Alpha Asher By Jane Doe

There was no room for argument, no room for negotiation within the gruff plains of his voice. Not a single shred of remorse or sympathy was viable within his words, nothing I could play on or entice to change his mind.

‘Asher, come on. I have to do this -‘

You don’t have to do s**t.’ He snarled, the sound raising each and every hair on my body until I felt like I’d touched a live wire. ‘You can wait until we get back, then we can assemble an actual team to accompany us.’

‘It’ll be too late by then. I’ve already told you that they change the location of their lairs. If I don’t act now, they’ll move somewhere else and then we’ll never find them. How can you not understand that?’ I barked, frustration sharpening my voice and tinting my vision in a dull shade of red.

I was being insensitive, uncaring of the fact that he’d gone through so much while I was held captive by my father, but Asher was being so d**n stubborn.

‘I might be stubborn, but I’m not reckless. I don’t leap into a dangerous situation with the word of a Vampire we don’t know nor trust.’ His rebuttal was instant, a barrage of fire and ice clashing within the confines of my skull. ‘If they move locations before we’re both able to go, then so be it, but I will not risk my mate a second time. I mean it, Lola. Do not do this. As your Alpha and mate, I forbid it.’

A sound of surprise and defiance slipped past my lips, making several heads in the coffee shop I sat in turn in my direction. I wrapped my hands around the to-go cup I held, tightening them to ease the shaking my rage had incited.

‘Did he just try to Alpha-command us?’ Maya scoffed, offence thickening her voice.

Hastily, I maneuvered around the growing line of customers and veered straight for the doors. The slew of crimson tinted emotions I was currently experiencing deafened my ears to the few patrons I heard call out my name followed by a ‘hello.’

door jingled as it clattered shut, and a warm breeze

dangerous mission by himself with a witch he still doesn’t trust.” I seethed, so consumed by disbelief and anger that I hadn’t noticed Rowena’s auburn hair and flowing sundress until

of recognition danced within her mossy eyes and the expression she

to speak, but she beat me to

wrong. I didn’t even want coffee today, but something was telling me to come here. Let’s have a chat, shall we?” She mused, flipping back the loose curls that trailed down her shoulder. I was seconds away from declining when she said, “…and I warn you, I won’t take

grumbled, sounding so much like Tristan that

with each move. She smoothed out

I watched the morning traffic ebb and flow, eventually thinning out as everyone headed to their respective jobs. There was no twisting sensation in my gut, no feeling

you saved last night; she gave me the location on where the rest of the Vampire’s are staying. If I don’t go right away, my chance at finding them will slip through my fingers. They change the location of their lair every month, but Asher strictly forbade me from going until he gets

I expected, but I’ll try to help nonetheless. Tell

current lair, and they never visit the same place twice.” I sighed sharply, pinching the bridge of my nose when a headache stung my temples. “He-he’s still dealing with how it felt to lose me the first time, when I had to hand

protecting is in his nature, just as sacrifice is in yours? I’m not excusing or condoning his reaction, but it’s merely a

doesn’t help me decide what to do. If I go against him, I don’t know

more information on the witches responsible for the d***h of two of your pack members, and the attempted m****r of Breyona.” Rowena

that even Rowena knew what I would do, that this opportunity was one I couldn’t pass up. As much as I wanted to trust Bridgette and let that warm feeling of hope build in my chest, I had to remain vigilant. On the off chance this was

I’m not mistaken.” Rowena hummed, her eyes crinkling at the corners as