Chapter 16: CONFRONTATION

ASHER

I knew Reed was following me, I wasn’t stupid. I had felt his presence, and caught glimpses of him in the shadows, but I’d needed to inject myself, and the storage room was the only private place I could think of.

Now I was terrified he’d seen something, or noticed something. I wonder how far he knows about me and if this was the end for me.

I hurried back to my dorm, my heart racing.

The suppressants were wearing off faster now. The stress of Reed’s constant harassment, the physical training, and the lack of sleep, it was all taking its toll. I was going through my supply twice as fast as I should be.

At this rate, I’d run out in a month again, and then what? I doubt mum would be able to get any more supplies because she had warned me to be careful when she bought the last one for me. How do I survive this hell hole and Reed?

I unlocked my dorm room and stepped inside, closing the door behind me.

Then I felt it, that overwhelming presence that could only mean one thing, and I quickly spun around to see Reed sitting on my bed. In my locked room.

“How did you-”

“Get in?” Reed smiled coldly. “I have keys to every room in this building. Perks of being who I am.”

Terror and fury warred inside me. “Get out.”

“No.” Reed stood up slowly. “Not until you tell me what you were injecting yourself with.”

My blood turned to ice. He’d seen it all. My heart began racing hard.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Don’t lie to me, Asher.” Reed stepped closer. “I saw you in the storage room injecting yourself with something that changed your scent.”

“I’m not—”

“Stop lying!” Reed’s voice rose. “I’ve been patient. I’ve been watching you for weeks, trying to figure out what’s wrong with your scent, why you move differently than other Alphas, why everything about you feels off, and now I know. You’re taking something. Some kind of drug.”

“It’s none of your business—”

“Yes, it is!” Reed grabbed my arm, his grip tight. “You’re hiding something, and I need to know what it is. Are you sick? Injured? Is someone forcing you to take drugs? Tell me, Asher!”

I yanked my arm free. “Why do you care? You hate me!”

“I don’t hate you!” Reed’s voice was raw. “I don’t… I can’t-” He stopped, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “I don’t understand what you are to me, but I know I can’t stand the thought of you being in danger. Of you hiding something that could hurt you.”

“I’m not in danger—”

“Then what are you hiding?”

We stood there, inches apart, both breathing hard. I wanted to tell him, I wanted to explain everything, I wanted to trust him with my secret, but I couldn’t because Reed Jackson was dangerous, and cruel. The last person I should ever trust.

“It’s medication,” I said finally. “For a medical condition. That’s all.”

“What condition?” He asked.

“That’s private, Reed. That’s a private matter I can’t tell you.” I told him.

“Asher—”

“No.” I stepped back. “You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to stalk me, break into my room, and demand my medical history. You’re not my friend, and you’re not my—” I stopped, unable to finish.

“Not your what?” Reed pressed.

“Nothing. You’re nothing to me. You will always be nothing to me.” I told him, the lie tasted bitter.

Reed’s expression darkened. “You’re lying again, Asher.”

“Get out of my room, Reed.” I demanded.

“Not until you tell me the truth.”

“I don’t owe you anything!”

“Yes, you do!” Reed closed the distance between us again. “You owe me the truth about what you’re hiding. About why your scent changes. About why you’re different from every other Alpha I’ve ever met.”

“I’m not different—”

“Yes, you are!” Reed’s hand cupped my face, his thumb brushing across my cheekbone. “And it’s driving me insane. Please, Asher, just tell me what’s going on.”

The gentleness in his touch, the desperation in his voice, it was almost too much, it wanted me to spill everything, all my secrets to him, but I couldn’t give in. I am scared of what he will do to me when he finds out I am just a worthless Omega, running away from my past.

“Get. Out.” I shoved him away. “Get out of my room and don’t ever come back.”

Reed stared at me for a long moment.

Then his expression went cold again.

“Fine,” he said. “Keep your secrets, but Asher, I’m going to figure it out. One way or another.”

“Is that a threat?” I asked and he smiled.

“It’s a promise.” He assured me, and headed to the door, then paused. “You know what the funny thing is? I was actually starting to think we could be something. That maybe this thing between us could be—” He stopped, shaking his head. “But you can’t trust me, and I can’t trust you. So I guess we’re just enemies after all.”

The door slammed behind him, and I stood there, shaking with tears threatening to fall.

Reed was right, we couldn’t trust each other. Which meant we’d never be anything except enemies, and that thought hurt more than I wanted to admit.

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