Chapter 42

Ashley.

I spotted June walking in our direction. "Oh, hey June!" I called out, waving her over.

Keisha clutched my arm, "Who is she?"

"She is my friend and we work together. You will like her, maybe she can come with us."

"No, I want you all to myself," she snapped.

I laughed but I stopped when June came to a stop in front of us.

"Hey!" she greeted, her eyes shifting to Keisha. "Who's your friend?"

"This is Keisha," I introduced, placing a hand on Keisha's shoulder. "Keisha, this is June. We work in the same building."

Keisha gave June a polite smile, but I noticed it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Nice to meet you, June."

"Nice to meet you too, Keisha," June said, her smile unwavering. "You two heading out?"

"Yeah, we're off to the park. Catch up later, June!" I said, feeling a little awkward as we moved past her.

Once we were outside, I turned to Keisha. "Why were you so cold to June?"

Keisha shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know. Just wasn't feeling it, I guess."

I frowned but decided to let it go. Keisha could be a bit guarded sometimes, and I didn't want to push her. As we walked to the park, the conversation gradually shifted to her recent trip to Scotland.

"So, tell me all about Scotland!" I urged, eager to hear her stories.

Keisha's eyes lit up. "Oh, it was amazing, Ash. We started in Edinburgh, and the architecture there is just incredible. The castle, the old town,  it's like stepping back in time."

"I've always wanted to see Edinburgh Castle," I said, picturing the ancient stone structure in my mind. "Did you get to go inside?"

"Yes! The view from the top is breathtaking. You can see the whole city. And the Crown Jewels are there too, which was pretty cool."

As we strolled through the park, Keisha continued to recount her adventures. "We also went hiking in the Highlands. The scenery is out of this world. It's so green and untouched. We even saw some Highland cows."

"Those fluffy ones?" I asked, smiling at the thought.

"Yeah, they're adorable! And so friendly too. We stayed in this little cottage in a village called Glencoe. It was right by a loch, and the mornings there were magical. Mist rolling over the water, everything so quiet and peaceful."

I could almost feel the tranquility she described. "That sounds like heaven."

"It was. And the people there are so warm and welcoming. We went to a local pub one night, and the owner told us all these fascinating stories about the area. Did you know that Glencoe has a pretty dark history? There was a massacre there in the 17th century."

"Wow, I had no idea," I said, intrigued. "Did you learn a lot about the history while you were there?"

"Definitely. We also visited the Isle of Skye. The landscapes there are like something out of a fairy tale. We did a lot of hiking, saw the Fairy Pools, the Old Man of Storr, and the Quiraing. The colors are so vivid; it's like the earth is more alive there."

"I've seen pictures of the Fairy Pools," I said, my envy growing with each word she spoke. "The water looks so clear and blue."

"It is. Freezing, but so beautiful. And we had some of the best seafood I've ever tasted. Fresh scallops, mussels, you name it."

"I'm so jealous," I admitted, laughing. "You must have had the time of your life."

"I really did," Keisha said, her smile genuine now. "It was nice to get away and experience something so different. I think everyone should visit Scotland at least once."

"I'll have to put it on my travel list," I said, feeling a bit of wanderlust stir within me. "I hear the men are good-looking,"

"Girl, the pictures never do them justice. I had the best view there.

We found a bench and sat down, I closed my eyes and leaned my head against it before laughing.

"You haven't changed. Did you at least have fun?"

"Have you forgotten what you are talking to? Of course, I did. I couldn't leave there without saying I fucked a Scottish man,"

I burst out laughing.

"So, how's life been treating you, Ash? Look at me talking about myself,"

"No, I asked you to. It's nice to hear nice things,"

"So,"

I sighed, wondering where to even start. "It's been... eventful, to say the least."

Keisha raised an eyebrow. "Eventful? Do tell."

I hesitated, then decided to dive right in. "Okay, this will sound weird but I met someone a while back,"

"Really, you broke up with Logan?"

I shook my head, "No,"

She looked so confused, "I don't understand,"

"I helped someone who was hurt, a man during one of my photoshoots but I ran away because he kept saying things that weirded me out. His name is Aiden, he always appeared wherever I was and that made me so mad. He is Logan's rival too and that didn't help things. He kept trying to talk to me and I kept lashing out at him. So something happened between us, we kissed and I can't seem to keep him out of my mind. He stopped appearing and he is ignoring me. I am going crazy,"

"So you have feelings for this Aiden? What's wrong with it?"

"Exactly," I confirmed, taking a deep breath. "Well, things got a whole lot more complicated. Aiden, um, he's a werewolf."

Keisha blinked at me, her expression unreadable. I braced myself for the inevitable disbelief, but she simply nodded. "Go on."

I stared at her, surprised by her reaction. "You're not going to call me crazy?"

She shook her head. "Nope. I mean, we've been friends for too long. If you're telling me this, I believe you. So, what happened?"

Relieved, I continued. "Well, he kept saying I was his mate and I keep having dreams about him. But I tried to read about it and it was weird. The whole pack dynamics, the mate bond... It's a lot to take in."

Keisha's eyes widened with curiosity. "Wow, that sounds intense. So, are you guys together now?"

I fidgeted with the edge of my sleeve. "Not exactly. It's complicated. There's this whole mate bond thing, and while I feel a connection to him, I'm not sure what I want. And then there's the main problem, Logan. We are still together,"

She said nothing which made me more anxious, "Say something?"

Keisha leaned back, pondering. "I'd love to meet him."

My stomach twisted with unexpected jealousy. "Why?"

She laughed softly. "Relax, Ash. I'm not planning to steal your man."

"He's not my man," I said quickly, feeling my face flush.

