Chapter 4 CAUGHT RED HANDED

"Your hair is..."

"I can explain!" Snow half-yelled, her voice cracking slightly. Asher furrowed his brows, confused at her reaction. His gaze lingered on her hair, then he smiled.

"You have a lot of explaining to do," Asher reprimanded lightly, and Snow swallowed a huge lump down her throat.

.....

AT HOME

Snow smiled nervously under the intense gazes of her parents, while Asher stood nearby with his hands stuffed into his pockets, watching her closely.

She clutched tightly onto her dress, chewing her bottom lip, not a single word escaping her mouth. Sweat beaded her forehead, and she let out a shaky chuckle.

"Why is your hai..."

"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have hidden this from you guys!" Snow interrupted, her voice frantic."I was afraid you wouldn't want me anymore. You've always been there for me, and I thought you would lea..."

"Leave you? What is this about, dear?" Ava asked gently, her voice full of concern.

Snow's mouth opened, but no words came out. She glanced desperately at Asher.

"You said my hair was..." she started.

"Yeah, it looked dry and kinda wet at the same time. That's why I said something. Was there anything wrong with it?" Asher asked casually.

Snow chuckled nervously.

"Oh,"she muttered.

For a second, she had thought he caught her secret. Relief washed over her. She was glad they hadn't found out like this. She wanted to tell them-but at her own pace, her own time. And it definitely wasn't going to be anytime soon.

Her parents exchanged confused glances.

"Then why were you panicking?" Flinch asked, narrowing his eyes.

Snow froze.

"Huh, about that... a-actually... I... I dyed my hair during school hours," she blurted out quickly, forcing a smile.

"O-okay? If you say so," Ava replied with a small smile, standing up and heading toward the kitchen. She paused midway.

"Come on, go wash up. Dinner will be ready soon," she called back.

Snow beamed.

She truly loved having a family like them, people who cared for her, protected her, and gave her the chance to escape the horrible treatments she endured outside.

She grabbed her backpack and ran up the stairs joyfully, shutting her door softly behind her.

Meanwhile, Flinch and Asher exchanged knowing looks. Asher quietly made his way up to her room.

A soft knock echoed on her door.

"Come in," Snow called out.

Asher entered, blinking against the pinkish-blue brightness that filled her room. He frowned slightly at the overly girly atmosphere.

A large framed photo of the Moon Silver Pack hung on her wall. A pink lamp glowed softly beside her bed, and a sweet perfume lingered in the air. Everything screamed her.

Snow was dressed in tiny blue shorts paired with a V-shaped T-shirt. Fluffy bunny slippers hugged her feet, and a bunny-eared hat sat cutely on her head.

"Do I look cute?" she asked, fluttering her eyelashes dramatically, a playful smile on her face.

Her doe eyes, delicate nose, pink cheeks, and shoulder-length hair gave her an innocent charm. Her skin was fair and radiant-but Asher noticed the faint, unhealthy darkening beneath it.

"Your skin tone looks a little darkened," he said, frowning slightly.

Snow froze for a second but quickly forced a laugh. She knew he was seeing through her cheerful act, but she was determined to lie her way through it.

"Really? But I take care of my skin a lot," she muttered, trying to sound casual.

Asher didn't look convinced. He approached her and pinched her cheek softly.

"You want to keep lying?" he asked, his tone teasing yet serious.

"But I'm not!" she blurted out, puffing her cheeks, and he chuckled, sitting down on her fluffy bed.

His gaze landed on a faint wound mark on her neck, and his eyes darkened immediately.

"Did Logan bully you again?" he asked, his voice icy and cold, sending chills through Snow's heart.

She panicked inside. If Asher tried to defend her, he could end up badly hurt. Logan was an Alpha's son-bloodline strength ran thick in his veins. The last thing she wanted was Asher getting injured because of her.

"No," she said quickly, sitting beside him and gently reaching for his hand.

"Actually, the Alpha's son can't do something like that. After all, he needs to be good to his people," she coaxed him, trying to calm him down.

Asher frowned deeper.

The more she defended that brat, the more Asher wanted to punch Logan. But instead, he forced a smile. He would play along with her trick-for now.

He gently patted her hair, and she leaned into him with a soft hug.

"I couldn't ask the universe for more when I have you, Mum, and Dad," she said warmly.

He hugged her tighter. Even though she wasn't his biological sister, he saw her as one-and he hoped she would always choose them, no matter what.

He tucked her hair gently behind her ear, and Snow placed her small hand against his chest, feeling the slow, steady beat of his heart.

"Your heartbeat is so cool and gentle," she whispered in admiration.

Her own heartbeat always raced frantically - especially around Logan a confusing mix of fear and something else she didn't want to name.

A smile curved Asher's lips as he wrapped his arm around her protectively.

"Snow, promise me one thing," he said quietly.

"What?" she hummed, tilting her head.

"Promise me, no matter what happens, you'll always choose us-Mum, Dad, and me," he said, his voice slightly strained and sad.

"Why are you asking that? I'll always choose you guys," she said brightly, her voice full of certainty.

Asher held her soft, feminine hand, kissing her hair gently.

"Asher, Snow, dinner's ready!" Ava called from downstairs.

"Let's go," Asher said, scooping her up in a princess carry.

"What are you doing?! Put me down!" she yelled cheerfully, kicking her legs as he laughed, carrying her downstairs easily.

Snow pouted, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment.

"Come eat,"Ava said with a chuckle, watching Snow dig into her food happily.

Meanwhile, Ava, Asher, and Flinch exchanged serious glances across the table.

Mind-linking silently to each other, hidden from Snow's oblivious eyes.