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 myself

Mason off

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 make out any

wanna be overheard.” Maya mumbled in

as I wanted to care, to inquire what they were talking about, the night had

the door as I walked in,

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

frowned and crossed my arms, “A girl was found dead. Looks

want you out running patrol anymore, or anywhere near the woods

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

that won’t happen, Dad.” I frowned,

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

would never allow that. He can’t let half the people in town stop showing up

me on this.” Dad grimaced, but I had

I stood from the couch, “I will not run

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

if he could feel the strange waves rolling off of me he

strange sensation subsided leaving me feeling drained and somewhat

Maya sounded just as confused and tired

I grumbled, my limbs feeling heavy. “All

his jaw clenched while Grandma looked quite

I mumbled, trudging up the stairs,

asleep that night had been effortless, and I made sure to set

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

mistaken it for reality. It was one detail that stood out, it reminded me this wasn’t

chilling dreams of Katie hindered my sleep, I felt refreshed after

workout shorts. Slipping my long hair into a pony

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

see.” Grandma turned and flashed me

the fridge,

to torment you some more.” Grandma smirked,

Maya mused, “Certainly didn’t

pushing my strange attraction to

pancakes she had set on a plate, ignoring the light

the plate of pancakes she set in front of

down, a cup of steaming

frowned, “He just

sighed, “I didn’t want to

he’s not upset with you, dear.” Grandma gave me a kind smile, “Just afraid

I raised my eyebrow

is much too stubborn to admit that,

snickered, “I wouldn’t say that’s how you know, Grandma.

I can

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

for. Death lingered

keep this

imagine how

head, her short hair shifting. “Alpha Asher isn’t

that’s a good

arrived at the pack house along with the other trainee’s. Breyona and I threw our

get your butt kicked today, shorty?”

turned to him, my fists raised.

bet you I’ll get

poked my tongue out, jabbing

Asher’s powerful aura filled the room and I knew

and they darkened as they

as Mason looked down at me with an amused expression on his

irritable.” Mason whispered lowly in my ear and I fought

he?” I giggled, keeping