Beauty and The Beta (Bailey)
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Chapter 72 – Asher The way Alli had dismissed me had made me feel like my presence had been unnecessary. Mademe feel like a fool, despite the fact Eden had asked me to go there on her behalf. I could not shakethe thought now that perhaps Bailey was wondering why I had turned up to see her before shebegan her new job. Would she think I didn’t think she was capable? I truly hope that wasn’t thecase, or else I would owe her another apology. I seemed to be racking up a list of apologies I owedthe poor girl… Why do you care so much?’ Zion piped up as I stepped back into the packhouse. ‘What?’ I questioned. ‘Why do you care so much what the new girl thinks?’ he asks. gleefully. ‘I don’t care. I just don’t want her thinking badly of me when she has just arrived.’ I huffed. ‘So you don’t care what she thinks. But you do care if she thinks. badly of you when she has justarrived?’ Zion chuckled tohimself. ‘Go figure. But it is okay, I assume if, after a few months, she realizes you are a total jacka** and thinks badly of you?’ ‘Seriously Zion.’ I warned him. “What?’ he asks innocently. ‘I not doing nothing.” I stormed along the corridor angry now, by the way my wolf seemed to love irritating me, not tomention I had yet to even. have my f**g morning coffee, since Alli had booted me from the schoolbefore my coffee had been drinkable. It had still been at the hot as lava level when I had put themug to my mouth. So drinking it hadn’t been an option. ‘Hey Asher.’ Eden’s voice rang through the mindlink just as I opined my office door, making me rollmy eyes. Great, just what I needed. Her giving me a hard time now. Did I ever get a break in thisb**dy place? I swear it was one thing after another… ‘Hello Eden.’ ‘How is my new girl doing?’ she asked sweetly. How kind, she doesn’t even ask how I am, or howmy day is going. Straight to the work she has me running around doing for her. Nice…

‘You should know, seeing as you had already messaged her.’ I said bluntly, far from impressed thatshe had sent me all the way to school to apparently check in with Bailey for her when Eden hadalready messaged her. ‘Oh, she told you.’ Eden chuckled. ‘I was kind of hoping she wouldn’t.’ ‘Hmm. Imagine that. So, why did you make me rush over there?’ I demanded, far from impressedwith my friend’s mate. ‘Missed my morning coffee because of you.’ I snapped. ‘Oh Ash, stop being such a grump-a-lump.’ She teased. ‘Missing one of your million daily coffeesisn’t likely to harm you. May even do you some good, you know? Besides, I thought getting out ofyour office might do you good too. And it does look good that we are going there to show her thesenior team are 17.90% ။ 11:14 welcoming her.’ I already told you, that I welcomed her when she arrived. That was difficult enough. And youwelcomed her by messaging her Eden. I don’t think I needed to get out of my office. If I do, I can.make that call. I don’t need you doing it for me.’ ‘Ash, don’t be snappy. I know it is difficult, and I know you have likely reached your monthly peopleinteraction level for this month, but we cannot risk losing her. So, go check how she got on whenshe is done for the day, for me, please? You know I would do it, but this mini-Caleb inside my hugebelly is being a pain and making life difficult, you know that, right?’ she links, sounding almostdesolate with me. Go**it. She was manipulative when she wanted to be. Making me feel sorry forher. It isn’t her fault she is stuck in the hospital… ‘Fine.’ I snapped. Hating that I was too soft. Giving in far too easily. ‘Aww, you are the best. Thanks!’ and with that she was gone, cutting the mindlink, like that was theonly reason she had linked me in the first place. There and then gone, leaving me to my paperwork.Eurgh, I swear, sometimes Eden was unbearable. After hours of paperwork and dashing to various places around the pack completing tasks of both

mine and the Alpha, I realized the time was now nearing for the end of the school day, so I figured Ihad best make my way up to the school or else Eden would no doubt be hunting me down to giveme one hell of a hard time for not doing as I was told, and quite frankly, I did not need that. I alreadyhad a headache. And I knew just how capable she was of making my headache worse… 111 1284 Vouchers I rushed from the busy packhouse. Out into the sunshine, which was slightly more bearable than ithad been this morning, now I had had several coffees, and I was functioning as close to normal asmy body got. As I reached near the school grounds I could hear laughter, and I looked up, to seeBailey out in the grounds of the school with the children who, I assume, are her class. I stood for amoment, as I saw her smiling down at them. She was kneeling on the grass, surrounded by theyoungsters, all around six years of age, and I could see her gently touching them on the head,before they touched her head in response. And she was laughing as they did. I wasn’t close enoughto know what she was saying or doing, but whatever it was, the children were smiling and looking attheir new teacher in awe. And strangely, the sight warmed my heart… I walked a little closer, planning to wait until school had finished before going into the schoolbuilding, already dreading the thought of seeing the other teachers. Though seeing Bailey was farfrom the top of my list of things I wanted to do. I continued to watch her as I waited though, intriguedby the way she was so comfortable with the children, and the way they too seemed at ease in herpresence. I found myself smiling at the way her eyes seemed to light up as she smiled at thechildren… How she was so full of enthusiasm… Maybe Eden had been right. Maybe she was whatthe pack needed. She looked like a natural. A sudden sound startled me, as what could only be described as close to a purr slipped from me, orshould I say from Zion, as I watched Bailey teach her class. I quickly moved to behind a nearbytree, leaning heavily on the trunk of the tree, my body almost trembling in shock. I needed to movebefore she saw me. ‘What the hell was that?’ I demanded of my wolf. Confused at

Ħ 258 (Vouchers his reaction to her. This was not how a wolf should be acting towards some random she-wolf. But suddenly my wolf had gone quiet. There was no reaction nor response from him. He seemed tohave gone awol…