Alpha Asher By Jane Doe

Chapter 228

There wasn't much more we could do after that. Rowena was dangling on the cusp of unconsciousness and one more slice, one more sliver of flesh, could easily send her tumbling off the edge.

I could've healed her, resealed her wounds. and sent the blood trickling back into her body, but I didn't trust myself. The more I thought about her, about Sean and how I felt, the hazier my mind became. I was running out of reasons not to finish what I'd started back in the forest, and that fact terrified me more than anything. I should’ve told Asher, but what was the point? There was nothing that could be done. The dark veins along my fingers and hands were proof that I'd almost went off the deep end, and the shadows themselves insisted there was no cure to be found.

After ordering Giovanni to dose Rowena with enough Hemlock to subdue a small army, Asher and I left. We spent the rest of the day together, though it was anything but relaxing. There was so much he and I needed to talk about, but we were both working on overdrive, fixated on protecting the people of this pack.

Zeke, Tessa, and Breyona tagged along, following us to Killian’s old office. The five of us crowded around the large conference table, clutching cups of crappy coffee in our hands as we created lists of every single person we’d come in contact with since moving to the capital of the pack.

Strangers, acquaintances, friends, family, foes. There were too many people to sort through and not nearly enough time to vet them all. Tessa, surprisingly enough, was the most helpful. She’d stepped up since declaring which side she was on and was honest with the information she gave out despite her obvious fear towards losing her sister.

“I don't know exactly where the others are. Ember and I were kept from the group. We were assigned a protector-or a babysitter as Ember liked to call her. Elaine's one of the witches good with crafting illusions.” Tessa explained, her soft features hardening at the mention of her twin. Her voice took on a muted tone as she continued, “...there were a couple of times your wolves didn’t even notice us. We’d be camping in the forest and a patrol team would race by.”

“Do you think that’s how the blood witch is escaping our notice?” Asher asked from across the table. I noticed how he tried to tone down the command in his voice, but it was there, nonetheless. Tessa didn’t seem phased by that fact. If anything, from the way she tilted her chin, she seemed used to being given orders.

“No. If she’s truly here in your pack, then she's hiding in plain sight. Surrounding herself with a bunch of protectors to hide her whereabouts...it's not really her style.”

Tessa cringed.

It should've frightened me that the mere mention of the blood witch had Tessa flinching, but all I could think about was Sean and the fact that both Breyona and

Mason were meant to join him.

“You've met her, then?” Zeke asked, his eyes brightening. They flickered to my mate, staying there for several seconds. He and Asher were having some kind of silent conversation when Zeke abruptly turned back to Tessa and asked, “Do you think you'd be able to point her out if you saw a picture of her?”

Tessa blanched, “I've met her once, but it wasn’t an experience I ever wanted to relive. She was terrifying, to be honest with you. The kind of crazy that's cunning and calculated.”

“How do we know she’s not wearing someone else’s face?” I countered, hands clasped and resting beneath my chin. The dark veins running up my fingers made them ice cold. “If the second witch can change her identity, can't the blood witch do the same?”

“Again, that's not really her style. She’s cocky, but not in a way that's considered a weakness. She'd thrive on the fact that she’s living under your nose, but the second you came sniffing too close, she wouldn’t hesitate to pack up and move on.” Tessa explained, pursing her lips. “The way Rowena spoke made it sound like you haven't even come close to figuring out who she is. I'd be willing to bet if she’s actually here in your pack, then she's wearing her own face. If she is I think I could point her out.”

“It's not perfect or fast by any means, but it's a start. Now, if you don’t mind, I'd like to know who murdered my parents. Was it that sister of yours?” Breyona chimed in, and as her voice dropped low, I swore the lighting in the room followed.

Tessa visibly swallowed, glancing at the furthest corners of the room as though she noticed the sudden lighting change too.

just...she’s just angry.” Tessa sighed; her earthy eyes locked on the table’s surface as though it were the most interesting thing

matter to her who you guys are or what pack you belong to. You're all the same in her eyes. The witch that murdered your parents was an elemental

eyes narrowed. “Water. Does that

softly. I'd apologize, but what would it change? All of the apologies Ember and I received as children did nothing

talk, their voices fading into the background,

up each morning on our land, staring our people in the eyes whilst plotting their deaths. Did she sleep in a bed? Was it a house she lived in or an apartment? Did she hold a job to keep up the facade of a pack member? These were all things I mulled over, and the more I pictured her smiling and pretending to be one of us, the angrier

to a head when I glanced over at Asher, seeing

lips were swollen from the number of times

with a list of everyone within a fifty-mile radius. We'll get pictures and have Tessa go through them one by one. If the blood witch doesn't

posture stiff and shoulders

the table's surface,

need something belonging to the blood witch though. The more important the

pop into my head, one I should've thought of sooner. I mentally cursed myself for being so distracted with the

don't have an object, but we have something else...something better.” I mused, looking up from the table to realize that all

eyes regardless of how

hers?”

do.” I replied. “We

it was all I could think about. There wasn't any need for a locator spell, not when I had Conjuration on my side. That, along with Holly's blood, had to be plenty to show me where the blood witch was. Even the dark magic

we should wait until you're at full strength. I’m all for getting this bitch, but you look dead on your feet.” Breyona said with obvious concern. A few seconds passed when

if waiting is the best idea. She has

relies heavily on any sort of power it

seemed to ripple over everyone at the table,

under the might of a full moon. I gave nothing away, not even when one of their tantalizing verses

we do this tonight.” I said,

tight grip, desperate to spring. Even Maya writhed

said, and the

pair of eyes I stared into, my patience waned. Tessa breezed through them, her scowl growing more and more prominent with each photograph she slid to the side.

the large, open windows faded, we decided to call it quits. We filtered back to mine and

would soon be on their way. Deciding it was better to explain things to Holly in

was another plan brewing, one conjured up by the dark magic whispering in my ear. It was insanity, so much so that I didn’t dare tell anyone, not even Asher. Still, as insane as it was...it was also highly tempting. Any guilt or doubts I had were slowly

the driveway of the