Keisha gave me a knowing look. "You sure about that? You talk about him like he is."

I huffed, crossing my arms. "I'm sure. It's just... complicated."

Keisha reached over and patted my hand. "Look, I get it. The whole mate bond thing probably makes everything feel more intense. But that doesn't mean you have to jump into anything you're not ready for. Just take it one step at a time."

I sighed, feeling a bit more at ease. "Thanks, Keisha. I just... I don't know how to navigate this."

"You'll figure it out," she assured me. "And if you ever need to talk, I'm here. I might not know anything about werewolves, but I do know about complicated relationships."

I chuckled, appreciating her support. "You always know what to say."

Keisha smiled. "That's what friends are for. So, tell me more about this mate bond. How does it work?"

I shrugged. "From what Aiden explained, it's like this deep, primal connection between two people. It can be intense and overwhelming. And it's not something you can easily ignore or walk away from. I think that's why I am having constant dreams about him and the need to have him around,"

Keisha nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds powerful. No wonder you're feeling conflicted."

"Yeah," I agreed. "It's like part of me is drawn to him, but another part is scared of what it all means."

"That's completely understandable," Keisha said. "Just remember, you don't have to make any decisions right away. Take your time and figure out what's best for you."

I nodded, feeling a bit more at peace. "Thanks, Keisha. That really helps."

"Anytime, Ash," she said with a warm smile. "And hey, if you do decide to introduce me to Aiden, I'll behave myself. I promise."

I laughed, the tension finally easing. "I'll hold you to that."

Keisha stretched and smiled at me. "Enough about men, you know what would make this day even better? Ice cream. Let's go get some."

I grinned. "That sounds perfect."

We started walking as she talked my ear out but I loved it.  The first ice cream shop we passed had a line out the door. Keisha glanced at it but kept walking. "Let's try somewhere else," she said.

The second shop we passed looked cozy, but Keisha scrunched her nose at it. "Nah, not this one either."

By the time we reached the third shop, I was beginning to think Keisha was just being picky for the fun of it. But she stopped. "Here we go. This one looks good."

We went inside, the cool air welcomed us. The shop was charming, with pastel colors and an array of delicious-looking flavors. Keisha immediately headed to the counter, studying the options. The man behind the counter greeted us with a warm smile, but I noticed his eyes lingered on Keisha with a hint of familiarity.

"Do you know him?" I asked Keisha as we waited our turn.

She shook her head, her eyes never leaving the ice cream display. "Nope. Just picking out my flavor."

I let it go, but something about the way he looked at her made me curious. We finally made our choices, mint chocolate chip for me and salted caramel for Keisha, and found a small table by the window.

We dug into our ice cream,  "So," Keisha said between bites, "how's work been for you? Any new projects?"

"Work's been good," I replied. "Busy, but I like it that way. Keeps me from overthinking everything else. I have had a series of projects this period,"

Keisha nodded. "I get that. Distraction can be a blessing."

We chatted about work and life, the conversation flowing easily. Once our ice cream was finished, Keisha glanced at the menu again. "How about we try the scones? They look amazing."

I laughed. "Sure, why not? We're already here."

We ordered the scones, and they arrived warm and fragrant. We took our time as we talked.

After a while, I checked my watch. "We should probably get going soon."

Keisha put her hand on mine. "Let's stay a little longer. It's nice to just relax, don't you think?"

I hesitated but then nodded. "Okay, a little longer."

We stayed for almost another hour, enjoying the rare opportunity to unwind. Finally, we decided it was time to head out. As we walked back to the car, I felt much better than I did.

We went back to the office and got in my car except she was the one driving.

We were driving down a quiet street when Keisha's voice broke the silence. "Ash, I need to tell you something."

I glanced at her, curious. "What is it?"

She took a deep breath. "There are men who have been following us since the park."

My heart skipped a beat. "What? Are you serious?"

Keisha nodded, her eyes fixed on the road. "Yes. They're in that SUV behind us."

I turned in my seat, trying to be discreet as I looked back. Sure enough, there was a dark SUV that had been tailing us for some time. My mind raced, trying to figure out who could be behind this.

"I think I know who's behind them," I said, my voice shaking slightly.

Keisha glanced at me. "Who?"

"It's Aiden," I admitted, feeling a mix of fear and frustration. "He's probably trying to keep tabs on me."

Keisha's eyes widened. "Why would he do that?"

"It's complicated," I said, sighing. "But right now, we need to lose them. Can you follow my directions?"

Keisha nodded, her expression serious. "Absolutely. Where to?"

I gave her a series of turns, leading us through the streets in an attempt to shake off the SUV. Keisha handled the car with impressive skill, making sharp turns. I could feel the tension in the air, my heart pounding in my chest.

Finally, we reached a secluded area where I felt it would be safe to pull over. "Stop here," I instructed.

Keisha did as I said, and we both took a moment to catch our breath. "I can't believe this is happening," she said.

"I know," I said, rubbing my temples. "It's been one thing after another lately. I'm sorry you got dragged into this."

Keisha shook her head. "Don't be sorry. This isn't your fault. Now, what do we do?"

I took a deep breath, trying to think clearly. "I don't know why he is keeping tabs on me. That's creepy and stalkerish especially after he said I should leave him alone,"

Keisha nodded. "Agreed. Do you think you can talk to him?"

"I'll try," I said, pulling out my phone. "But first, let's make sure we're not being followed anymore."

We waited for a while, watching the road to see if the SUV would appear. When it didn't, I finally felt a bit of relief. "Okay, I think we're in the clear."

Keisha nodded, starting the car again. "So, where to now?"

I sighed, "I need to talk to him so drop me near his office,"