Page 27 of Savage Desire (The Savage Six #2)

27

ASHER

S he storms from the room, a tempest leaving invisible destruction in her wake as she takes a piece of me with her. The front door slams behind her, signifying her exit while igniting the rage unfurling through my veins. It blinds me, and a moment later, my fist meets the wall, a snarl snapping from my lips, but it does nothing to simmer the fury.

My chest heaves, my nostrils flare, and my muscles clench.

How is any of this possible?

How did last night go from the best night of my life to a downfall at my uncle’s order, only to sour even further this morning.

My gaze falls to the symbolic black feather and the scratchy writing on the card beside it.

“How did he find her, Asher?” Lincoln murmurs, his voice gruff, and I tilt my head in his direction. His hands are balled into fists on the desk, barely contained anger rattling inside him, but I spy it in his eyes, in the tick of his jaw.

I shake my head. “I don’t know. I thought we were safe. I thought he didn’t see her. I thought?—”

“You thought wrong, Ash.”

His words are like a blade to the heart, confirming the mess I’m drowning in. I should have known my uncle would taint everything and anything that offers me even a glimpse of happiness.

Thankfully, a brief moment of raw desire with Polaris is enough to last me a lifetime. It’s a pity I want more of it. Only… that’s not going to happen now.

Fuck.

I need to think.

Scrubbing a hand through my hair, a low growl rumbles from deep in my chest, my wolf feeling the same intense agitation, which only serves to heighten everything I’m feeling.

Lincoln hollers my name as I follow the same path Polaris took, but I ignore him. For the second time in just a handful of minutes, the front door vibrates with an unnecessary slam as I hurry out into the morning sun.

I barely feel it against my skin before I succumb to the burning desire deep in my bones, and a second later I’m taking off through the trees in my wolf form.

I run.

Hard. Fast.

Time passes, but at what speed I have no clue. All I know is the pain and panic that threatens to claim me for all of eternity, and the one question that swirls around and around in my mind, consuming me, digging deeper with each passing minute.

I brought the trouble to Polaris. I put her in the spotlight of the man I despise most. Walking away now will only leave her at his mercy.

So what am I going to do about it?

Sweat clings to every inch of me by the time I’m done, the lack of clothing as I shift back into my human form is irrelevant as I lie on the wood chips by the rear entrance of the wolf dorms. My chest heaves, just as it did when I first left, but now it’s labored for an entirely different reason.

My mind is set, focused. I swayed off track for a bit there, but I know my next move. The one after is still uncertain, but it’s all about one step at a time right now. Otherwise, I risk my world crumbling.

Staring up at the sun, I take two more deep breaths before I sigh, standing with a groan. Nothing beats shifting into my wolf, but the ache in my bones is undeniable.

I saunter inside, each stride gaining more confidence as I take the stairs two at a time and all but fall into the shower. The water starts cold, chilling me to the brink of ice, and I relish in it before basking in the hiss as the heat changes, rising as I finally let my thoughts linked to my uncle shut down for a minute.

Instead, a flash of silver plays across the back of my eyelids.

I try to imagine what it would look like wet, under the spray of my shower right now, and a shiver ripples through my bones, stiffening my cock. I squeeze my fingers around my length, a grunt ripping from my lips as I give in to the idea of her one last time.

Mere weeks ago, I was living a quiet life, unaware that she even existed. Even days ago, I could tell you she was stunning, a total fucking vision, and I was content with that, but after last night… after touching her, tasting her, fucking her… fuck, how do people come back from that?

I’ve fucked plenty of pussy, but none as sweet as hers.

God, her scent alone… I tug at my cock, attempting to ease the tension that fills my body, but I’m a fool if I thought it would do anything other than make me need more. I don’t think, I just take it.

Remembering the way her hair wrapped around my fist perfectly, the way her back arched, her moans filled the air.

Fuck.

My limbs lock, the wave of ecstasy unavoidable as I come, spraying the tiled wall with my release as the water continues to beat down on me. I rake every drop out, thinking of her with every sigh before I have the gruelling job of washing it all away.

Going through the motions of washing my body and hair, I turn off the shower a few minutes later, wrapping a towel around my waist as I step into the hallway to head back to my room. Thankfully, it’s still quiet. The wolves will either be sleeping or out for the day, and as soon as I’m ready, I’m going to head out myself. There are conversations that need to be had.

Heat still clings to me, so I rifle through my drawers for a pair of black shorts and a fitted black tee. Sweeping my hair to the side, I quickly put on my socks and sneakers before reaching for my cell phone.

Asher: Has anyone seen Polaris?

My message pings in the group chat and the familiar green ticks light up a moment later, confirming everyone’s seen it, but it takes a few minutes for anyone to respond.

Lincoln: Are you going to make this matter worse?

Asher: It depends what worse looks like to you.

My response hangs in the digital ether once again as I leave the confines of my room and head downstairs. I poke my head in his office, but there’s no one there, so I head outside instead. Maybe if I go toward the witches’ dorms, someone might be able to help me.

