Alpha Asher By Jane Doe
Chapter 79

Read Alpha Asher [by Jane Doe] Chapter 79 — The blood that coated my stomach and hands waswarm in comparison to the shadow's ice coated words. Maya recoiled at their price; her hacklesraised as an earsplitting growl reverberated throughout my mind. Breyona was still crouched overGiovanni, her eyes burning madly as she watched the shadows pulse around my body.

They had asked the unthinkable, and Breyona had agreed blindly.

“Our price is this." They hissed seductively in my ear, “To save the Vampire she calls mate, we ask forthe form of her wolf.’

“She'll pay it.” I whispered, meeting Breyona's burning gaze. “Now save him.”

The shadows pulsed around my body, slithering between my legs as they raced towards Breyona."What-what was the price?” Breyona whimpered, her body unnaturally still as the shadows glidedaround her body.

"Your wolf form—" I croaked. Pain wracked through my body, but it wasn't originating from thewound in my stomach. The pain coursing through me was for my friend and what she was willing togive up for her mate.

Her wolf would remain in her mind, trapped in a flesh-p****n. Unable to shift and roam the earth,unable to feel the dirt beneath her paws. Breyona had made the ultimate sacrifice for Giovanni, andI prayed he was willing to do the same.

“Their taking my wolf?” Her voice was small, smaller than I had ever heard it before. Breyona's voicewas paper-thin glass, transparent as fear bled into her eyes.

"She'll still be there-within you.” My voice cracked as I struggled to force the words from my mouth.“But you won't be able to shift anymore. That's-that's their price.”

Realization dawned in her eyes as one of the shadows surged forward, latching onto Breyona'schest. I was rooted in place as a gut-wrenching scream tore from Breyona’s mouth, cracking as hervocal cords struggled from the pressure.

After just a few moments, the screaming died down, turning into a heartbroken whimper. Everythingwithin me erupted into agony at the sight of her face, and for a moment I wished I had been theone to pay the price.

One by one the shadows glided away from Breyona and over to Giovanni. The blood coating hisbody was thick and had a sweet smell to it. I knew without the shadows, Breyona's mate would beall but lost.

The shadows caressed Giovanni's body, and Breyona's eyes widened as the shadow’s voices spiltinto the air. I could hear the sharp breath Asher su*ked in, and knew he could hear them as well.“Remove the knife from his chest, she-wolf." They hissed, their silky movements becoming still asthey waited impatiently.

Breyona grasped the handle of the knife tightly, unresponsive as the silver coating seared her skin.Giovanni let out a grunt as the knife slipped from his chest and clattered to the pavement. She toreaway the ripped shirt that covered his chest, exposing a smooth plane of bronze colored skin.

The shadows had wasted little time, gliding over Giovanni's body to the wound that sat just abovehis heart. I watched in painful silence as the threads of his flesh formed together, muscle connectingto muscle, and his life-blood running dry.

The shadows slithered away from his body, wrapping once around my ankles as though they wereparting me goodbye.

The street was silent, the only noise coming from Giovanni's chest. A dull thud that grew stronger,faster, as the wounds within his body healed. When his eyes fluttered open, a sob tore fromBreyona's chest. She threw herself into Giovanni's arms, her body shaking as his arms snak*d aroundher body.

Giovanni's dark eyes met my own, and for a moment, I swore there was a message deep within hisintrusive gaze.

Asher was at my side in seconds, his hands shaking as they peeled away the bottom layer of mydress. Blood had soaked into the black fabric, staining his skin as his hands roamed my stomach.“I'm fine, Asher.” I hissed; my eyes remained on my best-friend.

“You were stabbed, Lola.” Asher met my eyes with murderous intensity, his hands trembling as theybrushed across my b****y skin. Asher shot a hard look at Giovanni and Breyona, “Stay where youare.”

“I have nowhere else to go.” I could see a flash of surprise in Asher's gaze at Giovanni's unexpectedresponse, followed by suspicion.

“Where is the wound, Lola?” Asher’s voice was hard, guarded as his hands ran over the smooth skinof my abdomen.

“I'll explain later.” I whispered, and met Giovanni's gaze. He was listening to our entire conversation,and while Breyona seemed to trust him, I remained on guard.

