONCE did I yap as a humanMia: To begin with, you rarely yap in your WolfOly: I know but stillOly: I never thought I could yap in my human formOly: It's terrifying and soothing at the same time. I was sleepy, but then I freaked out, and now I am calming down againMia: Wolfs tend to yap when they are happy or on the opposite to ease their nerves if they are sick, for example, since it's comforting to them and it is their way of showing their emotionMia: Are you Stressed?Oly: No, I'm notOly: I was feeling contentOly: Really contentOly: And then it just happenedMia: Well, it is a good thing, thenOly: Mia, it's weird :(Mia: It is notMia: You are a hybrid Olivia, and you are bound to have aspects of your counterpart manifest in your human formOly: The worst is that Asher knowsMia was surprised about how Asher came to know about this before her. She was sure she was the first one Olivia would have approached before telli
Ashy: PaulPaul: What is it now?Ashy: I'm one step away from losing it allAshy: [Picture attached]Paul: Yes...?Ashy: This is Olivia's pawAshy: I don't know how she managed to take a photo, and frankly, it doesn't matter to me because lookAshy: I miss dogs. I miss puppies. I miss them so much. Look at the paw and how cute and pink it looks. I want to poke and pinchAshy: The fur seems so soft and velvetyAshy: Paul, I want a dogAshy: Only massaging a dog's paw can calm me down and destress mePaul: WellPaul: No one is stopping you from having a dog beside yourselfAshy: You are supposed to be the voice of reason and stop meAshy: It would be irresponsible for me to have a dogAshy: Plus, they could get hurt, and we both know I'd become a killing machine if anything happened to my dog(s)Ashy: I would raze the whole cityAshy: I'm not even kiddingAshy: I would do itPaul: Which dog? Olivia or the actual dog?Ashy: Shut upPaul: I'll assume bothAshy: Leave me aloneAshy: Paul,
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