Sheryl’s POVEverything happened so fast; my heart was racing at lightning speed as Ashton lifted me onto the sink. Instinctively, I wrapped my legs around him; mainly to keep myself from falling off the sink, but also because it just felt right.I felt him between my legs, pressing himself against me and growing through his pants. I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck and felt his lips closing in around mine.I closed my eyes as he kissed me. His lips were so soft and inviting; everything about him was just so good. The way he smelled, the way he felt, the way my heart raced whenever I was around him, and I can’t forget about the sweet bliss Val felt.I could feel her running laps in my mind’s eye and howling in delight as Ashton continued the embrace. He bit onto my bottom lip and brought it into his mouth hungrily. At this moment, he wanted me as much as I wanted him. Nothing was in my mind; I didn’t think about Connie or what she had said previously, and I wasn’tthinking
Ashton’s POV“Hey, Ashton!” Bastien called me over from across the exhibit. He was with a few other Alphas.I wondered if they saw me leaving the bathroom area with Sheryl trailing behind me. But when I turned to glance in Sheryl’s direction, she wasn’t there. She was smart; she must have been waiting a couple of minutes before she walked out of the bathroom. “I was just telling the guys of your efforts to find the person who poisoned my daughter,” Bastien said with a proud smile as I approached.It oddly enough made me feel good that he was praising me for something I would have done without him asking me to. It shouldn’t have mattered what Bastien thought, but for some reason, I was finding myself almost wanting his approval. Perhaps because he was the head of the committee and if I get in good with him, I can secure myfuture. “If that’s what you want to tell yourself,” Max teased. “I can’t thank you enough,” Bastien continued, patting me on the back of my shoulder.I nodded to him
Ashton’s POV“You know, Ashton. You aren’t a bad drinking partner,” Alpha John said with a drunken slur as he slapped me on the back of my shoulder. I could smell the whisky on his breath, and it made me cringe.I’ve only had a couple of beers, so I was far from drunk. But I couldn’t say the same for the other Alphas. The only other one that had his shit together was Bastien. He didn’t want to return to Selene completely wasted and I respected that about him. He loved his family, and he loved his work; he didn’t let the other Alpha convince him to drink more than he wanted, and I did the same, despite them trying. “Ashton, when are you finally going to meet your mate and get married?” Alpha John murmured while peering over at me. “You know it’s hard to run a pack without a proper luna.” There was no way in hell I would tell them about Sheryl. I wasn’t even sure if there was anything to say. We only kissed; nothing more happened between us. Besides, getting close to her would only put
Sheryl’s POVBrody was asking me to the school dance?I would be lying if I said I wasn’t taken by surprise. I honestly didn’t even think I was his type. I stared at him for a moment longer before speaking my answer. “I would prefer to just go to the dance alone,” I told him.I watched his face grow sad and he lowered his gaze to the ground. “I see,” he breathed, clear disappointment in his tone. Brody was incredibly smart, and he was also good-looking, I had to admit that. Any girl would be luckyto go with him to the dance, but I just wasn’t interested. “I’m sorry I bothered you,” he said as he started to walk past me. “You aren’t a bother, Brody,” I called after him. “I hope that we can remain friends and maybe evenshare a dance?” He paused for a moment and glanced at me. “You’d still dance with me?” He asked a ping of hope in his tone. “Of course,” I answered. He looked relieved by my answer and nodded. “I’d like that,” he said as he turned away and left the student lounge. …Ash
Ashton’s POVWhat in the actual fuck was going on right now? This couldn’t have been happening. Sheryl stood in front of me with wide eyes, staring at Connie behind me. Connie, who was paradingaround in just a towel, was searching for the underwear she had misplaced. They both had terrible timing. Sheryl’s body began to tremble as she took a large step away from me. What was she even doing here? This was the faculty housing. Students weren’t allowed here. “Ashton? Did you hear…” Connie walked closer to me and once she noticed Sheryl staring at her, she paused. “Oh… I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company. A student company at that.” Connie raised her brows. “I was just leaving,” Sheryl stammered as she turned around. She began to hurry away from the house. “What were you doing here?” I called after her, shutting the door behind me as I stepped outside.I could hear Connie saying something from inside, but I ignored her. “I shouldn’t have come here,” Sheryl said quickly; she still ha
Sheryl’s POV“Enjoy the dance!” Megan said at the door as a group of students made their way past her.I stood outside, watching as students made their way into the dance. Everybody was dressed up so beautifully.I wore a long pink dress with noodle straps that went around my neck and hugged my body perfectly. I went shopping a few days ago with Rachel. She wore a red and black dress; it was a lot shorter andended just above her knees, revealing her killer legs. My dark hair was curled with an iron, thanks to Rachel, and put back with a pink headband that matches my dress. “I hope you have a good night,” I said to the few students who walked past me. “Girl, you look hot!” Rachel said as she walked up to me; she looked absolutely stunning, and Ryan was on her arm. He looked great as well. “As do you,” I said in return. “You look great too, Ryan,” I added with a smile. “Thanks,” he said, nodding his head at me. Rachel tightened her grip on him and led him to the doors. “We’ll see you i
