Page 44 of Rejected By My Stepbrother Alpha
“Thank you for…saving me,” I said begrudgingly. “But I only needed saving because that asshole caught me by surprise, attacked me from behind, and ripped a chunk out of my arm. I would have shifted if I hadn’t lost so much blood. I’m pretty sure the bastard hit an artery.” I paused and looked behind him into the dark woods. I became dizzy from even that small movement. “How did you get here so fast? Are you stalking me?”
Asher sighed and leaned his back against the wall. “I just happened to be running through the woods,” he said with a guarded expression. “Do you have any idea who would attack you out of nowhere? You just arrived in Sun Fire, didn't you? How could someone even know that you’re here?”
“I didn't leave any enemies here if that's what you're implying,” I snapped, my anger rising as the wound on my arm throbbed with pain. “Well…except for you.”
Asher's eyes widened with surprise, and he frowned. “Me?”
“Yes, you,” I said. “You seemed to really hate me the last time we saw each other.” I paused and narrowed my eyes. “Or has the mating ceremony slipped your mind?” I held up my left hand to display my fading scar, wincing from the discomfort radiating down my arm.
His expression softened, and he held up his hand, showing me the faint pink line that was tainting his smooth tan skin. “Of course I remember.” A look of realization crossed his face. “Is that why you pretended not to know me earlier today at the meeting? Because of, well, everything that happened?”
His inconsiderate question made my walls come up. I closed my hand and turned away from him. “Obviously, Asher. I wasn't about to rehash our past in front of our business associates. I'm not a moron.” I didn’t say it out loud, but it was heavily implied I thought he was.
“How could I forget about you?” I continued. “You're the one responsible for the most embarrassing moment of my life.” I meant for that to come out mocking, but there was a small catch to my voice that betrayed my unresolved feelings of betrayal from his rejection.
Asher's expression changed. “Oh, Ivy…”
As soon as I saw the pity on his face, I moved away from him and attempted to stand despite my injury.
Screw his pity. I didn't need it or want it.
“You know what? Don’t you dare feel bad for what you did to me. I'm happy that you rejected me.” His eyebrows raised, which made me even angrier. “You rejecting me made me into the strong, confident woman I am today. Sorry to break it to you, but I haven’t spent the lastseven years crying and pining over you. I actually went out and made something of myself.” I paused and sucked in a breath, not even close to done with him.
“The way you treated me helped me realize my self-worth and not to accept bullshit from anyone…especially men. So don't you dare look at me with pity in your eyes.” My chest was rapidly rising and falling with anger. “I can attend to my own wounds, thanks. I have been for seven years.” My rage seeped through my words like water escaping a crack. “I'd rather bleed out than spend one more moment with you.”
“Wait, Ivy. Please, don't go.”
There was a note of pleading in his voice that I'd never heard before.
I froze and sat back down.
What more could he possibly have to say to me?
“It's Ivinia now,” I murmured through gritted teeth, still refusing to look him in the eye.
“Ivinia,” Asher said softly and gently brushed my shoulder to get my attention.
Against my better judgment, I looked at him. His face was closer than I'd expected, and my stomach swooped with anticipation even though I was still pissed as hell.
He swallowed, ran a hand through his hair, and then met my gaze. “When I was running through the woods tonight, I thought about your mating ceremony.” He reached out his left hand and grasped mine. My heart lurched at the contact. Our scars from the ceremony were now pressed against each other. “And I need you to know that I am truly sorry for rejecting you in front of the pack. I'm sorry for rejecting you in the first place. You didn't deserve that, and I'm now realizing the full scope of my actions.”
My jaw dropped.
I would have never thought that I'd get an apology from Asher for rejecting me. I thought I'd be carrying these unresolved feelings about that night with me for the rest of my life. But a weight lifted off my chest from his apology. I was still angry with him, but my fury hadslightly reduced.
Before I could even begin to formulate a response, the door opened behind us, and Damian ran out.
“Ivinia? What’s going on?” he asked. “When I looked out the window, I saw you sitting out here and you looked hurt…” He trailed off and his face grew white when he saw the wound on my arm. “Holy shit!”
I looked down at my injury. Blood was dripping past the impromptu bandage Asher had secured. I hadn’t even noticed it was bleeding through his shirt. I’d been caught up in all things Asher.
“A wolf came out of the woods and attacked me,” I explained. “I’m not sure who it was or why. Asher chased them away.”
Damian hurried over to where we were sitting, bent down, and picked me up.
“We need to get you to a healer,” he said with an anxious expression.
Asher shot to his feet. “I can take her to my pack healer.” His voice held authority. Asher had switched to his Alpha persona quickly. “I was just about to, actually.” There was a jealous edge in his tone as he glared at Damian.
