Page 54 of Forbidden Mischief
“You make me feel like the luckiest guy alive,” he whispers against my lips.
I pull him in for another kiss, knowing that, with him, I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
After a few more minutes of silence, we begin to gather the remnants of our meal, packing everything back into the basket. The moon is now fully risen, casting a silvery glow over the park, and the soft crunch of the grass beneath our feet accompanies us as we stand and make our way toward the park’s exit.
We walk hand in hand through the town square. The moon is high in the sky, painting it in swirls of yellow and indigo. Asher’s thumb lazily strokes over my knuckles, and I catch the faintest trace of a contented smile on his lips.
It’s the kind of peaceful happiness I’d do anything to protect.
But then, the atmosphere shifts. The sound of low, murmured voices drifts from the group approaching us. I can feel Asher’s body stiffen next to me, his eyes narrowing, his expression darkening before I even hear the words.
“Well, well. If it isn’t Asher.”
Three males stand before us, their broad shoulders and bitter glares cutting through the air. The scent of hostility clings to them like a shadow. Wolves.
My old pack. We went to school together,he speaks in my mind.
“Didn’t think we’d ever see you again,” one of them sneers, his lip curling in that familiar expression of contempt. “But then again, you always were full of surprises.”
Asher doesn’t respond right away, his eyes flicking briefly to me before he murmurs, “Let’s keep walking.” His voice is low, controlled, but I can hear the edge of something there—something like fear, or maybe anger.
I glance at him, unsure, but he doesn’t seem to want to engage. Still, the guys aren’t done.
“Guess it makes sense now,” another one says, his voice dripping with disdain. “You were never much of an alpha. No wonder you ran off and settled for… that.” His gaze sweeps over me, clearly disgusted, as if I’m somehow the cause of all Asher’s failures.
Something inside me snaps, a hot surge of protectiveness for Asher coursing through my veins. I can feel the pulse of my magic under my skin, ready to flare. But it’s not just that—it's the look on Asher’s face that makes my blood boil. He’s trying to hide it, but I see the weight of their words pressing down on him, shaming him.
“Say another word,” I growl, stepping forward, my voice low and threatening. The air around us thickens, crackling with energy, and I can almost feel the weight of my own power.
The man falters for a moment, his smirk dropping.
“Zayne,” Asher says quietly, his voice strained, but I’m not backing down.
“You don’t get to talk to him like that,” I snap, stepping closer. “You think your hatred and your narrow-mindedness make you stronger? Newsflash: it doesn’t. Butlove? Love is strength. And Asher has more of it than any of you ever will.”
The silence that follows is deafening. The wolves exchange uneasy glances, clearly caught off guard by my words, and their bravado begins to crack. They’re used to intimidating, to pushing people down. They’re not used to being challenged.
Without another word, they turn away, their shoulders stiff with barely contained rage. But I don’t care. Asher’s eyes are wide, full of something that makes my chest tighten.
“You stood up for me,” he whispers, his voice trembling with disbelief.
I cup his face in my hands, brushing my thumbs along his jaw gently. “Of course I did. I’ll always stand up for you.”
He smiles, a soft, radiant thing, and when he leans in to kiss me, it’s like the whole world melts away. The tension, the anger, the weight of the past—all of it disappears in that kiss. All that matters is us, right here, right now.
And that? That’s all we need.
CHAPTER 21
ASHER
We’re almost home, and what happened back in the parking lot is still affecting me.
Seeing people from my old life, the pack that made me miserable, was not the way I wanted to end my epic date with my mate.
It was perfect. I don’t think I’ve laughed and had so much fun in my life. And seeing Zayne smiling as he had a good time made me feel proud, like I was doing something right by making my mate happy.
Then those fuckers had to show up and ruin it.
