Chapter 33: The Dinner Party

Asher’s POV



Harper returns to the table a short while later. I saw Zoey leave not long after; I hope they didn’t run into each other in the hallway. I know Harper doesn’t like Zoey, so them speaking alone could be bad.

When Harper is seated, I lean over and whisper in her ear, “Did you happen to see Zoey in the hallway?”

Drake had stepped outside to talk to a member of his pack just before Harper returned.

Harper smiles, sipping on her wine, “And what if I did?”

The way she is smiling indicates to me that she probably said some strong words to Zoey in the hallway. I know she won’t tell me what she said but seeing her act this protective over me has my insides fluttering with excitement.

“You know I can handle myself, right?” I whisper back, placing my hand on her thigh.

She turns to face me, a twinkle of mischief in her eyes, “I’m just making it clear to everyone that you’re my husband.”

Drake and Zoey come back into the room; they look between Harper and I as they sit back down.

“I hope we’re not interrupting anything,” Drake smirks, taking a sip of his wine.

“Not at all,” I reply, “I was just asking my wife what movie we should watch before bed.”

Zoey is actively trying not to make eye contact with me. I need to know why she’s acting this way with me. She’s the one who left me all those years ago; I should be the one pretending to not know who she is.

“So, how did you two meet?” Harper asks, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink due to the alcohol.

“Well,” Drake begins, shifting in his seat, “Zoey entered my packs compound one evening during a thunderstorm. She had nothing but the clothes on her back, so I took her in and offered a warm bed to sleep in.”

“At first, he thought I was a rogue wolf trying to infiltrate his pack,” Zoey laughs, looking around the table.

“But, after a few days, we got to know each other and it was love at first sight,” Drake smiles, placing his arm around Zoey’s waist.

She looks uncomfortable, but that could be for several reasons.

“How long ago was that night?” I ask, curiosity getting the best of me.

Drake’s eyebrows turn downwards as he thinks, “Maybe, five years ago now.”

I want to laugh out loud when the realization hits me. That was the night Zoey left me, and she ended up in this guy’s compound. For some reason that pisses me off. She left me without warning, to runway to live with a random pack, only to marry the Alpha. I wanted to marry her, but apparently, I wasn’t good enough for her.

Now that the alcohol is running through me, I want to scream at Zoey and ask why she left me for this loser. I want to make her feel pain for breaking my heart and leaving me without an explanation.

Rubbing how beautiful Harper is in her face must sting, though. Harper is the opposite of Zoey. Harper is strong, feisty, and willing to protect the people closest to her at all costs. Whereas, Zoey was more relaxed, not wanting to engage in social activities and would never stand up for herself. One of them is born a leader, while the other will always be submissive.

“How cute,” Harper smiles, placing her hand on my thigh.

I try not to react when the heat from her skin radiates through the fabric of my pants. She squeezes me a little bit, running her finger around in a soft circle. Her touch is driving me crazy, and I think she knows that.

Zoey makes eye contact with me for the first time since meeting. When we were dating, her eyes looked as if they held all the secrets in the world, they were so bright and lively. But now, they’re dull and sad, looking as if she’s in pain. It’s almost as if she is pleading with me for something through her eyes.

I frown, what does she want from me?

I turn to Harper; she didn’t see the look Zoey just gave me. I take her hand in mine and stand up.

“Dinner was great, thank you for coming. I think it’s time Harper and I head to bed now for that movie,” I pull Harper’s chair out from behind her, and use her hand to guide her to the door.

“Can we meet again tomorrow?” Drake asks, standing from his seat.

“No need,” I say, “Just take what materials you need and be on your way.”

Harper and I leave the room without another word. The two of them being here is making me uncomfortable, I feel as though something bad is going to happen. I’m just waiting for the storm to roll in.

I wrap my arm around Harper’s shoulders to steady her. I think the wine has gone to her head because she is stumbling in her heels, groaning each time she trips over herself.

I stop us, “Here, let me take these off you.”

I help Harper out of her shoes, then throw her over my shoulder so we can get to the bedroom quicker. She giggles with each step, flailing her arms and legs around.

“You’re strong.” Her words are slurred.

I laugh at how cute she is when she’s drunk. I’ve never seen her drink this much before, but I know she needed alcohol to get her through the dinner with Zoey.

“You smell nice, too,” she mumbles into the back of my shirt.

I hear her take a big sniff as I open the bedroom door. I drop her on the bed, her giggles filling the room.

“Did you just sniff my shirt?” I laugh, slipping out of my suit jacket.

Harper grabs a pillow, snuggling up to it, “I did not.”

I kick my shoes off and move around the bed, “You’re such a liar.”

“It’s not my fault you smell like fresh air,” she huffs.

Without sitting up, she slides the zipper on the back of her dress down, the thin fabric falling off her skin. She does her best to kick it off, letting it slide off the bed and land on the floor.

I try my hardest not to look at her smooth skin in just her underwear. The lace fabric clings to her body, outlining her hourglass figure. She pulls the covers back, and slides under the thick material.

“Were you just checking me out?” She mumbles into the pillow.

I try not to laugh, “Don’t flatter yourself.”