Chapter 10
Ashlynn
I’m tired. Exhausted is a better word. Once Mom wakes, I tell her to shift back and get dressed, so we can go get some real sleep. I’ve got a meeting with Cody at ten, and I don’t want to be falling asleep in front of him. Mom looks horrible. She was whimpering most of the night. I ask how she feels and she just shrugs. “Come on Mom, I need more than that. I can’t help if you don’t talk to me.”
“I don’t know Ash, I guess I feel empty. There’s a hole in my heart.” Mom looks at me, and her eyes seemed pained but she also seems less tense than yesterday. I just nod, because I don’t know what to say. My father was a monster. A horrible excuse for a mate and father. “She must have seen the hardened look on my face, because she touches my arm gently and says, “I’m not sad though, I actually feel like a weight is lifted off my soul.” I understand exactly what she means.
Ok Mom, lets get some sleep. I need it before my day can start or I won’t make it. You can crash in the second bedroom of my place, it might do you some good to just rest without others hovering around making you feel weird.” She nods and I take her up to my apartment.
I saw Dawson as I made our way upstairs. I felt his eyes on me. I tried to make it a point not to look his way. Even in my exhaustion, I can’t help but feel my cheeks flush as I remember that kiss. It set me on fire. What was I thinking, kissing him back like that? I didn’t regret it, but I knew I shouldn’t be mixing business with pleasure and I’m not sure how my Uncle will take it. I don’t have time to think about that right now though, I need sleep. When I get to my room, I kick the door shut with my heel and head straight to the shower. I wasn’t even in there five minutes, before I just plopped into my bed, hair still wet. I didn’t bother putting clothes on. I set my alarm and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
“Alright, seems we have a plan in place,” Cody leans back in his chair, Ashlynn and Dawson sitting across from him. “We can start breeding these cows in a week, they should be in their heat cycle by then. The horses shouldn’t be to far behind.”
“I’m going to have to let the vet techs take a long weekend before we start all this. They won’t be getting a day off for a few weeks,” Ashlynn says as she taps her pen on the desk top.
Cody nods, “I think that’s a good idea. In fact I think we should give all the ranch hands some time off. What do you say Dawson? Think you can give your hands a few days? I think I’m ok with the cattle, just gotta make sure they get fed is all.”
Dawson leans back, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck. He’s pretty tired and wouldn’t mind the rest of today off, and he’s pretty sure Ashlynn is ready to fall over herself. She had less sleep than he did. “Sure, when do we want to give them time? Should we speak to the Alpha first?”
Cody waves his hand in dismissal, “I got that, don’t worry. I will let you guys know what he says. I have to meet with him at three this afternoon to update him on what we have planned.”
Cody stands, gathering up all the papers they had been looking over. He nods to Dawson, “You should go get some sleep yourself, you’re looking like shit and that’s hard for a werewolf to do.”
Dawson grunts at that and stands to leaye. Cody looks at Ashlynn, “Can I have a word with you Ash?”
Dawson looks from Cody to Ashlynn and back. He suddenly feels like he doesn’t want to leave and sits back in the chair. Cody glances over at him, “Go get some rest,” he says again, but this time with more authority, letting his Beta aura out. Dawson growls a little but stands to leave.
