Genevieve

Pain.

That's all I felt. That's all I could feel, it overpowered the little amount of love that I was hanging on to; and it hurt like hell.

"Babe?" Shawn asked concerned, causing Asher to growl.

I leaned my head against the head board and tightly closed my eyes before any tears flowed out.

Everything hit me hard. My parents are dead. Their killer kidnapped me and tied up my little brother. My mate is a complete ass. He almost killed my wolf. I shouted at everyone. I hurt everyone. I even hurt Matthew.

The sorrow, disappointment, envy, melancholy, guilt- it filled my entire body and it was eating me up.

"Eve," Asher said softly.

I stayed silent and brought my knees up to my chest. I wrapped my arms around my legs then buried my face into my knees.

"Are you okay?" Shawn asked.

I pursed my lips to hold in a sob that was itching to get out. But I wouldn't cry. I couldn't cry because if I cried, I know that I wouldn't be able to stop. I shook my head to answer Shawn's question.

"Talk to us," Asher begged. But I couldn't talk. Because once I open my mouth, I would cry. I knew that no words would come out, just whimpers and sobs.

"Do you want me to get someone? Ryan? Or Jordyn? Matthew?" Shawn offered.

When my little brother's name left his mouth, all my plans of not crying, crashed down. My body violently shook. Tears flowed down my cheeks to a small puddle on my bed. A loud sob escaped my lips and I buried my face in my hands.

Asher engulfed me in his arms and rocked us back and forth. "Shh... It's all gonna be oka,y" he whispered.

I shook my head in his chest. "M-my parents a-are dead, Ash-er," I stuttered.

"I know, Eve," Asher said softly. I could hear the sadness in his voice, reminding me that he actually knew what it felt like to lose his parents.

The sight made me cry even harder. I buried my head in his chest and clung onto him like my life depended on it- because in that moment, it did. As much as I would hate to admit it, I need Asher. I've always have, but I was pushing him away.

"I'm s-sorry," I whimpered.

"You have nothing to be sorry about," Asher said while rubbing my back.

"I hurt you," I stated sadly.

Asher kissed the top of my head. "I hurt you, too," he whispered. "If anyone should be apologizing, its me."

I loudly sobbed in his chest. He held me as I cried for over an hour, soaking his shirt in tears. "Please stop crying," Asher pleaded.

I hiccupped as I spoke. "A-all I feel is the p-pain," I said honestly. The pain from everything was too much.

"That's the thing about pain. It demands to be felt," Asher said softly, and I got distracted from the pain.

I let out a small chuckle and wiped away the rest of my tears. "Did you just quote Augustus Waters from The Fault in Our Stars?" I sniffled while tipping my head up to look at him.

"Maybe," Asher mumbled as his cheeks heated up.

I giggled and lightly rested my head back on his chest. "You're blushing," I stated.

"This never happened," Asher said, causing me to smile.

I took a deep breath and wrapped my arms around his waist. "You're shirt is wet," I mumbled.

"I have a few extra ones," he replied. "I'll change later."

An image of Asher changing popped into my mind. The way his muscles would flex as he took off his shirt. His abs. Damn. Those abs.

'Mate,'

I gasped. 'Ingrid? Is that you?'

'Yes,' her voice was still weak, but at least she's talking.

'Are you okay?' I asked.

She mumbled an incoherent response. "Eve?" Asher whispered, bringing me back from inside my head.

"Hmm?"

"Are you okay now?" he inquired.

Am I okay?

The pain is gone. I have my emotions back. My wolf is coming back. I'm in my mate's arms. And Asher apparently loves me.

"I'm better than okay," I said softly. Asher kissed my head and we sat in silence.

This past month was complete crap. I was rejected. My mate cheated. My parents died. I have responsibility of the throne. I'm Matthew's legal guardian. I went in a coma. I woke up from the coma, and decided to give my mate a chance. He screwed up again. I was kidnapped. I turned off my emotions. My wolf was on the verge of death. My mate's wolf saved my wolf. My mate told me that he loves me, then I ran away. My mate's wolf is actually decent though.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Asher asked.

I looked up at him and shrugged. "I'm just happy."

He nodded. "Good."

"You said you love me," I whispered while smiling a little.

Asher turned so we were facing each other. "Yeah," Asher said with his own smile.

He shouldn't love me. I hurt him. I was selfish and I turned off my emotions.

I frowned. "But I was mean," I stated. "I called you a bunch of names, then ran away."

"I was worse- like fifty million times worse. Plus, you weren't you without your emotions," he said softly. "I didn't fall in love with you when you had no emotions. I fell in love with the giggling girl in my office. You were so happy, and it made me happy. After seeing you like that, I realized that's what I wanna see everyday for the rest of my life. I realized that I love you."

I felt all giddy inside. Butterflies erupted in my stomach. My hands started sweating.

He really loves me.

I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his.

*****

Asher

Eve's soft lips touched mine and I was gone. I forgot about everything around me. The only thing I cared about was the girl right in front of me.

She had me wrapped around her little finger. And I was okay with that. I basically tied myself to her finger.

The kiss was slow and soft. When we pulled away, we both were smiling.

I leaned my forehead against hers and pecked her lips. "Things just keep getting better and better," I mumbled. "I'm on a roller-coaster that only goes up."

Eve smiled wider before kissing me again. I should quote movies more often if this is what I get.

Her lips were moving fast. I put my hands on her waist while she tangled her hands in my hair. I gently bit her lip, causing her to gasp. I quickly plunged my tongue in her mouth.

I explored her mouth. She tugged my hair, and I growled into her mouth. Eve smiled then pulled away.

We were both panting. Her lips were red and swollen. I smiled, knowing I did that. A guy needs his ego boost every once in a while.

"When did you watch The Fault in Our Stars?" Eve asked when she caught her breath.

"Jordyn made me watch it." I smiled at the memory. "You were still in the coma. She started crying because she wanted to watch it with you, but there wasn't a DVD player in the room. A guard said that you wouldn't be able to see it anyway, and she broke his arm."

Eve laughed. "Jordyn was very emotional when she was pregnant."

I pulled Eve back into my lap and inhaled her lavender scent. She shuddered as I kissed her neck. I smirked and continued to pepper her neck in kisses.

"Asher," she moaned as I licked the spot where will mark her.

I pulled away and bent my neck so my mouth was next to her ear. "That was a beautiful sound. Wanna do it again?"

"I can't jus- Asher!" Eve moaned louder when I sucked on the spot.

When I pulled away, she slapped my chest causing me to chuckle. I knew she was embarrassed by the sound. "When do I get to mark you?" I asked. Gavin has been bugging me about it for a while. But it wasn't really a plan to bring it up so soon.

Eve didn't answer. She just grabbed my arms and wrapped them around herself. Then we both fell asleep.