Beauty and The Beta (Bailey) novel Chapter 280

I was never going to take the words of Miles as the truth. He never did speak the truth. I knew that. I saw the hurt upon Asher's face as I said I wanted to hear what Miles had to say, but, I wanted to hear what he had to say. I wanted to see if he would apologize to me. I felt I deserved an apology after everything over the years. And, I wanted an explanation. Over the years I had tried so hard to work out what it was that made Miles turn on me, and had never been able to fathom it. Hearing him say it was because I had refused to do his school work to help him gain his grades made me see that I had been right all along.

His reasons were not valid. Not in my mind. He said he could change. I knew he couldn’t. Or he would have done as he grew up. He would have seen the error of his ways, and if anything, over time, he had got worse. No. I knew what I needed to do. He just made it harder when he kept mentioning the pack. He was right, we were brought up to be loyal to our pack, and that was what kept me coming back to the pack. So many times during my time away studying I had been tempted to go AWOL. To never return. I had told myself I was sure I wouldn’t be missed, my parents' focus was always on my brother, with him being the heir to the Beta title. Or my younger sister. I easily faded into the background.

But, no, the commitment to our pack that we had ingrained within us would play upon my mind and always bring me back. That and a loyalty to my family. But this time it was competing with love. Love for Asher. And, I knew now I had my Dad’s permission. He had said he was happy for me to be here. But, deep down, I knew even if he hadn’t, I would be leaving. I wanted Asher. I wanted to leave and be here. Autumn Valley Pack was all I wanted – the job, the community, and, of course, the mean, mysterious and moody Beta that had etched his place within my heart. I wanted all of that. I needed Asher. He had changed my view of life. Of myself. I couldn't imagine my life without him now; and I was not ready to let him go.

So when Miles was trying his hardest with his fake-ass pimp voice, that so many of the she-wolves in the pack would swoon over, trying to convince me to imagine us as Alpha and Luna, and adding in the manipulation of thinking of the pack, I found my eyes looking at Asher. I could see the fear in his eyes. He was scared of losing me. Akira was telling me that. She and Zion had to be talking, despite her weakness. I knew then what I needed to do. It would end all questions, and hopefully it would send this dick packing too. I would not risk this anymore...

I felt tears in my eyes, and Asher wrapped his arms around me. I winced in pain as he did, but right now, I didn’t care. I knew what I needed to do, whether there were people watching us or not. We could do this again when we were alone. Right now, we needed to do this. Make this official. I rested my mouth next to his ear, and felt him shiver, the way I love when I know I am doing something he likes, before I whispered to him so nobody else could hear, “Ash?” I felt him nodding. I couldn’t quite believe I was about to do this. “I know this is out of the blue, and so not how we would have wanted this, but if we do this now, he can do no more. I will be yours. I will belong to you. To your pack…” my voice faltered. What if he didn’t want this yet? But I knew I had to ask. “Will you mark me?”

The smile upon his face told me all I needed to know as I offered him my neck. The shock of pain as his teeth broke my skin, was soon followed by an exhilarating pleasure running through me as I felt the matebond begin to form. Oh! wow… we were really doing this! I was going to be Asher’s mate! After everything…

Who would have thought when I walked into this place all those weeks ago I would be finding my mate? My mind was a blur as I smiled up at Asher. He was my mate… Akira purred happily in my mind. This was meant to be.

‘Hey you.’ I couldn’t help but link, with a little wink to test out the mindlink, and Asher smiled, his face full of happiness.

“Well, I think you have your answer, don’t you?” Alpha Caleb said to Miles, and he most certainly did. I hope our actions have shown him exactly where he stands now. I would never have gone back to the pack, and he was never meant for me.