4. FIRST LESSON

ASHER

I knew exactly who she was the moment I laid my eyes on her. The girl who would compete with me for my father’s attention. 

Before I left for school this morning, my father had stopped me in the hallway for a ‘quick conversation’. I assumed it was about the upcoming Pack gathering. Those were the only things he usually bothered discussing with me.

But the moment his smile faded, I knew something was wrong.

“My woman and her daughter will be moving in with us.”

Just like that. 

No warning, no discussion, and worse, he said it like it was already decided.

My opinion clearly didn't matter, so I didn't give him one.

I didn’t care about the woman. My father could marry whoever he wanted. We both knew the truth anyway. She’d only be there to warm his bed because his heart died the day my mother did.

But bringing strangers into our home? Into our pack?

That was different. It was unacceptable.

   

From the moment my gaze locked with her curious one, I was determined to make life insufferable for her. There is no way I’d allow a nobody to barge into my home—  my territory and act like she owns it.

Crestville was never welcoming towards strangers, and I’d be more than happy to show her why.

……

My father was already at the dining when I came down for breakfast. His ‘woman’ was seated next to him, both of them laughing at a joke he made. My stomach crawled violently at the sight, and I couldn’t stand it. 

I headed straight towards the door, my hands curled into a fist by my side when a feminine voice stopped me. ”Why are you skipping breakfast? I can have the maids pack something for you if you are in a hurry,” My father’s whore… or should I say woman said with a fake concern look on her face.

My jaw clenched.

She had only just moved in, and she was already trying to replace my mother. Who the hell does she think she is?

I was used to her type. She wouldn’t be the first ass licker just to get me to like her. Seeing the prude she tried to project only convinced me more— she was no better than the rest. After all, a lion couldn’t birth a sheep, and those pretense? They wouldn’t work on me.

“I’m an adult. I can take care of myself,” I said, making sure my voice carried all the venom I felt towards her.

My father sighed beside her. Just then, the sounds of heels clicked against the floor, drawing my attention away from my father. She stood by the stairs, eyes searching the room before her gaze landed on me. 

Her eyes twitched into a scowl and I almost laughed. That stupid confidence, I can’t wait to get rid of it and leave her completely at my mercy. Not that she’d get any, but I’d enjoy breaking her spirit and watch her crawl to the pit she came from. 

She was dressed in her uniform, prepared for school, and I could already think of ways to make her day worse than the first. If only she knew what she was getting herself into.

“Luella…” 

She didn’t wait for her mother to finish her word. She bowed to greet my father and walked past me. Her mother released a sigh. She pushed her seat back to stand, but father placed his hands on hers, stopping her.

“Since you’re both headed to school, why don’t you give her a ride?” He said, shifting his gaze to me.

“You know I don’t give rides to strangers,” I frowned.

“She’s your sister…”

“Stepsister,” I corrected, and she snorted at my words.

I shot her a look, and she simply returned it with a glare of her own. I needed to put her in her place and it has to be immediately before she gets too comfortable with that attitude.

“Asher…” My father said in his warning voice and I nodded. 

Sure. since that is what he wanted, two can play the game.

“Do you need me to carry your bag too?” I arched my brows and she scoffed.

We got into my car and I sped off at a ridiculously high speed.

“Have you gone mad? Are you trying to get us killed— Asher!” she screamed on top of her lungs as I hit the brake abruptly, forcing the car to come to a halt.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly, eyes shooting me daggers, but I didn’t care. 

“By the moons,” she said through gritted teeth. “What the hell was that?”

My lips curved ever so slightly as I stared at her horrified face. “Didn’t take you to be a scared cat.”

“And I didn’t take you to be a murderer,” she spat.

I nodded. “I think we have had enough fun for the day,” I said, leaning back on the leather seat. “Get out.”

She turned to see where we were and a smirk graced my lips. We were in the middle of nowhere because I had deliberately taken the wrong route. 

There’s no way she’d find her way to the bus station from here, which means she’d likely walk to school, that is if she didn’t get lost. 

Luckily for her, she’s new to the Pack so the possibility is not so slim now, is it?

For the first time since I’ve known her, she actually looked scared.

“Are you crazy? Where the hell is this? What if something happens to me here? Will you be responsible for my safety?”

A hysterical laugh escaped my lungs. “Me? Responsible for you? What am I? Your father?”

Her face flushed at the mention of her father; I could tell I hit a nerve.

“I hope you hit your car on a tree and turn to the leaves,” she hissed. 

She unfastened her seat belt quickly and slammed the door behind her before I could even change my mind.

Let’s see how she plans on getting out of here now. I took a U-turn and hit the main road that led to school. A part of me wondered if that was too harsh. She could really get lost.

“And there’s g****e maps for what?” a voice snickered in my head.

I brushed off every thought about her and carried on with my normal life. 

“Trouble in paradise?” Jaxon, my best friend, snapped his fingers in my face, snapping me out of my trance.

The bell rang before I could answer and he let out a groan. “See you at lunch, bro.”

Jax swung his arms around some dude he was having the next class with and disappeared almost immediately. I went to my first class, and couldn’t help but notice her empty seat.

“Did we scare our charity case away already?” a kid asked and the class erupted in laughter.

The first two periods went by pretty fast, and she still hasn’t arrived. Could she have really gotten lost? Before I could complete my thought, the door swung open and she bursted in, panting heavily.

“I-I… I’m sorry,” she said breathlessly.

The teacher’s face twitched into a scowl as she checked the time. “It’s only your second day in school, and you are already showing up by this time?”

“I’m really sorry. I got lost on my way…”

“Then maybe you should stick to the environment you are used to,” she scolded.

Her eyes met with mine at the moment, and I didn’t miss the hatred that flickered in her eyes. She bared her teeth, glaring at me. The teacher finally allowed her to join us. Seeing how she hadn’t lost her attitude even after the first lesson made me think maybe that wasn’t enough.

She wouldn’t learn until she understands who is in control. An idea popped in my head, and I couldn't help the smile that tugged my lips.

She dragged her seat in front of me, eyes blazing, daring me to do something. I didn't move right away. I just watched her, letting the silence stretch, feeling her pulse quicken under my stare.

Her jaw clenched. Her hands fidgeted with her notebook like she wanted to throw it at me. I smirked.

That's right. Fight me with everything you've got. It only makes this fun.

For the first time, I noticed how she carried herself. Fierce, unafraid. It's cute, except it'd be the same reason she never recovered from what I have planned for her.

The bell rang, and the classroom door creaked open. I didn't look away, and neither did she.

For a heartbeat, we just stared at each other. I hoped she'd be this defiant when I break her spirit piece by piece.