Sheryl’s POVI could feel his eyes on me when I was dancing with Brody. Ashton stayed off in the corner, but he was watching me like he was hungry, and I was his dinner.I wasn’t sure why that excited me so much. Maybe because I finally had the advantage over him.If he could be with Connie without a second thought about me, then I should be able to dance with Brody without feeling guilty.It’s not like he wanted me, so what did I have to feel guilty about? Brody had his hands around my waist when we danced; I had to admit that I felt a little bit uncomfortable, but I didn’t stop him. I held myself close to him and swayed to the music.I promised him this dance after all.I caught Rachel watching us with a proud smile on her face and I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore her, but I chuckled at the same time. “You look beautiful, Sheryl,” Brody said with a fond smile and a kind look in his eyes. “You look great too,” I said in return. “Did you come here with anyone?”“No,” he answered. “T
Ashton’s POV“Go back there and take what is ours!!” Max roared, fury boiling through him. He was desperate to haveSheryl as his and I wasn’t going to partake in such activities.If I were to be caught, I could lose everything I had worked so hard for, and I wasn’t going to let that happen. I had big goals and dreams to fulfill in order to lock my future down and I wasn’t going to let a mate bond get in the way of that. Plus, if I were to get too close to her, it’ll put her in danger. I’m always being watched and hunted by myfather’s followers. They nearly killed my mother.I won’t let something like that happen to Sheryl too. ‘ Not while I’m alive.I was careless and weak. I acted with my dick and not with my head.I won’t let that happen again. Though, I could still taste her sweet lips on mine and feel the softness of her skin pressed against me. It made me feel a way I had never felt before. However, I chose to ignore that feeling.I returned to the dance because I had a job to
“Earlier today,” I answered with a shrug, trying to seem nonchalant. “But you were busy taking Connie tolunch.”“When did you find out about this little vacation?”“It’s not a little vacation,” I said in return. “It’s a huge opportunity. Plus, I’ll be working as Cassie-Ann’s assistant the entire time. Plus, I could get into that school and really take my career to the next level.”“You can take it to the next level here too,” he said, still trying to process my words. “Why do you needto go across the world to do that?”“Because there’s no better school than the one in Monro,” I said, furrowing my own brows together as I stared over at his amazing side profile. He was so handsome no matter what the view. “Don’t you want me to succeed?”I said that last part using a small voice. I was afraid of his answer because it looked like he had beenthinking about it for a long while. However, he didn’t respond. “I was going to tell you about it…” I said in a softer tone. “I just didn’t think y
Sheryl’s POV My heart was racing in my chest because of the amount of adrenaline rushing through my veins. I hadnever done anything like this before but here I was, breaking somebody out of the hospital. “I can’t leave without knowing if Ryan is going to make it or not,” Rachel said, sliding out of bed. I couldhear the hurt in her voice, and it made me feel sad for her. “I’ll keep you updated,” I promised her. “But for right now, I need to get you out of here. I’m going tocall my dad when we are on the road. I won’t let them take you away to that awful place. You almost died the last time you were there. They should be investigated and shut down.”I still couldn’t believe a facility in a place that I love could be so cruel to other species. I had no ideathose with dark hearts could linger in Elysium. It was always such a loving place. Or maybe I have just been too blind to see what was in front of my face the whole time.I zipped her back and threw it over my shoulder as I made my
Sheryl’s POV“So, you are going to go away all summer?” Becca asked with large eyes as we sat in the studentlounge. “Yes, I think so,” I answered with a head nod. “It’ll be a good opportunity for me. Plus, my parent’s thinkit’ll be a good idea.”“What am I going to do all summer without you?” Becca pouted. “Rachel will probably spend thesummer at the hospital with Ryan.”“I’m sure you’ll figure something out,” I chuckled, but then I frowned once I thought about Rachel. “Any word on how Ryan is?” I asked, peering over at her. She frowned as well and shook her head. “None yet,” she said. “But they are thinking about getting Rachel admitted into a rehab facility. They want to bring her back to the one she was in a few years ago.”“What?” I gasped, my heart falling into my stomach. “I had no idea she was even in rehab before. But they say she went to some place in Elysium,” Beccasaid, thinking more about it. “They want to send her back. I don’t think the doctors talked to her aboutit
