Alpha Asher By Jane Doe

Chapter 122 – “You’re sure you’re alright?” Asher asked for the second time, the only sign of his worry was the crease between his eyebrows and how his attention kept drifting from the road to where I sat in the passenger seat.

Cordelia had taken a couple of photos of the sigil on my chest, the one now hidden by the oversized t-shirt I wore, to investigate herself. An ‘x’ with frayed ends like fletching of an arrow, with a long slash that went vertically through the center. I tried not to worry too much that this one had left her stumped, and instead tried to stay optimistic. Breyona had sent the pictures to her parents, who would now be on the lookout for any texts or relics that matched.

I knew that the pain I had experienced wasn’t the only reason Asher was asking if I were alright. He’d always have a healthy dose of suspicion towards the witches, but he also trusted the gut feelings I had around them. The ones that told me both could be a threat if they wanted, but not to myself or anyone I held close.

‘Alpha, Luna…’ Asher’s Beta’s voice filled our heads without warning. ‘Just got a phone call from a doctor up at Grove Hospital. There’s a woman there who’s just woken up from an eighteen-year coma. The picture of the symbol on that witch’s hand, this woman has one that matches.’

Asher and I locked eyes, undoubtedly thinking the same thing. Somehow, this woman is tied to the witch that had tried to k**l me. So far, she was our only connection.

“Let’s go.”‘ I told Asher with a firm nod, ” I’ll let my dad know we’re stopping by afterwards.”

We had been just a few minutes away from Asher’s parents house, where dad, grandma, and Sean were still staying. I was dreading having this conversation with him, because he already looked years younger since moving into town, but I had to ask about mom. There was every chance that she had something to do with this binding spell, and even though the though I hoped she wasn’t involved, I had long ago realized there was a lot I didn’t know about the woman.

The drive was a long three hours, but the views made the trip worthwhile. We were on a long highway that curved and winded through the mountains, past streams and over a long bridge. Halfway through, the exhaustion from the ritual Rowena had done weighed my eyelids down. The gentle hum of the highway faded in my ears as darkness swallowed me whole.

I woke startled, my heart thudding beneath the sigil on my chest. A dream I couldn’t remember floated just out of reach, the details becoming hazier as more and more awareness seeped into my veins.

to Asher, who sat in the driver’s seat tapping on the screen of his

with his sweatshirt. Rather than giving it back to him,

down and smirked, eyes trailing down my face to his sweatshirt. The remnants of his warmth still clung to the fabric. Not only was I drowning in the fabric, but

with undertones of artificial fragrance within the soaps and cleaners used. Seeping through the veil was undertones of blood and pus, mixed with

often as humans, so most of the wolves were here

who looked like she spent

look and shook her head disparagingly, motioning for us to follow her down a wide hall. “Nice to meet you Alpha,

know I didn’t scare everyone off.”‘ I replied

She nodded in agreement; her strong chin held high. “My grandson was there in the crowd, saw the whole thing. Wouldn’t stop talking about it for days, mind you. I reckon it was hard on you,

myself.” Asher’s smile was

been a sight to see.” She replied with a small chuckle. We turned down three separate hallways, each one bustling with nurses and patients. The RN stopped at one of the

I replied with a smile, following

surrounded by heart monitors and those wire hangers that hold bags of fluid. While one of the beds

The

you two could make it on such short notice. If you wanted to speak with her, I’m afraid she’s been out for a while now.” Dr. Anderson stood beside the woman’s bed, a clipboard in his hand as he scribbled some notes and flipped to the next page. “We had to sedate her shortly after she woke up. She has no idea where she is, and the last thing she remembers was from