Beauty and

hapter 99 – Asher

I had planned to try and get an earlier night, knowing we had an early pack run tomorrow, but knew chances were my sleep would be as challenging for me as ever. I had to do my nightly surveillance of the packhouse before going to my room, or that would make sleep even less likely. Despite the fact I knew the guards had come and checked the packhouse earlier in the evening. I paced the darkened corridors, like I would night after night:

It was only as I approached the library that Zion became a little unsettled. Though I was sure as walked closer I could smell the vague scent of Bailey. Surely she would not still be up this late at night? Or I should say early hours… Maybe she had been here earlier? Could that explain the scent?

‘No. She is here, scent is too strong for it to be earlier. Go and check if she is okay.‘ Zion’s voice was almost ordering me. ‘What if she has fallen again?‘ he adds.

And at those words my heart was pounding in my chest. He was right. What if she had been in the library and had slipped on the ladder again, but hit her head this time? She could be laid out on the floor bleeding… I quickly rushed to the door, hoping I would not find her injured upon the floor. I could sense Zion’s panic as well as my own, as we entered the room, only to find Bailey sitting at one of the desks, papers strewn around her, and her head laid on top of the papers.

My heart softened at the sight of her. I felt my relief as well as Zion’s at the sight in front of us. Goddess knows how long she

had been here like that. But, whatever she had been doing, it had obviously tired her out, and she had crashed and fallen asleep, bless her. She looked so sweet sitting there fast asleep.

was

‘You can’t leave her there.‘ Zion told me, and I know he right. She would have a crick in her neck, I know that much.

‘I know. Give me some credit.‘ I grumbled at my wolf. ‘I do have a heart, you know.‘

‘Well, it is hard to tell sometimes. He chuckled.

I rolled my eyes, walking toward Bailey, so I was standing next. to her now, but as I looked down at her, I was clueless as to what to do. My gut instinct was to lift her up and carry her to her room, but I didn’t know how she would react if she woke up to find me doing that…

I gently placed my hand upon her shoulder and softly shook her. “Bailey?” I said, lowering my head to near hers.

“Mmmm” was all I gained in response.

Zion simply chuckled. ‘I think she might be asleep.‘ He helpfully pointed out.

‘No shit.‘ I rolled my eyes at my wolf as I gently shook Bailey

once more.

“Bailey, sweetheart, it is Asher, you have fallen asleep in the library. Come on, you need to wake up.”

‘Is she dead?’ Zion now asked, making me wish my wolf was the one that was dead. His unhelpful comments sent me crazy!

There was still no response from Bailey, so I decided I had no

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other choice but to either leave her where she was, and have her wake up in serious pain, or do the decent thing and carry her up to her room. I could see her phone and her room key on the desk, so it wasn’t like I couldn’t let myself into her room if she didn’t wake up to put her to bed.

‘Oh what a naughty boy! Sneaking into girls‘ rooms!‘ Zion sniggered. This wolf of mine is more like an annoying brother than a wolf that was meant to give me strength and support…

I went to pick up her keys and phone to put them in my pocket before I picked Bailey up, and just as I catch her phone, does the screen light up and my eyes are drawn to it, to see that there are messages after messages off a number, and while I can’t see all the messages, or who they are from because there is no name, I can tell from their content is nasty. Evil. And I felt my pulse begin to race. This is her former Alpha. Her former mate. There is no denying that. My suspicions from the start were right.

I know my mind has had me doubting myself, with how my head. has been all over the place, but there is no denying it. My suspicions were right. My logic had led me to the right thoughts. It had just been my doubts making me question it all. It had to be him. I clench my fist in anger, and while I can feel Zion’s temper rippling, his voice is suddenly there within my mind. ‘Take her to bed. She may not forgive you for looking at her phone.‘

And I realize he is right. This was compromising her privacy. I dropped the keys and her phone into the pocket of my trousers. Leaning forward to scoop her from where she is sitting, and she still doesn’t stir. She slipped slightly in my grip, as I adjusted my arm position, to allow her to lean against me, and she snuggled

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her head in against my chest, still not waking. She must be tired.

I looked down at her bag on the floor and her paperwork, and decided I would come back to collect it for her once I had her settled in her room. I held her close to me, finding the warmth of her body oddly comforting, and Zion had suddenly quietened. He felt oddly content, which I find oddly unsettling. He seemed to like the company of this she–wolf. He liked having her close. Yet, he went through times of liking his own space like I did…

I walked out of the library, and through the halls of the packhouse with Bailey within my arms. She was still sleeping soundly, her head resting comfortably against my chest, as I looked down to check on her with a small smile.

Suddenly she seemed to snuggle in a little deeper into my embrace, a smile upon her face, before a small purring noise hit. my ears. I paused momentarily as we reached the bottom of the stairway.

‘Did she just purr?‘ Zion asked me incredulously.

My heart was pounding at the thought. ‘Well, I would assume that would be her wolf, but I think so. I am pretty certain that is what it sounded like.‘ I told him in shock. Did that mean her wolf liked my company?

Out of the blue, Bailey shifted again in my arms, and her big brown eyes were now looking up at me. “What are you doing?” she demanded. And, I have to say she did not sound too impressed with me…

I felt like I was frozen. As I looked down at her. “Erm…”

“Why are you carrying me?” she asked, her voice a little shaky.

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“Can you put me down please, Asher?”

I gently placed her upon her feet, instantly missing the warmth. of her body against mine. While Bailey was now looking up at me, both hands upon her hips, looking awfully irritated. ‘I think we angered the little bad wolf in her.‘ Zion said with a chuckle.

“Erm…” I began, my palms suddenly sweaty. “Look, Bailey…”

She stood staring me out, her eyebrows raised like she was. challenging me. I don’t think she was too impressed with me right now…

“You had fallen asleep in the library. I tried waking you, and your wouldn’t. I didn’t want you waking in pain, so I thought it would be better to carry you to your room.” I explained, and I

momentarily saw her face soften a little, as her eyes dropped to the floor guiltily. Maybe she felt bad for shouting at me now she could see I had good intentions…

Then her eyes darted back to mine, looking fiery again. “And how the hell did you plan to get me to bed? Or into my room?” she demanded, her voice angry once more.

Zion was chuckling. ‘Good luck.‘ He told me.

‘What do I say?‘ I asked my wolf, with no clue why I had asked for his help.

‘Kiss her. That will shut her up… he suggested. Pushing me forward.

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Chapter 100 – Asher