Alpha Asher By Jane Doe
Chapter 140

Chapter 140 — I didn't have long to accept the fact that I'd just spoken to my d**d mother's spiritbecause we were on our way to replace my grandmother, whose uncovered heritage I was also tryingto process. Bright spot, grandma was with the rest of the town at the bake sale hosted in Carson'smemory.

The plan was to grab Grandma and head back to the house to get the blood we needed. Cordeliahad every other ingredient on the list and was surprised that the spell itself was a simple reversalspell. What made it complex was the final ingredient, grandma's blood.

Rowena was right, bake sales had a different meaning around these parts because what I had inmind involved perky PTA members with plates of store-bought chocolate chip cookies and childrenwith fists clenched full of old ones and quarters.

What I hadn't expected to see was every sorority and fraternity milling around outside, hanging outin clusters of ten or fifteen. All of them shouting over one another, yet the conversation seemed tobe flowing. I was pleasantly surprised to see fists clenched full of ones and quarters, but instead ofeager children it was excited frat boys.

You could tell who belonged to who because of the matching clothing and face paint. Chi Omegamade sparkly tank-tops with Carson's face on the front and their last names on the back, which alsohappened to match Kappa Sigma's football jerseys. Delta Sigma had on crop tops, only Carson'sface was on the back instead of the front.

The larger sororities and fraternities occupied the houses around the University, forming a large Ushape. The smaller ones were a couple blocks away. For nearly a mile college students could beseen walking down the street, all trickling towards the center of town.

"Wow, they really do use every excuse to party.” Breyona said, her voice full of wonder and disbelief.She had her face close to the window and was watching some of the students intently. One of thesororities were positing for pictures just outside of their house. They lined the porch and steps,shifting into a quirky pose as though they'd done this a thousand times before. Once the camerawas put away, drinks were passed around.

We passed a photo of Carson that had been placed on a little wire stand and stuck into the groundwhen Breyona asked, “...how are Carson's parents doing?”

Asher glanced up at the rearview mirror and said, “I gave them access to the jet to fly out and seesome family. They'll be flying back for her memorial. From there I'm not sure what they'll do. I gavethem permission to transfer packs if it's what they wish.”

The roads that circled the center of town were blocked off for today, which meant the closestparking spaces were a ten-minute walk away. Asher pulled the car up to the “road closed’ sign andgot out. He sauntered up to the parked police car ten feet away and leaned down to speak throughthe open window.

His hand rested on the roof of the car, giving me a clear view of his biceps and toned abs. The shirthe wore was tight in all the right places, including his broad shoulders. His lips curved up in a grin ashe talked to the officer, flashing him a smile that was all teeth before coming back to the car.

The officer stepped out of his car and moved the barrier to the side, giving us access to the road."Using your Alpha status to get us premium parking.” Breyona grinned, sounding just a tad jealous.“I like it, let's go!”

It wasn't hard maneuvering our way through the growing crowd of college students, parents, andsugar crazed children. They parted for the three of us like we were royalty — or like we carried somesort of contagion.

Canopy tents of various colors sat all around campus square. Along the pathways and beside thefountains, even in between the hedges of blossoming flowers. Plastic tables sat beneath them, eachone loaded with baked goods. Refrigerators had been hauled in by trucks earlier in the morning,which really drove Rowena’s point home.

I spotted grandma and Claire manning a lavender colored tent with the words, “magical desserts’printed in cursive along the top. The two of them were swamped by people, their tables so crowdedthat I wondered how they had anything left at all.

Asher didn't budge as I tugged him towards grandma's tent. His eyes were narrowed, locked onBrandon who was leaning against the pole of mint green tent, talking to Cassidy.

“I'm going to talk to grandma.” I told him, giving his hand a soft squeeze before letting go.

“I'll be right there.” His eyes flitted down to me and some of the tension within them faded.

