Why were they in my room?

Who even said they could sleep in my room?

With my hands on my hips, I glared down at the suspect, my eyes narrow and lips pursed with distaste. He moved upon hearing me huff, a small grumble of awareness escaping his throat. Peeking one of his blue eyes open, he rolled over onto his back. I had a hard time not dropping my gaze to stare at his barely clad body; I have to admit.

"Good morning." He rasped.

Goosebumps rose on my arms as his morning voice caressed my ears and I suppressed the shiver as it tried to roll down my spine. Blue clashed with blue as he raised himself up onto his elbows in alarm. I staggered back a step at the sudden urgency when he shot up from my bed and grabbed my shoulders in his hands.

I winced when his fingers prodded at my jaw, sharp twinges of pain shooting along my skin. "Asra..."

He growled. "Stay still."

My lips parted in protest when he tilted my head, my eyes falling to the ceiling.

"Tulip." He breathed, pulling my face back to him.

I swallowed at the warning held in his eyes, my heart racing with fear. His touch was gentle, but his face was stern. I was afraid I may have offended him.

"Yes?" I whispered.

"Who did this to your jaw?" He asked.

I felt my throat constrict, my adrenaline rising as my panic settled in. I couldn't tell him. There would be repercussions for my actions. There always was. Blake will know I tattled on him and it will come back to bite me in the ass.

"Tulip, I will not ask you again," Asra warned.

"I can't." I whimpered.

His eyes blazed, his fingers flexing on my jaw before they moved to cradle my shoulders. "Tulip, you need to tell me."

I shook my head, keeping my lips firmly shut. I just wanted to run, to go into the bathroom and pretend nothing was happening.

"If you tell me, I won't do anything." He spoke calmly.

He was trying to appear cool and collected, but I could see the fire in his eyes, the beast eager for a hunt. He was taunting me, edging me on to fall for his trap.

"Okay, if you won't tell me, I will just find out myself." He grunted.

I gasped with surprise, my hands reaching out to grab him just as he let go of me to pass by. He stopped at the contact, his eyes dropping to where my skin touched his bare arm. Dark eyes flashed up at me and within a second, he pressed me against the wall. My robe fell free, and I scrambled to pull it back around my body.

His arms caged me in, biceps brushing against my cheeks as I tried to catch myself. He was inches away from me, his breath fanning my nose as he tried to keep the growling to a minimum.

"Did Blake do this to you? Is this why you are so afraid?" He breathed, leaning over me.

I remained silent, too stunned at the abrupt change of my morning to even comprehend what was going on right now.

"Rio spoke to me earlier, saying that he came to see you after having a feeling that you were uncomfortable. As my beta, he reports everything to me." He explained softly, but I winced at the memory of the man in my room.

"Did he come to speak with you?"

"Yes." I whispered.

"Did you lie to him like you are to me?"

I swallowed, but the silence that dragged felt heavy. He growled softly, his chest deflating with the movement. I wanted to tell him. I truly did. The energy, the sensations his body alone could give me was enough to tell me that this mate bond was real. If he was my true love, as the fairy tales say, shouldn't I be able to tell him everything?

I wanted to confide in him. My body screamed with everything to just trust him and let him in. But the other part of me was scared. Scared that his hot, temperamental character would disable our relationship. That he would be like Darius. Or Ash. Or even Darius' father, the scary, stern man who always wanted control.

I didn't want to be controlled.

At war with myself, Asra's eyes stayed lock onto my face. I swallowed the lump in my throat, lifting my gaze to meet his eyes. They seemed to soften; the grimace lifting until his expression appeared passive. My heart warmed at the connection, the weight of it heavy in my chest. He captivated me, entrapped and unable to escape.

So, when he asked me again, his voice as soft as a gentle breeze, I sealed my fate.

"Did Blake do this to you?"

"Yes." I breathed.

His eyes darkened instantly. Like an ink spool in water, it rippled black. The corner of his eyes creased along with the harsh curve of his lips and forehead. His body shook slightly, fur sprouting on his arms. I flinched with alarm when he growled, his canines glinting back at me in the bright sun of the room.

"Asra..." I whispered, wincing.

His jaw snapped, teeth clashing together as he forced himself to be quiet.

"What did he do?" He spat through gritted teeth.

My eyes fell from his face, my hands shaking as I fumbled for words. Staring down at my feet, I chewed on my tongue as I fought with myself. It surprised me when the gentle touch of his fingers lifted my face up, curling along the dip of my chin.

"Don't look away when you speak to me." He murmured.

My breath hitched as I raised my gaze back to his barely concealed emotions. He was calmer, but I saw the beast within, saw its itch to break free.

"What did he do to you?"

Entrapped by his presence, I forced myself to answer before I chickened out. "He cornered me in the elevator."

"And?" He urged, his chest rumbling.

"Said that I smelt good and asked me to..." I swallowed, looking at the tense look in his eyes. "Entertain him, but I said no."

"And that is why he hurt you?"

"Yes." I breathed. "He grabbed me and told me he was my superior, being a wolf..."

He was barely concealing his rage now, his eyes blazing as he glared at me. I could see the fur sprouting from his skin, his limbs shaking as he forced his beast away.

"There is something else," He stated. "I can sense it."

"Nothing else." I shook my head.

His heated gaze wouldn't let me lie, and I wracked my brain for the underlying answer he wanted. I felt sweat beading on my skin, my heart beating heavily in my chest. My stomach swirled with nerves, my mouth filling with saliva as the tension grew.

"He told me to be a good whore and not tell anyone." I muttered.

It must've worked, because he grunted and pushed his weight from the wall. He began pacing, his shoulders shaking as he appeared deep in thought. I stayed where I was against the wall, deciding staying still to calm my breathing was the best option.

