Chapter 207

My heart leapt forward in my chest. Did Asher just imply that he was my baby’s father to these girls accosting me?

“You can’t mean…” the cheerleader sputtered. “Surely you’re not…”

Asher shrugged like it was no big deal. “Why not?”

Aimee laughed. “Yeah, why not?”

I rubbed my forehead. What was I supposed to say?

The cheerleader’s face turned red. The other girls glared at her.

“You said Asher wasn’t the father,” said one of them.

“Of course he’d date her if he’s the father,” said another. “Asher is a good guy.”

“Why would we ever listen to you!” said a third.

One by one the girls turned and left. A couple even offered me apologies on their way. Eventually, only the cheerleader herself was still standing before us.

Her glare promised revenge, but was short lived when Asher stepped between us.

“I trust you don’t want cause any problems for my girlfriend,” he said.

Girlfriend? Heat rose in my cheeks. My girlfriend, he had said. Mine.

My heart couldn’t take it. I put a hand over my chest and felt it thundering.

With a humph, the cheerleader swiveled on her heel and stormed down the hallway.

Compared to all the other things I had to worry about, her threat was minor. Still, it made me uneasy knowing I had yet another enemy out for me.

Asher looked between Aimee and me. “If she tries anything, I want to know about it.”

I shook my head before Aimee could agree. “I can handle this one, Asher.”

His brow furrowed.

“She doesn’t mean me physical harm. She’s just jealous.”

Aimee agreed. “If she hasn’t gotten the hint yet, she will soon. Don’t worry, Asher. I’ve got Cynthia’s back on this, though I think she’ll be fine on her own.”

“If you two are sure…”

He seemed uneasy, leaving me alone against any foe, but I wanted him to understand that I could still hold my own – mentally if not physically.

Maybe not against death threats or potentially being sent to research facilities. But against jealous girls? Especially a cheerleader? I had enough experience to be able to play their mind games and win.

“I’m sure,” I said, and he nodded, accepting my assurances so easily. His tremendous confidence seemed to stretch to include me as well.

The worry vanished from his face. He held out his hand, and I eagerly accepted it.

When I looked back at Aimee, she winked at me. “I’ll see you lovebirds later.”

I blushed at her teasing, but Asher’s lip curled into a smile.

That made it worth it.

We returned to the dorm for lunch. As soon as we were alone in Asher’s room, I couldn’t resist saying, “You let those girls believe that you are the baby’s father.”

“I did.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to.” He glanced at me sideways. “I’m ready and willing to take on full responsibility for your baby, Cynthia. All you have to do is let me.”

He made it sound like it was so simple. As if the moment I accepted, he would step into a fatherly role. Not just a godfather, watchful and protective, but a true father, always there.

Would he help me raise the child? Would he stay by our side through thick and thin?

For Alphas, the mating bond was for life, so he would likely remain in my life in some capacity until the day I died.

But what did that mean for our relationship? Was it a platonic bond? Was it sexual? Mating bonds didn’t have to be romantic.

Though Asher had kissed me. He’d called me his girlfriend. Those weren’t platonic things, and didn’t seem to be indicators of a strictly sexual relationship either.

Even so, I wasn’t sure what his relationship with me would mean for our baby. I really wanted him to be the father, but… I also wanted to be a family. Mom, Dad, and child.

If Asher wanted a platonic relationship, I didn’t know what that would mean for my family dream.

I wasn’t ready to make my decision.

“I need more time,” I said.

He seemed to understand. “I’d wait forever, Cynthia. There’s no rush.” Though a hint of disappointment lingered in his words.

Perhaps I was overthinking. He wanted to be the father. I wanted him to be, too.

But I was scared things would change.

He went to the kitchenette and started making lunch. I pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind and joined him.

Later, after lunch, I told Asher about how my grades were coming back up.

He had stayed in the kitchen even after the dishes had been cleaned and put away. He had started to mix something in a pan on the stove.

“I’m glad,” he said. “You can do anything you put your mind to.”

I walked closer to him, enough to see into the concoction he was mixing. “What is that?”

“A simple potion,” he said. “Something that will help increase your concentration. The ingredients are all natural, so it won’t hurt the baby. I double and triple checked.”

I had never taken a potion before, but I was aware of them. They were fairly common, though pricey. I’d never wanted to spend the money.

For Asher to just casually mix one up for me was a generous act of kindness. He played it off like it wasn’t, but I knew the truth.

I leaned into him and kissed his shoulder, showing my appreciation.

He gave me a soft smile.

As the moment slowly passed, he continued to stir.

“In time, I think you might find that learning might come easier for you,” he said.

“What do you mean?”

“I was doing some research. Your baby, while it is exhausting your body, might also be helping you. I read that a werewolf mother can share a connection with her child while it is in the womb. Like a backup battery, your baby is giving you more mind power.”

“The baby can do that?”

He nodded. “If the baby is anything like you, and I suspect that they are, they are going to be very intelligent.”

A sense of pride swelled within me. My baby was so strong, so talented, to be able to subtly support me like they were.

I placed my hands on my growing stomach. “Thank you, baby.”

Asher wrapped his arm around my shoulders and brought me closer to him. He kissed me on the temple.

“I’m so proud of you both.”

I couldn’t help my wide smile. With Asher and my baby, I felt invincible. I could achieve anything.

I eased into his side, comfortable and at peace.

But then my phone chimed with a message. I tried to ignore it, but a small bit of worry wedge its way into me, ruining the quiet moment Asher and I were sharing.

“Go on and check it.” Asher gave me a gentle nudge. “The potion’s almost ready.”

“I’ll be right back.” I wasn’t done cuddling, and I hoped he knew that.

He chuckled a bit, seeming to indicate that he did.

I crossed the room and retrieved my phone off the charger. It wasn’t a text but an email. I clicked it open, then froze.

“What is it?” Asher asked, noticing my pale face right away.

I read through the email. Then I read it a second time. I checked the email address to make sure it was legitimate.

It was. This was real.

“I’ve been summoned to speak to the Vice President in his office.”