“I’m returning to the Pack!” Asher finally stated, owning up to his resolve.
“I see, so that’s how it is…” Katrina smiled to herself
There were many things Asher omitted in his statement. She could have probed further, but let it be. After all, his presence in the Pack would provide a solution for the time being.
Plus, she also had to respect his choice.
“So, what will you be doing?” Asher turned to ask his mother.
“Ah, me?” Katrina groaned as she stood from the beach.
“I’m going to be meeting to a few people… it’s been a while since I’ve been in Oregon, you know.”
Asher shook his head, giving a smile as he saw through his mother’s usual sly words.
“Well, suit yourself.” He waved her off, turning to leave.
“How’s John, by the way?”
Asher instantly stopped dead on his tracks as soon as he heard that.
“Don’t mention his name to me…” He replied, giving Katrina a chilly glare.
Instinctively, she gulped. It appeared mentioning Asher’s father was still a sore spot for him.
“I wonder when you guys will ever make up…”She mumbled to herself.
“Keep those to yourself.” Asher snapped, picking up his pace as he left
“I’ll see you around.”
With those final words, Asher departed.
Vanishing into the background of white frost, Katrina watched as Asher was nowhere near her line of vision or senses.
“Ah, I suppose I ought to get to work as well. Things just keep getting complicated…”
In a flash, she also vanished, her destination unknown.
“Whew!” Roxanne heaved as she collapsed on her bed, as was her normal routine after a hectic time outside.
However, unlike the one she used in her previous suite, this was way more comfortable. The mattress seemed to suck her in, yet was firm enough to hold her together.
Perhaps it was due to her exhaustion, or maybe it was as a result of the higher quality of the new hotel she lodged at.
“I’m so tired!” She wheezed, feeling the pressure she had slowly lift off of her body.
Of course, it wasn’t merely physical exhaustion she meant. Her mind was tired.
“Ah, I hope I shook that guy off…” Roxanne mumbled, referring to Asher.
She realized that it would take a great deal of effort to fool him, taking his intense senses into account. Plus, Asher was severely stubborn and Roxanne knee he wouldn’t give up on his chase easily.
“It’s only a matter of time before he runs into Rita. She’ll tell him of my intentions to leave Oregon. If he finds out, if that hasn’t happened already, then he’ll be searching for me.”
Roxanne sighed, knowing nothing else she could do.
She had hoped that the letter would prove to be a way for him to consider how she felt. If he read it, then perhaps he would understand.
However, upon careful thought, Roxanne realized that Asher truly didn’t respect her decision. Despite anything she had written, he was still not going to give in.
“He’s the same guy who abducted me, after all. What a dunce!” She smiled to herself.
Despite trying to block off her emotions, she had reached a point of no return. She couldn’t deny her feelings for him, neither could she deny her calling.
“Its what’s nest for everyone…”
A sad look suddenly enveloped her face as she remembered her last conversation with Daniel.
“… Have you made up your mind?” He asked her.
Even though she had spent so long hesitating, she couldn’t risk thinking anymore. The longer she waited, the more doubt would seep into her and derail her decisions.
“I’ve decided, Rei Daniel… I’m in!”
Roxanne had accepted before, but thanks to Asher’s brainwashing, he didn’t even remember. It appeared like she was given another chance to back down, to hesitate… the temptation came for her to rescind her previous decision and choose Asher, but once again, she stuck to leaving Oregon.
“If possible… could we leave tomorrow?” She added.
Roxanne had already realized this. The more time she spent, the more she doubted whether she was making the right call. Plus, threats seemed to be around every corner. She wasn’t feeling safe at all.
“I need to leave Oregon… as soon as possible!”
At least, once she had officially kick-started the whole thing, there wouldn’t be much of a choice or time to reconsider.
“O-oh, that excited, uh? That’s not a problem then. I gave you more time earlier since I thought you needed the room, but if you’re down for tomorrow, I’m down!” He responded over the phone.
“Do you think we could meet up more to discuss this?”
Roxanne shook her head instantly. There was no ways she would leave her hotel and risk Asher seeing her. It was best to be patient.
“You’ll see me tomorrow, Daniel. Keep me posted. Till then.” Roxanne beamed, quickly cutting the call.
That was how their conversation ended.
And so, all Roxanne had to do was endure one more night in Oregon. Because the next day, she would be leaving everything behind and truly start afresh.
The whole werewolf stuff had been a crazy journey for her, one she would have never thought was real a month ago. So much had occurred in merely a couple of weeks.
Yet, she didn’t regret any of them, at least most. Everything led her to this moment. Perhaps this was it, her big break.
Roxanne closed her eyes and yawned, preparing to sleep and leave her troubles for the next day. She had no underground tournament to go to, no dates or events she was obligated to attend.
It was her final night in Oregon… the least she could do was enjoy it.
It was evening, no, close to night, when Asher finally arrived in Rockwood Pack. Whooshing through the community, he avoided the senses of everyone and made his way to the summit where his residence was.
“Ah, it’s only been a few days, yet it feels longer…” Asher smiled, watching the entire Pack from the huge hill.
Instantly, his senses caught something, and a smile appeared on his face.
“Asher, so you’re finally back.” Dax’s voice rang out in the darkness.
The tired-looking man approached Asher, giving him a somewhat annoyed look.
“Where have you been?”
The time Dax used was serious. Asher could tell that his friend had been busy cleaning up after him in his absence. His heart ached, and a portion of guilt squirmed within him.
“That doesn’t matter now…” Asher’s voice trailed in a whisper.
Dax sensed that his friend was not in the mood for nagging, which kind of sucked since he had been practicing how to tongue lash Asher the moment he returned.
“What’s wrong?” Dax asked, moving closer to Asher.
“It’s quite the story, Dax.”
Asher didn’t want to waste even a single moment. There was so much to do, and so little time to.
The Traitor. The council. The community… Klaus.
Asher had to resolve them now that he had returned, and he was not going to wait before he began doing so.
“Send word to your subordinates, envoys are to be sent to the other four packs in Oregon woods. The message to be addressed will be personally given by me.” Asher began.
Dax was a little confused by what Asher was saying, but he didn’t stop.
“The messages will be delivered to every member of the council, and they are required to be gathered here tomorrow, before the sun sets… for there will I make my choice!”
Dax didn’t understand, but seeing as Asher was sounding grave, and wasn’t being cooperative, he decided to only act in his capacity as the Beta, and obey his Alpha.
“Understood!”
>WHOOOSH<
Instantly, Dax disappeared into thin air, racing to call forth the messengers.
Now all alone come again at the summit, Asher smiled briefly to himself, enjoying the silence and view that such heights gave him. There was no room for hesitation or error.
"Let's end this… I'm done playing games."