Asher
Not all areas of the pack lands have cameras. I’ve been talking to the IT personnel about installing them throughout the entire pack lands, but they keep giving excuses, saying it wasn’t necessary.
As I hover my hand over the mouse, checking through the previous day’s events, a familiar scene appears on the screen: Ally in heat.
My heart clenched tightly at the sight of her, the raw vulnerability etched on her face as if I had abandoned her. But that wasn’t the case.
“Alpha,” Liam’s voice cuts through my thoughts, drawing my attention back to the present. I realize I’ve paused the footage, staring too long at Ally on the screen.
“You fucked her, right?” Liam asks suddenly like he’s commenting on the weather.
My jaw tightens at his bluntness.
What I did with Ally is nobody’s concern.
I wasn’t going to kiss and tell, but it seemed Ally had already made it public knowledge. I know Liam is baiting me, waiting for me to confirm it.
I shake my head to dispel the growing irritation rather than answer him.
I choose silence, letting Liam wonder whether it’s true or not.
But I know Liam isn’t easily fooled.
He’s sharp, and he’s already pieced together more than he’s letting on.
Liam leans back in his chair, eyes narrowing as he watches me. “You don’t have to say it, Alpha. Your silence speaks volumes.”
I ignore his comment, focusing back on the footage.
My fingers tense as I fast-forward through the scenes, skipping moments that are irrelevant to what I’m searching for.
I need to see what led up to Ally’s confrontation with Maya. There has to be something more to this, something that explains why Ally lost control the way she did.
I move forward, my focus intensifying as the scene between Maya and Ally unfolds on the screen.
It’s only a matter of time before the truth comes to light.
There, I see it-Ally speaking with Kayla at first, their conversation casual.
Then Maya appears, her expression sharp, insisting on a private word with Ally.
I watch as Kayla hesitates, clearly reluctant to leave them alone.
She must sense the tension, perhaps even knowing more about Ally’s past than she lets on.
But Ally agrees, following Maya to a more secluded area, near where we keep our training gear.
As they step out of view of most pack members, I see Maya’s hand subtly reaching for a knife. My breath catches, and I notice the flash of panic in Ally’s eyes.
“Shit,” Liam mutters under his breath, as we both lean in closer to the screen, unable to look away from what’s unfolding.
Then it happens-Maya lunges at Ally, and while they both struggle, Ally, quicker than expected, overpowers Maya, pinning her down and delivering punch after punch, each blow filled with a fury that seems to have been building for years.
I can see it now-this wasn’t just a random act of violence. This was personal.
Maya provoked her, but Ally defended herself, releasing all the anger she’d held back for so long.
“Maya asked for this,” Liam says, his tone softer now, his initial anger at Ally dissipating as he realizes the truth. Ally was defending herself.
I nod. “We need to present this to the council of elders. They need to see this, to understand that Ally was protecting herself.”
“Shit,” I mutter, the name slipping out before I can stop it. I know I’ve made a mistake.
Liam’s head snaps toward me, his eyes narrowing. “By Ally, you mean Alethea, don’t you?”
I hesitate, caught in my slip-up. “I meant Zoe,” I say quickly, but Liam isn’t buying it.
“Alpha Asher, I know what I heard,” he says, with a steady voice. “And as a werewolf, my hearing is pretty damn good.”
I let out a small, resigned sigh, realizing there was no point in hiding it any longer. “Yes, by Ally, I mean Alethea.”
Liam sinks back into his chair, his hand running over his face.
The revelation seems to hit him hard, and I can see the conflict in his eyes.
He’s had his suspicions, but hearing it confirmed is a different matter.
“Are you okay?” I ask gently, watching as he processes the truth.
Liam stares at me in disbelief, his emotions swirling as he tries to come to terms with everything that’s been revealed.
“How long have you known this?” Liam asks, his eyes narrowing as he spots the guilt written all over my face.
“Since the day she set foot in our pack land,” I admit, my voice steady but low.
“Shit!” Liam exclaims, slamming his fist into his other hand.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Alpha? I knew there was something about Zoe, but I couldn’t quite place it. You’ve been obsessing over her, just like you used to with Ally before her accident and disappearance.”
I watch as Liam paces, his frustration evident. “Wait a minute,” he says, stopping abruptly.
“How were you able to recognize her? She looks different-her hair, her eyes. She even looks sexier and curvier than the fragile Ally I used to know.”
At the mention of her curves, a growl escapes me, low and primal, making Liam snap his gaze back to me with a glare.
He’s connecting the dots now.
He points at me, shaking his head in disbelief. “Don’t tell me Ally is your mate,” he says, his voice tinged with shock. I can see the conflict in his eyes, as though he’s hoping I’ll deny it.
Liam is my trusted friend and Beta, and there’s no point in hiding the truth any longer. I take a deep breath, my chest tighten
“It’s about time you figured it out,” I say, standing and walking toward the window, my gaze fixed on the horizon.
“If she’s your mate,” Liam continues, his tone laced with urgency, “then she isn’t safe here. We have to move her away from Redwood. It’s too dangerous for her to stay.”
I can hear the concern in his voice, the protective instinct of a Beta kicking in.
He runs a hand through his hair, exhaling heavily. His frustration is palpable, and I know he’s struggling to understand my hesitation.
“And Maya?” he presses, his eyes narrowing. “What about her? You’re still keeping her around while your mate is here, suffering.”
I grimace at the mention of Maya, the complicated mess I’ve entangled myself in.
“Maya’s situation is… complex,” I admit, with frustration. “But my focus is on Ally. Maya’s days are numbered. She’s been lying, and it’s only a matter of time before everything comes out.”
Liam looks at me, searching for any sign of uncertainty, but I’ve made up my mind. Ally is my priority, and nothing will stand in the way of protecting her-not even the chaos that Maya has brought into our lives.
Liam shakes his head, his eyes filled with concern. “We need to get Ally out of here. If the council finds out she’s your mate, they’ll use it against you, against her. They’ll see her as a threat, especially after what happened with Maya.”
“Hell no,” I snapped, turning back to face him. “She’s been away from me once before, and I won’t let that happen again.”
Liam looks at me, with confusion evident on his face. “I thought you never wanted a mate. This new you-I don’t understand. And what about Maya?”
He’s got me there, but I need to clarify. “Yes, she’s my mate. No, I didn’t want one. But that doesn’t mean I’ll let any harm come to her.”
Liam sighs, his shoulders slumping. “Alright, Asher. But we need to protect her, and you need to figure out what to do about Maya. This can’t go on like this.”
“I know,” I say, we’ll figure it out.”
“Then reject her,” Liam says, his words slicing through the air like a knife. I slowly turn to face him, my jaw clenched so tightly it feels like it might snap, my hands forming fists at my sides.
Every muscle in my body is taut with barely contained rage.
The idea of releasing the anger I’ve been bottling up for hours on Liam seems almost tempting.
He seems like the perfect target right now.
Sensing the shift in my demeanor, Liam takes a cautious step back, raising his hands defensively.
My eyes are starting to change color, a clear sign that my wolf is threatening to break free, and he’s smart enough to tread carefully.
But before I can act on my fury, the sudden sound of the door opening snaps me out of it. My head whips toward the intruder.
Who dares to barge into my office without knocking?