** pls read 45 before this **

Despite Asra's unwelcome invasion into my bedroom, I felt my shoulders relax, knowing that it was only him.

How strange, I thought. The man who claims to not want me here is the one to soothe my mind.

"Are you okay?" He wondered, coming closer to me.

I swallowed, nodding but taking a step back. "Yes."

He frowned, his nostrils flaring as he studied me. I shook my head, walking away from him to go into my bathroom and take the bathrobe from the back of the door. Sliding it on, I avoided direct eye contact as I tied the belt around my waist. Entering my room again, I sat on the bed, sighing as I faced him.

"What do you want now?" I mumbled.

Asra's eyebrows furrowed before he cleared his throat. "I..."

I levelled my gaze with his, my face passive despite the war going on inside my mind. He was frowning, his eyes darting all over my face as his Adam's apple bobbed in his throat. Nostrils flaring again, he walked a few steps closer.

"Why does it smell like vomit in here?" He asked.

"I vomited." I shrugged.

"Why? Are you un-well?" He scowled, standing before me.

In the head, I mused.

"No, I just... Didn't feel very well."

He shifted, nodding against the tension in the air. I swallowed, staring down at my feet as the silence dragged on. Eventually he sighed, his hand coming to grab at my chin. I jumped at the contact, rearing my head away from where his fingers touched the soreness of Blake's touch.

Asra paused, his fingers brushing against my skin. "Did I hurt you?"

Gritting my teeth, I shook my head and remained silent. His fingers moved, caressing my cheek and jaw softly. I felt my shoulders relax under the gentle buzzing of his energy. But when his fingers firmly pressed into my lower jaw, a small gasp of surprise escaped me. Asra's grip moved away from the obviously sore area, tightening elsewhere on my chin so I couldn't pull away.

I narrowed my eyes up at him, finding his eyes dark and ablaze with anger.

"You are bruising." He stated.

I said nothing.

"Who did this to you?" He growled.

Dropping my gaze, the silence endured. It seemed to irritate him more because he let go of me with a low growl.

"Damn it, Ailia, who hurt you?"

Who didn't? I mentally snarled.

"Nobody."

"So, you just fall and bruise your jaw?" He scoffed.

I stiffened; the tone of his voice was giving me memories of Darius. The disappointed tone and belittling snap of words signified he knew I was lying. That usually meant something else was coming after. I wrapped my arms around myself, habitually protecting my vital organs.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled.

It was quiet for six seconds before he let out a long sigh. I felt the bed dip beside me and my breath hitched with the proximity of his body. He leaned over his knees, hands clasped in the middle, as he glared at the floor.

"No, no, you don't have to be sorry." He murmured. "I'm sorry."

I blinked, taken aback. This time, I was speechless for an entirely different reason. Not stubbornness, but shock.

"I have been trying to avoid you as of late, but I keep finding myself coming back." He chuckled darkly. "I tried all damn day today. After what happened in the shower, I have just been unable to stay away. I'm on edge. Your emotions have been a whirlwind as of late and half the time I think they are just false."

I blinked slowly, mesmerised by his voice. I think this is the most he has spoken to me since we met.

"Please." He breathed, glancing up to capture my eyes. "I know there is something holding you back from letting me into your past, but do not keep away the present when it can affect your future."

My heart fluttered, the deep blue of his eyes so mesmerising I found my breath taken away. He sounded so sincere, so heartfelt, and almost pleading for me to speak up.

But Blake was a large man, even taller than Asra. A powerful alpha male who could easily get pissed if I spilled my guts. Again...

Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I spoke. "My emotions?"

He sighed, dropping his eyes back to the floor. I nervously grabbed at the fabric of my bathrobe, wondering why he was being so softly spoken tonight.

"You have had a lot of them lately. The more I seem to let you into my mind... my life... the more I feel them." He exhaled loudly. "It's rather distracting, especially when I feel fear or anxiety. I tried to block it out, but here I am."

I licked my lips, a nervous habit. My hands moved to settle on my knees, fingers drumming against my kneecap.

"What does this even mean?" I whispered.

His hand came to clutch mine, stopping the incessant thumping of my fingers. "I don't know... right now. I don't know what is going on with my beast."

"Your beast?" I repeated, looking up at him.

Inhaling, he straightened his back. "We are one, you know that, not two separate entities, but one whole. My wild side has been aching to be free... Usually I am free, with simple control, but lately it has been rather difficult to set aside my instincts. I want nothing more than to be home."

"Because of me?" I wondered.

He paused for a second, but nodded. "Yes. My mind and body are at a war."

"Oh." I muttered. "I see."

"That's the thing; you don't see. I don't see. Nobody does." He laughed darkly. "I did not even want another damn human in my pack, yet here I am!"

I flinched, dropping my eyes from the side of his face to glare down at my lap. I couldn't help being born a human; not like I could change it. He was being rude.

