Asher had simply quirked a thick eyebrow in response to Audrey’s quick denial, though she was likely lucky that he wasn’t all too invested in her answer. If he’d thought it important, he could have pushed - but perhaps it was best to ease her into his presence, rather than to force her to fear him to her very bones right from the beginning of their relationship. That wasn’t his way - as possessive and controlling as the man was, Asher often lured his prey with charm and cunning, rather than to rule entirely by the respect that fear forced in most. Fear did not permit loyalty without the foundations of trust.
When he turned to hear Audrey’s concerns, a smile had creased into his lips, laugh lines showing in behind the wiry shift of his beard.
“It’s alright,” he soothed, lifting both hands, palms facing outward to her, the same pose one might take with an excitable dog. “That’s all I’ve heard, and I don’t have great expectations.” His hands moved then, waving as though to swat away some fanciful idea that she would be his most gifted protégé. “The Change, though, it’s usually hard for people, especially you newbies. Even for me, it was. But you’re different - gifted in some way. So I think it’s important to get started early on this.”
He knew it at the time of her change - that there was something special about this curious girl, something that would make her valuable to him. Something that stopped him from ripping her limb from limb and instead leaving her something to come back to if she survived the Change. When he chose pack members, it wasn’t usually so impulsive as it had been with Audrey, but he had needed to make a quick decision upon discovering her that day. He’d never seen her before in his life, and she was a waif of a thing - but that something had been visible to him even then, and he was nothing if not decisive. Turning her had been the most viable option, and the outcome was hers to decide - her survival had been her choice.
“Today, I just want you to try. It’s the first step; knowing it’s possible, and then trying to replicate the feeling you get during the Moon. I’ll be here to look after you; nothing will hurt you, and you probably won’t remember anything when you turn back, if you’re successful.” He decided to omit the part that would inform her of how horrifically painful it was, but that was part of the unwilling transformation, too, so it could be assumed.
With his short spiel done, and his expectations laid out before her, Asher spread his arms as though to offer Audrey the floor, then stepped back a few yards and leaned nonchalantly against the closest wall. Though apparently relaxed, the man’s eyes were unwavering, perhaps unnerving, and he seemed to expect that she simply do as she was told without argument, despite the apparently gargantuan nature of her task.
When he turned to hear Audrey’s concerns, a smile had creased into his lips, laugh lines showing in behind the wiry shift of his beard.
“It’s alright,” he soothed, lifting both hands, palms facing outward to her, the same pose one might take with an excitable dog. “That’s all I’ve heard, and I don’t have great expectations.” His hands moved then, waving as though to swat away some fanciful idea that she would be his most gifted protégé. “The Change, though, it’s usually hard for people, especially you newbies. Even for me, it was. But you’re different - gifted in some way. So I think it’s important to get started early on this.”
He knew it at the time of her change - that there was something special about this curious girl, something that would make her valuable to him. Something that stopped him from ripping her limb from limb and instead leaving her something to come back to if she survived the Change. When he chose pack members, it wasn’t usually so impulsive as it had been with Audrey, but he had needed to make a quick decision upon discovering her that day. He’d never seen her before in his life, and she was a waif of a thing - but that something had been visible to him even then, and he was nothing if not decisive. Turning her had been the most viable option, and the outcome was hers to decide - her survival had been her choice.
“Today, I just want you to try. It’s the first step; knowing it’s possible, and then trying to replicate the feeling you get during the Moon. I’ll be here to look after you; nothing will hurt you, and you probably won’t remember anything when you turn back, if you’re successful.” He decided to omit the part that would inform her of how horrifically painful it was, but that was part of the unwilling transformation, too, so it could be assumed.
With his short spiel done, and his expectations laid out before her, Asher spread his arms as though to offer Audrey the floor, then stepped back a few yards and leaned nonchalantly against the closest wall. Though apparently relaxed, the man’s eyes were unwavering, perhaps unnerving, and he seemed to expect that she simply do as she was told without argument, despite the apparently gargantuan nature of her task.