Minnie: Are you the reason she’s crying over her food in the dining hall? So help me God I will beat you to a pulp, Asher. I’m going over there.

Fuck.

I take off running toward the main academy building.

Asher: No!

Asher: Please, let me get there. Give me a chance first.

Three dots dance over my screen every glance I take, and it’s only when I step into the dining hall that my cell phone lights up.

Minnie: One chance, asshole. I’m sick of all of you giving her trouble and making her sad. Did you not hear my prior lectures of what she’s already been through? Maybe Tatum should have her all to himself since he’s the only one not causing her pain! Fuck this up and I’m going to fuck you up, Asher Manning!

Double fuck.

I drop my cell phone into my back pocket as I focus on my target, taking a deep breath as I near her. I don’t bother to see if Minnie is watching me, I can feel her eyes burning into my flesh from here. My cell phone vibrates in my pocket, confirming more messages are coming through, but I ignore them all as I slowly stop behind Polaris.

Her silvery hair cascades down her back as she sniffles, feebly using her fork to move the food around her plate without actually eating it. Bryony is nowhere to be seen but that’s not my issue right now, the vision before me is.

My gaze darts between her and the seat beside her and the need to touch her wins out. Stroking a hand through her hair, she stiffens beneath my fingertips. She snaps her eyes to mine, panic visible across her face as I try my best to offer her a reassuring smile.

“Silver,” I breathe, her name a prayer on my tongue, and her eyes narrow into slits as she glares at me.

“Go away, Asher,” she mutters, waving her hand for me to release the ends of her hair, but instead of following her not-so-silent command, I lean forward, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.

Fuck.

She’s intoxicating.

I don’t know how or why she has me like this, but it’s too addicting to refuse myself.

“Asher,” she pleads, for what, I can’t quite decipher, but I lean more toward the positive side as I reluctantly pull the chair out beside her.

“I’m sorry,” I breathe, the words leaving my lips easier than I first anticipated, but they don’t garner the response I’m hoping for. I reach for her thigh, but this time she physically knocks my hand away. “Silver,” I murmur, but she shakes her head dismissively.

“No, Asher. I need some space from you,” she insists, twisting her body away from me.

“Like fuck?—”

“Whatever you have to say, Asher, I don’t care. Your time for saying it was earlier, when I needed you, not when you feel like you are available,” she snaps, rendering me speechless with the truth that hangs between us.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. Please, let me explain,” I plead, aware we’re gaining more observers despite keeping our voices low, but a wolf sitting at the witches’ table for the second time in a handful of days is sure to cause a stir on campus.

“I don’t want to hear it. My gut told me everything would crumble like this, yet a part of me clung to a sense of hope. Unfortunately for me, you proved me right. I feel like I’ve given you and your brothers, your friends, your pack—whatever you call them—enough chances to last a lifetime. But I don’t have a lifetime to deal with the shit I’m in. I have to learn my abilities, try to survive the blood kin curse, and now, on top of all that, I have your uncle to contend with. The details of which no one is interested in sharing,” she bites, each word growing harsher as she speaks, each word another slice to my gut.

I fucked up bad.

My cell phone goes off in my pocket again, but I don’t dare reach for it when the tempest before me tries to hold back unshed tears. Her eyes are already red-rimmed as it is, also because of me. I consider her words, the idea of walking away right now feels impossible, but maybe it would be in her best interest.

I shake my head. I’ve already been over this in my mind. I’ve made my decision. Whether she likes it or not, this is how it’s going to go. My brothers and Minnie will be updated later. But this? This has to be resolved first.

Reaching for her hands, I trap her fingers in my grasp, and when she tries to tug them free, I only grip her tighter. “I’m going to help you, Silver. I’m going to be with you every step of the way. I’m going to fix this, all of it,” I promise, meaning every word.

My uncle.

The curse.

Her.

All of it.

But she shakes her head. “Let go of me, Asher.” Her words are soft but firm, making my gut twist as my lips part to deny her, but before I can say a word, a bang sounds from the table, drawing both of our eyes across to where Bianca leers from the other side.

Her palms are flat on the table, venom burning in her eyes as she looks between us.

“Oh, and you can fuck off as well,” Polaris snarls, rising to her feet as she tugs her hands from my grasp, and this time, I make the mistake of letting her go.

Surprised by her outburst, Bianca rears back but quickly narrows her eyes at my girl. “Stop thinking you can take my wolves when you’re a fucking witch,” she bites, and Polaris snickers, the sound eerie as she takes a step back, waving a hand in my direction.

“Oh, you can fucking have them. I’m done.” She makes a show of dusting off her hands before storming for the exit. All I can do is stare after her, my mind swirling with a million thoughts of what I should do, but none of them take root.

It’s only when Bianca huffs that I’m pulled from my trance. Staring at the stupid bitch across the table, I snarl, slowly rising to my feet.

“If you ever speak to my girl like that again, I’ll hang you upside down from the top of the fucking building and have everyone swing at you like a fucking pinata.”

I don’t give her a chance to respond, I’m already gone, chasing after the girl who most definitely owns a piece of me.