Asher“Do you need anything Alpha Bl- Alpha Blackwell?”I looked up to see Ambrose's stare. How had I gotten here?‘Ah right.’ I thought to myself as I remembered everything. The pain and regret. The drinking. Wandering around empty hallways.And now I was here.Ambrose for the first time didn't look indifferent. Instead, his expression clearly showed his confusion and worry.It didn't matter to me when all I felt was numb.I trailed away from his gaze to the side, where an empty desk sat.I had never found the time to remove it. At first, it was because I was too embroiled with Ariezel to do so, but after what had happened, I had hidden myself away, blind to every struggle but my own.The place was evidently dusty, the sheen of dust standing against the dark wood the desk was made of. Any papers or files were non-existent, though the stationery stayed.The image of Ariezel there materialized in my mind. On the rare occasions before my travels, I would pass by Ambrose for a mundane ta
AsherMy heart could have stopped at that moment and I wouldn’t have cared. All the particles in the air felt like they had frozen, and they might as well have with the sight I saw.I stood dumbstruck at the sight of her figure for the first time in weeks. She sat down beneath a shade, little children all around her and a book in her hand.She looked beautiful.The vision of her brought me back to our time in the gardens, the time I dreamed of.Her long red hair, flowing in curls and waves as she laughed, eyes brighter than the sky, cheeks rosy with her flesh as she looked at me.I stepped forward towards that vision, the urge to embrace it, to take her into my arms and never let go overwhelmed me.But then the haze of her past had left me and I faced the present with startling contrast.She was thinner. It wasn’t the sickeningly, sallow thin I had first seen on her that brought rage to my doorstep, but it was something. She looked smaller, and I didn’t know how to feel about her.T
Ariezel“what?” I sputtered out.I processed his words slowly, a wave of incredulity coming upon me.It was already a shock to hear him appear out of nowhere. But now what he said was even worse.Asher looked pleadingly at me“it is the truth Ariezel.” he said “You were adopted by him when you were very little.”He took a step forward “Just think about it. Did you two share any similar features? Did he ever let you see your mother’s face?I swallowed the lump that grew in my throat, looking down to the green grass.‘No.’ I had never questioned how different he looked from me with dark hair and brown eyes, the same way I never questioned why I never played with anybody but Derek, nor met any of my fellow pack members. I had justified it in light of my treatment, panning it up to gaining my mother’s features.He had never shown me any of my mothers pictures. I remembered when I was younger, anytime I asked for her pictures or what she was like, he always gave me a look that chilled my
AriezelHe flinched at my words, and I took the opportunity to push him away.He stumbled like a leaf, and I finally realized how different he looked.Asher was thinner than I had ever seen him. His cheeks were slightly gaunt and his beard more unkempt. I didn't realize how different he was until now. That was when I noticed something else.From the air, I realized I could smell the harsh sting of alcohol coming from his breath.He shook his head as he moved towards me, but I took steps back. I wasn't going to be so weak for him anymore.“Ariezel-” he tried to talk to me, but I couldn't bear it.“Leave. You're drunk." I said, making me leave.His hands stopped mine and I turned back to him.“You of all people know that a little alcohol can't make me drunk." He said.The images it brought to my head made me flush. One of the days where he brought wine for us to drink together, I had teased him over being lightweight. That night, he finished most of the entire bottle and carried me away
Ariezel“Let's start with the day you left, shall we?” I asked.He was obviously shocked at my newfound confidence. The way I approached him rather than retreated. This time I wasn't going to retreat. I was going to give him exactly what he wanted.“That was where it all began. She took me straight from Alys, and do you know what she said?” I asked, answering the question moments later.“That now I was under her control. Now, she was going to make me pay.”The sardonic smile never left my lips as I looked at his face.“Are you familiar with wax burns? Oh, they hurt, like one is truly being scalded with fire for a moment. But then it cools down, hardening within your skin, pinching every bit of the burns you suffered and you figure out it's much worse.”“I went through that, every single day." I said.“What about my room? Did you ever wonder why that room was empty? Why were none of my belongings were there? Did you ever wonder where I slept for the past few months?”The regret became
Asher Crunch. Crunch.One foot after the other. I wandered the area I called my pack without direction.The sky's orange hues were slowly turning a night blue hue. It might have been a blessing that nobody was in sight as I walked. I couldn't bear seeing another person within my turmoil.Every memory of Ariezel's words replayed in my mind. What Serena had made her do, the injuries she suffered, the suffering I had ignored.The moment I remembered that day, self loathing filled me to the brim. How could I not have seen her suffering? Why had I not helped her then?She had faced humiliation, faced Serena's sadistic act in the forest to protect her friends. How could I have ever believed that she would ever be involved in my parents murder. How was I foolish enough to ever think of her as capable of any wicked act?But I was foolish wasn't I? I had let Serena back into my life despite knowing of her own actions. She was capable of such cruelty, and still I let her into my life. She had
AriezelI woke up to the sound of birds chirping and an exhaustion that hadn't fully gone away.My first few moments of waking up was bliss, stretching without a care in the world, oblivious to the reasons for the strange feeling in my belly.It wasn't meant to last however, as in no time the memories came rushing in. The sunlight I woke up to dulled into its morning glow, and I stared listlessly at my room wall that faced me.It was a light green, like an apple. I had chosen it due to its color I loved. When my friends had asked me back then I had told them that it was my favorite color- something I never had the freedom of having before I came to this pack. The green reminded me of the forest I had crossed in my escape. It reminded me of life, of hope. I told them all of that sincerely.A part of me wasn't fully honest then, because as I looked at the wall now, all I saw were the broken glistening eyes of my mate.‘No. Not my mate.’ I inwardly shook my head to reject. There was far
AriezelAfter that day, Alys became even more withdrawn. Despite her claims to not accept him and to be unaffected by meeting Ambrose, she completely looked even more miserable as time went on.Harriet and I eyed her as she came in, looking worn. Her eyes bore dark shadows that weren't there before from lack of sleep. Most times, Harriet and I constantly made brews for her to take to ensure her a night's rest, and too often tried to convince her to rest. It was only a few times that she accepted either.Now, she looked so worn out. Her brunette hair that was normally packed in a bun was let down revealing the length. And was now also haggard with tiny hairs sticking out.“Food is ready.” Harriet said tentatively. Only the day before she had dyed her hair again a more natural raven black that framed her face perfectly. Yet now, the color seemed to further accentuate the anxiousness in her expression as she looked at Alys.Passing my glance back out to the brunette, I felt nothing but sy