Alpha Asher By Jane Doe

Even worrying about Asher, which I’d been doing since the blood witch said he had problems of his own to deal with, sapped what little strength I had left.

As I swayed where I stood, staring down at the five lifeless bodies, the shadows watched from their hidden alcoves within the forest. Tristan stood nearby, his eyes flitting to my face every few seconds as though he were worried I’d topple over at any moment.

I sure felt like I was, but I’d never admit that.

Instead I frowned at the blood that watered the earth and thought about the words that the blood witch uttered.

“Make use of their blood…” I said quietly, lifting my gaze to peer at the darkness that surrounded us.

Cassidy continued to gnaw on her lower lip, which she’d been doing for the last half hour. “What do you mean by that?”

Tristan grunted, which was indication enough that he knew exactly what I meant.

“As reward for your service, you may feed on the blood that was spilled, only that of the five Vampire’s who needlessly lost their lives this night.” I said to the shadows, my voice strong despite the lead that weighed down my bones and claimed my energy. At the last moment, staring down at the men who had harbored such hatred for someone they knew very little about, I added: “…all I ask is that you return their bodies to the earth.

I wasn’t sure if the tendrils of darkness could feel my lack of strength, or if they were simply that hungry, but they swarmed the ground like the fog that often cloaked the entire town in the early morning hours, when the air was thick with humidity.

Cassidy let out a sound that was halfway between a croak and a wail, taking several steps back though the shadows still slithered around her feet.

“What in the h**l…” She muttered.

Within seconds the ground was clean, free from the blood and the bodies of the d**d Vampire’s.

“Lola, are you alright?” Tristan said quietly, his voice so low that I had to strain to hear him. “You look like you need some sleep…”

“I do, and I will, but only after I figure out how the h**l this happened.” I told him; thankful the others weren’t within hearing range. “Have the Vampire taken to a cell …one of the nicer ones. I don’t want her harmed, I can’t begin to stress that enough.”

“I’ll stay with her to make sure, but only after you’re safe in bed.” He replied, and as he held my gaze it wasn’t desire I felt, but the genuine need to protect and serve his Queen.

The handful of wolves on patrol who knew the location of Asher’s personal holding cells escorted the Vampire, each one under strict orders to only use force should she try and escape–and judging from how much blood she lost, that wouldn’t be happening anytime soon.

escorted home by a few of the remaining warriors in the patrol team. She must’ve not been too shaken up because the reluctant

estate, where tensions continued to rise until I wasn’t sure who

the four of us stood in the kitchen struck me as odd, especially considering it was her spell that had failed to work properly. For the first time, I was wondering if my gut

chance she was one of the leaks

you alone, Cordelia?” I asked, shattering the haze

on my shoulders, reinforcing the nagging

fell, deepening the lines that circled her eyes and mouth. “You’re wondering why my spell didn’t work, and I wish I could tell you, Lola, but I just don’t know.” She placed her hands flat on the marble countertop and stared down at the flat colors. “There’s a chance it could’ve been overridden by the blood witch’s magic, but she would’ve needed a significant amount of blood to fuel such a thing. The only other option is that those Vampire’s were already within the

have to assume that they were, which means I’ll have to talk to Asher as soon as possible.” I forced the words through clenched teeth, fighting the urge to start shouting down the mate-bond, linking his mind with my own and potentially distracting him from

did manage to get through, I’d most likely have

to my disorganized thoughts, bringing my attention back to the present. She leaned forwards,

wrapping around limbs, piercing the skin like razor thin needles that held the Vampire’s in place. “I’m not

power I felt was intense…to say the least.” Cordelia replied, pursing her lips. “The shadows were

murmured, following the feeling in my gut that told me to keep quiet, to give as little information as possible. “I don’t know exactly what I did, but it worked, and the threat is gone for the time

the same doorway both Tristan and Rowena vanished through. It led

you and Rowena?” I blurted, unable to keep the question at bay for any longer. It had been over a week

witch that reminded me so much of my grandma that it hurt to suspect her as the enemy frowned. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with. You’ve got enough on your plate and we’re both grown witches, we can

strong feeling this was more than just a spat,

that night, after spending the last three hours curled up on the couch in a deep sleep, Asher’s voice began to trickle into

awake? I got word from a couple warriors on patrol that there’s a new face in the dungeons. What happened? Was

with the remnants of

Tristan left on the table before I slumped over. ‘No one’s hurt. Well, not anyone in the

soured, just like I didn’t miss the frustration that oozed

mate-bond between us. Highly saturated images of last night flashed in my head, replaying the battle between myself and the Vampires for Asher to

shuddering as my stomach dropped and intuition spiked. Without a doubt, I knew what I

you herself, you must have something she wants. She wants to throw you off your game, get you doubting yourself, so you surrender before the fight even begins.’ Asher grumbled, both to me

his own, his intuition was just as

of the refrigerator as I opened the

to be.’ I told him, taking a long drink from the bottle

twisted the cap back on and placed it in the fridge, already rejuvenated from the small bit