ASHER'S POV

"Why did you bite your hand?" He asked with a sniffle. It was the first thing he said to me since I rescued him. I looked away toward the water, unsure of how to respond. He was too young to understand these things. Hell, I was barely sixteen, and I didn't even know about half these things.

"Are you feeling better now?" I changed the subject. Poor thing didn't look a day over seven or eight. This was definitely going to scar him. I watched his tiny little head bob up and down in affirmation.

"Good," I said. "My name is Asher Fisher. What's yours?"

"My name is Jonah Oscar Stone." He said, glancing up at me with big golden eyes.

I gave a small smile. The name fit him nicely.

"Alright, Jonah, where are your parents?" I surveyed the beach, but this section was empty.

"Oh, um... They are out with friends." He said, turning away from me. I furrowed my brows.

"And they just let you roam the beach alone?"

"No," Jonah said, staring down at his feet. "I was supposed to stay at home, but-but there was this cat, and I wanted to pet it!"

"Ah, I see," I hummed, noting that he was looking away from me because he knew he was at fault. I believed his story, too, because it was probably the same cat I saw while walking home. In fact, if I hadn't seen the cat by the ocean. I would have never seen Jonah's hands wailing around-

I shook my head. I couldn't think about what-ifs; at least the kid was safe now, and that's all that mattered.

"You know you should have listened to your parents. You were in very big trouble back there," I admonished.

"I know," he grimaced.

"Do you want me to take you home?" I asked. 

Jonah nodded. He sucked in a breath and reached out his hand for me to grab it. "I know I'm too big to be asking for it, but could I hold your hand?"

I hesitated. He must be really freaked out. If it's only for a few minutes, I should be fine. I took his sandy, wet hand in mine.

As we walked, Jonah started to talk about all kinds of things that make kids his age excited about life. I could tell by the way he spoke that he'd been holding in his thoughts for a very long time. I nearly frowned thinking that this kid was probably very lonely, but I kept on a good face for him and just let him jabber until his heart's content.

"Why don't you go up to your room and put on some dry clothes?" I said once we reached his house. The boy nodded and turned to go upstairs. "Oh, and don't leave the house again until your mom and dad get home. Not even for cats you want to pet."

Jonah froze on the middle step. He looked back over at me with furrowed brows. "You're leaving?"

"Uh," The sound was all I could muster. I couldn't tell him it was because of the way he smelled. That would be too confusing for the kid, not to mention I wasn't some sort of creep. My best option was to get away from him as soon as possible.

Jonah's face suddenly dropped, and his big doe eyes welled with tears.

"Wh-what I mean to say is," I stammered. His expression practically broke my own heart. "I need to change, too. I'll come back once I'm dry, and you could tell me all about that new Hot Wheels car you mentioned earlier.

It was like I had bought him a thousand of his favorite Hot Wheels cars. The kid was beaming, his lips spreading from ear to ear. He said, "Okay!"

I caught myself smiling as I shut the door behind me.

I wasn't even five feet away when I heard the front door slide open. I turned around just in time to see Jonah about to collide with me.

"Ooph," I said when his head slammed into my stomach.

"Thanks," Jonah nuzzled his nose into my stomach. I let out a sigh and put a hand on top of his wet head.

"I'll be back soon."

***

I had to leave his room. 

If I stayed a second longer, his scent would have overpowered me again. It took everything in my power not to punch the wall by his door. How could I screw this up so royally? Years of trying to suppress every fiber in my being, numbing anything that came close to wanting with alcohol and Potentials. Yet one whiff of his scent- his drug-inducing scent- and I unravel faster than the last stitch in an old sweater. And I goofed so bad I nearly killed him.

I needed a drink. A stiff one, but I doubted the hospital carried any alcohol. My nails dug into the pads of my palms as I walked down the hall, searching for the next best thing, and stopping at a vending machine. I pulled out my wallet, entered the code for water, and slipped another bill into the machine. Hesitating, I wondered what kind of drinks he liked and whether or not it was a stupid idea to get him something. 

"Hi, Jonah," I mumbled out loud. "Long time no see. Sorry, I tore your throat out. Would you like a juice box?"

With a groan, I pressed my head against the glass of the machine.

