The Beta's Redemption

[Leah's POV]

I stared up into the eyes of the man that I had yearned for for the past five years. I still couldn't believe that this was happening. It had to be a dream, right?

"Are you sure you're ready?" He murmured, running his lips against my jaw. "Once we start, I don't plan to stop."

"I'm sure." I rasped, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I've never been more sure about something in my life."

My body thrummed with anticipation as his heat seeped into me. And when he began to move, I felt my very soul beginning to come alive.

"Please take me." I begged, closing my eyes and bracing myself.

A slow heat begins to build within me as he starts to move, crossing the path of no return, and explosions begin to erupt within me. 

And that was always when the alarm went off and my world of pleasure and true happiness crashed down around me.

Letting out a groan, I rolled over in bed and slammed my hand against the irritating alarm clock that took away my moment of seeing him.

A year had already passed. An agonizing year of not knowing whether he was okay or if he was ever coming back. 

Since that day, there hadn't been any word from him. There were no notes, phone calls, or even a single mindlink!

"Where are you?" I sighed, sitting up and staring at my reflection in the mirror that sat on my dresser. "Have you found someone else and forgotten all about me? Is that why you haven't sent word?

As this thought hits me, my heart clenches sending waves of pain through me.

No, that couldn't be the reason. Asher wasn't the type to do something like that.

Or was he?

Not wanting to think too long about it, I begin to focus on my reflection once more.

I looked like a mess with my wild blue hair puffed out around my head and my caramel eyes bleary from not getting enough sleep. I really did need to stop the late-night raids in Romatopia, a new online game that was recently released that my friends and I were currently obsessed with.

"Auntie Leah!" The much too bright voice was accompanied by a loud knock on my bedroom door. "Auntie Leah! Are you awake?"

"Yeah," I called, getting out of bed. "Give me a minute."

Grabbing a hair tie, I quickly put my hair up and threw on some leggings and a sweater.

Once I was sure that I was presentable, I pulled open my door to find my nephew, Devlin, standing in the hall looking impatient.

"What's wrong with you, little man?" I asked, taking in his narrowed gray eyes that examined me.

"You look like a zombie." Devlin said slowly. "You need to stop staying up so late."

Rolling my eyes, I reached out and ruffled Devlin's sandy curls.

"I don't take orders from a six-year-old." I laughed as he let out a growl and swatted at my hand.

"Devlin!" Thia's voice traveled up the stairs. "Are you picking on your auntie again?"

"No, mama!" Devlin called, quickly turning and running down the stairs.

Letting a laugh escape me, I began to move down the stairs, taking them as slowly as possible.

"About time you showed." Theo called from his place on the couch.

I shot him a glare before heading into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee.

"You look rough." Thia murmured.

She was currently standing at the stove, stirring something that looked questionable.

"What is that?" I asked, taking a tentative sniff of the concoction.

"For you," Thia announced. "Ian gave me the recipe. He said it may help lift whatever spell was put on you."

"Mmmm."

I continued to stare down into the sludge-looking liquid in the pot as memories of the day I was attacked by Brailyn emerged.

Since then, everyone has done everything they could to try to help me. However, so far, nothing has worked.

Letting out a sigh, I bit back the words that wanted to escape. I wanted to tell them to not worry, that I was fine. I still excelled in combat and my innate senses and strength were still intact. I simply couldn't change.

Deciding it was better to just allow Thia to continue with her experiment, I turned and headed out the back door.

Outside, the air was warm and dark clouds were beginning to form on the horizon. The slight scent of rain on earth lingered in the air, and thunder could be heard rumbling in the distance.

"Another storm." I sighed, slumping down on the stairs that led to the yard beyond.

Leaning back, I let my mind wander back to the dream that continued to replay in my mind as my heart clenched painfully in my chest.

Behind my closed eyes, the world began to shift from light to dark and the wind began to whip, bringing to me an odd but familiar scent.

My eyes flew open as recognition of what that scent was hit me.

He was back!

Jumping up, I looked around wildly, trying to find him. And then there he was, standing at the edge of the white picket fence that surrounded the backyard.

"Asher," I breathed, beginning to stumble forward. "It's..."

The words that wanted to come got caught in my throat as I took in the eyes that watched me from an exhausted face.

"Ash…"

"It's been a long time, little lycan." The words were hollow as they left his downturned lips.

"You're..."

His cold eyes took me in as I tried to process what was happening. It was definitely Asher, but what was wrong with him?

Gone was any warmth or emotion that used to blaze so brightly. All that was left was hate and icy coldness. 

Why was he like this?

Stumbling forward, I lifted my hand in an attempt to touch his arm. However, he jerked back and let a growl explode from him.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked, trying again. "I thought..."

"Whatever you thought, it's wrong." He said simply, causing the world around me to come crashing to the ground.

Was he rejecting me?