Beauty and The Beta (Bailey)

Chapter 0208

The sound of Bailey sobbing broke my heart. I had stood there, resting my head upon the door for a moment, hoping she would open the door for me. I wanted to go and hold her. Reassure her. But the door never opened, and it was breaking Zion's heart too, so I had to walk away. Listening to her was hard enough without my wolf's whimpering on top. That night, I had spent back in my office like so many nights previously. Back to my former routine. Knowing that I couldn't go to her because it seemed she needed her space.

Hours of paperwork. Doing the work I had skipped in order to spend time with her earlier in the day... such a perfect day, yet it had ended so horrifically. We seemed terrible at communicating. Maybe it was our lack of experience at all this? Or just that we were both so stubborn? I truly didn't know, but I know this much, knowing she was upset because of me made me feel horrendous. Like total shit...

I never wanted her to be sad and hurting again. I was aware of that much, and I needed to find a way to fix things. She had made such a change to my life, and I wanted to do the same for her, if she would let me, of course. I awoke at my desk, like I had done many mornings before, in the worst of moods, feeling broken, and I planned to go and see Bailey, but as I moved from my office, I walked straight into Caleb. He looked at me confused.

"Morning Ash." He greeted me, watching me through suspicious eyes. "Everything okay?"

“Hmm.” I barely grunted at him. Okay would be a stretch after sleeping hunched over my desk!

"Why do you look like you are half dead? Tell me you did not fall asleep in your office again? What have I told you about sleeping in there?" his eyes were focused heavily on me, looking far from impressed. But I had no intention of explaining myself to him. I couldn't explain this mess to him even if I wanted to, because it would mean betraying Bailey's trust in not saying anything about the situation in her pack.

"I lost track of time." I lied instead. "I am going for a shower."

He raised his brows at me, as if he was doubting my words. "Maybe you should take the rest of the day off, Ash. You look like you could do with a rest."

I looked at him in horror. I do not like the thought of spending the day alone. Not with all this on my mind. My thoughts would take over me, and end up eating away at my mind. It would become too much, I just knew it. That was simply not an option. "I think I will be fine after a shower and a few coffees.” I told him, moving away from him. Fighting the emotions threatening to spill out. I needed to go and find Bailey. I needed to try and fix this mess between us. I don't think I would settle until I had.

But Caleb was soon on my heels. "Ash, are you sure you are okay? Something seems off."

"Lack of sleep." I smiled at him, trying hard to compose myself. "You going to let me go get a shower, or you planning to come and join me?" I said sarcastically, and he shook his head with a grin.

"I know you might be lonely bro, but I am definitely not down for that!" he slapped me playfully on the back. "So, I shall leave you to it, to let you get your shower. But, if you need to chill out today, you know you can."

I nodded in agreement, despite knowing there was no chance in hell I would be taking the day off, not unless Bailey would somehow give me a chance to speak with her, and let me spend some time with her. I quickly made my way to the stairs, planning on going straight to Bailey's room, only to see Morgan coming out of the door.

"Is she okay?" I asked, rushing up the stairs, hoping to be able to see her.

The awkward expression on Morgan's face told me all I needed to know. I had a sinking feeling Bailey had told her sister everything. "Erm, I think she will be." she almost whispered.

"Do you think she will see me?" I tried, and Morgan looked down.

"I don't know, Asher. We are getting ready to go back to our pack. But, please don't give up on her, yeah? Our family are weird and ask a lot of us. She is just trying to please Dad, not disappoint him or make the

family look bad, okay? Bailey is

different to most people. She tries too hard sometimes to please

everyone. Doesn't want to disappoint them. And the

expectations of us as the Beta's daughters were too much for her sometimes." Morgan softly placed her hand upon my arm. "It doesn't mean she doesn't want you, or that she doesn't want to be here."

I frowned. "I don't think I said that it did. I just want to be there for her. I just wish that wasn't seen as a bad thing."

The color quickly took over Morgan's cheeks. "Oh. Well, I wondered if that was what you were worried about. But, I know she likes you. I can see it in the way she is with you. The way she looks at you. Not to mention the way she speaks about you. And I know for a fact that you want to be there for her will mean the world to her. So, just let her deal with this wedding shit, and be waiting for her. Yeah?"

I sighed. Was this all I was going to get? Partial explanations, and avoidance of the truth? I wanted to be there for her. But, I couldn't force her. If this is what she wanted, then she could have her space. "Fine. Whatever she wants." I said with a shrug, storming away from Morgan and the rooms. Anger filled every pore of my body.

Fuck this, I didn't want a shower now, I needed to let Zion out. Let him shift and run to the point of causing pain... take his and my anger out as darkness passed through me. A darkness I hadn't experienced since Bailey had etched her place on my heart...