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.”

to maintain. “Good, I’ll hunt you down

off and

Dad sat in the living room. From the looks of it, they were having a hushed conversation between themselves. I couldn’t make out any of the words exchanged between the two of them, but the one

like two people who don’t wanna be overheard.” Maya mumbled in my

what they were

door as I walked in,

us something happened tonight at patrol.” Dad

my arms, “A girl was found

“I don’t want you out running patrol

where he was coming from, but I also knew his personal needs wouldn’t overcome

happen, Dad.” I frowned, plopping down

you or Sean.” Dad growled, running a hand through

head to bed. “Alpha Asher would never allow that. He can’t let half the

this.” Dad grimaced, but I had

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

had faded, leaving behind something else. A sense of power and authority filled me, one

strange waves rolling off of me

sensation subsided leaving me feeling drained and somewhat

was that?” Maya sounded just as

limbs feeling heavy. “All I know is

with his jaw clenched while

bed now.” I mumbled, trudging up the

and I made sure to set an

eyes were burned into my head, along with the image of her scarlet

and I had almost mistaken it for reality. It was one detail that stood out, it reminded me this wasn’t reality. A set of blazing red eyes stared at me through

dreams of Katie hindered my sleep, I felt refreshed after the events of

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

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

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

from the fridge, “Very funny,

I was afraid Alpha Asher would show up to torment you some more.” Grandma smirked, a strange flicker

Maya mused, “Certainly didn’t feel like

pushing my strange

turned my attention to the steaming pancakes she had set on a plate,

frowned, glancing at the plate of pancakes she set

sat down, a cup of

Grandma frowned, “He just needs

“I didn’t want to upset

with you, dear.” Grandma gave me

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

“Oh heavens no. You know your Dad is much too stubborn

Grandma. You’ve always been too smart for your own

that I can

the house with a full stomach, walking to the pack house with Breyona and

was light, but not as carefree as I had hoped for. Death lingered in the air, the news of Katie’s murder had

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

could only imagine how Katie’s poor

short hair shifting. “Alpha Asher

guess that’s a good

the other trainee’s. Breyona and I threw our change of

get your butt kicked today, shorty?” Mason snickered, leaning down to whisper

my fists raised. “Bring it on. You still can’t

“I bet you I’ll get

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

room and I knew without looking that

own, and they darkened as they

Mason, our arms grazing each other as Mason looked down at me with an amused expression

my ear and I fought to keep a smile

giggled,