Alethea (Zoe)
I feel an electric spark course through me like a bolt of lightning as Asher yanks me away from Maya. It’s overwhelming, it makes my body tremble and my mind spin.
The voice in my head whispers, ‘Mate,’ fuck this bond that ties me to him, this connection that refuses to break, no matter how much I want it to.
I collide with his chest, and the sensation of warmth and strength surrounds me, pulling me into a trance. The sparks ignite, making it impossible to move away, even though I want to.
I’m trapped in his gaze, those deep green eyes that remind me so much of my son, Declan. They hold a world of emotions I can’t put into words. It’s both comforting and terrifying.
My heart pounds in my chest, not from desire but from fear of losing everything I hold dear.
I can’t bear the thought of being locked away, thrown into the dungeon where I might rot and never see my son or Selena again.
That thought alone brings tears to my eyes, streaming down my face before I even realize it.
His hand rises to my face, his fingers brushing against my cheek, trying to wipe away the tears. I pull myself away.
“Don’t please,” I say with a shaky voice grabbing his hand mid-air, stopping him before he can touch me further.
He stares at me, with an unreadable expression, his eyes searching for answers I don’t have. For a few seconds, our eyes locked in the silent battle of emotions.
Then, slowly, he lowers his hand.
A cough from behind snaps me back to reality. I tear my gaze away from Alpha Asher, my heart still racing, Kayla and Liam standing there, watching us.
Their expressions are a mix of concern and confusion, and it’s clear they’ve seen more than they should have.
I feel a wave of embarrassment over me, and I quickly step back from Asher, creating distance between us.
I notice Kayla’s lips curl into a smile that leaves me baffled. What could she possibly find amusing in this chaos?
On the other hand, Liam’s glare is piercing, his eyes filled with stern disapproval that makes my skin crawl.
He looks ready to drag me off to the dungeon, as though I’ve committed the worst crime by merely standing too close to Asher.
What’s his problem? It’s not like he caught me in a compromising position with Asher. I wince as the pain in my shoulder sharpens, and it’s then I notice Asher clutching his shoulder.
He’s feeling my pain too. The bond between us is stronger than I’d like to admit, and now it’s manifesting physically.
Asher turns away from me, his expression hardening as he strides toward Maya. I tilt my head slightly, catching a glimpse of her on the ground.
She’s badly injured, her face bruised and blood trickling from her wounds. My stomach churns at the sight.
I glance at Kayla, and her smile has only grown wider, stretching from ear to ear as though she’s relishing the scene.
Before I can process it further, the pack doctors rush in, surrounding Maya and lifting her onto a stretcher.
As they carried her away, my heart clenched tightly, but not for Maya.
No, it’s the sight of Asher, his gaze softening as he watches over her.
The way he’s doting on her feels like a stab to my chest, it reminds me of where his loyalties lie.
“Seize her,” Asher commands, his voice cold and detached as he turns on his heel and walks away, leaving me, Liam, and Kayla behind.
“What?” I exclaim. “I didn’t do anything to her! She attacked me first, and I had to defend myself!”
Liam steps forward, his eyes narrowing as he regards me with suspicion. “Save it,” he growls, reaching out to grab my arm. “We’ll sort this out in the dungeons.”
I twist in his grip, desperation clawing at my throat. “Kayla, you saw what happened! Tell them!”
Kayla’s smile falters slightly, but she nods, stepping between Liam and me. “She’s telling the truth,” Kayla says with a steady voice. “Maya was the one who attacked first.”
Liam’s voice booms with fury as he steps closer, his gaze burning into me. “It doesn’t look like that! See what you’ve done to her! She’s badly injured, and you were punching her hard!”
His anger is palpable, each word laced with disdain. It’s clear now-he has a personal problem with me.
The way he’s shouting, the way his eyes narrow as if I’m the only source of trouble in the entire pack, makes my skin prickle with irritation.
“No, it’s not the way it seems!” I retort, my voice rising to meet his accusation. “She attacked me first!”
Liam steps closer. “From the very day you walked into this pack, I knew you were trouble. I could sense it all over you.” he snaps
I can feel his words pressing down on me, confirming what I’ve suspected-Liam has had it out for me from the beginning. But I’m not about to back down and let him think he can intimidate me into submission.
“Newsflash,” I say, lifting my chin defiantly, “I never wanted to be here. I hate seeing your sorry face everywhere I turn.”
His growl reverberates in the air, low and menacing, but I stand my ground. “How dare you,” he growls, his voice dropping to a threatening whisper.
Just then, a movement catches my eye. I glance to the side and see Maya. She looks worse than I thought-beaten, bruised, barely able to stand on her own.
A small smile tugs at the corner of my lips with satisfaction Liam notices, his expression darkening even further. “Take her to a cell, now!” He orders the guards.
The guards move toward me, ‘What will become of me now?’ I ask myself because I know that escaping this mess won’t be easy.
I try to resist the guards as they roughly push me forward, my body aching from their manhandling. ‘My life sucks.’
I don’t know what Alpha Asher will do to me now whether he’ll send me back to Northville, which I’d gladly accept, or lock me away until I finish my task and can leave.
Their grip is too strong for me to break free, and I stumble, hissing in pain. I could hear Kayla’s voice through the chaos.
“Leave her alone!” she shouts, following closely behind as I’m dragged away. But her protests fall on deaf ears.
I have no one to defend me, no opportunity to explain that Maya attacked me first.
My shoulder throbs, the wound from Maya’s knife still bleeding, but that’s the least of my worries.
I glance at Asher’s retreating, feeling the bond tug at me. He must sense my gaze because he turns, his eyes meeting mine.
For a moment, something flickers in his expression, but I tear my gaze away, I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing my pain.
‘Fuck this bond.’
They drag me like a common thief, and though I should feel remorse for what I did to Maya, I don’t. ‘She deserved every bit of it.’
Suddenly, a sharp pain shoots from my navel to my core, causing me to gasp. ‘Shit, am I getting my period?’ But it’s not that time of the month, and I rarely have cramps. This pain is different.
I struggle against the guards, trying to relieve the discomfort, but their grip tightens.
The heat spreads rapidly through my body with an unfamiliar craving taking over my senses. It scares me to the marrow, the burning sensation escalating beyond control.
I collapse to my knees, the pain too much to bear, and a loud cry escapes my lips.
“Alpha Asher!” I scream his name in desperation.
Asher halts, his back stiffening at the sound. He turns slowly with an intense look, but something shifts in his eyes. My heart breaks not for myself but for the cold indifference I see in him.