Rejected by My Alpha Now He Replaced Me with a Copycat Luna novel Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Asher’s POV

She was in my space. Invading it. Infecting it with her scent. Sage and breeze. So strong now I wondered if I’d ever be able to get it out.

Raven’s jaw went slack, her eyes widening as she gripped the bullet tighter. As if that would save her. “I, um, would you believe that Lulu asked

me in?”

I sent my cat a sidelong look. She licked her paw, looking pleased as punch with herself.

“Cats don’t speak,” I growled.

Raven arched a brow at that. “Yours certainly does. She made it very clear what she wanted.”

My back teeth ground together because I knew damn well Raven was right. Lulu had a way of expressing her every want and need.

A smile spread across Raven’s face. “And what Lulu wanted was to show me her house. You built her a cat castle. Or should we call it a pussy palace? That kind of has a ring to it, don’t you think, Cat Daddy?”

I glared at the woman who’d done nothing but get under my skin for the past two weeks. Every contact I’d reached out to about her had come up empty. It was as if Raven didn’t exist at all.

I repeatedly reminded myself that her ghost status meant she couldn’t be trusted, but I feared it was too late. My brothers had all melted for her. Even Ezra, the last person I would’ve thought would soften for anyone.

Shifting uncomfortably, I kept right on glaring at the bane of my existence. “She needs mental and physical stimulation. This structure gives her

that.”

Raven’s smile only widened, and fuck if that didn’t hit me somewhere in the vicinity of my chest. I’d seen her cast a quick grin at one of my brothers but not smile full-out like this. It was devastating. The kind of beauty that could bring a man to his knees. Maybe it was designed that

way.

“You researched cat physical and mental health, didn’t you?” she asked.

My glare only intensified because she was fucking right. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

Raven shrugged, keeping hold of the bullet she’d stolen. “I like your cat. She tells me you aren’t the supreme ruler of all evil. At least, not all the

time.”

My wolf growled. He loved the female’s fire, her feistiness. He had no patience for weakness or fear, and this wolf showed neither. “You don’t know me,” I said, my voice dropping low.

Raven simply stared back in challenge. “No, I don’t. But you don’t know me either.”

Something about those words got my wheels turning, an idea springing to life. “You’re right.”

She blinked at me, shock evident in her expression. “I’m sorry. Did you just say I was right?”

“Don’t get used to it,” I clipped, striding toward the few bows on the wall-one of my little hobbies. “You ever shoot arrows before?” I asked, “I

can see you’re interested in the rifle, but I can’t let you shoot those here.”

“No, I-”

NYLY

C

——16

“Did aliens invade? Are you actually a pod person? Where’s asshole Asher, and what did you do to him?”

I sent her a droll look. “No body snatching or anal probing today. I just realized you have a point. I don’t know you at all. Maybe we should change that,” I said, holding out the bow to her.

Maybe I would learn something that would give me answers to who this charlatan truly was.

“You want to focus on both the target and the arrow. Let yourself see both at once,” I instructed.

We’d made our way to my targets at the back of the property. At least there was fresh air out here to dilute her scent. But I’d found it wasn’t just Raven’s aroma affecting me. It was everything about her.

The sound of her voice. The curiosity in her questions. The determination she had in every task that lay before her.

“Are you trying to make me go cross-eyed? I can’t look at two things at once,” Raven bit out.

I had to swallow my laughter. Definitely fiery. “You can. Open your vision. See everything around you. The trees, the targets, the forest floor, your bow, the tip of your arrow. Let it all in.”

Raven inhaled, and I watched as she centered herself, trying to do exactly as I’d instructed.

“Now, release,” I ordered.

Her fingers let go of the grip she had on both the bowstring and the arrow’s nock. The projectile hurtled toward the target with enviable speed for a beginner and hit the target four rings out from the center.

I couldn’t help the grin tugging at my lips. “See, hold it all at once and look what you get.”

Raven let out a huff of frustration as she stalked toward the target to pull her arrow free. “I guess it’s better than hitting dirt,” she muttered.

I studied her as she stomped back to me. I didn’t see her demeanor as an act, but I could be wrong. This could all be a woven façade to pull me in. Either way, I’d let her believe she’d ensnared me.

“You know, most people who pick up archery would be thrilled to hit the target on day one.”

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