Chapter 189 Bailey

• I was never going to take the words of Miles as the truth. He never did speak the truth. I knew that. I saw the hurt upon Asher's face as I said I wanted to hear what Miles had to say, but, I wanted to hear what he had to say. I wanted to see if he would apologize to me. I felt I deserved an apology after everything over the years. And, I wanted an explanation. Over the years I had tried so hard to work out what it was that made Miles turn on me, and had never been able to fathom it. Hearing him say it was because I had refused to do his school work to help him gain his grades made me see that I had been right all along.
• His reasons were not valid. Not in my mind. He said he could change. I knew he couldn’t. Or he would have done as he grew up. He would have seen the error of his ways, and if anything, over time, he had got worse. No. I knew what I needed to do. He just made it harder when he kept mentioning the pack. He was right, we were brought up to be loyal to our pack, and that was what kept me coming back to the pack. So many times during my time away studying I had been tempted to go AWOL. To never return. I had told myself I was sure I wouldn’t be missed, my parents' focus was always on my brother, with him being the heir to the Beta title. Or my younger sister. I easily faded into the background.
• But, no, the commitment to our pack that we had ingrained within us would play upon my mind and always bring me back. That and a loyalty to my family. But this time it was competing with love. Love for Asher. And, I knew now I had my Dad’s permission. He had said he was happy for me to be here. But, deep down, I knew even if he hadn’t, I would be leaving. I wanted Asher. I wanted to leave and be here. Autumn Valley Pack was all I wanted – the job, the community, and, of course, the mean, mysterious and moody Beta that had etched his place within my heart. I wanted all of that. I needed Asher. He had changed my view of life. Of myself. I couldn't imagine my life without him now; and I was not ready to let him go.