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.”

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

waved Mason off and

having a hushed conversation between themselves. I couldn’t make out any of the words

don’t wanna be overheard.” Maya

to inquire what they

of their heads snapped to the door as I walked in, and Dad lifted himself to

something happened tonight at patrol.” Dad frowned,

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

you out running patrol anymore,

from, but I also knew his personal

know that won’t happen, Dad.” I frowned, plopping

Sean.” Dad growled, running a hand through his

nothing more than to head to bed. “Alpha Asher would never allow that. He can’t let half the people in town stop showing up for patrol cause their

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

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

A sense

feel the strange waves

subsided leaving me feeling

was that?” Maya sounded just as confused

grumbled, my limbs feeling heavy.

stood with his jaw

trudging up the stairs, “I have

had been effortless, and I made sure to set

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

one detail that stood out, it reminded me this wasn’t

sleep, I felt refreshed

and a pair of workout shorts. Slipping my long hair into a pony tail and my shoes on my

the kitchen flipping something in a pan. The sticky sweet smell of pancakes filled

see.” Grandma turned and flashed

Grandma and grabbed a water from the fridge, “Very funny, but yes

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

mused, “Certainly didn’t feel like

scolded her, pushing my strange attraction to

she had set on a plate, ignoring the light blush that

glancing at the plate of pancakes she set

down, a cup

Dad’s upset.” Grandma frowned, “He

“I didn’t want to

dear.” Grandma gave me a kind smile, “Just afraid and feeling quite

he tell you that himself?” I raised

You know your Dad is much too stubborn to admit that, but

how you know, Grandma.

can agree with.”

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

as I had hoped for. Death lingered in the air, the news of Katie’s murder

Asher didn’t keep this from anyone.” I

could only imagine how Katie’s

short hair shifting. “Alpha

that’s a good thing.” Mason

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

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

turned to him, my fists raised. “Bring it on.

I’ll get

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

filled the room and I knew without looking that

they darkened as they took my

was standing closely to Mason, our arms grazing each other as Mason looked down at me with an amused expression on

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

he?” I giggled, keeping my voice