Alpha Asher By Jane Doe

Chapter 112 – I made it halfway down the beach when a series of cheers and whooping filled the air, followed by laughter and thundering feet. There were at least a hundred men and women running down the beach, towards the forest’s emerald leaves, muted from the dark but still beautiful beneath the moonlight.

A few shifted prematurely, shredding bathing suits and swimming trunks as fur sprouted from their arms, neck, and torso. For many the shift was instant, an animal breaking free from its two-legged p****n. Large paws dug into the sand, spraying those who hadn’t yet shifted. Some shouted and groaned, while others laughed and tried not to get it in their eyes.

‘Isn’t manhunt like adult hide and seek?’ I asked Maya, even though there was no way she’d know the answer.

When she responded with a shrug, I cut my losses and peered down the beach. I couldn’t see too far, but there were still four fires that dotted the sandy dunes. People sat around them, most obscured by distance and darkness. It was unlikely Asher would be sitting around a fire, surrounded by people as he ignored my voice ringing in his head.

‘Asher? I’m walking down the beach. Where are you?’ I called out, only to again be met with silence.

‘Let’s not panic.’ Maya said firmly, but I was no longer sure if she were talking to me or herself. ‘There could be a good reason he’s ignoring us.’

‘Hopefully, there’s a good reason for this feeling I’m having.’ I grunted, unable to place the odd tingling in the pit of my stomach.

I could walk down the beach and search each bonfire, or I could go into the forest -which seemed the more likely option between the two. My mind was concocting all sorts of things. Perhaps he had found a vampire lingering on the borders, or did something new happen with the witches? It had been almost twenty-four hours since their first a****k, and I was already beginning to wonder how soon the second would come.

As I tried to convince myself there was no need to worry, irritation began to take hold. I would know if something happened to him, but Asher wouldn’t ignore me.

With a huff, I turned and chose one of the dirt trails that led into the forest.

Asher’s scent was practically all over the place. Trailing throughout the forest from recent and old patrol routes with Zeke, Mason, and countless other warriors. It would have been easier if nearly a hundred people hadn’t just come storming through, but it was better than searching a dwindling beach.

party, the gust of chilled wind that passed through might’ve made me shiver. It wafted

and branches, padded across damp soil and rocky earth. The distant sound of shouting and

cutting to the east. My intention was to

far away, it’s sound deafening in my ears. My spine went rod straight, sending Maya on full alert. The feeling in my stomach was growing worse, turning sour and more wrong

the left of me, and then another to

distance, and for

being circled.’ Maya snarled, sending a burst of strength into my legs as I kicked

subsided, and the sound of padding feet grew quiet and distant. I came to a stop beside a great oak tree, using its thick trunk as

could fall against my racing heart, something huge charged from the brush, barreling into me faster than I could process. There was no pain,

over, tearing the air from my lungs when I fell on my back. I snarled and thrashed, sweat and dirt clinging

my chest, pinning my wrists down with brutal force. I wondered if my heart would stop from how hard it hammered, from how fast the adrenaline coursed through

voice was dark with anger, his eyes black holes that devoured my trembling, panting face. His breath fanned across my face, “…never go in the forest when a game of Manhunt is being played. Not unless you’re willing to play

traveled lower-to where Asher straddled me. It

sucking in a breath when his eyes zeroed in

hand and stiffened when it traveled lower. I thrashed when I felt the ghost of his fingertips gliding across my hip, where the strings of the b****i met in a neat

you don’t get caught.” His voice was soft, but there was nothing gentle in his words.

the pieces clicked together in my mind, bringing back a memory I thought

thought at the time. There had been one party in particular, one where Tyler vanished halfway through, A game of chase had been happening when the moon had risen, between nearly

one that almost always end in having carnal s*x, deep within the forest. I had never played it before myself, and not