Page 32 of The Alpha's Sold Pregnant Mate

“Have a good night, Asher.” She reciprocated the gesture.

He left the room and gently shut the door behind him.

Esme let out a deep sigh and lay on her back, smiling to her ears. She tossed over to a side and hugged her pillow tightly as she thought about his lips on hers.

She didn't feel disappointed by the fact that he didn't take, at least not anymore. What filled her heart instead was great respect and admiration for her husband and his self-control.

Esme shut her eyes and exhaled sharply.

Chapter 9 - Asher

He lay down on his bed with both hands thrown beneath his head as he thought about how difficult it was for him to resist Esme last night.

It was a tough call to make and there was nothing easy about what he had done, especially because he wanted her and he could tell that she wanted him as well.

A part of him wanted to turn her on and he would have succeeded, but that would not have been the right move. Although, he didn't entirely like the fact that he didn't touch her, he was also glad that he was strong enough to decide on waiting for when she was ready.

Esme was so hot and sexy, beautiful and kind, which made him wonder why the people she grew up with hated her.

Suddenly, Juniper's words came echoing in his head:

“I can sense a witch's influence on your new bride…”

What did she mean by that? What influence did she feel?

Even Juniper didn't have the slightest clue; all she knew was that a spell had been cast on Esme.

Asher began to think deeply about this, trying to understand it or at least get a better angle to look at it from. He had no idea who Esme was except for the fact that she called her father an abusive bastard who made her life a living hell. He knew that the townspeople didn't care about her either, but everything he knew about Esme was too little to build something upon.

Maybe they would discuss it later. He’d take her out on a proper date and get to know her better because if Juniper was right—and she most likely was, given that she was a powerful witch—then Esme needed help. If something was plaguing his wife, the hope of his Pack, then he would need to act fast and cleanse her of her curse.

How would she be able to deliver the Ghostbound lands from a curse if she herself was cursed?

Possibly, the curse was cast on her so the man she grew up with would despise her or so the other townspeople would dislike her. But why? Why would anyone do such a thing to such a beautiful soul?

Did she have an encounter with a witch who ended up cursing her? Were there witches in her former town? Which one of them would do that to Esme?

He frowned, feeling the need to protect her from whoever would want to harm her. He silently controlled his rage as he focused on the fact that the beautiful woman asleep in his arms was actually his wife.

Asher smiled as his mind drifted to the night of their wedding;

He was talking with his friends while Esme was engrossed in Elder William's story just a couple of paces away. On that night, they had gathered in the forest glades, singing and dancing to the beat of the drums.

“You finally did it, my friend,” Callahan said to him as he stood at a distance, watching his bride laugh hard at Elder William's jokes. He had a hidden grin on his face, which widened the moment Callahan spoke.

“I told you I would.” He drank out of the bottle of beer in his hand without taking his eyes off her.

“Quick question…” Articus began, standing by his side, also holding a bottle of beer. They all were. “How the hell did you manage to pull this off?”

Asher laughed. “I have my ways.”

“You said you weren't going to kidnap anyone,” Callahan said, bringing the bottle to his lips.

“Does she look like she was kidnapped to you?” Rowan asked, tucking one hand in his pocket as his black tie hung loosely around his neck.

Callahan cast an arrogant look at him for responding the way he did. He laughed lightly at the combination of the suit Rowan was wearing and the beaded charms cascading down his neck.

“I could knock you out with one punch right now,” he teased.

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