Alpha Asher By Jane Doe

The others were quick to respond as one of our own had been found.

I couldn’t peel my eyes away from Katie’s glassy stare, even when Mason’s gentle hand turned me from her body.

We had shifted into human form after alerting the others, pulling on a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants that were stashed in the forest.

“Don’t look at her, Lola.” Mason murmured, his typical care-free expression was absent from his face.

“Could a wolf have done this?” Maya mused in my head.

I shook my head in response, “It’s possible. It takes incredible skill to cover your scent like that.”

I could feel my heart hammering in my chest, and the cool night time breeze felt sharp against my skin.

As awful as it sounds, I had grown used to blocking things from my mind. While Katie’s glassy stare would surely haunt my dreams, I pushed the image from my conscious mind.

Alpha Asher and his men had taken a total of six minutes to arrive in the clearing.

Asher looked delectable in his loose fitting shorts, his bare chest absorbing the moon light and taking on a porcelain glow. As much as my mind wanted to linger on Asher and find some semblance of peace, there was business to attend to.

“He brought a lot of men with him.” Maya pointed out that interesting fact.

I frowned, “Kind of strange, isn’t it?”

There had to be at least fifteen men that followed Asher into the clearing. Far too many men for what looked like a simple rogue attack.

A man I hadn’t met before approached Mason and I while Asher looked over Katie’s lifeless body.

The unnamed man was nearly as intimidating as Asher himself, but he lacked the powerful aura that Asher seemed to constantly exude.

“Beta Drake.” Mason murmured, nodding his head in an act of respect.

Beta Drake was the man mentioned when I first arrived at the pack boarders. No wonder Sean was in such a sour mood when I finally arrived home. Asher had no need for another Beta when he had one of his own. Sean had essentially been stripped of his title, a title my family had held for years.

Beta Drake had the same extremely large build all of Asher’s men had, as if giant blood ran in their family. A long scar ran down the side of his neck, disappearing under the t-shirt he wore. His hair was a strange shade of ash blonde and reached down to his ears.

“Tell me tonight’s events leading up to the discovery of the she-wolf.” Beta Drake spoke in a very informal tone, “Do not leave anything out.”

Mason glanced at me, and with reluctance I began to speak.

I kept my hammering heart under control, determined to keep my wandering eyes away from Katie’s body. The last thing I needed was to lose what tight grip I had on my emotions.

Much to my surprise, my voice came out calm and steady. The turmoil I was feeling inside didn’t rear it’s ugly head.

Mason chimed in here and there, confirming my account of tonight’s events.

Asher hadn’t approached the two of us, nor spared us a glance as we left from the clearing.

Mason, kind as always, walked me home in silence.

“First night of patrol and this happens.” Mason shook his head, a frown forming on his pale lips.

I scoffed, but the action was filled with exhaustion. “Not a very good sign, is it?”

Mason shook his head, “Not at all.”

“There were too many of Asher’s men there tonight for it to be a simple rogue attack.” I pursed my lips, the gears in my mind turning.

“You think so?” Mason’s head tilted slightly as my words sunk in.

I shrugged, “Fifteen men seems like an awful lot. Rogue attacks happen sometimes, but tonight seemed different.”

“I think we both need some sleep. Try not to think about it too much.” Mason frowned as we stood on the stairs to my house, “I’ll see you for training tomorrow, right?”

I rolled my eyes, gaining some of my sarcastic humor back. “Like Alpha Asher would let me miss training.”

it was one that took effort to maintain. “Good, I’ll hunt you down myself if you

Mason off and went

seem like Sean was home, but Grandma and Dad sat in the living room. From the looks of it, they were having a hushed conversation between themselves. I couldn’t

don’t wanna be overheard.” Maya mumbled in my

what they were talking about, the night had been long

the door as I walked in, and Dad lifted himself to

us something happened tonight at patrol.” Dad frowned, his gruff voice full

“A girl was found dead. Looks

placated, “I don’t want you out running patrol

understood where he was coming from, but I

Dad.” I frowned, plopping down on the couch next to

losing you or Sean.” Dad growled, running a hand through his salt and

bed. “Alpha Asher would never allow that. He can’t let half the people in town stop showing up for patrol cause their

to me on this.” Dad grimaced, but I had already

I stood from the couch, “I will not run again. I’m back now, and I

that tinged my words had faded, leaving behind something else. A sense of power and authority filled me, one that didn’t quite feel right in

he could feel the strange

few moments the strange sensation subsided

sounded just

I grumbled, my limbs feeling heavy. “All I know is I

still stood with his jaw clenched while Grandma looked quite

trudging up the stairs, “I

had been effortless, and I made sure to set an

thought, Katie haunted my dreams. Her glassy green eyes were burned into my head, along with the image of her scarlet stained

detail that stood out, it reminded me this wasn’t reality. A set of blazing red

of Katie hindered my sleep, I felt refreshed

and slipped on a black sports bra and a pair of workout shorts. Slipping my long hair into a pony tail and my shoes on my feet, I jogged

flipping something in a pan. The sticky sweet smell of pancakes filled my nose and I plopped down at the

time for once, I see.” Grandma turned and flashed me a cheeky

my Grandma and grabbed a water from the

Asher would show up to torment you some more.” Grandma smirked, a strange flicker of knowledge gleaming in her

Maya mused, “Certainly didn’t feel

I scolded her, pushing my strange attraction to Asher

steaming pancakes she had set on a plate, ignoring the light blush that formed on my

at the plate of pancakes she set in front

sat down, a cup of steaming

Dad’s upset.” Grandma frowned, “He just needs

“I didn’t

me a kind smile, “Just afraid and feeling

tell you that himself?” I raised my eyebrow at her, knowing

your Dad is much too stubborn to

know, Grandma.

that I can agree

the house with a full stomach, walking to the

not as carefree as I had hoped for. Death lingered in the air, the news

Asher didn’t keep this from anyone.” I shook

could only imagine how

short hair shifting. “Alpha Asher isn’t like

a good

along with the other trainee’s. Breyona and I threw our change of clothes in the lockers and

kicked today, shorty?” Mason snickered, leaning down to

raised.

bet you I’ll get at least

it on, Mason.” I poked my tongue out, jabbing one of my fists at his

room and I knew without looking that he

eyes immediately found his own, and they

other as Mason

whispered lowly in my ear and I fought to

doesn’t he?” I giggled, keeping my voice low as