Chapter 12 Ash
Ash
“Ash.”
The warning tone comes from behind me, but I sensed him long before he arrived.
My hair rises at the back of my neck, and then I turn, coming face to face with my brother’s dour expression.
“Rowan,” I reply curtly, keeping my tone neutral.
I will not have him messing this up a second time. In the end, he is not the boss of me; I can’t believe I ever let him make any decisions for me in the first place.
From now on, I am in charge of my own destiny.
It’s time to prune some dead branches.
Rowan’s eyes flicker over to Daisy quickly. If I’m not mistaken, those frosted irises melt when they land on her beautiful form. But the expression vanishes, and then his gaze hardens again as it falls back on me.
“What are you doing?” he whispers low.
He doesn’t just whisper. He lets me know his exact feelings, too, as he communicates through our pack bond.
I puff out my chest, raising my shoulders. “I’m talking with Daisy.”
My brother’s eyes flash in warning as he speaks in an even lower register. “What did we discuss?”
My heart hammers as I look back and forth between Rowan and Daisy. Then I make up my mind. “Look… we ran into each other by accident. And then we got to talking. Nothing untoward.”
Rowan is just about to respond, but then Daisy appears by my side, crossing her arms. “If you have something to say, Rowan, then by all means… share.”
His hard eyes fall on her now. When I find the animosity in his gaze, a growl sounds in my chest. Both Daisy and Rowan peer around at me in surprise.
Even I’m a little shocked. Who knew I was even capable of such a dangerous sound? I’m normally a placid guy, but that was something else.
It started when Rowan gave Daisy that hateful look.
How dare he? He’s done enough harm as it is. If he looks at her like that again, then… I’m not sure what I will do.
But I get this strong urge to protect Daisy—even from my own flesh and blood. It makes sense. She is my scent match.
We… we were meant to be together. But thus, I stupidly allowed this cold Alpha in front of me to make all my life’s choices.
Rowan speaks through his teeth. “A word, Ash. Alone.”
He turns up the woodland path. He has never looked so out of place. He’s too immaculate. Too proper.
He wouldn’t last five minutes in the wild. Me, on the other hand… I’m pretty much one with nature. I get on better with trees and animals than I do with people.
So, why do I allow this suited Alpha to tell me what to do?
“No,” I say.
Rowan flips back around. “Come again?”
I suck in a breath, peering down at Daisy. She nods, encouraging me, and that gives me all the confidence I need.
Now I tell the Alpha what I should have said ten years ago. Maybe then, Daisy would still be in our lives.
“I am sick of you making all the decisions in this pack. Briar was right.”
I hear the little noise of shock from Daisy when I mention the third member of our pack.
That’s right, little Bumblebee. We’re all still crazy about you…
Rowan’s eyes dart back and forth between me and Daisy. Then he scoffs. “What? So, you’re her Alpha now? Is that it?”
My lips stutter, and then my cheeks fire up. Damn, it’s pretty warm out today, but he put the words right in my mouth.
Daisy speaks at last. “No. We are friends, actually. Do you have a problem with that, Rowan?”
“This doesn’t concern you, Delta, or whatever your name is,” Rowan rudely cuts her off.
My Alpha snaps, and then I bare my teeth, hovering closer. Rowan steps back when he sees the threat in my eyes. “What did you just call her?”
Rowan swallows, clenching his jaw tight. But he stands his ground. “I called her Delta. That is her name, after all.”
I don’t have to be bonded with Daisy to know that the name is breaking her heart. Rowan is such a cold prick. I’m fully aware that he knows her name. He referred to her by her full name when he got back off the train.
He just wants to do whatever he can to hurt her even more. I told him we had hurt her enough back in the kitchen. Yet he insists on calling her Delta.
“You call her by her real name. Right now.”
Rowan raises a brow. “Or what?”
My fists clench as I resist the urge to knock those shiny white teeth out of his skull. How could I be related to such a bastard?
I get the frozen act, though. Because it was exactly how our father acted in the days before he ran out on us.
Is he even aware that he is doing it?
Unlike Rowan, I refuse to be like our father.
Daisy whispers, her voice soft. “It’s fine, Ash. Don’t waste your breath on him. I know he remembers me.”
Rowan peers at her again. “Don’t be so sure about that, Dai—Delta. You’re nothing special—"
He doesn’t even finish his sentence. In the end, I shove him up against a pine tree. My brother grimaces in disgust when he gets sticky sap all over his suit.
His eyes pierce like knives when he whispers, “Unhand me. Now.”
I just want to choke the life out of him until he at least gets her name right. He almost did before he caught himself in time.
Now he is being deliberately hurtful. And it ends now.
Daisy steps closer, placing her hand on my shoulder. Sparks of electricity ignite when her fingers brush over my bicep, and it settles my Alpha.
“Ash… let him go. He’s really not worth it.”
I take several deep breaths, trying to will my Alpha back into his cage; he just wants to rip the smug mask off Rowan’s face.
In the end, I let him go.
Rowan scoffs, wiping down his suit. Then he shakes his head, stalking off at last.
I stare at the back of his head. What just happened? Did… did I just take a stand for once in my life? And against Rowan of all insufferable people?
It felt good.
Once he’s gone, I find Daisy. She’s impressed. “That was pretty cool sticking up for me like that.”
Now my cheeks flush as embarrassment takes over. “It… he shouldn’t talk to you that way…”
Daisy’s sweet green eyes soften now as she appraises me, and is that approval?
“Perhaps we can be friends…” she says at last, turning up the path. She goes in the opposite direction from Rowan.
I sense the double meaning in her words. Friend obviously means so much more here. She’s allowing me back in. But just about.
And I can’t screw up this time.