The Hidden Luna

Chapter Six

The next day, Asher was on edge. He kept snapping at everyone, except for Scarlett, whenever they tried to calm him down. His dad was supposedly coming into town today but according to Carter and Hunter, there was no sign of him.

Scarlett set a cup of coffee on the table in front of Asher. "Ash, the sun is almost set and you haven't heard anything from him. Maybe he isn't coming."

Ash shook his head adamantly. "No, he's coming. I can feel it."

The way he said feel almost had her believing he was genuinely feeling his father's presence getting closer. She tightened her pony tail and sighed. "Well, try to relax in the meantime. Maybe have a guy's night with Carter and Hunter? I need to go out and pick some stuff up before the grocery store closes."

"Guy's night can wait, want me to come?"

Scarlett waved her hand to the side. "Nah, I just need some fruit. I don't remember the last time I ate an apple and quite frankly, it's a little concerning."

Ash thought to himself silently for a moment. "Alright."

Grabbing her wallet from the counter and then shot Ash a kind smile. "Breathe. Have fun with Carter and Hunter. I'll be home soon."

***

"Have a good night, Viv, and tell the kids I say hi!" Scarlett called out as I left the grocery store, with a brown bag filled to the brim with fruits and vegetables. Vivian, a woman who hired her from time to time to watch her triplets, waved goodbye as Scarlett exited. When she fully left the store, she ran into someone, causing her to almost drop her bag of groceries.

"My, oh my, you've grown into quite the woman I see," a deep, husky voice chuckled as he gripped Scarlett's elbow tightly, in an effort to keep her steady or still, she wasn't sure.

Scarlett looked up at him, not getting any sense of recognition. Sge tried pulling her arm back but his grip got even tighter. "I-I'm sorry, I don't remember who you are."

"Oh, you don't know me, but I know you, Scarlett." The man mused, his dark eyes glinting mischievously. "My son has quite a taking towards you. Yes, I've known about you for a very long time."

Her mouth went dry. "You're Asher's father."

Finally, he let go of her arm and opened them wide, as if he were showing himself off to her. "The one and only. Now, be a dear and tell my son to come home."

"I'm sorry Mr. Argent but I don't think he wants to come home," Scarlett said quickly, really wanting to get out of this situation as soon as possible.

As quick as a whip, Asher's father lunged forward, grabbing a fistful of her hair and tugging violently. "Listen here you little bitch, I'm not letting you get in the way of my son fulfilling his fate. Now, you either tell him to come home, or, you can tell him there will be consequences. Got it?"

She nodded her head as best as she could being in his grasp. "Yes sir." Scarlett breathed out, her voice shaking.

He let go of her hair and straightened his suit. "Good. I'll see you soon, I hope."

***

Scarlett entered the house and slammed the door. Ash stuck his head out of the kitchen, "Good, you're back. We just ordered some pizza, you still like chicken and mushroom, right?"

When he saw her mascara streaming down her face from tears she erupted in when she got to her car, Ash's playful look faltered. "Scar, what's wrong?"

Scarlett quickly wiped the makeup from her face and feigned a smile. "Nothing, I just caught a glimpse of Leon in the diner and it made me miss Zoey." She walked over to the kitchen and set the groceries on the counter. "After dinner, you boys need to eat some form of produce."

"Did you get strawberries? I'm particularly fond of those," Carter questioned, pushing his glasses up from the tip of his nose.

"Mhm," Scarlett hummed while nodding her head. She turned to face them, but zeroed in on Ash. "I bumped into your dad."

Ash went still. "What did he do?"

Not wanting him to be angry at his father for his actions and possibly ignoring his orders he had given her; Scarlett shook her head. "Nothing, he just asked if you could see him sometime. He wants to talk."

Hunter and Carter exchanged a look but said nothing. Asher, however, looked skeptical. "That's all he said?"

"Yep," she replied a little too quickly and she knew she blew it. Somehow, Ash always knew when Scarlett was lying, it was like he was reading her mind.

"Can you guys leave the room?" Ash crossed his arms and remained silent until his friends left. When they did, he uncrossed his arms and walked toward Scarlett, gently touching her wrist, causing an inexplicable feeling shooting through her. "You're lying."

"It's fine, Ash. He just said that he wanted you to come home and that he'd prefer for me to stay out of whatever it is he has planned for you."

"Did he hurt you?" Ash growled.

She shook her head. "More like intimidated me. Ash, it's okay. I get how messy family drama can be. Remember when my gran chased my uncle off her farm with a shotgun because he got the wrong kind of pie for Thanksgiving?"

"Your gran was ninety-three and delirious." Ash looked at her skeptically.

Scarlett raised her hands up in surrender. "I'm not saying that it was right but things happen."

Ash stared at her silently, as if he were studying her for one last time. After a moment, he sighed. "I should go see him."

He started to walk past her and Scarlett grabbed his wrist. "I'm going with you."

"No way," he said quickly, his eyes flashing.

"I'm sorry," she replied, tilting her head to the side, trying to keep her composure even though his father scared the hell out of her, but Scarlett would much rather set her fear aside so she could make sure that Ash was okay. "I didn't ask if I could go, I stated that I would go. If I can survive seeing my best friend's heartless corpse and being attacked by a wolf on steroids, I'm pretty sure I can survive seeing your father while you talk to him."

He looked torn, but eventually, he caved in. "Fine but I'm bringing Carter and Hunter too. Stick with them while I talk to my father."

Not arguing with him any further, Carter, Hunter, Asher and Scarlett left to go see his father.