Harper's POVIt's quiet between us when we get back to the bedroom. Asher told Jack he'll meet him in the games room in ten minutes before awkwardly following me here. I don't know what to say to him after the moment we shared together outside.The 'fake date' didn't feel fake after we almost kissed. I was happy to keep my attraction for him pushed to the side, thinking he wouldn't feel the same way about me. But now things are going to get complicated because we're meant to be in a fake marriage. I'm not sure if I'm ready to commit to him if the opportunity were to present itself.Asher walks to the desk, pulling out a bottle of whiskey. He pours a nip into the crystal glass he has displayed on the desk, and swirls it around, watching the contents inside form a small whirlpool."Do you want to go for a run in the morning?" He asks, not making eye contact with me.I shrug, sitting on the edge of the bed, "I don't see why not."He nods, placing the glass down on the desk without
Asher's POVMrs. Lang answers the door after I knock on it a second time. She looks frazzled, like she had been napping before her shift ended. She blinks in an attempt to wake herself, especially when she sees me with Harper cradled in my arms."What's happened, Asher?" She asks.She's a little old lady who has been working in the medical room for as long as I can remember. With age her hair has gotten shorter and greyer, something she voices her concerns about whenever we bump into each other."I think Harper has been poisoned." When I say it out loud it doesn't seem real.Harper being poisoned is the only rational explanation I can think of right now. She was fine throughout the date, but as soon as we got back to the room and she drank the whiskey, it was all downhill from there.I know deep down I was the target, considering the poison was in the whiskey bottle I keep hidden in my desk. The pack knows I drink that specific alcohol, so it only makes sense that I was the tar
Asher's POVHarper's condition has stayed the same for the past couple of days. Mrs. Lang ordered me to keep her comfortable in bed and keep a cool towel on her forehead as she may experience hot flushes during the healing process. With the right antibiotics she should make a full recovery.I spend most of my time sitting in bed next to her, never letting my eyes wonder elsewhere. I'm afraid if I leave her for more than a couple of minutes, she'll somehow end up getting worse. It's been a constant battle with my brain to try and not over think everything.Members of the pack have been wanting to stop by for a visit, to pay their respects to the Luna. I want them to have that opportunity, but I can't trust anyone anymore, not even my own pack. Not until the culprit is caught.Deep down I know this had to have been Julius. It's me against him in the fight for the Alpha title. He won't back down, even after saying he would if I got married. He's doing everything in his power to make
Harper's POVI still can't tell if I'm dreaming or dying. I go through stages where my brain completely shuts off and I'm left in nothing but darkness and silence. Other times my mind won't stop racing and I keep seeing scenarios that are either the future or just my imagination.After my brain having shut me out into the darkness for a long period of time, it's finally woken up to allow me to see visuals.I see myself standing in front of a large group of people. I recognize some faces, but some people have blank faces. Is this my pack from back home? I'm standing in front of them at a podium, shouting words that aren't clear.This must be a motivational speech, or maybe I've just been given the Alpha title. I can't see my brothers anywhere, but my Mother and Father are standing beside me with a proud smile etched across their faces.I look so strong and powerful, like nothing can stop me. I'm invincible. I appear to stop talking and the crowd erupts into a cheer, creating an u
Harper's POVI rub the ends of my hair with a towel, trying to stop water from dripping off the tips. I'm sitting at Asher's desk after getting out of the shower. Asher and I spent the afternoon finishing off tidying the front yard with a little help from Amaris and Jack.The work was hard, and exhausting. Many bushes were overgrown, and garden beds appeared as though it hadn't been cleaned out in years. I made sure to pull out every weed and dead plant, and replace them with beautiful flowers that are vibrant and inviting.The compound looks amazing since I've been working on the yards. It doesn't look like a run-down place that could've been abandoned; it's now a place people will be proud to call it their home.At times during the day, the four of us would have dirt wars which consisted of us hiding behind trees and pegging handfuls of dirt at each other. It was a good way to take a break from the tough work and have a little fun together.The chemistry between Amaris and Jac
Asher's POVThe way Harper is looking at me makes want to retreat into myself and never come back out. Her eyes are usually loving and bright, but there is hatred and fire behind them. I haven't found the courage to speak a word yet, because I'm afraid of the outcome."There was no need to lie," Her voice is firm and sad, "We're in a fake marriage, you can love whoever you want but don't lie about it to my face."She throws the piece of paper onto the desk, refusing to look at me, "For a moment, I thought we were beginning to move out of the fake world into something that was real."My mouth is so dry, but I can't keep allowing her to get in her own head about the situation, it'll only make things worse."It is real," I say, taking a step forward, "I wasn't lying to you at the time.""I don't believe you," Harper snaps."Zoey means nothing to me anymore," I plead with her. I need her to believe me.I sigh out of frustration, "I wrote that letter weeks ago when I didn't know w
Harper's POVI slept in Amaris's room last night. I couldn't face Asher after our argument. My feelings for him are confusing and hearing him confess that he likes me has turned my brain into scrambled eggs.I'm not sure what to do, or how to act around him now. I need to understand what I'm feeling before we can have a proper conversation about what's going to happen moving forward.Amaris and I spent the afternoon lying in her bed watching romantic comedy movies and eating a lot of junk food. When I knocked on her door last night in tears, she didn't ask any questions, but instead tucked me into her bed and put on my favorite movie.I could tell she wanted to ask a million and one questions, but she knows I'm the one who has to open up first, otherwise I will shut down. I'm unable to tell her the full story anyway because she believes our marriage is real. If I tell her it's fake, I'll risk the rest of the pack finding out and discovering I'm a fraud."Did you and Asher have a
Harper's POVI've barely slept in the past twenty-four hours. My body is exhausted, aching in pain when I move and I'm struggling to not fall asleep when I'm standing up. I don't think I've been this tired in my life, it's awful.Asher and I have been sitting at the dining room table for hours now, mostly in silence. Members of the pack managed to extinguish the flames on the tree and in our bedroom. They said nothing was badly burnt, aside from the area surrounding the window.I'm still shaken up by what happened. I can't wrap my head around how things like this are constantly happening to me, and now Asher. I'm trying to make sense of everything but it's almost impossible. These events are more than just coincidences."Are you okay?" Asher says into the silent morning, taking my hand into his.I shrug, "Every week I almost die," I joke, "So, how do you think I'm doing?"He places a gentle kiss on my knuckles, "I'm so sorry this keeps happening to you.""It's not your fault,"