Alpha Asher By Jane Doe
Chapter 111

Chapter 111 — While I'd initially been searching for Asher, it hadn't been my intention to goscurrying to him, squealing about his younger brother's lack of boundaries and basic respect forwomen.

I squashed the part of me that wondered why Brandon was such an a*s, especially towards his olderbrother, reminding myself it wasn't my job to figure him out.

There were far more worrisome things that had my attention, like murderous witches and plottingvampires.

"You should have let me come out." Maya huffed for the third time, her bloodlust not at all satiated.It felt nice leaving him groaning in the sand, his beer overturned and forgotten. Maya's version ofjustice held the ruthlessness of a Luna. “A nasty scar-or a hand, that would teach him. He'd nevertouch us again.’

'l won't be known as the Luna who bites off hands." I told her pointedly but snorted when shesnapped her teeth.

“Well, hello your majesty.”

“Careful, Zeke. I've already kneed one guy in the b***s, and I'd hate to damage your favorite organ.”I smirked, not at all surprised when I turned to replace a sharp- eyed brunette beneath his musculararm.

Her bottom-heavy lips were turned up in a friendly smile, amused by my witty comment. Thecropped tube top she wore had a small butterfly on the front, matching the pale b****i bottoms tiedat her hips. I knew instantly, from the slim figure to the glossy and expertly curled hair, that this girlwas popular. It was evident in the way she held herself, how she grinned and nodded at people wholooked her way. With every turn of her head, the silvery highlighter on her cheeks caught themoonlight.

“I have no doubt Brandon deserved much worse. That should keep him off you for the next forty-eight hours, at least.” Zeke laughed fully, his chest expanding and lips widening to a dimpled grin.How he and Asher had maintained a friendship for so long astounded me. I guess opposites trulydid attract, even with brooding and savage Alphas.

“Maya wanted to take a hand.” I told them, sighing. “His b***s will recover quickly, unfortunately.”

“I would've gone with your wolf's suggestion. Nothing short of maiming will chase Brandon off, notwhen he’s hellbent on pissing off Asher.” Zeke shook his head, but quickly cheered up as thebrunette placed her hand on his b**e chest, looking up at him with curious eyes. “Ah, right! Lola, thisis Carson. She's the president of one of the sororities at the University.”

There was a certain eagerness in her baby blue eyes, and a friendliness that put me oddly at ease.“Alpha Phi, and we're the largest in the state. I knew I had to meet you after that whirlwind of anannouncement! Our sorority's vision is lifting powerful women, not breaking them down. It's soamazing that our Luna is the embodiment of that!” She smiled sweetly, her words warm andsurprisingly honest. The tips of her manicure tapped across the phone in her hands, as she openedthe camera app. Her lips looked even more pouty when she asked, “I run the sorority’s I***a. Could Iget a few pictures with you, Luna? Pretty please? You'll send our followers through the roof, and justin time for Spirit Week!"

"Oh, sure-of course.” I stammered, caught off guard. I caught Zeke's smirk and snarled at him,making Carson giggle. She all but shoved the phone into his hands while rushing to my side.

“Make sure you get us both in the center — no, ugh. Not from that angle. Are you trying to make uslook two dimensional?” She shook her head disparagingly, “An Alpha who hasn't mastered the art oftaking a basic picture ...tragic.”

After positioning both Zeke and me, Carson posed at my side, placing a hand on her hip as shegrinned proudly at the camera. I froze my smile in place and counted the number of photo's hesnapped. After the first ten she had me remove my sweatshirt, and finally my shorts. The last fewshots were of us in our b****i's, the full moon and glittering lake in the background.

“These are perfect! Thank you so much, Luna.” She beamed, bouncing on her heels as she swipedthrough the pictures. Her eyes darted up from the cellphone, glittering mischievously. “Also, we'rehaving an after party at the frat house next door! You and Alpha are more than welcome to come-itwould be an honor, actually.”

“I'll see what I can do.” I promised her, returning the excited grin she gave me with one of my own.Turning to Zeke, I asked. “Speaking of Asher, have you seen him?”