Fifteen years. I had managed to avoid him for a good fifteen years. Sure, I spent some sleepless nights wondering what I'd do if I saw him again, and how I would apologize, but I learned to shove that horrible feeling deep, deep down. He didn't deserve a Mate like me. He deserved to have a happy life. One with good friends and pleasant memories, and all I'd do is turn his world into chaos.

His bloody neck flashed through my thoughts, and the sound of his gurgle rang in my ears. When he placed his hand over mine, for a moment, I thought he wanted me to end things, and I was going to burn the whole world down to find out why he felt that way. But then he started to release a calming pheromone- I don't even think he was aware he was doing it- and I knew he was just trying to help me. He was the one suffering, and he was comforting me. Me. My fist collided with the side of the machine. It jostled, but surprisingly, no drinks fell out. I needed to get out of his hair as soon as possible, before things got any worse. I could slip away. I've already dealt with the police, and I'll just give any paperwork from this incident to one of my secretaries. It would be easy, and he'd thank me for it in the long run.

I lifted my head to find the nearest exit, but before I could make any progress, Dr. Wood came rushing down the hall, his white lab coat lifting behind him like a cape. Bastard probably wore it for that reason.

"Hit that machine all you want," The doctor said, stopping a few feet from me, his sharp eyes looking up at me like I forgot to tell him I smoke the devil's lettuce during my physical. "You aren't the first Alpha to try and take their unresolved issues out on it. Had to get a witch to put a spell on it so it wouldn't keep getting busted.

"You aren't serious," I scoffed with knitted brows. 

"I swear!" He flashed a cheeky grin, and memories of us in high school flooded my brain as I tried to place the last time I saw that expression on his face. My own lips quirked into a half smile. It had been over a decade since I last saw Ezra, but he was still just as feisty...  and just as short. Back then, everyone knew him as the Omega who thought he was an Alpha. He only ever hung out with Alphas and never let his genes get in the way of what he wanted. 

"Wow, you'd think after all this time, you'd grow a couple more inches."

"Screw off!" Ezra said, pulling me into a hug.

"So, you're a hotshot doctor, huh?" I asked, once we broke apart.

"And looks like you own half the town now." There was a bit of a challenge in his tone, and I flashed him one of my canines. This wasn't high school. It wasn't as easy to get away with saying things like that.

"As of two months ago, yeah," I said with a little chuckle, letting him know his words didn't offend me. I began walking back down the hall.

"I'm sorry to hear about your father," Wood grimaced, following beside me.

"Don't be," I remarked and gestured down the hall toward the direction of Jonah's door. "He's still managing to get me in trouble, even when he's dead."

I gritted my teeth thinking about my old man. If he had taken an ounce of responsibility for any of his actions, I wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. I'd be craving and miserable, but at least I'd be somewhere else.

"Yeah, you got yourself in a bit of a pickle this time," Wood said, with a shake of his head. "I'll say, it's one hell of a way to announce your return. Start a fight, and nearly rip your Mate's throat out. There are already a couple of reporters out front asking about you."

I stopped abruptly, pressed both heels of my palms hard against my eyeballs, and groaned. There goes my chance to escape unnoticed. "I already told the police it was an accident, and I'm paying for his hospital bills. Not to mention his dumb friend's bills, too. In fact, it was all that wolf's fault. If he hadn't challenged me, everyone would be fine."

"Yeah, right," Wood pressed a clipboard against my chest, and I dropped my hands to look at the sarcastic expression on his face. "You were being just as stupid. What were you thinking chasing him through the beach? He's an Omega. Of course Folk are going to freak out if they see an Alpha chasing an Omega in heat.

I clicked my tongue and crossed my arms over my chest. "Fine. That was my bad."

Ezra nodded, scanning me up and down, "Looks like you grew up a little."

"Well, at least one of us did," I smirked.

 "I'm leaving." He deadpanned, and I had to quickly grab his arm to stop him from going anywhere. 

"Wait!" I said, unable to stop the panic from rising in my voice. Will he be okay?"

The doctor huffed. "He's going to be okay, just in for a shock. I would suggest staying close by in case he needs to be calmed down."