Asher’'s eyes were burning with emotion, each flashing in his gaze faster than I could process. Hisrough hand remained on my stomach, where the stab-wound had once been.

“You would betray your own kind for her?” Asher turned away from me, shooting me one last glancebefore placing his attention on Giovanni.

Asher’s voice swelled, feral dominance filling his voice as he stepped into the position of Alpha. Hishoney eyes were darkening, heavy flecks of gold swirling in his gaze. Giovanni met his stareunflinchingly, his arms never once wavering from Breyona’s shaking form.

“Yes.” Giovanni answered, and I noted there was no hesitation in his voice. “Yes, I would.”

"And what is it you expect now?” Asher questioned harshly, though there was no malice in hiswords. “A place in the pack? You would join a community that holds nothing but hatred for yourkind?”

“So long as Breyona remains, then yes.” Giovanni nodded, his arms tightening around Breyona.

I noted the way she looked up at him, comfort and love blazing in her hazel eyes. Something haddawned on me at the sight of them together. Breyona had been with him before, had met up withhim in the past. I hadn't a clue where or how, but love like that is not instantaneous.

The way she looked at him struck something within me, and I found myself wondering how differentVampire's truly were to Werewolves. Asher was right, this town harbored much animosity towardsVampire's, and for a good reason but they hadn't a clue about my true heritage.

Would my own pack reject me if they knew what I was?

“Asher?’ I whispered through the mind-link, even though no one could hear us.

His eyes remained on Giovanni, but his voice filtered through my head.

'What?'

“Do you trust me?’ I asked, and this time his eyes found my own. Confusion lingered in his eyes, butI could see in his gaze that he trusted me fully.

I do. He responded.

“Give Giovanni a chance.’ I spoke quickly, leaving him no time to interrupt. “Question him, keep himaway from the pack, but do not tear him and Breyona apart.’

"You are supporting this?’ His voice was laced with anger, though not directed towards me. “Youwould have this pack harbor a Vampire, knowing the deaths and attacks we've suffered?"

“I am half-vampire, Asher." I forced strength into my words, and realized this was the first time I hadadmitted the truth to someone other than myself or Maya. “It is not right to allow me to remainhere, while casting Giovanni out."

"You are also half-werewolf, Lola." Asher responded; his tone hard. “Giovanni has been directlyinvolved with the deaths and attacks on this pack. For all we know, he could have helped take Sean."“I understand that." I replied, my voice cracking at the thought of my Dad dragging a wounded Seaninto the house. “He is Breyona's mate for a reason, Asher. I think things are changing. I think-1 thinkVampire's and Werewolves have been separate for far too long.’

I could feel the reluctance seeping from Asher’s pores as we locked eyes, but I could also see theunwavering trust he held for me. The emotion was strong enough to bring tears to my eyes, towhich Asher’s eyes softened

“If it were up to me, you would be executed come morning.” Asher turned to Giovanni, his voicelowering into a rough growl. At Asher’s words, Breyona's eyes snapped up. “Lola has convinced meotherwise. She has convinced me you deserve-a chance.”

Two sets of eyes met my own, Breyona's and Giovanni's. Each burned with gratitude, but Giovanni'swas laced with surprise.

“Breyona had once told me you would accept me.” Giovanni's light accent curled around his words,“I did not believe her at the time. I hope I am able to live up to your expectations.”

"Oh, you will.” Asher nodded darkly, the blood of an Alpha coursing through his veins. “Yourexistence will not be revealed to this pack-not yet. They will not take kindly to your presence here.There is a house on the outskirts of my territory, head there now and remain unseen. I will come toquestion you when this mess is fully sorted.”

“I would expect nothing less, Alpha Asher. Yet, I thank you for your hospitality.” Giovanni nodded;his face oddly serene as he looked down at Breyona.

“It's not me you should thank.” Alpha Asher grunted, “Thank Lola, without her you would be d**d.”“Thank you, Lola.” Giovanni nodded, keeping his intense gaze on my face. Gently, Giovanni stoodand pulled Breyona into his arms. Her hazel eyes were wide and blood-shot as they burned into myface. I watched as her lips parted and moved silently, unable to force the words from her lips.

“I'll tell your Mom you decided to stay with me.” I promised her, “I'll tell her you're alright.”