“I escaped him half an hour ago, somewhere towards the docks. We're headed to the after party.Your cockblock of a mate seems hellbent on keeping me in sight.” He chuckled, his laugh mixingwith Carson's. Under firelight, the golden flames highlighted his sharp jaw and chocolate eyes, hisfeatures even more charming. “Unlike Brandon, I know when to keep my hands to myself.”

"I trust you won't get yourself into trouble.” I lifted an eyebrow at him, scenting his lie the momenthis lips twitched.

“I would never.” He vowed, a hand on his b**e chest and the other around Carson's waist.

“It was great meeting you, Luna! Follow u s on I***al” Carson waved, gazing up at Zeke as they left. Icould hear her giggling fading in the distance, along with his raucous laughter.

“How much trouble can he get himself into at a frat party?’ Maya snorted.

I continued along the beach, passing dimming fires surrounded by college students, either toodrunk or high to notice their Luna wading through them. Couples were tangled around one another,filling the air with their sighs and breathless gasps.

“Asher? I called down the bond, feeling it's soothing thrum course through me, connecting me toAsher no matter where we both were. I waited until seconds turned to minutes, and my lips turneddown.

Shaking away that inkling of worry, I tried to sort through the hundreds of scents that crowded thebeach, overlapping one another as they mixed with the scent of fresh water.

I strayed closer to the forest line as I walked around a larger group, their fire three times the size ofthe others I had seen. I had no intention of stopping but halted in my tracks when a voice sneeredmy name. It wasn't one I had heard before, but I'd never mistake that ignorant, demeaning tone.“Luna Lola? Is that really you? S**t, when I heard you were coming-I thought you'd p***y out.” Istopped in my tracks and turned, gazing at the half- illuminated figure of a tipsy frat guy.

His polo was the same sky-blue color as his eyes and fit perfectly to his athletic form. The shorts,sandals and cheep beer in his hand only enhanced the spoiled jock look. I made no mistake; evendrunk, there was a cruel intelligence in his eyes, and determination. His voice caught the attentionof the others sitting around the fire. Couples untangled themselves, the sounds of their kissingfading beneath the crackle of flame.

“We knew this would happen.” I reminded Maya (and myself) that violence wasn't always the answer.“There's going to be backlash. What matters is how we deal with it. This is why I'm the one whohandles diplomacy.’

“I don't run, especially not from a party full of college students.” I shrugged, unfazed while Mayasnarled away in my ear.

The frat boy smirked, but there was nothing playful about the expression. Even with his floppy hairand straight teeth, his beauty was marred by cruelty. * Well, that's not entirely true, right? Most ofus, we're not idiots. We've done our research on you, Luna.”

"Why the f**k do you always have to start s**t, Devin?” A feminine voice snarled, which I quicklyrealized belonged to Alex. Her neon streak was darker, but still unmistakable. One of the manyperched around the flames, watching the showdown between a drunken d******d and their Luna."Dude, Cass warned you —," A guy's voice grunted.

"F**k Cassidy.” Devin spat, his eyes narrowing on me. I kept my stance relaxed, unbothered sincebothered is exactly what he wanted me to be. “You idiots only listen to her because she’s crawledher way into the Alphas bed. She's been there a lot longer than you, Luna. Have fun sharing yourthrone, blood sucker.”

“I ran once, but if you've actually done your research, then you'd know I'm an entirely differentperson now.” As always, I was reminded of my power when the shadows surrounding the forestpulsed and quivered. Tendrils slinked forwards, only to retreat when they reached the glow of thefirelight. Called by my anger and irritation, born and bred to tempt. I was sure that no one herecould see them. No, they'd be running in terror if they could see how they pooled around myankles, close but never touching my skin. However, there was a darkness in my voice they could feel,like the icy caress of the shadows across their skin. “I'm a little busy right now, searching for yourAlpha. But rest assured, I never forget a face.”

"We'll talk again.” I promised him, letting cold rage splinter and fracture within the depths of myeyes, staring until his throat worked and gaze flitted away.

My blood was racing as I turned on my heel and stalked off, keeping my shoulders loose andposture relaxed. The last thing I needed was for them to taste my rage, the anger that came withbeing disrespected, especially when power pulsed beneath my skin.

“They keep getting curious...coming without being called.” Maya said, worriedly. The two of usglancing towards the shadows that now scattered, deep within the darkness of the forest alwayswatching and waiting.