CHAPTER 18

Asher watched the woman roll towards him in her wheel chair, a bright smile lighting up her wrinkled features.
She was old but he had no idea about her age, like everyone else in the pack. But if he was to take a guess, his would guess she was almost a century old. She had been Luna to Adam's father, who was alpha during his time and he had heard several tales from those who knew them together that there had never been a better match. They had been in love, the kind of love that still made her miss the husband she had lost years ago whenever she was having a gloomy day. And in more times than one, she had admitted to Asher that he reminded him so much of him, even in ways her own son had never.
She never voiced the last part but he knew that much.
There only son had wanted the same with Asher's mother and one could understand how he must have felt following her outrageous behaviour.
"Look at you. I can almost see your bones," she said excitedly as she took his hands in hers. She was always happy to see him. Although they now stayed on the same territory, she still never got to see him as much as she wanted. He was always pushing himself and it reminded her so much of her late husband.
It was a wonder the boy was not really related to her by blood because she felt a deep connection with him she never even felt with the child she had in her old age.
Asher bent to place a kiss on her wrinkled forehead. "You say that all the time Rose, but you never tell me how much you have missed me." He never called her grandma, like he had always longed to because truth of the matter was, she was not really his grandmother. She never belonged to him and he was just lucky enough to be loved by her. And he had feared that if he called her that, Adam would have come for his head while he was alive so he had stuck with just calling her by her name.
She threw back her white crowned head and laughed. "Men! Whatever makes you think I missed you?"
"Right here," he replied, moving his hands to bracket her glowing faded blue eyes in her equally glowing face. It always felt so good to know someone sincerely cared about him and his presence could put so much joy in her face.
"Alright. I would love to admit that but I'll only be feeding your already oversized ego," she replied cheerfully.
"You were all I could think about since the last time I saw you."
"Oh please, I've seen the arrays of models that followed after. That line never worked on me," she said flicking his forehead. He obliged her and groaned in pain. "You should work on those lines. They are getting old. I wonder how you are still able to get those young ladies with them." She smirked at him.
"They don't think it's old. You are the only one who thinks so. Besides, I don't need to sweet talk the ladies. I've this," he said waving his hand over his face and winking at her when she gave him a disdainful look.
"That ego again. I wish a lady would come along and cut it down to size, would do you a lot of good," she muttered and chuckled lightheartedly, happy to have him with her.
Such had always been the camaraderie between the two. She had been his friend from as long as he could remember, she had been the only reason he came home from boarding school and she had been the only reason he had been around when his mother passed away. She had wanted him to be there.
"But those models are nothing compared to you, believe me," he said giving her his rakish smile and she flicked his forehead again, harder this time making him yelp. "That hurts."
She might not look it, but he knew she was stronger than she looked. Whatever happened with Rose's legs, he had no idea. It had been way before he came of age and she had never broached the topic with him so he had never asked. It had not stopped her from being strong, maybe it was the strong willed wolf in her.
"That was for not telling me you got back together with Adele."
He sighed, going on his haunches at her feet. Of course there were enough chairs in the large living area that had belonged to his stepfather, and his father before him. Also, it was once his shelter,never his home but he just wanted to sit close to her, like he always did as a child. She made him so comfortable he was never afraid to let down his guard around her.
"I did nothing of such. She lied to you. Adele is not the one for me," he said looking into her all knowing eyes.
It still irked him whenever he remembered the stunt Adele had pulled in Milan and the recent one in his office. Maybe, just maybe he was too lenient with her. No other female could muster the courage to pull stuffs like that on him. He was formidable but he had always given her the protective, brother vibe because she was his friend's sister and he had practically watched her grow before his eyes. But he had realized he had to stop playing brother with her and it was definitely high time he started playing the Alpha. She did not deserve any more considerations from him.
"Shana is for us," his wolf said excitedly, shaking with the anticipation of telling Rose the news.
Rose had always known Adele could never satisfy in hungry need for love in Asher's eyes. . Her grandson was bound to end up like her son if he had gone ahead with her but she had kept peace, watching it all play out. "I never saw her as the one for you," she said quietly.
"But you never said anything. You've more or else accepted her as your daughter-in-law."
"I just watched nature take it's course. Adele is beautiful and enchanting and any man would want to have her but I know you and I knew you would see her for what she was before it was too late and you did. You are not my grandson for nothing."
"I found my mate," he blurted out. He had not planned on telling her about Shana but it had felt like the best thing to do. Her face brightened up more.
"I'm so delighted. Who is she? Have you bonded yet? Is she a member of the pack? Someone i know? When do I get to meet her?" She was bursting with excitement, like a child offered a candy. Finally, if her time came upon her, she could die a peaceful death, knowing Asher had someone who loved him.
He had no idea which of her questions to answer first but he voiced out what was truly troubling him. "She's not a shifter." He watched the twinkling light in her eyes dim.
"Oh." Asher understood all she said with that single word. She knew his dilemma. "What are you going to do?"
She was asking him if he was ready for the criticism that will follow claiming Shana, a human as his mate. It was going to cause tumult within the pack. But he was more than ready to face that, as long as he continued to be happy with her by his side.
Rose saw the resolute look in his eyes and she smiled in encouragement. She was going to be fighting by his side all the way, the smile said, and her support sure carried a lot of weight. No one dared slight the sharp, shrew woman who was once the Luna to one of the greatest Alphas the pack ever produced.
"She must be a very special woman," she stated, watching something she had never seen in his eyes glowing. Truly, her grandchild had found his mate. She could not contain her joy as she reached forward and patted his cheeks affectionately, hoping the look in his eyes was going to last for a very long time, thoughts about her premonitions wrestling to take control of her mind. He was so sensitive to her moods, so she tried really hard for him not to see the worrying thoughts she knew for certain was showing on her face.
Asher did but he just waved it off as her being worried about Shana being a human.
"Does she know?"
"No." She did not need to ask the question in so many words. He knew exactly what she was asking. To Shana, he was just her billionaire boss who had the hots for her, nothing more.
She knew nothing about the secret his kind did their outmost best to keep from the human race.
"When do you plan on telling her?"
"Soon. I just met her and I do not want to dump everything on her all at once. I need more time to explain things to her." He hoped it all turned out well.
Rose reached for his right hand, cupping them in both of her wrinkled ones. "She is going to love you, and the wolf. A true mate will never reject you and if she's as special as I think she is with that look in your eyes, then it's all settled," she said reassuringly, hoping within her his mate was also going to be strong enough to stand whatever storm seem to be coming their way.
He freaking hoped so because he could not imagine watching his one chance at happiness slip through his fingers.
"You should stop worrying about the pack. It'll be fine and you can leave the pack Council to me," she added with a mischievous smile.
Well, if there was one person to have in your corner during a fight, it was definitely Rose with her strong will.