ASHER'S POV

Oh, no. I've messed up.

He's lying.

I think I'm going to be sick.

No, don't show him how much it's affected you. Just play it cool, like you always do.

"So, do want to be with him?" I said trying to keep my tone even.

"I don't know," He replied unable to look me in the eye. "I've never thought of Theo like that before."

It felt like someone had ran me over with a cement truck.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. He wasn't supposed to wake up pissed that I was lying next to him in the sand. He wasn't supposed to yell at me to shift in my human form, nor start an argument with me when I asked why his hand was swollen.

If I had just forced him to stay with me, he wouldn't have had bruised knuckles, or bruised lips. But now it's too late. I could never give him what that Beta could. There's too much history, too much care for one another, and if they get together, it will really be over for me.

"You- You should go for it."

What am I saying?

"What?!" He looked at me as if I had grown a third eye.

"This is your last hoorah, before the rest of your life is changed forever, you should enjoy your summer to the fullest and experience everything you can."

"Are you being serious right now?" His face narrowed.

"Yes," I gave a stern nod.

No.

He just glared at me and every second that went by made my heart crack and shatter.

I wish he'd just yell at me instead. Call me a psychopathic Alpha so I can call you neurotic because at least then, your attention would be solely on me.

"Most Alphas would have gone after anyone who's touched their mates, but you're giving me the option to be with him?" He brushed his good hand through his hair and scratched the back of his head.

"What can I say, I like a challenge," I forced a chuckle.

"You're stupid." He laughed and it nullified anything he'd said up until this point.

I smiled feeling ache in my chest grow stronger.

My eyes landed on his and they lit up as we shared a moment. My grin only grew wider as his eyes dropped down. When he realized what he had done, a deep blush had formed on his cheeks.

"Uh, um. Uh, you- you should probably go and put something on." He snapped his head in the other direction.

Hmm. Cute.

"Or maybe you should take something off." I teased.

I watched as his eyes grew wide at the prospect.

"What- uh, n-no!" His face was officially beat red and I reveled in the fact that I was the one to make it that way.

"Flustered is a much better look on you."

"Why do you say stuff like that?" He threw his hands up in the air and started walking back to his house.

My cheerful mood quickly dropped as I grabbed his shoulder.

"No, wait!" I said trying to think of something to make him stay.

"What?" He huffed brushing my hand off.

"I'm sorry, you stay here and I'll go." Anything is better than letting him go back to that Beta. "You know, so you can cool down, or what ever."

"I spent half the night out here in my human form, I think I'm pretty cooled down."

"Fair point, what about a run instead?"

"Run?" He stared at me quizzically.

"Yeah, you know, get on all fours, grow some fur, and start moving really quickly in a certain direction."

Then I take you to my favorite spot and swoon you with my incredible charm.

He rolled his eyes, "Don't be a smart-aleck."

"Sure, so what do you say?"

Please, say yes. I forced a monotone expression in order to hide my eagerness.

He thought for a good minute, while biting his lower lip, then with a deep sigh, he said, "I think I'll just stay here for a little while longer. Maybe next time."

He gave me a lopsided grin.

"Suit yourself," I said shifting into my wolf form. It was easier to hide my pain this way.

He sat back in the sand and cradled his sore hand on his lap. Without a second thought I trotted over, licked his wounded knuckles and gave his nose a quick lick, as well. Before he could fight me on it, I walked away, leaving him dumbfounded in the sand.

One of these days, Jonah Stone, I'm going to have you chasing me. And you'll never want to leave my side.