I nodded. Releasing calming pheremones was usually considered a perk of having a mate."I just wish we met again under better circumstances..." I turned to look at him through the small window in the door leading to his room.

"Again?" Wood tilted his head in confusion.

"Story for another time," My eyes narrowed as he squirmed uncomfortably in the bed. Was he having a bad dream?

"Want to get drinks when things settle down?" Wood asked, leaning against the wall and tapping his clipboard against me.

"Sure," I said, finding it difficult to turn my head. It was like I was in some sort of trance. I gave Ezra a quick smile, "It really is nice seeing you again."

"Same," Wood said. "I'll give you some privacy, just holler if you need me,"

Once the doctor had left, I lost all self-control. My legs moved toward the head of his bed, and my knuckles were already brushing his soft bangs away from his eyes before I could even process that I was touching him again. I lost my breath when he leaned into my hand, and I wanted to rip my own throat out. The smallest connection, and every ounce of blood in my body warmed to the perfect temperature, like taking the first sip of hot cocoa on a cold winter day. 

I was an idiot for denying him for so long. And an even bigger idiot for thinking I could hold onto this moment forever. Despite the circumstances that brought us together like this, I couldn't deny how... elated I felt being this close to him. I sucked in a shaky breath, and I wanted to bury my nose into his scent like gorging on an overripe mango. I wanted to smother it all over my face, get sticky from him. Have him over and over and never get my fill of him. 

He shifted in my hand, and I jerked back. I was accidentally letting out pheremones. And I needed to get it under control before Wood berates me again. I walked toward the hospital window, slid it open, sucked in a deep breath of fresh air, and slammed the window down a little too hard.

When I turned back around, I slumped into the large chair meant for visitors and clasped my hands so tightly together to keep them from touching him again. It was strange seeing him all grown up, but still retaining many of his boyish features, like his round face and button nose. They had dressed him in a hospital gown, but I could tell he had a decent build underneath it, and I wondered if he played any sports to keep fit. My eyes landed on his lips, a soft shade of red, supple, and a little chapped. I forced my gaze down and onto the gauze that covered his neck.

"I'm sorry," I pressed my lips together in a firm line. Jonah shifted to his side toward me. "I'm sorry, I took so long to come back," I whispered, pressing my elbows into my knees and resting my lips on my clasped knuckles.

"That's okay," He said, eyes closed and voice thick with sleep. "You're here now," He mumbled before nuzzling into his pillow.

I let out a breath. I knew he was half asleep, but those words seemed to melt away at a knot in my chest I had buried in my heart for so long, I thought it was a part of me. I leaned back into the chair, just watching him sleep. Maybe there was hope for us after all.

My moment of bliss ended shortly after. When Jonah actually woke up. His cute, sleepy face twisted in confusion when his golden eyes locked with mine, and he nearly screamed his entire head off. When the cavalry came barging in, the wolf actually had the nerve to yell at Ezra, who managed to suppress his spicy attitude, and genuinely looked sympathetic as he tasked a nurse to give Jonah a sedative. I wondered if growing up had fixed Wood's attitude, or if he always had a soft spot for Omegas and I just never noticed it before.

"He's not my mate," Jonah's voice sounded grave as he cut off the doctor. The words snapped me out of my thoughts. He was mad, and I felt awful because I knew it was my fault.

My guilt quickly turned into annoyance, then anger, as Jonah kept badgering me after Wood left. I tried apologizing, but he wasn't having any of it. A low growl escaped my lips, and fear leaked into his pheromones. I forced myself to take a step back with a sigh. Fighting wasn't going to solve anything.

I tried to focus on the other patients outside to calm down, but when I turned to face him again, his expression had shifted. There was a hint of hunger in those curious golden eyes as he took in my body. 

I couldn't control my pride as his heart monitor kicked it into overdrive, and he realized he released attraction pheromones. It was cute to see his tan cheeks turn red for me, but I knew I was in trouble and needed to leave because he was having a hard time suppressing his scent. I was close enough to him that my lips could graze his ear. I willed every fiber of muscle in my legs to move and mumbled something dumb before heading for the door.

And I was so close to keeping it all together and making a smooth getaway, but for the first time in fifteen years, I heard my Destiny Mate call my name, and it nearly shattered my heart.