Chapter 9

Raven’s POV

I walked into his office and saw the mess around, it looked like a tornado took place here, the mess was chaotic. Why would someone do this? Was it the woman I met earlier? Who is she to Asher? 

I looked up and saw Asher staring at me, I knew he could see the questions whirling in my eyes.

“Don’t come any closer. There are broken glasses everywhere, don’t want you hurting yourself” he said moving towards me to where i stood by the door.

He pulled me into a hug, sniffing me in, i could feel some of the tension leaving him before whispering to me

“Let’s take that tour I promised now. I’ll have someone come clean up this mess”. Taking my hand, he led me out of his office.

“Hello there” said a voice, coming towards us. From a distance I could make out a figure, tall and huge. As he neared us, I could see the carbon copy of beta Derek standing in front of us.

He must be his twin, I had seen this face on the day Asher came to claim me at my pack. Asher sighed in response to him.

“Dale where have you been?” he asked him

With a look of resignation he replied “sorry Asher, my dead beat ass was so drunk last night”. I could detect a hint of sadness in his voice. Nodoubt Asher noticed it too because his tone became softer.

“It’s all good. Hope you’re good?” he asked, affection laced in his voice. They seemed really close, like siblings.

Glancing up to look at Asher, I could see genuine concern for him in his eyes. Dale spoke up breaking the tension, he holds a hand towards me

“Nice to meet you…?” I put my hand in his, “same here, i’m Raven”. 

With a smile on his face “I'm Dale, Asher's favorite beta” he winked in his direction and Asher just rolled his eyes at him. He smirks and drops my hand after a breath.

“You must be our Luna,” he says, looking up and down at me. “You look okay, just need a little bit of flesh here and there and you’re good” he said flirting with me. I couldn’t help but laugh at his words.

“It would seem that you don’t have a need for your tongue anymore Dale” Asher asked in a warning tone.

“Ouch Asher, that’s a lot, I haven't done anything wrong…yet” he looked up at Asher with a smirk on his face, no doubt trying to rile him up.

Asher growled out in response, maybe more from his wolf than him, but this just fueled Dale on the more. He moved closer to me, before bending down to my ear and whispering slowly to me

“Don’t let him intimidate you, he’s just a big fluffy bear, okay?”. Winking at me, he patted Asher on the arm before laughing and walking towards the direction of the kitchen.

“Alpha, you look good this morning” he called out.

Asher looked like he was seconds away from going to him and strangling him, but beneath that look was a hint of smile.

Dale is a good man, I'm sure riling Asher up is just something he enjoys doing and Asher seems to fall for it everytime from the looks of it.

“I’m going to kill him one day” he said

Smiling up at him “No you won’t, because you know he’s just teasing you and doing all this to gain your attention”

“I know he gets me all the time”. Holding my hand, he leads me to a beautiful garden. Different kinds of beautiful flowers grown everywhere, adorning the place. 

A huge swing right at the middle of it all, where you can sit and admire it all without any obstructions.

“Wow! This place is magnificent, I love it. This place could be my favorite place in the house, it’s so peaceful and quiet, "I said, twirling around and smiling up at Asher.

“I designed this place myself, I've always loved flowers and beautiful things. They seem so pure, not tainted by anything”

“That’s so beautiful, Asher. Is there anything you don’t know how to do?” I asked him. A genuine smile lit up his face as he answered

“Well, that’s debatable, we shall see. come , let’s sit”. We sat down on the huge swing, with Asher tucking me by his side and moving the swing gently.

“Hmmm, this is so nice. I could do this all day”. My wolf purred in agreement, rolling over, she also loved the serenity of the place.

Asher’s POV

Raven was at peace here, I could see her let go of all her worries and enjoy the peacefulness of the garden. I also come here to clear my head, it’s peaceful and quiet.

I know she has some questions to ask me about what happened this morning in the office and who Isla was to me. I saved her the trouble of having to ask me and brought it up myself

“The woman who left this morning was Isla, she’s a beta wolf, a member of my pack. We used to date before i met you” i could feel at tense at that, but she didn’t move away or say anything, so i continued

“She heard I had gotten a mate and came to throw a tantrum. Isla had always believed we were mates, and i’ve always told her no, my wolf barely tolerates her, but she refuses to believe that”

“But why though? A mate bond is not something you can control, why does she believe she’s your mate?” Raven asked me sitting up 

“We all grew up together, Isla, Derek, Dale and I. since we were kids she had always had a crush on me and since then she believed we are mates”

“She won't be a problem for you, don't worry, I've warned her to stay clear of you. It’s high time she realizes we were not meant to be”

“Hmm, I trust you Asher, it’s her I don't trust. I have a bad feeling about her” she said biting her lips, a look both sweet and tempting

“You’re distracting me by biting your lips,” I murmured to her. I could see the flush creep up her cheeks at my words.

“Stop it Asher, be serious”

“I’m serious, i want to bite those lips myself now, it’s taking a lot of restraint to not do that”

Her sharp intake of breath indicated she was affected by my words. I could smell her arousal too, smiling down at her, I kissed her temple.

“Tell me all about yourself and your life in your pack Raven, who is Raven Blackwood?” she seemed to tense at my words, but i needed to know all the things that had happened in her life before now.