Beauty and

Chapter 179 – Asher

I sat once more at the side of Bailey’s bed. Eden had left to go to collect the children so she could sort them for bed. It was already getting late, and I imagined they would already be sleeping, but Eden was adamant she needed them home with her. Telling me she would not settle if they were not there. I think, given everything that has gone on today, I can understand that.

I reached out and gently stroked back Bailey’s dark curls. The curls she had tried so hard to hide for so long. I had no clue why. She looked amazing with them. “Come on beautiful.” | whispered, feeling silly speaking to her, but having a desperate need to talk. “Please come back to me. You know I can’t do this on my own anymore, right?”

I felt tears building in my eyes as I spoke, and I wondered if she did know. I think I had kept my emotions hidden from her… hell, I think I hid them from myself… or maybe had been in denial for so long. I gently took her hand in mine, stroking my thumb over her palm. “I mean it, Bai, this last day or so while you have been away I have felt like a part of me has been missing. And that part was you. I don’t think I had realized just how big this had become this quickly. You came into my life beautiful, and turned it upside down. I think I may have fought it, like the stubborn and crazy fool I am, but you coming into my life was the blessing I needed. I wouldn’t change it for the world now. Even if it means I have got to share my chocolate.” I smiled slightly, as I poured my heart out to her, totally unaware if she could hear me.

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“But, I just make sure I buy extra chocolate for you now. Seeing that smile of yours when you get your chocolate… or anytime that smile appears on your face… well, it makes my heart melt. And don’t even get me started on that laugh of yours… my heart melts even more each time I hear that! Which is maybe a good thing as I was pretty sure my heart had turned to ice after everything I went through. I was a mess, Bai, and you with your sweetness… your kindness… just by being you, I think you were fixing me. I am begging you, beautiful, come back to me. I will spend my life doing all I can to make you happy. So I can see that smile and hear that laugh as much as possible. I don’t want you feeling scared again. Or being sad again.”

I looked up at her beautiful face, but still Bailey lay there, her eyes closed. There was absolutely no response to my words and I felt hollow inside despite the emotion in my words. I don’t think she has heard me, in spite of the fact I have told her everything I felt for her. Everything I should have told her before she went. Or even while she was away. I wish terribly now I had called her. Spoken to her… Opened up to her… So she knew what she meant to me. I would do anything for another chance right now…

I gently lifted her hand to my lips and placed a kiss on her hand. “I love you Bailey.” I whispered, a lone tear slipping from my eye.

As I placed Bailey’s hand softly down onto the bed next to her, the door opened, and Morgan came rushing in, with Marc not far behind. “Oh, you are still here. Do you want me to sit with her a while?” Morgan asked, and I shook my head. I don’t think I could bear to leave her. I needed to be here the moment she woke up.

Marc smiled at me. ‘You aren’t leaving her, are you?’ he

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mindlinked, and I shook my head again, making Marc continue. When she is better you need to make this right, Ash. It is time to let Isla rest. You being happy doesn’t change anything with her. You understand that, right?”

My eyes met his, and he was looking at me full of concern. I could see no judgment in his gaze. ‘I mean it, Asher. Me and Mum would never look at you any differently for choosing to move on. You have stayed so loyal to Isla’s memory, but you do not have to be alone forever. I saw the connection between you and Bailey from the start. I think Mum did too. She is one hell of a girl. I think Isla would like her. Don’t let this go, because you are worried about what others are thinking, or because you feel guilty. It is time to think of you, ok? Isla would want you to be happy.’

I bit my lower lip, deep in thought. Hid words meant a lot. There would always be guilt. Of course there would. That was the reason I had battled my feelings for as long as I had been. Why I had denied them for as long as I had. But, without ever intending to, I had fallen for Bailey. ‘I love her, Marc.’

‘I know you do.’ He linked with a smile.

I turned to see Morgan stroking her sister’s hair back from her face, before pulling up her eyelids, making me wonder what in the hell she was doing, but Marc got there first. “Erm, Morgan, what are you doing?”

“Just seeing if she would wake up.” She said, like it was the most normal thing in the world to do to someone in a hospital bed that was unconscious. “Used to work when she was a kid.”

Marc held back a smile. “I think the fact she is unconscious may be slightly different to when she was pretending to be asleep as

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Chapter 170 Asher.

a kid, darling.”

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Morgan shrugged, like she believed her logic had been completely valid, and even I had to smile a little. Bailey’s sister was certainly unique. “What did the doctor say?” she looked at me, and now I could see the concern upon her face.

“Just a case of waiting for her to recover, basically. Hoping for the best.” I explained, and she nodded, so I looked toward Marc. “Any news from the warriors?”

“They only found a couple of rogues, but they are unsure if they were involved. So Alpha is going to interrogate them to find out. But there was definitely more than they brought in, I know that much. It was such a mess. I am just sorry I let you down, bro.” and in his words, not to mention the devastation upon his face, I could see he was ridden with guilt. He was forever going to struggle with this. I was unsure if he would forgive himself over this. I didn’t want that for him.

“Marc, this is not your fault. We know who is to blame for this. And we will ensure he gets the punishment he deserves.” I said with determination. The words were as much for my benefit as they were Marc’s…

“Oh, about that, Dad messaged.” Morgan said, as she continued to stroke her sister’s hair. “They have warriors out hunting for that sick f**ker. But, even better, my Uncle, or the Alpha, if you like, has seen that things are not repairable anymore. That Miles is not a fix-it-up project he is capable of doing a botch repair on. He has seen things cannot be fixed. Not that I think they ever could, so Ellis is going to be made Alpha. And he has called the Werewolf Council to report the incidents with Miles. He will be handed over to them to deal with him. So, he will more than get

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the punishment he deserves.”

And I have to say, they have to be some of the best words I had to have heard in a long time. We just need Bailey to wake up to share in the good news now…