Saving Tragedy Chapter 128

**Rose's POV**

The hot water stung against my raw skin as I stepped into the shower, biting back a hiss. 

My body ached in places I hadn't even known could ache — every little movement a fresh reminder of how thoroughly he'd owned me last night... but dare I say, I enjoyed it all? 

I braced my hands against the cool tiles, letting the steam swirl around me as I tried to wash away the evidence of his punishment.

But no amount of soap or hot water could scrub him from my skin.

I could still feel him everywhere.

His hands gripping my hips.

His mouth marking my chest.

His voice in my ear — low and dark and utterly fucking ruthless.

I closed my eyes, thighs squeezing together instinctively — only to hiss at the sharp flare of pain that even that caused.

You'd think by now that I'd be used to the size of him, but no! 

I definitely wasn't forgetting last night anytime soon that was for certain... although this would be a rare occurrence whenever I stepped out of line. 

I wouldn't be able to handle this regularly... 

By the time I stepped out of the shower, the sound of faint footsteps echoed from outside of the door before it was pushed open. 

"Just here to brush my teeth." Ashton announces, as I roll my eyes at him. 

"Not in to catch a glance at me before I get dressed?" I correct, watching the smirk grow as his eyes never leave my body. 

"One last look at what your punishment looks like..." He states with a proud nod, as I whine and begin to dry myself off. 

Once I was dressed, I joined Ashton to brush my teeth, happy to have him back by my side today - back to normal. 

Seeing him spit out the remaining toothpaste, he suddenly says; "Hopefully last night was enough to plant baby number two in you..." and with that, I almost fucking choke on my own spit. 

Spitting mine out quickly in order to respond, I gasp, "Was that your whole plan all along?!" I hiss, as he shrugs meekly - a smirk spreading. 

"I want another one." He states as though it were obvious. 

So did I, but we had both agreed to wait until Tommy started school, which I guess is only a matter of months from now since he's just turned 5... 

"You're unbelievable!" I giggle, unable to contain it, as a toothy grin spreads out across his face. 

"I'll have another strong son, or perhaps a girl this time?" He hums, wiping his hands off on the towel. 

"A girl would be nice... I couldn't cope with another son." I admit, as Ashton rolls his eyes dramatically - following me out and back in to the bedroom. 

"Tommy isn't any trouble!" He defends, as I shake my head. 

"That's not what I mean! I just can't handle knowing what he's going to grow up to become..." I admit, thinking back to Lydia and I's late night chat. 

On that, Ashton's brows furrow, as he moves to stand in front of me - watching me tug on my sneakers. 

"What he's going to grow up and become? What's that supposed to mean?" He pushes on, holding his arms across his chest. 

I froze mid-tug on my sneaker, realising that I'd said too much without thinking. My fingers faltered against the laces as Ashton's sharp eyes bore into me, demanding an answer.

Shit. I've probably offended him now... 

I glanced up at him from beneath my lashes, suddenly feeling very small under his intense gaze.

"You know what I mean..." I mumbled, trying to brush it off — but Ashton was already stalking closer, the playful glint in his eyes hardening into something darker.

"No," he clipped, voice low and dangerous. "I actually don't. But please enlighten me, Rose."

I swallowed thickly, heart picking up speed. Damn him for always seeing straight through me.

Ashton crouched down in front of me, resting his forearms on his thighs — his face inches from mine now, leaving me nowhere to hide.

"You think our son is going to turn into some kind of monster, don't you?" he accused quietly, his tone rougher than before.

I flinched, guilt blooming in my chest. I didn't mean to say that that's what I thought of him... but I knew that was exactly how it sounded. 

It wasn't exactly what I meant... but it wasn't not what I meant either.

"I just..." I faltered, my voice barely above a whisper. "I see how the pack is with their sons... how they push them to be... brutal... dominant... before they're even old enough to understand what it means."

Ashton's jaw clenched, his eyes flickering a shade darker.

I knew this was a sensitive subject for him.

He'd been born into that same brutal world — raised to be a ruthless Alpha before he'd even lost his first baby tooth. And while he'd broken free from some of the pack's more twisted traditions, there were still parts of him shaped by that life — parts he'd never quite been able to shed.

Parts he was already passing down to our son without even realising it.

"You think I want that for him? To be cold and ruthless?" Ashton ground out, his voice rough and low.

I stayed silent, not trusting myself to answer without making things worse.

Ashton huffed out a breath, running a hand through his messy hair as he stood back up to his full height.

"Tommy will never be like that," he snapped, pacing across the room now — like he couldn't stand still, like the thought physically itched beneath his skin.

"I won't let him turn in to a total dick of an Alpha. Is that how you see me? A heartless bastard?" He questions, stopping briefly to look at me. 

"Of course not; that's not what I meant!" I defend, throwing up my hands before he continues- 

"That's it, isn't it? You don't want our son to be like me?!" He deadpans, as I immediately stand to defend myself. 

"Ashton, listen to me! It's not you! It's this whole life! It's the responsibility of leading an entire pack! It's the worry I have to go through every damn time that you leave me behind to go fight in some war! It's the not knowing if you'll make it out alive! I don't want to worry about my son on top of you too!" I begin to yell, making sure that he heard me clearly. 

After a short silence stretched between us, neither of us knowing what to do or say, he eventually replied- 

"I'll protect him from this world with every fucking breath in my body." He states firmly, as I sigh. 

I swallowed hard, nodding slowly — even if part of me still wasn't convinced.

"Like it or lump it sweetheart, this was the life you signed up for the second you agreed to be my mate. The second you agreed to carry my child. It's up to me now to make sure that our son grows up to be strong enough that he will be able to handle himself out there, but that doesn't mean he has to be a prick about it. You won't need to worry about him, let me look out for him - that's my job as a father!" Ashton moves towards me, his tone softening slightly as though he finally understood my concerns. 

He might be able to protect Tommy for now...

But one day, our little boy would grow into a man... 

A man with the blood of an Alpha burning through his veins.

And God help me...

I wasn't sure if anyone could protect him from that.