Chapter 2: Asher

I shut the door to my office and started to pace. What was wrong with me? Hell… with us? It's like my brain short-circuited when I scented that girl. I was at that stupid party, bored out of my mind when I caught a flash of hair so blonde it was sliver. I moved so I could get a better look at her. As she got closer to where I stood, I faintly caught her scent and it drew me in. I was expecting a human scent but what I found was wolf. She was utterly beautiful and smelled of the forest bathed in moonlight. I wanted to bury my face in her hair and just breathe her in. There was just something about her that ignited my desire like I've never felt before. I knew she hadn't asked for permission to be in my territory since I'd never seen her before. I definitely would've remembered her. It gave me the perfect excuse to get to talk to her and know more about her. To keep her by my side until I could claim her.

I was stuck on the other side of the room with some boring guy talking sales shares when I saw that asshole grab her ass. I saw red and my wolf clawed inside me in anger when I saw her grimace in pain. I sent Jer to her since it was gonna take me some time to get across the room to her. It was taking wat too long to work my way through the crowd, and I almost lost it when Jer mind spoke to Deke and me.

"I need you two over here right fucking NOW! This guy isn't backing down and he's hurting her. Her fucking arm is already turning purple where he's holding her. He's bruising the ever-loving fuck out of her and threatening to hurt her even worse. Asshole wants to, and I quote 'Teach her a lesson and put her in her place' unquote." 

I caught Deke's eye as we rushed to get to Jer.

"Try to keep her as safe as you can. We're on our way."

I saw how tightly he was holding her arm and the pinched look of pain on her face and I wanted to break him for hurting her. I felt the same sentiment from Jer and Deke their anger echoed down our bond. Even if I hadn't wanted her, no woman should be handled that way.

And then the little shit had the balls to threaten me and call me a pathetic nobody. He had no real idea of the power I had in the life or death of his father's company. And his company was going to tank. I'd make sure of it. I couldn't keep working with a man who had a son like that. He either raised him with a distain for women or turned a blind eye to how his son behaved. 

But then the shit really hit the fan. It took everything I had to keep my wolf from taking over when she started bleeding. We all scented it at the same time that we heard her whimper and saw her tears. Her fear was sharp in the air as he talked about raping her. That fucker was lucky we didn't take him out back and kill him. She was ours and he hurt her and that wasn't something I could let go.

I frowned as I paced faster. What the fuck? Ours? I shook my head. My gut twisted as I recalled the look of defeat on her face when she asked where we were going to talk and the slump in her shoulders as she walked away made my heart hurt. I couldn't deny I felt something strong for her and I was determined to protect her and keep her. I knew in my heart she was something special to the three of us since I felt the same feelings coming from Deke and Jer. Our world wouldn't be the same now that she was here. I gave a small smile as my wolf agreed. 

'Yes. We must keep her. She is ours. We need her. Mark her as ours.'

I blinked. My wolf had never been so possessive or ever wanted to mark anyone before. This was really something interesting. I was starting to ask why we needed to mark her when Jer tagged me.

"Dude, that guy was a prick. Who is he?" 

"He'is the son of George Wilmington, CEO and owner of Wilmington Exports. The shipping company we've been using. Well, the former shipping company we've been using. I'm cutting the contracts in the morning since he left already. I refuse to work with someone that raised his son to be a spoiled prick or at the very least lets his son act like that."

"Who is that girl? There is something about her. I about went nuts when she got aroused when I threatened that guy. I worried she'd gotten hot for him and that we'd misread the situation. But I know I didn't smell it when I got over there and when I looked at her, her eyes were only on me. Seems she liked me getting all threatening with that guy. And damn, she smells delicious. It's strange but I just want to hold her and protect her. My wolf agrees that we should keep her… but he wants to mark her, man. He's never wanted to do that before."

I heard Deke join in on the conversation. 

"The trash has been taken out. Now explain the girl. I feel a pull towards her. The need to spoil her, see her smile, and keep her safe. But more than that… I want to see her face as she comes undone in pleasure, to hear her moans, and feel her nails scratch into my back as she comes. Man, this is fucking with my head and my wolf. He's never been this riled up for anyone. He wants to keep her and mark her too. What the fuck is going on?"

"Guys, I've got no idea who she is. She's a rogue, I think. I know she never requested to come into our territory. I sure as shit would've remembered her. Jer, bring her to the office once she's done working. I've got a feeling it's going to be a long night for all of us. Can you tell if she's still bleeding? She smells like shifter and but not exactly shifter."

There was a short pause before my Beta answered. "Yeah, she is. I can still smell fresh blood and she's starting to bleed through the handkerchief. He really cut into her. The bruises are starting to creep down her arm, and they're still getting darker. She's starting to favor that arm and winces when she lifts it. From the way it looks, I'd say that fucker would have broken her arm if he hadn't let go when he did. As it is, he fucked up the muscle in her arm."

I ground my teeth and let out a growl that I felt echoed by the other two. 

"Deke… please tell me that piece of shit flew?"

"Oh yeah. About ten feet. I think I heard something snap when he landed. He won't be messing with us any time soon, but we should keep an eye on him. He sounded like he wasn't going to leave the girl alone."

"Yeah, I got that too. He's gonna be dangerous, Ash. I think he's insane. You could smell his anger and lust. If he gets his hands on her and we're no around, he's gonna rape her as painfully as possible as many times as he can before we can get there." Jer sounded worried.

"He is a dead man if he touches her. Period." 

I hadn't heard Deke so cold or decisive in a long time. Not that I didn't disagree with him. But Deke was usually the calmest of the three of us even though he looked intimidating and didn't rush making decisions. Him being that protective of her so quickly spoke volumes. 

I heard Jer groan. "Damnit Ash… if I see her ass bend over one more time, I'm gonna bust a nut. That girl has a sexy body on her and one fine ass. What are gonna do with her? I'm not sure I can let her go and I've got no idea why… plus my wolf is going nuts and he's really pushing me to mark her. It's freaking me out a little bit, I gotta tell ya."

"I don't know. I'll think of something to keep her here until we find out what the hell's going on and who she is. Let me know when you guys are headed here. Hey Deke, grab some bandages too on your way to the office. I think she's gonna need them."

They both agreed and I sat down in my chair to think. It made absolutely no sense. All three of our wolves wanting to mark her? That would mean she's our mate, but I didn't get that dead certain feeling that she was my mate. I'd heard that when you lock eyes with your mate it's like a punch in the face and you just know she's yours. And while I felt a pull towards the girl, it wasn't that. Not to mention I've never heard of multiple wolves wanting to mark the same woman.

I groaned. This was such a mess. How was I gonna keep her here without holding her prisoner? We needed to get to the bottom of this. Then such a simple idea came to me. We needed a chef at home. Why not make it a live-in position? It's not like the place wasn't big enough. We had fucking rooms galore. We could keep an eye on her AND give her a situation where she wouldn't run. It was perfect. Now I just had to wait for her to come to me.