The edges of her lips pulled up in a small smile, but I could see the shattered pieces of her heartslicing into her skin. I could see the pain of Breyona and her wolf lingering in those hazel eyes,celebrating their mate but mourning their loss.

With Breyona in his arms, Giovanni darted down the road, his body becoming blurred from thespeed.

“Sean.” I choked, stumbling towards my house. The Vampire's corpses sat in the middle of the road;the scent of their thick blood lodged in my nose.

Asher was beside me in an instant, his rough hand under my arm as he led me up the porch stairs.Lying on the floor was Sean, much paler than usual, with Dad hovering over him. Dad's face wasrigid, the lines on his face appearing deeper and much more drawn out. Grandma flitted from thebackyard to the kitchen, and finally back to Sean. She placed a wet rag against his stomach, pressingfirmly as she looked between the two of us.

Her dark hair was streaked with grey, pulled up in a bun as her face contorted in concentration. Hereyes widened as she took in Asher and I standing there. I was sure the two of us looked horrible. Icould feel the sticky blood drying to my skin, flaking and peeling off with every move I made. Theshort dress I was wearing was torn, revealing my blood-coated stomach and dark shorts.

“I put herbs on the wound.” Grandma's words were clipped as she focused on Sean. “It'll helpdissolve the silver in his blood, but he needs a doctor.”

“One is on their way.” Asher nodded; his face hard as he looked down at Sean. “The Doctor's at thehospital will be quite busy, so I called for my personal Doctor.”

“The patrol teams.” I choked, my heartrate speeding as I remembered the fight occurring aroundour town.

“When-Tristan vanished, the rest of the Vampire's retreated.” Asher grimaced, his tone filled withfury as he spoke Tristan’s name. Even with the horrendous scarlet mark on my skin, my stomachturned sour at the sound of Tristan's name

We remained with my Grandma and Dad until Asher's personal Doctor arrived. Only when I was sureSean would survive, did we finally leave the house.

As guilty as I felt over Sean's injury and Breyona's loss, my mind was overflowing with questions andsick realizations.

My Father had used the shadows to save Tristan, which meant a price was to be paid. What had myFather paid for Tristan's escape?

Alpha Asher and I got back into the car we left on the side of the road. Some of his men had alreadyarrived, removing the bodies and blood from the road. Asher had told me Alpha Zeke fought on thenorthern side of town, mowing down Vampire's as fast as he could. Zeke had brought Bran withhim, who k****d the Vampire's with equal ferocity. Luna Freya had remained at the packhouse, butsent her men to aid in the fight.

The silence in the car allowed me too much time to think.

Either Brittany had been wrong, or she had planned for Asher to move all of his men to thesouthern side, taking her warning as truth. While I was still suspicious, I still believed Brittanydeserved a chance to clear her name.

The scent of drying blood set my teeth on edge as I allowed my fingers to graze my creamy skin.Beneath the thick layer of dried blood, my stomach was smooth and without injury.

“Where is the wound, Lola?" Asher had asked as the fighting finished and Giovanni was healed.Maya had recoiled from the thought, from the same realization I had but it would change nothing.Even Maya couldn't deny what had happened.

Turning my head from Alpha Asher’s gaze, I ran my tongue over the dried Vampire blood on my lipand trembled at the taste. The Vampire had been half-human. I knew that, because as the blood hitmy tastebuds, strength and bliss shocked my nerve endings. I had been stunned into silence as theblood brought strength to my weary body, the wound in my stomach sewing itself back together.Most of the drive home I had been mulling over the price my father paid for Tristan's escape, andwhy he would agree to such a thing in the first place. What was so important about Tristan?

While questions swam in my head, battering against my skull until a dull ache formed, only one ofmy questions was answered.

Situated in front of the packhouse, with her back against the door sat a girl I had thought aboutonly a handful of times. Our only interaction had been before I knew the truth, when the Vampireswere sneaking onto our land.

Jessie was positioned against the front door, her legs stretched out as though she were waiting forsomeone.

Only she wasn't waiting. Her eyes were wide in fear, staring off into the distance. Her small handswere clutching her neck, and through them I could see the thick jagged line that nearly severed herhead from her body.

Just like with Adrienne, there wasn't a drop of Jessie's blood on the ground.