Alpha Asher By Jane Doe

Chapter 221

It echoed louder than necessary, as if it couldn’t pass up the chance to scold me. Not daring to look down at the branch beneath my foot, I threw caution to the damn wind and made a run for it.

Three heads whipped around as I barreled through the forest line like a wolf in a china shop.

“Lola-” Zeke shouted; his hands clutched to his abdomen where the white t-shirt he wore was soaked through with blood.

Rowena, whose hair long hair was tangled from the wind, had wide eyes brimming with unshed tears. They sparkled with relief, which only acted as gasoline to the fire raging in my chest.

“Get away from them.” I snarled; eyes locked on Tessa.

The witch held her hands out, palms facing the ground, but I had yet to feel any magic oozing off her skin. I itched to lash out, to stop her heart and take her life in exchange for Sean’s, but I wanted to make it count. If she was the one that killed Sean-or if it were that sister of hers, their death would be slow, agonizingly slow.

Rowena stumbled back from Tessa, who whipped around with wild eyes.

“Do it, Lola. Hurry before she attacks.”

Rowena stammered in a voice full of fear.

She glanced my way. “I came to the cells with the supplies to break into her mind, but she’d already gotten out. The witch that helped her, she got away. She could be anywhere by now!”

“You have no idea what’s going on, Lola.”

Tessa warned, her voice growing increasingly strained.

The very sound of it made the blood rush to my head, roaring in my ears. Part of me wanted her to make the first move so I could pluck the seeds of her magic out of thin air and crush them to dust. She had to know how far along I was, how much better I’d gotten at conjuring. I’d use every drop of energy to snuff her out.

It was the least Sean deserved.

“Lola, listen to me-” Zeke’s face was uncomfortably pale, his voice tight with pain.

His words were cut short by Rowena crying out a second time.

“Lola, stop her! Can’t you feel her working her magic?” She stammered.

If it wasn’t for Zeke, I had no doubt that I would’ve blindly lashed out and snapped Tessa’s spine in two. There was something off about him, and I wasn’t talking about the blade lodged in his back, so long that the tip of it protruded from his stomach. He was standing closer to Tessa, hovering in a way that felt almost…protective?

I knew Zeke. Sure, he was loyal without fault, but not to those who didn’t deserve it.

If he thought Tessa deserved it, then there was definitely more to the story.

kept shifting over to Rowena, narrowed in

over the side of her head. The strands were ripped away

petals of a dying rose, a patch of decayed skin blossomed along Rowena’s left temple, drifting

to your face?” I asked, sounding much too calm considering the

Zeke. Sure, he was loyal without fault, but not to

it, then

his eyes kept shifting over to Rowena, narrowed in a way that

gust of wind came from out of nowhere, whistling through the trees and

locks were blown over the side of her head. The strands were ripped away from

blossomed

I asked, sounding much too calm considering the chaos that was quickly

me like I’d grown a second head. Even Tessa looked confused, shifting to her other foot to cover the way

it was the fact that she was telling me what to do, or maybe it was simply the sound of her voice, but a hot spike of rage pierced my chest and caused me to

“I want answers, and no one. is leaving until

my body, swirling and churning until it felt like

them all. Let none

next was nothing like what I’d done at the safe haven, even if the spell was similar in a way. There was no veil of shimmering silver energy, beautiful like a cluster of stars had descended

this was

out of bushes and emerging from all their little hiding places to form a large circle around the four of

the sky,

exhaustion began to take hold, but sheer adrenaline swatted it aside like an

your face?” I asked a second time, still sounding eerily

the dome with wide

to meet you at the prison to do the spell, but I figured I’d stop and see if your grandmother wanted to come. She’s made such strides with her magic, I just—I figured I’d see if she wanted to observe.” She said in a weak voice, her slender throat working as she swallowed heavily. Her eyes fluttered shut, giving me a better view at the mottled skin along the side of her face. “I’d just barely walked through the door when they broke in- the witches. They had cloaks on with hoods covering their heads. They attacked us, and when I jumped in front of your grandmother, one hit me in the face. You see what it did to me, how strong it’s magic was. I—I don’t think your grandma and brother made it, Lola. The witches were so strong. I called out for help, but I couldn’t let them get away. I chased the witches as far as I could. I was so scared that I let out this burst of magic and it hit one. It

a trembling, red tipped

step

him with a look. His mouth remained open like he was debating on speaking anyway, but something in

to take the hit for my grandmother.” I said,

lower lip trembled as she brought her hand to it, muffling

“They’re alive?!”

yes.” I replied.

Sean’s cold, limp body at the morgue, I might’ve been surprised at how callous

dead?” Zeke croaked,

surprised considering he’d been searching

I didn’t. We knew something bad happened with Asher, but-but we didn’t know your brother…” He trailed off, his shoulders slumping as

it Rowena?” I hummed, sliding my eyes from the towering Alpha to the

following, Lola.” She stammered, confusion so genuine filled her eyes that I wanted to tear it from her