As Breyona and I headed to grandma's tent, I glanced back to see him talking to Brandon, andcaught Clara's name as it left his lips

"Oh thank the Goddess you're here. Can you two man the booth with your grandma while I run tothe fridge and grab some more pastries?” She asked. The bun she hastily put her hair into wasfalling out, forcing her to brush the hairs away from her face every couple seconds.

“Sure thing, we've got this.” I nodded, waving to grandma as I rounded the tables with Breyona intow.

I was aware there were dozens of eyes on me, but that didn't stop me from grinning stupidly whenClaire marched up to two jocks in football gear and said, “you and you, come help me carry thesepastries before my son spots you gawking at his mate.”

Both gave me one last look and followed Claire, who told them to keep up and pull their weight.

I turned towards grandma and watched as she greeted a group of sorority girls, a kind smile on herface as she showed them her inventory. The truth was right there on my tongue, but when sheturned and welcomed me it wasn't the truth that came out.

"You stayed up all night stress baking didn’t you?” I smirked, since it was a lot easier to fake than asmile.

“Hush and stop bullying the elderly.” She scolded me, which made Breyona snicker.

I got to work, greeting people as they approached since there was no clear line forming. Just a seaof people that inched closer as we sent others on their way. Helping collect money and pass outbundles of cookies or brownies gave me the chance to talk to the townspeople, to get to know thepeople Asher and I were trying to protect.

From a distance, I spotted Asher. I'd never be able to miss him, not with how easily he towered overeveryone, exuding an aura of intimidation. Cassidy was talking to Asher, but Brandon was no wherein sight. I glanced at Asher and then Cassidy's smiling face before scanning the crowd for hisbrother. Brandon was slippery enough, and I trusted Asher not to lay into him on today of all days."You want me to go over there and break that up?” Breyona lowered her voice, but it was clear whoshe was talking about.

I laughed and shook my head, while Maya gave an exuberant, “yes!”

“I knew having a mate would be all intense, but I never knew how jealous it would make me.” Sheteased, using a set of tongs to place a few chocolate chip cookies in a to-go bag.

The crowd was dwindling enough to where we had a handful of seconds in between customers todrink and restock the tables. Breyona and grandma were helping an elderly couple with a largeorder when I heard a sour voice that instantly put Maya on defense.

“You wouldn't happen to know where Carson's parents are, would you?” Devin Armstrong, thea*****e who tried to pick a fight with me the night of Carson's d***h stood at the edge of the table.Perhaps in another life he would've been considered attractive, but his bad attitude contorted hisface into a permanent sneer. “Or did you k**I them too? Tying up loose ends, am I right?”

It wasn't everyday a Luna was disrespected outright, so it took me longer than I'd admit to form acoherent response. It took even longer to convince Maya that tearing his throat out wouldn't win usany awards.

“You know they went to see family, stop playing dumb.” Asher’s cousin snapped in a voice full ofpoison as she approached grandma's booth. The chunky green stripe in her hair looked radioactivebright in the sun. She smiled sweetly when grandma greeted her and held out a twenty in her hand.“Can I get one of them brownies for my girl, and I'll take two of your brown sugar cookies.”Grandma grabbed what she needed and handed her the lavender paper bag. Alex pocketed herchange and glanced at Devin one last time, “Luna trumps the son of a judge, just saying.”

Devin's face contorted in anger, which wasn't all that different from his “it's Tuesday’ face.

"F**k you.” He spat.

“Not even if you begged.” Alex tossed over her shoulder, laughing silkily as she joined a curvy she-wolf on one of the park benches.

“Are you done trying to cause trouble?” I asked him, knowing well that he hadn't come here tosupport Carson's family like everyone else.

His beady eyes narrowed, “don’t get comfortable, I'm not the only one who sees your kind for whatthey are...”

"And what's that? By all means, share with the class.” His d***h-glare paled in comparison toBreyona's, who even made Zeke stop in his tracks. “Just another p***k with rich parents.”

