Page 84 of Alpha Varsity

I hold his face between my two hands. “No. Of course you did. You were shocked and upset.”

“Baby,no.” He leans his forehead against mine. We’re connected in so many places–hips, heads, hands, but most importantly–hearts. “You’re the one who has a reason and a right to be upset. I should’ve been there for you. I should’ve…held you.” He swallows. I sense the tension in his body. “I should’ve apologized.”

I get the feeling apologies don’t come easy for Asher.

“I already know you’re sorry,” I tell him. “I feel your suffering. I feel it like my own.” I slide my fingers through his golden waves. It feels so incredible to be aligned with Asher after all our messy prior attempts. We needed this crisis to bring us together. Make us realize what’s important and what isn’t.

“All this time, I thought my dilemma was between my wolf side and my artist side. I thought I had to stay awayfrom Wolf Ridge, or it would stop my career. But now that all feels irrelevant. My wolf wanted me back here to find you. My artist side did, too. You’re my destiny, Asher. My tomorrow. My forever.”

“You’re my everything.” He kisses me, lips slanting across mine, tongue sliding between my lips.

A throat clears on the other side of the door, and we pull apart, both gasping.

I let out a breathy laugh as Asher pulls me away from the door and drops me to my feet.

When he opens the door, we find my mom standing there. “Come back in. Both of you.” There’s high color in her cheeks, but I can’t read her agitation.

Asher squeezes my hand as we enter the council room.

Alpha Green beckons us forward. “We’ve reached a decision.” He does the power move of letting silence descend for a moment before he delivers his sentence.

“Carlotta, I found your defense of Asher thought-provoking, and I do take your criticism of my leadership to heart. I’ve made mistakes as an alpha. And you’re right, perhaps if I had done things differently, population wouldn’t be declining in Wolf Ridge.”

I suspect he’s referring to his banishment of his own son from the pack when he was just eighteen.

“Asher, your instincts do seem to be good, as Carlotta pointed out. But you need to learn restraint. You endanger this pack every time you act impulsively.”

“Yes, Alpha.” Asher takes the rebuke like a man.

“We believe your fated mate will help with the temperance. While we understand the impropriety of your relationship given that Carlotta is a teacher at Wolf Ridge High this semester, we’re ordering you to claim her immediately.It’s too volatile for an alpha wolf to hold off on marking his mate.”

Asher shoots me a concerned look.

I squeeze his hand. If I lose this job, I lose it. My future is Asher.

“The two of you will keep the relationship secret from all humans until Asher has graduated.”

“So…I can remain in the art teacher position?”

“Yes. Wolf Ridge High needs your talent,” Alpha Green says. If my mom had said it, I wouldn’t believe her. I would assume she was just saying that to keep me here. But considering I just threw down over them not recognizing our talents, I’m willing to receive his words as genuine appreciation. Or an attempt at genuine appreciation, anyway.

“That’s all. You’re both dismissed.”

I look up at Asher and find he’s grinning down at me, dimples at full setting, looking transformed. I laugh when he scoops me up into his arms and carries me out on exuberant steps. When we bust out of the pack hall, he spins me in circles, lowering and lifting me like I’m on an amusement park ride. I shriek with laughter, my arms tight around his neck, my joy exploding from my chest.

“Let’s go, sweetheart. You heard the alpha. I’ve been ordered to claim you. And it’s gonna be good.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Asher

Carlotta lit candles again. I picked up take-out containers from the deli for later. Right now I’m taking my time with her. I tied her spread eagle to the bed, and I’m kissing every inch of her pale skin.

She trembles beneath me, tugging at the bonds, shivering in response.

“You want my tongue here?” I nip her inner thigh, close to her sex.

“Yes.” She arches, sending her pebbled nipples toward the ceiling. I fondle one, brushing the pad of my finger over the tip as I flick my tongue closer to where she needs me. “Please,” she warbles.

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