Page 50 of Rejected By My Stepbrother Alpha
With a sickening jolt, I realized they were about to fight.
Chapter 19
Seven Years Late
Ivy
Quickly, I stepped in front of Asher, putting myself in between the two men. I threw my hands up and noticed that both of their bodies were trembling.
I needed to stop this before it even started. If they transformed into their wolf forms, someone could get seriously injured. I didn't want my brother to get hurt, and things between Asher and I might be complicated, but I didn't want any harm to come to him.
“Stop being idiots,” I said with exasperation in my voice. I spun around and glared at my ex-Mate. “Asher, you are the Alpha of this territory. Do you really want your pack members to see you fighting in broad daylight?”
“I would have moved the fight to the alleyway.” He muttered.
But I ignored his comment, putting my hands on my hips, and turned to my brother.
“Damian, you have a son. What if you became critically injured from a stupid fight? Or worse?”
My brother sighed and his tense posture relaxed. Asher still stood behind us and I could tell that he was listening to our conversation.
“You’re right,” Damian said. “I’m sorry, I got caught up in the moment. And I’m sorry about accidentally hitting you. I hope you know I’d never hurt you on purpose.”
I waved away his unnecessary apology. “You barely hit me. It didn’t even hurt. You go back to the hotel without me. I want to have a talk with Asher.”
Damian’s eyebrows raised in surprise.
I was aware that I could be making a huge mistake. But over the past few days, I'd been thinking that it might be best for Asher and I to finally clear the air. We needed to talk things through. I didn't want to hold this resentment for the father of my child for the rest of my life. Even though I didn't plan on telling Asher that Adrian was his son. Also, I was exhausted from trying to fight the intense need to be around him. Maybe if we just spent a little time together, the unrelenting demand for Asher would go away.
“All right, if you’re sure…” Damian trailed off. “Call me if you need anything.” He turned around and looked at Asher, then back at me. “Be careful. And call me when you’re done. You shouldn’t walk back by yourself.”
I wanted to tell him I could take care of myself, but I knew that he was only worried because of the recent attack on me. My arm throbbed with pain at the reminder.
“I will,” I promised and brought him in for a quick hug.
Damian looked in Asher’s direction one last time. “Be careful,” my brother repeated and then turned to walk away.
I wanted to assure him that Asher wouldn’t hurt me, but how could I be sure of that when Asher was the person who had caused me the most pain in my life?
Asher came up beside me, and his closeness made me shiver.
Focus.
I needed to prepare myself for this conversation. It was seven years late.
“Damian has a son?” Asher asked as he stared at my brother's retreating back through narrowed eyes.
“Yes,” I answered distractedly. My stomach was churning from just thinking about talking things through with Asher. Adrian's sweet face popped into my head. Well, we wouldn't be talking about everything. “Let's go to your office since it’s right next door. We can talk there.”
He nodded, his eyes still on Damian.
Asher and I walked down the crowded sidewalk. I was extremely aware of him right beside me. All of my senses were heightened. I had to clench my hands into tight fists so I wouldn’t do something ridiculous like reach out and grab his hand.
In his building, we were silent as we rode the elevator to the top floor. I tried to organize my thoughts as Asher led the way through his busy office, but my mind was a mess. In his office, Asher gestured to the chair in front of his desk.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” he asked. “Water or coffee?”
“Water, please.”
