Alethea
Why do I keep bumping into this Alpha? Why do our paths keep crossing?
It’s infuriating.
Just last night, Amelia brought him up, and now-here he is. Flesh and blood. Right in front of me.
The universe must enjoy messing with my mind.
There’s no way around it-he’s my boss. But hell no, I am not resigning. If anything, I’ll make him suffer. I’ll make him regret what he did to me. He doesn’t deserve forgiveness, and I’ll do everything in my power to frustrate him until he has no choice but to go back to Redwood Pack.
I push him out of my thoughts and focus on work, but it’s easier said than done. His presence is like a shadow, unsettling and unwanted.
Thankfully, Harvey makes things bearable. He cracks jokes, teasing me about customers in a way that draws genuine, unguarded laughter from me I haven’t heard from myself in a long time.
Suddenly I feel a heavy gaze burning into me.
My head snaps up, and I see him.
Asher.
He’s staring-no, gawking. Shamelessly. His piercing eyes locked on me and Harvey’s expression is unreadable, yet his clenched jaw and rigid stance tell me everything I need to know.
Oh, so he wants to watch?
I smirk, turning my attention back to Harvey. If Asher wants a show, I’ll give him one.
I tilt my head slightly, letting my hair cascade over my shoulder as I lean closer to Harvey. My fingers lightly trail over his arm as I laugh again-this time, it’s softer and more intimate.
I place my hand on his chest, pretending to steady myself from laughter.
It’s a small touch, but it’s enough to get Asher’s reaction.
Because the moment my fingers make contact with Harvey, a low, menacing growl erupts from behind me.
The entire restaurant stills.
I don’t have to turn around to know Asher is about to lose it. I can feel the heat of his gaze scorching into my back, the possessive energy rolling off him in thick, suffocating waves.
But I didn’t stop.
Instead, I let my fingers trail just a little lower, my hand now resting against Harvey’s toned stomach. I hear his breath hitch slightly, and that’s when I know I have Asher exactly where I want him.
Asher lets out another deep, menacing growl, and the entire room falls into a tense silence. People around us shrank back in fear, but I didn’t flinch.
Slowly, I turn my head, meeting Harvey’s eyes just inches away from mine. Then, before I can second-guess myself, I press my lips to his in a kiss he wasn’t expecting.
“What the hell-” he mumbles against my lips, momentarily stunned.
“Just kiss me back, Harvey,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the roaring in my head.
A slow grin spreads across his face before he leans in, deepening the kiss.
The sound that rips from Asher’s chest is primal, barely restrained fury.
“In my office. Now,” he orders, his voice like a blade cutting through the air.
I turn to face him with the brightest, most innocent smile I can muster. “Yes, sir.”
Before I follow him, I take Harvey’s hand and rise on my toes, whispering, “Play along.”
Harvey smirks. “I like the sound of that.”
Together, we trail behind Asher, who moves with rigid, barely controlled aggression.
The moment we step into his office, Asher spins around so fast it makes my breath hitch. His jaw is tight, his muscles flexed, and his eyes… burning with barely contained rage.
“Tell me what the hell that was,” he growls, with a low and dangerous voice.
Harvey, ever the troublemaker, simply shrugs. “Sorry, boss. Didn’t know you were watching.”
Asher narrows his eyes, knowing damn well that’s a lie. His piercing gaze shifts to me, demanding an answer.
I shrug nonchalantly. “I just felt the urge to kiss my boyfriend,” I say sweetly, turning to Harvey with a deliberately adoring gaze.
I turn to Asher and I nearly giggle at his reaction. His entire body stiffens, his fists clench at his sides, and I swear I can almost see steam coming out of his ears.
“Enough,” he snaps, his voice dripping with barely contained fury. “This is a workplace, and I will not tolerate such nonsense under Eat & Roll’s roof. Do you understand me?”
His teeth are gritted so hard I’m almost worried he’ll crack them.
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing and nodding.
“Now get out,” he dismisses us coldly.
Harvey turns, and I follow suit, but just as I reach the door, Asher’s voice stops me.
“Not you, Ms. Weaver. Stay.”
Harvey halts, looking at me with concern. I give him a small nod, silently reassuring him that I’ll be fine.
With a reluctant glance back, Harvey exits the room.
The moment the door shuts, Asher’s gaze locks onto mine, and the air in the office turns suffocatingly tense.
His expression is dark-full of contempt, anger… and something else. Something that makes my heart hammer in my chest despite my best efforts to stay unaffected.
I swallow hard.
This is exactly what I wanted.
So why does it suddenly feel like I’ve just stepped into the lion’s den?
I want to say something, but I know better. He’s my boss. I should just swallow my words and accept that fact.
But Asher keeps staring at me-far too long. His intense gaze sends shivers down my spine, stirring something deep inside me. My pulse quickens. I can’t explain it, but something about him keeps pulling me closer, making me want to close the distance between us.
No. I can’t let that happen. I want him to suffer-to watch as I flirt with every man in this town and burn with jealousy.
I squeeze my thighs together, trying to fight off the desire threatening to consume me.
Then his voice, dark and knowing, cuts through the silence.
“I can smell your arousal, Ally.”
I lift my chin, refusing to back down.
“That’s for my boyfriend, sir.” I pause, watching his jaw tighten. “You’re keeping me waiting, and I can’t wait to go and fuck him, scream his name just like I did yours last time. Remember, sir?”
His brows furrowed, and his sharp eyes scanned my face, trying to determine if I was bluffing. But I meet his gaze with an unwavering, defiant stare.
I see the muscles in his forearms tense as his grip on the desk tightens. Veins strain against his skin, his hands curling into fists as if he’s seconds away from breaking the desk in two. But I didn’t make any move.
“You’re lying,” he mutters, tilting his head slightly as if studying me. “I know you wouldn’t do that.”
I smirk. “Like I care if you believe me.” I take a deliberate step closer, my voice dripping with challenge. “Watch me, Alpha. I’ll do it again and again. And if you don’t believe me, you can watch-maybe even join, just so you know I wasn’t lying.”
His whole body stiffens.
Fury rolls off him in waves. His aura darkens, his entire demeanor shifting into something dangerous.
Then, without warning, he moves.
Each step he takes toward me makes my chest rise and fall faster. My breathing is uneven, but I refuse to back away. I already know what he wants to do-I know Asher. He always loses control when it comes to me.
I school my expression, preparing myself for the inevitable. He’s going to kiss me. He always does when he’s like this.
But then he does something I never expected.
And for the first time, even I am caught off guard.