Alpha Asher By Jane Doe

Chapter 118 – I had never been good at sugar coating things, but I tried to tone down the details as I told her what I knew. There was a nervous flutter in my chest because she hadn’t turned and bolted up the stairs. She was still here, listening even though her eyes were somewhere far away.

“Her name is-was Carson, she went to the University in town and ran one of the sororities. She had friends and a family.” I explained, “I know it’s a long shot, but I had to ask. I know you weren’t aware of our father’s plans, but this was how it started before. She’s the first, but there’s too high a chance she won’t be the last.”

“I don’t always see things, sometimes its sounds or feelings.”‘ Her voice was soft and a few octaves higher than mine.

I met her gaze unflinchingly, “Anything that could tie into last night? There was a party at a lake in the middle of the forest, then another at a frat house in town.”

She paused, and something in my chest jumped as I registered the thoughtful look on her face. Part of me was giddy, this was the most we had spoken in weeks.

“I haven’t slept much these last few days.” She admitted quietly, not looking Tristan’s way. No matter what she gave me, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. “I could smell something sweet, but it was a different kind of sweet than what vampire’s smell like. I also heard a girl laughing, but it wasn’t nice laughing. Red hair, but now I think that’s because it was covered in blood. That’s…that’s all I remember.”

I believed her, reading the guilt in her eyes. My nightmares were few and far between compared to hers, but they also made little sense. I knew how disorienting they could be and wanted to give her the same shred of hope that I carried.

“Rowena, the witch that got here yesterday, she said that training will help you. It’ll give your magic an outlet, so it doesn’t have to show itself in other ways. You’ll be able to get some sleep for a change.” I told her, relief building in my chest as the smallest of smiles crossed her face.

While Tristan and Giovanni got in touch with their contacts, Asher and I went back to the crime scene. After a quick phone call to Cordelia and Rowena, the two were on their way to meet us.

There were only a handful of warriors left combing through the lake and surrounding beach, the rest having taken up patrol duties for the rest of the day. Asher spread the word to expand the perimeters another five miles. Far enough to search the land without straying too far from home.

The crowd of college students had been chased away, giving us four the privacy to speak freely.

“We’ll start on the beach and make our way to where the body was found.” Asher said, his hand on the small of my back as I led the way.

going, but my feet carried us down the beach, to where I had run into Devin. Just a few feet away was where Zeke

how her family feels.” Rowena’s voice

as grandmas, “If there’s anything here to pick up, we’ll find it.

search for Asher. It was silent apart from

found against that tree.” I nodded ahead, eyes darting down to the large spot of dried blood. The grass had gone

time of

got in the uber a little past midnight. It’s a half hour drive to the lake from

slacks, and Cordelia,

first to speak, “This is not helpful

Cordelia frowned, growing still. “So faint,

been sitting against. Dried blood turned the roots black, making the tree look infected. Her fingers grazed the bark ever

are you feeling?” Rowena asked curiously, her mossy eyes locked on the older witch. “All I’m getting is

couldn’t help but ask, hoping desperately for some clue that would point us

it’s so faint. I’m afraid I can’t get an accurate read on it. All magic leaves a trace, doesn’t matter what kind it is. There’s spells to cover your tracks, but if you know what you’re looking for, they can be unraveled.” She explained, looking down at the dried patch of blood. Her eyes were more than troubled when she spoke, “Whatever this is, it wasn’t a spell meant to cover tracks. It’s like what happened here has been seared from the land, and what I’m sensing is just the

it’s the vampire’s orchestrating this, there are witches involved.” I swallowed, feeling the looming sensation that I was

softly, “I think it’s safe to say that,

could we?” Rowena locked

sleep that night was more difficult than ever. I had finally succumbed to

my eyes ached that I hadn’t slept for long. Spending a solid fifteen minutes brushing the knots from my dark hair, I stuck my head out of the bathroom

to Asher, who