"I'm sorry." He spluttered, going to my door.

I shouted his name desperately, fear overtaking me once more as the thought of my consequences filled my brain. He told me to be quiet, and now I had broken the secret. Tears pricked at my eyes, my heart clenching with agony.

Asra's eyes softened. "I cannot take this lightly. Not only did he threaten my mate, but my pack member. There is nothing I can do whilst he is on my land because of pack laws, but rest assured, he will get his reward once he is back home."

A small whimper of fright escaped me when he pulled my door open. It was enough to have him hesitate, his fingers gripping the wood hard. I could see the dark tendrils of his wolf's fur now, the way his back was arching and eager to shift.

He struggled to speak. "No harm will come to you, I promise."

Then he was gone. Nothing but the gentle click of my door as he shifted into his wolf and fled from my room. The silence was ominous, a loud contrast to the rapid beating of my heart for the past ten minutes. Everything had escalated so fast.

Did I regret telling him everything? Yes.

But did I feel relieved by telling him? Also, yes.

Was I terrified? Out of my mind? Double yes.

But did I somehow feel safer? Like a weight had been lifted? I did.

I was a little proud of myself for being able to tell someone. There was just something about Asra, much like Piper, that made me wanted to indulge them in my every secret. But even some of those secrets were too deeply cut to come out of their hiding spot, covered with layers upon layers of skin and unable to escape into the bright of day.

I just hope that Asra was a man of his word.

***

I spent the rest of the day cooped up in my room. I got dressed in some pyjamas and refused to leave my room.

I had warned knockers away, telling them I wanted privacy. Asra had not come back since, and I did not know where he went or what he was doing. It took some time before Piper came banging on my door. Mya and Eve's attempts earlier were in vain. I knew when Piper came, I would have no choice. She was like my older sister, and the longer I stayed in here alone, the more I longed for someone's company.

Piper banged loudly, her voice disgruntled. "Ailia! You let me in right this instant before I break your damn door down."

I'd locked my door from the inside, so she wouldn't be able to get in. Plus, they had reassured me it was near impossible to break it when I moved in.

Sighing, my feet padded onto the carpet as I made my way to the door. She did not stop knocking, the incessant sound hurting my head the closer I got to her.

I was hungry and thirsty. The bathroom tap water just not cutting it in terms of satisfaction.

Pulling the door open, Piper stumbled forward a step and shot me a hard glare.

"What the fuck are you doing in here again?" She shrieked.

I stepped aside to let her barge past, and she immediately threw her hands on her hips as she took in my room. It was still fairly tidy. I had spent most of my time by the window, staring at the trees and hoping to spot Asra. Despite his warning that he could do nothing, I couldn't help but worry that something was going on.

"Ailia."

I hummed, snapping out of my thoughts to close the door. Turning to her, I wrung my hands together, happy to see her initial annoyance had dissipated.

"Yes?"

"What happened?" She asked.

I cocked my head, studying her. She had worry lines on her forehead, and her usually smooth ponytail had too many loose tendrils. I knew straight away she had been running her hand through it too many times; the strands falling free from her hair tie.

"Asra found out."

"Okay, I need more context." She pursed her lips. "What did he find out?"

"About Blake."

As if remembering, her eyes dropped to my jaw, her mouth curling instantly into a growl. I flinched a little, unnerved by the sight of her canines. She licked her lips at my reaction, forcing the teeth back into their place.

"Sorry." She huffed. "It's really...black."

I nodded. "I know."

I had already stared at it deeply in the shower once Asra left. It was nothing new to me. A bruised jaw and neck were a staple Darius move. I easily covered it with a scarf or high collar, sometimes even hair. He loved to grab and force me down by the back of my neck, leaving me unable to escape as he decided what to do with me. Or grab me by the biceps, the soft flesh there bruised easily. He had later revealed to me he loved how soft my skin was to bruise. But my jaw was his favourite control point.

An icy shiver ran over me, my eyes closing briefly, only to open and see Piper right before me. She tilted my head much like Asra did, but I didn't feel the same butterflies in her proximity. Her scent was soft, a gentle flowery perfume that didn't irritate my nose. Piper always smelt and looked clean.

Which brings me back to the hair.

"What's happened?"

Her eyes flickered from my neck to my eyes before going back again. "Asra shifted in the house."

I swallowed, nodding. "And then?"

"He went on a run and killed some trees. A herd of deer taken down." She shrugged, dropping her hand away. "Then he came back in human form, covered in blood. Trackers had followed him at a safe distance, but they didn't catch everything. If you told him about Blake, this would make sense as to the outburst."

I nodded, my nose twitching as I fought back the urge to sniffle.

"Why are you in here alone?" She asked. "Have you eaten?"

"I thought he was going to kill Blake or tell him what he knows." I whispered. "I was terrified he would come after me, so I stayed in my room."

She nodded, lips pursing again. "Well, let me assure you, Asra cannot harm a visiting Continental Alpha. There are pack laws. He has to take discrepancies to the council or wait until he has left and declares war. If he doesn't wait, our pack could be in danger."

"War?" My eyes bulged.

"A threat like this against an alpha's mate? Definitely worth a war." She nodded.

"No wars. Wars mean death." I shook my head, my hands shaking.

She grabbed onto me, rubbing her palms over my arms. "Shh, don't worry about it. Nothing has happened. Dinner is soon, Asra may turn up. Don't you want to see he is okay for yourself? Your nerves are fried."

I swallowed the buildup of saliva in my throat, my stomach aching with protest. I wanted to see she was right, but I didn't want to seem clingy. Darius hated when I doted on him like this.

"Okay." I nodded.

She grinned, nodding once. "Great. Now go get into some better clothes. You cannot wear... pyjamas to dinner."