"I know, I know." He groaned, and I realised I had said that out loud.

Silence ticked by with the beating of my heart. I slowly saw him relax from the corner of my eye, his shoulders slumping as he breathed slower.

"How did you hurt your jaw?" He asked again.

I hesitated, debating on whether to tell him. Was it worth any repercussions from Blake? Would there even be any?

"Okay." He grumbled. "Different question. Did one of my pack members hurt you?"

"No." I muttered.

"Good." He huffed. "Did someone not from my pack hurt you?"

I swallowed, lifting my head to gaze into the night skies of his eyes. They were full of barely concealed anger, creased at the corners as he scrutinised me. My heart raced in my chest, his head cocking as he scanned my features. I was nervous, at a crossroads with which way to go down. Both males were temperamental, and I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do. If I tattled, would the repercussions be worse?

"No." I whispered.

Asra nodded mutely, his head snapping away to glare ahead of him. He ran a hand through his hair before jumping up to his feet. Within seconds, he was at my door and throwing it open. I jumped in surprise when Blake stood at the other side of it, his hand raised to knock.

"What are you doing here?" Asra snapped.

Blake's eyes widened, darting to me in the distance. His eyes soon narrowed, trying to hide his surprise at the other Alpha before him. How did Asra know he was there?

A gross shiver ran along my body, goosebumps rising beneath the robe I wore when I saw Blake's dark eyes scrutinise me.

"Well?" Asra snapped.

"I-uh, came to look for you." Blake stammered. "I wanted to speak to you about some documents."

Lies, I thought. I could taste his lie on my tongue, the way it made my back crawl with disgust and body convulse with discomfort. He came here for me; I knew he did. Fear wrenched in my stomach when his dark eyes flickered to mine again. The ghost of his fingers along my hair and jaw had me tensing the muscle.

Asra growled suddenly, causing Blake to take a step back and raise his hands in defence. I looked at my mate when he stepped in front of the imposing male, blocking the view.

"I will discuss it in my office. Be there in five minutes." Asra snarled before slamming the door shut.

I jumped at the loud noise, frowning when a slight crack broke the render above my door frame. Asra didn't seem to notice, stalking towards me so quickly that my stomach lurched into my throat. He leaned over me, his hand moving to grab me by the throat. He carefully avoided the sore area, his fingers flexing around the tenderness of my neck.

My heart raced, my eyes widening at the position he held me in. He studied me quietly, nose twitching, eyes flickering between dark and light as he fought his own mind. I felt vulnerable under his gaze, frozen in place as he held me by my neck, forcing me to look up at him. He could snap my spine without effort; I was submissive under his hold.

"Asra..." I whispered.

He closed his eyes, inhaling loudly before slowly exhaling. His chest rose and fell with the effort, and I found my eyes watching as the muscles in his biceps twitched. He dropped me, my head slumping back to stare at the ground instead. I swallowed thickly as he glanced towards the door, glaring so hard into the wood I feared it may catch fire.

"I have an alpha to attend to." He growled.

My fear skyrocketed so much that I was sure he would hear the rapid beating of my heart. What did he mean by that? Would he question Blake? Would Blake come to me demanding answers?

"Do not fret." He mumbled, and I blinked back into the present to find him crouched before me. "I will sort this out."

His hands moved to squeeze mine, the rough callous a large contrast to the smoothness of my own. His blue eyes softened, gazing up at me with slight determination. I wished I could see what was going on in his mind, to find out what he was thinking in this moment. He could feel my emotions. It was unfair I could not feel his.

"Go to sleep." He mumbled. "You will be safe."

Although they were nothing but measly words, I felt the promise hidden beneath them. I nodded gently, and he forced a smile before standing to his full height. He turned to leave my room, glancing back at me before he entered the hallway and shut the door. I stayed sat upright for a moment longer, trying to figure out what on earth was going on.

Blake had come for me, just like he said he would. I hoped he could not hear what was spoken. If his reaction to Asra inside my room was enough evidence, I assumed he could not.

My mate's mood swings forever confused me. It felt like I could never quite grasp what was going on in his mind. First, I was a thorn in his side, then he was demanding I didn't showcase my body, to him now not wanting another human around? It was almost like he was at war with himself. His body and mind.

I sighed, falling into my bed and staring up at the ceiling. Despite Blake's threat, my body felt relaxed. I knew somehow that Asra was right and I would be safe. It was enough to send my mind into slumber, my brain exhausted from too much stimulation.

Darkness invaded my brain as I fell asleep, but at one point a gentle brush of fabric along my skin alerted my half-asleep brain. I felt my body move, and I groaned and curled up into a ball in result. The heavy weight of the blanket came over me and my hands reached out to grab it, a small grumble of protest leaving my lips as I fought to go back to sleep.

I swore I heard a faint chuckle, but my mind was already too foggy, and sleep deprived to pay any attention.