Chapter 3 CHAPTER THREE.

Asher's POV.

“Hmm” I sighed, stepping out of the car, luggage in hand, as I made my way towards the penthouse I'd had to refurnish to my tastes.

It was modest yet refined. The wooden floors were polished wooden floors stretched beneath the sleek, modern furniture. It wasn't the luxury I was used to before I moved here but it would do.

I unpacked in silence, each item I placed a reminder that I wasn't supposed to be here. But when your Beta gives you the whereabouts of your enemy's daughter, you don't sit and twiddle your thumbs, you infiltrate the place and plan your next step of action.

No one knew who I was here. And that's exactly how it needed to stay.

After brooding for far too long, I decided to step out of the apartment for fresh air and use the opportunity to get to know the school grounds.

I might need this knowledge later in the future. As I stepped out, I noticed it was already dark so I looked at my watch to check the time only to see it was past 8pm.

I tucked my hands inside my pocket and began strolling. Come to think of it, I didn't even bother to undress and freshen but I guess that doesn't matter now.

I took note of my surroundings and decided to turn in for the night. I'd gotten notes of her class schedule, extracurriculars, and even where she lived. Killing her would be easy.

I got into my car and drove straight to the hotel.

I'd just gotten out of the car when something or someone bumped into me.

She pushed away from me, shaking like a leaf. Was she high on something? Or was she cold or sick?

I pondered and without thinking, my legs brought me closer to her only to catch the sounds of her sniffling and crying.

"Are you okay?" I found myself asking and she shook her head.

When her eyes met mine. I instantly knew who she was.

Her hair was long, wavy and white in color, beautiful and cascading down her back, with eyes as blue as the Aegean sea that surprisingly looked swollen. I thought I'd run into her on campus but she literally walked into me — Clara Bennet, the daughter of my sworn enemy.

First, she was crying. Her tear-stained face, incredibly tempting. It didn't move me to comfort her. Instead, it made me want to make her cry more and feel everything but of pain I felt when her father took mine’s life.

However, for some unknown reason, my heart skipped a beat at that moment so I decided to sit beside her after she ignored me.

“It’s pretty dark out here,” I said softly. “You need to get somewhere safe.”

I didn't plan on getting her to safety. I planned to kill her there and then.

She trembled softly. “I was… I was at a party and my mate rejected me for my bestfriend.”

I instantly froze. Why was she telling me this?

“I'm sorry.” She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

Fucking hell.

I reached out and touched her shoulder. “Come on. Let's get you safe.”

She nodded again as if too exhausted to argue and I helped her up the stairs.

While we walked into the hotel, Clara gripped my arm as if they were the only thing echoing me to reality and my skin felt too tight. She shouldn't be holding onto me like this. She shouldn't find comfort in a stranger. Well, she looked pretty wasted and just had her heart broken so her reason’s valid but still…

She couldn't speak and kept sobbing all the way in. I cursed under my breath again and crouched beside me. Let's hold off on killing her tonight. She's a mess.

I watched her inhale softly as she wiped her eyes. The asshole who made her cry deserved death.

“They won't hurt you again.” I don't know why I said that but at least I made her a promise. They wouldn't hurt me anymore because I would.

I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her to her feet.  “You look exhausted. You need rest.”

It was true. She needed it.

As we got to my penthouse, Clara pleaded with me.

“I don't want to be alone,” tears burned at the corners of her eyes. “Please. Just for a little while. I need…”

Fuck. I don't like this.

I stared at her for a moment before I grabbed her hand. “Come with me.”

I led me inside and handed her a glass of water. When she was done, she curled up on the edge of my bed.

“I don't even know your name,” she mumbled.

I didn't answer. I needed to get the hell out of here. She could use the room and I'd come back for it later. However, the goddess had other plans for me.

“Please, make me forget.” she said suddenly.

I turned to face her and almost scoffed. “Don't ask me for things you don't understand.”

“Maybe I don't want to understand.” she whispered.

I closed the distance between us in two steps. Don't ask for things you don't know. “You don't know me.”

“I don't need to,” she stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, kneading the tensions bunching my muscles.

Fuck. She should stop touching me.

“Stop.” I hissed.

“Make me forget.” she whispered again.

That fucking word again.

I cursed under my breath and sighed. Screw it. I grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her.

After spending the night together, I gathered her in her clothes and drove straight to her dorm.

She was fast asleep and didn't notice when I searched through her purse for her keys.

She felt weightless as I carried her into my arms and into her dorm.

I laid her on the bed, slowly peeling her clothes off, before ransacking her wardrobe for her nightie.

I came across her panties and felt the urge to sniff them but then reminded myself that I wasn't a pervert so what exactly about this young lady was sending my blood rushing?

It's a good thing she is a student here, which means it wouldn't be hard to see her again. As I got her dressed, I looked around the room, finding it warm, cozy and so like her.

I was about to get up from her bed when she suddenly grabbed my hand tightly, her fingers digging into my flesh.

"P-p-please, d-don't leave me." She whispered in her sleep.

It infuriated me but I chose to stay by her side.

When I saw she was relaxed, I ran to the nearby convenience store to get her water and aspirin for the next morning when she woke up, in case she got a headache.

I also got some cream to rub in-between her thighs or body so she wouldn't feel any more pain or aches from the activity we had earlier.

Finally I was done and was about to leave her dorm when my eyes caught something on the table. A lecture textbook, one belonging to my class.

Before I could stop myself, a smile began to dance at the corner of my lips.

"We shall meet sooner than expected, little bird."

The next morning, I dressed up for my first day, signed in at my office before gathering my books for the class.

As soon as I entered, I looked around for her, ignoring the whispers from my students.

Then I saw her.

Middle row. Pale and perfect, eyes wide in confusion as the noise built.

Her jaw dropped so hard I thought it might actually hit the floor. I could see the flush rise to her cheeks and I was pretty sure she was going to combust  from embarrassment.

Our eyes met and she quickly looked away, pretending to be fascinated by the scribbles on her notebook.

Ah, yes.

It was HER

The girl who moaned my name at 3 AM.