constantly coming in here to harass him.
“Mr. Evans, what can I get you today?” Ashby asked, turning to take his place behind the ice cream
case. Then a hand grabbed his arm.
“It’s so rare to catch you when you’re out from behind your counter, pretty little Ashby. Feeling braver
since you bonded with the new Alpha Mother?” Marcus sneered and squeezed down on his arm harder.
“You’re hurting me, Mr. Evans. Please let go.” Ashby said, trying to keep his voice and emotions even.
The last thing he needed was Rebecca racing in here due to a spike of fear from him. He could handle the
likes of Marcus Evans.
“You keep forgetting your place now that you’re bonded with the Rebecca Arkadion. Do you think
being bonded makes you better than everyone else?” Marcus said, jerking his arm.
It keeps me safe. “Being bonded with the Alpha Mother is a great responsibility as I help her connect
with the people of the town, nothing more,” Ashby said, tugging on his arm. Marcus laughed and pulled
Ashby closer, leaning down until their lips were almost touching.
“How about connecting with me?” he leered. Ashby’s stomach rolled and he felt like he couldn’t
breathe. He was so caught up in his blossoming fear that he didn’t hear the door’s bell chime.
“Is there a problem here?” a deep voice asked. Ashby turned his head and nearly fainted in relief. It was
Moe. There were very few men in town whose very size seemed to mandate a voice that deep. It seemed to
reverberate up the man’s barrel chest.
“No problem here Mojo,” Marcus said, not letting go of Ashby.
“Good, because I would hate for you to impede me getting my ice cream. It might impede me serving
you beer later, catch my drift?” he said, crossing his thick arms and staring down at the smaller man.
Marcus finally let go of Ashby’s arm.
“I’ll see you later pretty little Ashby,” Marcus said, grinning and then left, the door’s bell tinkling as he
left.
“That asshole still messing with you?” Moe asked.
Ashby nodded. “He now thinks that I am putting on airs by being bonded with Rebecca. Maybe in his
own way he thinks I’m playing hard to get.” Ashby rubbed his upper arm. He would have bruises for sure.
“If he keeps fucking with you let me know, I can usually persuade people to see things my way,” Moe
said, cracking his knuckles and grinning. Ashby smiled back. It was hard to imagine that this intimidating
man was one of the main volunteers at the school. He worked with the kindergartners at that.
“Enough of that jerk. Your usual?” Ashby asked, reaching for the bananas.
“Yup, extra chocolate today. It’s going to be a long night. I’m breaking in Caleb’s replacement at the bar
tonight, Peyton Miller. The poor kid looks like he’s been through the wringer. I was going to ask if you
have any clothes you can spare. The kid doesn’t have much and you’re the only one in town, uh, about his
size,” Moe said wincing.
“So he’s a shrimp like me?” Ashby said, trying to make Moe feel better. Moe grinned at him thankfully.
“Yup. You can tell he’s nervous, keeps looking over one shoulder expecting someone to walk into the
bar and get him. I’d like to meet up with whoever has that poor boy jumping at every sound,” Moe said
darkly.
Ashby felt his heart sink. That was him only a few short years ago.
“Give me a few minutes, I’ll run upstairs, I have a ton of stuff he can have,” Ashby said, handing over
the six-banana split with extra chocolate syrup. Moe took the large bowl in one hand and got comfortable at
one of the tables.
Ashby ran upstairs to his apartment and grabbed the gym bag he never used. He started going through
his clothes. He actually had a lot he could part with, and by the time he was done the bag wouldn’t zip. He
shrugged and hefted the bag up to carry it downstairs.
“Holy crap Ashby, I didn’t mean for you to give him your closet,” Moe said, taking the bag. Ashby
shook his head, his blond curls swinging.
“Please tell him if he needs anything else to let me know. I’ve been where he is, I know what it feels like
to be without anything and reliant on the kindness of others. It’s my way of paying back everyone who
helped me,” Ashby said, looking up at Moe earnestly. Moe gave a slow smile.
“You’re a strong man, Ashby Fairfax, don’t let anyone tell you any different. Thanks for the clothes, I
know Peyton will be happy to have something else to wear.” He motioned to the overflowing bag. Ashby
blushed at the praise. He had been called many things, but strong was never one of them.