Chapter 11 Daisy
Daisy
Ash and I walk in total silence through the beautiful path that winds through Wynter Lodge’s woodlands.
Of course, he would be employed as a tree surgeon here. And to think that I thought about booking a cabin just so I could escape their memory.
But there’s no mistaking the larger-than-life Ash now as he hasn’t stopped blushing ever since Noelle dragged Frost away. She said we needed a catch-up, but it’s not as if there’s much to catch up on.
Ash and I have no history. No memories.
We never spoke. We never even made eye contact.
The only time I ever looked into those jade green eyes was when he almost killed me with that low-hanging bough, for which he has apologized vehemently ever since he climbed back down the ladder.
It’s fine. I’m not going to sue. Apart from a few rogue pine needles that may have gotten trapped in my hair, I’m safe.
Thank goodness Noelle was there to save me in the nick of time. At least one good thing came of today: I finally got to meet my inspiration.
Another Silverpine author. Who’d have thought that this small, inconsequential town could birth such a pair of creative, like-minded minds like me and Noelle?
Yet unlike me, though, Noelle got her happy ever after. Even though the heroine of her book’s ending was left open-ended, that fictional Omega still chose herself.
Just like my heroine…
My attention is drawn to Ash. He keeps opening his mouth, inhaling a breath as if he’s about to tell me something. But then he catches himself, burning even redder than his shirt.
He’s shy. That much was always painfully obvious. He was just so lucky that he was so big—no one would have dared mess with him back at school.
But he’s a gentle soul. I remember the time he rescued a bee of all things from the school’s parking lot. And he had talked to it the whole time as I watched him from behind some shrubs.
Wow. Maybe I really am a stalker.
Ash has a heart of gold. I know he didn’t truly mean to reject me that day in the school hallway. No, that was all Rowan’s doing—the so-called brains of the Thorn pack.
Briar was always harder to read. He was indifferent, but every now and then, his hazel gaze would wander wistfully. Sometimes, it would wander my way. Unless that was just wishful thinking on my part.
I startle when a squirrel scurries out in front of us next. It has a pinecone in its mouth, and it’s being chased by another squirrel.
It looks like we have a thief on our hands.
“Whoa.”
Ash reacts immediately, placing his big hand on my small shoulder. Now, we watch as the squabbling rodents run up a nearby tree. Next, we hear them squeaking and chittering in the tree’s branches above.
And then silence.
I wonder who got the pinecone in the end.
The Alpha chuckles, forgetting himself as he keeps gazing up at the tree canopy. “Looks like a territorial dispute of some kind.”
I can’t look away from him. Heavens, he is beautiful. The sun filters through the pine boughs high above, painting his face a soft green.
It really brings out the soft mint of his eyes.
My heart pounds, and then I fold my arms, glancing away.
Ash looks at me again. Then he stammers, rubbing the back of his head. In the end, he sighs, speaking at last. “Daisy…”
Damn. The way he says my name. It twists my gut, making my blood scream and rush to my head.
My Omega is reacting to this Alpha, and if I don’t get a handle on her quickly, then I’ll succumb. I refuse to be hurt again.
“Look… We were major assholes back in high school…”
That much is obvious.
“But we just want you to know that… that… we… we are… s-sorry...”
My face contorts as I squeeze my eyes; I refuse to let him see me cry. No tear escapes in the end and thank goodness.
Still, I can’t help it when I whisper back, “And… I’m sorry to hear about your mom.”
And I am. Truly.
I am not that bitter.
Finally, I walk on ahead, leaving Ash in a state of shock. It appears I have left him tongue-tied. It must have been the last thing he expected me to say.
He doesn’t move from his spot when he says next, “Daisy... I would really like if we could become friends. But… only if that is what you wish. I… won’t push it.”
Friends? That’s worse.
Still, I turn around, wiping the tear away quickly before Ash sees it. Now I meet those oh-so green eyes.
“Why?”
It takes him a moment to respond, his mouth moving as his brain has yet to catch up. Then the big Alpha bows his head, slumping his shoulders.
“Because we were idiots… We never should have treated you that way.”
I inhale a shaky breath. I know I am not going to like his answer, but I need to hear it. “Did… did you at least think about me over the years?”
Ash finally looks up, and his green irises shine in the light. “Every day.”
My heart flutters, but I get a hold of myself before I succumb to his sweet Alpha charms. He has such sad, puppy-dog eyes; they’re hard to resist.
But I will. Unless I want a first-class ticket to Heartbreak City.
“Even Briar and Rowan… Especially Rowan,” Ash continues. “Even if he likes to act as if he doesn’t care.”
I scoff. “He could have fooled me. He told me he didn’t remember me on the train.”
Ash smiles. “Well, he was lying. When he got home, he looked sick. Bent out of shape. It’s been some time since I have seen him that distraught.”
Well, I won’t deny that that knowledge leaves me smug. I raise my chin. “Good.”
One side of Ash’s mouth quirks at the corner. “Yeah… good… We all deserve to be sick after how we treated you. But I would like to give us another shot. Even if we just end up as friends.”
My head hangs, and then I cross my arms. “You and I both know that that’s not possible.”
We can’t be friends. That is not how scent-matching works. It’s either all or nothing. There is never any room for compromise.
No bargaining. No middle ground.
I can tell that there is so much more he wants to say. Perhaps he may even want to go all in rather than finding some middle ground.
Friends will never be enough.
Unfortunately, the shy Alpha doesn’t get to say his next part as the familiar silhouette of a dark-haired Alpha appears behind his shoulder.
My heart quakes at the sight of him.
Rowan Thorn.
He’s the last Alpha I want to see.