Grandma finished up with another round of customers and walked over just as Devin was gearingup for a hasty retreat. I could see the fire leave his eyes the more the crowd turned their attentionon him. He was the center of attention, but not in the way he anticipated.

“Watch out, old woman. That she-wolf's a k****r." He snarled, desperate to get the last word inbefore rushing off in a huff.

"Oh, p**s off.” Grandma tossed over her shoulder, tugging Breyona and I to the next wave ofcustomers as the sound of Devin's stomps faded in the distance.

Fifteen minutes later Claire returned with Asher and Cassidy in tow. The two frat boys set theirplatters of desserts down where Claire directed and high-tailed it in the other direction, their facespale, and eyes on Asher.

“Grandma, we need your help with something back home...it has to do with the binding spell on mymagic. Would you mind leaving early?” I asked, biting back the words before I blurted them out infront of everybody.

"Go ahead and help them, I've got some extra hands coming.” Claire reassured her, a grateful smilelighting up her face. “I can't thank you enough for all the work you did today.”

“Nonsense, as my grandchildren like to remind me, I have a problem with stress baking.” Grandmagrinned and wound her arm through mine. “Now what magic binding spell would call for an oldwerewolf?”

I was saved from answering when Cassidy's squeal filled the air.

“I should've figured you were here!” Cassidy beamed when she spotted Breyona and me. Hergolden locks were twisted into a messy bun that looked purposefully perfect, and her smile wasperfectly white. It faltered when she noticed us packing up, “Oh, are you leaving already? I'll walkyou to your car, I actually wanted to talk to you about training.”

As we walked, grandma and Asher ended up taking the lead a few feet in front of us. I could hearher talking to him and caught her saying, “...you know she'll be pissed at you if you k**I the judge'sson.”

"Have you thought about when you'll start training? All of the students are eager to see what you'vegot-honestly, I'm a bit curious too.” Cassidy smiled sheepishly.

“I've been wanting to get back into training. Even though I can't shift, it's a nice energy outlet.”Breyona replied, not at all opposed to the idea.

I thought about it for a few moments. My schedule was already hectic, but Breyona was right. Wehad enough stress in our lives to not take advantage of every healthy outlet available.

“How about we start tomorrow?" I asked her.

“I can't wait!” Cassidy cheered but paused mid-celebration when a couple girls called her name. Sheheld a finger up and turned to Breyona and me. “I'll text you both the time and location of the class.See you tomorrow!”

Asher and grandma were already at the car, engrossed in a conversation. I didn't have the chance toeavesdrop because a masculine voice called out my name.

"Hey, Luna Lola!" Lar's jogged up to us, his messy hair even more windblown when he finally cameto a stop. He was wearing his usual leather jacket t-shirt combo and gave Breyona a look thatinstantly made her eyes narrow. “Saw you talking with Cassidy, but then I noticed your friend here.”"Her friend here has a mate.” Breyona replied dryly, pointing to the mark on her neck that wasexposed by the off-shoulder design of her top.

"Honest mistake.” He raised his hands in surrender, not at all fazed by Breyona’s glare.

"Was there something you needed, Lars?” I asked him, wondering why he tracked me down whenwe've barely spoken more than fifteen words to each other. I had gotten to know him well enoughat the coffee shop and wasn't interested in his idea of friendship.

"Yeah, actually. Some friends of mine are throwing a party this weekend for summer break. Goal isto make it the biggest of the year, bigger than Devin’s twenty-first at his dad's lake house.” Lar'srolled his eyes, “...if I got the Alpha and Luna to show, everyone in the pack would be fighting for aninvite.”

I was going to answer him, but then I glanced down

The world around me spun until the sun faded and the clouds vanished. The scent of pastries faded,replaced with that of wet soil and grass. Stars speckled the sky, and the University courtyard meltedinto a winding backroad surrounded by dense pine trees.

A pair of scuffed black boots was the last thing I saw before pain and darkness had claimed me-thesame black boots Lar's was wearing.