Asher
A pulse of energy flows through me the moment our skin touches. The spark is there-faint but undeniable.
I pour everything I have into her, as I feed her through the mate bond, desperate to pull her back from the brink.
“Come back to me,” I whisper, my voice raw with emotion.
Then, suddenly, she gasps.
Her body jerks, her lips part as she sucks in a breath, and her eyes flutter open. They are unfocused at first, but she’s here. Relief crashes over me like a wave.
“Asher,” she breathes, her voice hoarse.
The way my name rolls off her tongue stirs something deep inside me. I want to kiss her, to feel her, to prove to myself that she’s truly here. But before I can move, she beats me to it.
Tears stream down her face as she grabs my face between her hands. “Oh, Goddess, you’re alive. You’re here.”
I nod slowly, as I press my forehead to hers, and I breathe her in.
“Thank you, Goddess. Thank you for not making me mourn my mate.”
Then, without warning, she crashes her lips against mine.
For a moment, I’m stunned. This is exactly what I was thinking, what I was craving, and now she’s giving it to me, full of need.
I kiss her back, nibbling on her lips, savoring how soft and inviting they are. Goddess, I’ve missed this.
I pull her closer, I vow to myself that I will never let go again. Never will I let anything or anyone come between us.
The kiss starts slow, but then it deepens and becomes more intense. She clings to me, her fingers thread through my hair, and she pulls me closer as if she wants to take the very breath from my lungs.
My wolf purrs in satisfaction, reveling in the feel of our mate in our arms again. The mate bond thrums between us, sending unmistakable shivers down my spine.
I need more. Ally is the air I breathe, and I will be damned if I ever let her out of my sight again.
But then, she pulls away, her breaths coming in soft, ragged pants. She lies back on the bed, looking up at me with tired yet adoring eyes.
“I need to rest. Just kissing you is making me lightheaded.”
I cup her cheek gently, guilt creeping in. “I’m so sorry, Ally. I should have come back sooner. I heard you-I heard your voice call for me, pleading for me to return. But every time I tried, something held me back.”
She shakes her head weakly, her fingers lacing with mine. “None of that matters, Asher. You’re alive, and that’s all that matters.”
She stretches her hand toward me. “Come to bed.”
I don’t hesitate. I take her hand in one swift movement and slide into bed beside her.
As I pull her into my arms, I realize one thing-I’ve missed this.
I’ve missed us more than anything in this world.
I don’t know if there has ever been a time when we truly enjoyed our bond to the fullest.
That realization makes my chest ache. I’ve spent so much time denying what we have, pushing it away, and now, looking at her, I can’t understand why.
“Hold me,” she murmurs, her voice laced with exhaustion.
I don’t hesitate. I move closer, as I wrap my arms around her, spooning her against me until she’s in the most comfortable position. I inhale her scent, letting it soothe the ache in my heart. The thought of life without Ally is unbearable.
I hold her tightly, feeling the slow rise and fall of her breathing as she drifts into sleep. She needs this rest more than anything, and I vow to let nothing disturb her.
But even as she sleeps peacefully, I can’t look away.
I sit up slightly, watching her like some lovesick fool. I can’t get enough of her.
This feeling is so foreign to me. I never thought in my entire life that I would love someone this much. I never wanted a mate-mates bring doom.
At least, that’s what I had always believed.
My father left his position as Alpha because his mate-my mother-wanted nothing to do with the pack. The mate bond made him turn his back on his people, abandon his responsibilities, and follow my mother to Cuba.
I’ve always wondered-did they regret having me? Because they left without a second thought, without even looking back, forcing me to take up the Alpha position at just eighteen.
The memory alone makes my stomach churn with disgust.
And yet… the very bond I have feared, the one I denied for so long, has been my saving grace.
Ally-this miracle lying peacefully in my bed-is proof of that.
I take in every detail of her as she sleeps. I see the dark circles under her eyes, evidence of how exhausted she is. She has been depriving herself of rest because of me.
That alone makes my blood boil.
Xavier did this.
He thought he had won.
But he has no idea what’s coming.
I will protect her with every ounce of strength I have. Even if it means going to war.
“Meet me at the office,” I say through the mind-link to Liam.
I’ve been unconscious for days, but my subconscious mind hasn’t been idle. I’ve seen things-things I wasn’t meant to see, and now I understand more than ever.
I know Xavier hasn’t taken over my office. Instead, he has been constructing a new, grander one just a few meters from the packhouse. But for now, I need to keep a low profile. Most of the pack still believes I’m dead, and that works to my advantage.
I step closer to Ally, as I watch the way her chest rises and falls steadily. She looks peaceful, something I haven’t seen in a long time. I place a lingering kiss on her forehead. She stirs slightly, and a small smile tugs at her lips, though her eyes remain closed-she is content.
With one last glance at her, I turn and quietly leave the room.
I move through the halls with caution, sensing for any nearby pack members so I can avoid them.
The fewer people who know I’m back, the better. Soon, I reach the office, and I step inside to find Liam already seated, waiting for me.
He is always on time.
When he senses my presence, he immediately stands and bows his head in respect.
“Alpha,” he greets.
I exhale slowly. I’ve missed this man. Liam is loyal to the core, and now I understand why Ally trusts him so completely.
I settle into my chair, my gaze sharp. “Liam, what did I miss?”
Liam doesn’t hesitate. He fills me in on everything-the takeover, Xavier’s movements, the state of the pack. His words don’t surprise me. I had already suspected most of it.
The private investigator I hired before my disappearance had uncovered enough to confirm my worst fears.
I lean forward, my fingers interlocking as I speak in a calm but deadly voice.
“I know who’s working for Xavier from the inside.”
Liam snaps his head toward me. He watches as my own eyes darken, my wolf’s surface as thoughts of betrayal burn through me.
I see the question forming in his mind before he even speaks.
He has no idea what’s coming next.