Page 18 of The Alpha's Sold Pregnant Mate

Effortlessly, Asher picked her up, bridal style. The crowd parted in two as he walked between them, gazing at the damsel in his arms. Murmurs were rising about the human girl as he headed toward the house at a corner. It wasn't a mansion, but the structure and pattern of the building exuded opulence. It was simple yet magnificent.

Asher gently set her down on the bed in a room that had been cleaned specially for her arrival. Unfortunately, though, she had passed out before there was time to show her to her room.

He sat on the side of the bed and watched her as she lay unconscious. She looked so cute in that state, like a sleeping child. He did not expect her to faint when she did, and at the same time, he didn't expect Elder William to appear in his wolf form like that.

Asher pushed some of her black hair to the back of her ear as he smiled, thinkingabouthow she had passed out. For some reason, he found it funny.

I thought you were a tough one, he thought to himself, remembering how she was standing up to him back in the woods and asking lots of questions.

If Elder William's wolf form scared the shit out of her, so much that she passed out, then he realized that explaining the situation to her was definitely going to be a tough one. Yes, he had anticipated a scared response; however, he did not think that she would faint. He laughed to himself. Maybe he'd make fun of her when she woke up.

She’s beautiful.

He could not stop himself from staring or from caring for her safety, even though he knew she was going to be fine. Asher heard a squealing sound coming from her pocket, and soon, a white squirrel stuck out its head. It saw Asher and tried to delve back into Esme's pocket, but Asher, with a blur of movement, grabbed it quickly.

In his hold, the squirrel squirmed and squealed, probably thinking that was the end for it.

“Relax, little guy,” Asher said to it, “I'm not going to hurt you.” He loosened his grip around the squirrel and walked over to a table by the window.

Two women had followed him upstairs when he brought Esme in; one was standing by the door, and the other by the window beside the bed.

“Hilda,” he called one and nodded toward a door somewhere in the room.

Hilda went in the door and returned with a small cage that might have once been housing a bird.

“Thank you,” he said politely, accepting the cage.

“You're welcome, Alpha Asher.” She stepped away.

Asher gently placed the squirrel into the cage and closed it.

“I'd offer you a carrot, but we're fresh out of those.” He sighed and massaged his eyeballs, muttering under his breath. “We're fresh out of everything.”

Elder William's voice reverberated through the hallway as he exchanged pleasantries with some people on his way to the room. The door was open, and he walked in with his usual jovial spirit.

“Ha! Sleeping beauty is not yet awake.” He chuckled as he headed toward Asher. “Were you talking to the squirrel?”He looked at the caged squirrel.

Elder William was a fat man in his sixties. He had white hair and a white beard, full and always well-combed. He was wearing a white robe made out of wolf fur. His hair was piled backward into a ponytail, and he wore several beads and charms around his neck.

“Leave us,” Asher instructed the women, and they gave a slight bow before exiting the room.

“Uh-oh,” Elder William said softly. He knew Asher was about to scold him for that stunt he pulled earlier. “Before you say anything…I want you to know that I didn't think she was going to pass out,” The words came out defensively.

“She's a human, William…” Asher buttressed with a calm and respectful tone. “She probably had never seen a wolf that size before.”

“I know—I know.” He looked at her and smiled. “She's beautiful. But why is she dressed in rags?”

“Uhh…” Asher was speechless.

“You said you weren't going to kidnap a human woman…”

“I didn't.”

“Clearly, you did not because, if you had, she would have been tied up in the trunk of your car.” William laughed lightly. “Now, tell me, how did you manage to pull it off?”

“You're not going to believe me if I told you.”

William took a chair and sat down in it, paying rapt attention. “I've been around long before you were born, Ash. Trust me, nothing you're going to say will sound new.”

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