Ashton’s POV“Today, I’ll be teaching you how to shift in the air,” I announced to the class of students. “It’s all in thelegs. We kick off from the ground and then begin the shift right when the legs are being pushed off the ground.”I demonstrated with ease, and I was met with applause. “This is used mainly for sneak attacks. I want you to try and sneak attack your partners. Trade-off eachround.” Everyone went with their partners to a different section of the arena for some space. Sheryl stood in the distance, waiting for me because I’m her partner. We hadn’t spoken since my confession at the art show, and I was hoping we wouldn’t have to talk aboutthis again. It was a moment of weakness on my part, and it wasn’t something I was going to allow tohappen again. Connie was right the other day when she said I needed to stay away from Sheryl. It was for her own good. But her tight yoga pants and a tank top that she wore, hugged her body and fit around her every curveso perfectly tha
Sheryl’s POV“An election? This student committee was my idea,” I said, staring between all the school board’s faces until my eyes landed on Sarah who stared at me with a smug grin.I could tell that her intentions weren’t pure, and my stomach was forming into a tight knot. “Yes, but it’s a student committee. Meaning we need to give all students a chance to—”“Take my role as the leader?” I interrupted; they all looked startled by my stubbornness. I wasn’ttypically a stubborn person like this, but I was honestly hurt that it was this easy for them to just replace me. Sarah folded her arms across her chest. “I’ve done a lot of wrongs while I’ve been at this school. This gives me the chance to do somethinggood for once,” she said, eyeing me carefully. That smug look was still in her eyes though. She was pulling their strings. She didn’t care about this committee; she just didn’t want me to have it. “If I lose, where does that leave me?”“Worried you’ll lose?” Sarah asked, a grin appea
Ashton’s POV“You went to the art show, Ashton?” Connie nearly hissed, stepping in front of me as I sat on the couch in my living room. “What are you even still doing here, Connie?” I muttered, kicking off my shoes. “Didn’t your contract end a week ago?” She pouted, folding her arms across her chest. “Yes,” she answered. “But I don’t have anywhere else to go. I’m in between jobs and my next contract doesn’t start for another couple of weeks.”“So, why can’t you stay elsewhere?”“I don’t know anyone on this part of the continent,” Connie said, shaking her head. “You are my onlyfriend in town, and I’d like to stay close to you. Is that such a crime?”“Are you going to be a pest the entire time?” I asked, but I meant it almost teasingly despite how dry my tone was. Connie could see through my humor right away though and rolled her eyes as she sat beside me. “You are trying to avoid the conversation,” Connie pointed out, reminding me just how well she knew me. “You went to the art show.”
Sheryl’s POV What did he just say?I stared up at him with wide and shocked eyes. I could hardly breathe standing in front of him. We were outside and the air was starting to get brisk.It was growing late in the evening and only the faint lighting of the moon, hidden behind a few clouds, lit up the ground around us. “I can’t seem to get you out of my head,” Ashton repeated, keeping his eyes locked on mine. “And that’s a problem.”I wanted to say something to him, anything, but no words were coming into my head. I couldn’t believe he was saying such a thing. “Ashton, I—” Before I could utter a single word more, he stepped closer to me, closing the small gap that sat between us. He wrapped his hand around the back of my neck to hold my head in place as he paced hisforehead against mine. His breathing slowed down to match mine and his eyes shut for a brief moment before he openedthem and gazed down at my lips.I wanted to stand on my toes and kiss him; I didn’t know what else to say o
Sheryl’s POVThere was a part of me that was hoping that Ashton wouldn’t show up. Emily and Kate were especially happy to meet him when I told them he agreed to come. We spent most of the morning setting up the gallery for the show. The caterers arrived just in time toset up their stations for food and drinks and per request, Brody arrived with his guitar. After talking with Brody over time, I discovered that he was huge into music and that it was a passion of his. I heard him playing in the student lounge and I knew he would be perfect entertainment for the art show. “Where should I set up?” He asked, holding up his red velvet guitar case. “I’ll show you,” I said, walking toward a secluded area where a few paintings were set up. “You can set up your station however you want,” I told him with a kind smile. “Hey, Sheryl! Can you help me place napkins around the tables?” Cassidy-Ann asked from across the room.I nodded to her and went to grab the napkins in the back room. As I was in t
Sheryl’s POV“Absolutely not!!!” Val growled with fury boiling through her. I had to clutch the desk to keep her tameand not lose control. “We will not be introducing these whores to our mate!!”“Maybe he would finally reject us if we did though,” I said, trying to reason with her. Yes, it was painful to think about, but this might be a blessing in disguise. Perhaps this was the pushAshton needed to finally reject us and let us live our lives without the burden of being his mate. My stomach was in a complete knot as I stared around at the eager faces that stared back at me. They were waiting for an answer and Val wasn’t letting me say anything to them. “We know he’s unmated because he hasn’t found his mate yet. We heard through a grapevine that he’s on the market for a chosen mate,” one of the chuckled. “Yeah, that famous singer Bethany is staying with him, trying to get him to choose her. She has a better chance than anybody, but we would also like a shot.”I couldn’t believe what