Hope nodded at Ace’s story, almost stunned that it would go that far as to be so violent in the end. No wonder he did not hesitate to bite her.
He was purely programmed with the intent to see and thirst for blood. If not, the just a little of it.
Hope knew too well what would have happened to her if she did not clarify about the loser wimping, otherwise, he would have used his full strength on her and might have given a worse outcome, since the only time they fight to such an extend of losing consciousness is when they are in battle.
“You clearly need to control your temper.” Harley rolled his eyes at Ace who stared blankly at him. Hope gasped at Harley’s comment and shoved her elbow into his wait, causing him to flinch a little. “What?”
“He has his reasons.” Hope hissed lowly at him, getting Harley to clench his jaw tightly as he gazed into Hope’s eyes.
“Why are you defending him so suddenly?” Harley asked as he crossed his brows at her with a deep frown on his lips. “He seriously hurt you and you’re backing him up?”
“It’s just his custom.” Hope sighed out, pinching the bridge of her nose as she felt irritated. “It’s also my fault for not explaining-”
“Hope…” Harley starter, completely taken aback by her. “When the hell… What’s going on here?” He asked. “Am I… Am I missing something there?” He asked and Hope sighed out once more. “You can’t stand, you’re bleeding and you’re taking his side, like… Why?” He asked with a very displeased expression on his face.
“Should she always be by your side, accepting everything you say?” Ace asked as he folded his arms across his chest and tilted his head towards Harley who glared at him. “Is it just because she’s your best friend or maybe because you’re her beta?” He asked, raising his brows. “Or should she side with you because you have feelings for her?”
“He doesn’t have feelings for me, stop saying that.” Hope frowned at Ace who chuckled out lightly.
“Then why should she accept whatever you say, Harley?” Ace continued to press. “Even when you’re scolding someone, you want her to side with you and agree to it?” He smirked as he noticed Harley clenching his jaw, clearly annoyed beyond measure. He took a step forward to Harley, eyeing him down. “Remember where you stand in all this, Harley. You’re at Hopes feet when she sits on the throne, you’re not beside her. You’re a rank lower than her. So don’t think for a moment you’re the same.”
“Okay… Could we please stop?” Hope asked as she felt Harley tense under her arm around his neck. “We came here for business, let’s…. Let’s concentrate on that.” Hope cleared her throat and Ace nodded, taking a step back. “So are you the only one joining?”
“We are going as well.” Said the man, who was the werewolf holding Harley down. “Sustenance in the world is depreciating faster than we can feed ourselves. It seems there are many rogues mindlessly haunting for food that they don’t even preserve. Sooner or later we will all die away like animals. As long as you promise us shelter and food, we will gladly become part of your pack.”
“We have shelter, of course, and food.” Hope nodded slowly.
“But like everyone else in the pack, we each have our rolls.” Harley pointed out and Hope nodded at his statement.
“Yes, we have several rolls including Farmers, builders and herders, just to mention a few. If you agree to serving in these rolls without causing problems, we will gladly accept you into our pack. Winter is coming in strong and we need to grow as much plants and raise as much animals as we can before then.” She explained and the men nodded slowly at her argument.
“We have no problem. We did not intend to just laze around.” The man smiled slightly as he reached his hand out to shake her. She smiled slightly and shook his hand back.
“If you will, gather your men and women if there are and follow us back into the compound. Without us you won’t be able to get in.” She said as she let go of his hand, getting him to nod before leaving the spot.
Hope glanced up at Ace who seemed to be smiling at her an awful lot.
“Anything wrong?” Hope chuckled out nervously, failing to get comfortable under his strict gaze.
“I was just confirming.” He smiled out. “I see why you’re the alpha despite the brute strength you have. You are clearly far more intelligent and very responsible.” He chuckled out, getting Hope to gaze at the ground as she felt her cheeks suddenly warm up.
“Well, a pack can’t be led by strength alone.” She chuckled out nervously and he nodded slowly as he watched her.
“For a moment I was so mesmerized when you suddenly looked so professional. Like a really strong dominant woman.” He sighed out, running a hand through his hair as he nodded slowly. “I see why Harley admires you now. But I don’t admire you at all, I find it very attractive.” He grinned out as Hope widened her eyes at him, feeling her stomach knot itself together.
Harley crossed his brows as he studied the look on his face, getting him to feel a lump clog up his throat.
He knew what look Ace was giving Hope at that moment and he clearly did not like it. Not for a moment.
The look on his face was a very seductive gaze, a gaze to clearly point out his interest on her. Not just any kind of interest like that of admiration or curiosity, but an interest of sexual attraction. There was no denying it in fact, it was just too plain to deny.
Even Hope could tell what Ace was thinking about.
But even though they were just strangers, Hope suddenly felt excited about it once more, completely forgetting about Ronan at that moment.
She felt the way she felt back when Ronan picked her as her mate. The excited adrenaline rush.