Asher's POV I charged forward towards Axton, knocking him down with his gun before he had time to shift or rebound. I clawed at his eyes with my claws.“Asher! Raven’s gone”. Dale's voice rings out, stopping my assault on Axton.Axton wailed and screamed in pain from under me. I whip him hard on the head and he passes out.Raven, Raven, I searched around for her but I couldn't see her. Damn! That Bryon, he took her away. He better not hurt her or else I'll make his death a very gruesome one.“We need to get out of here soon, Asher. The place will soon go up in flames.” Derek barks out.I can't leave yet, what if Raven’s still in the building? I can’t leave Raven, I need to find her.Taking control back from my wolf, I shift back. “Derek, Dale, how much longer till the building goes up in flames?” I ask.“According to Lucian, we have just fifteen minutes.” Derek answers.Dale takes down one of the guards then returns back to us. “We need to move now, I sense more guards coming,” he sa
Asher’s POVThe scent of vanilla and roses halt me in my tracks as I reach my pack. Home, I breathe in. Raven’s home, I can feel her presence and smell her scent.Shifting back immediately, I change into my clothes and enter the house. Matilda was on the phone when I entered. She drops the phone immediately when she sees me.“Alpha…” she starts. “Not now Matilda”, I stopped her.“Where’s Raven?” I ask“She’s upstairs in the room. Wouldn’t you like to clean up before going up to meet her?” she asks, gesturing to the blood stains all over my body.“Need to see her.” I say, before going upstairs to the room. Raven’s paving back and forth, her hands on her hips and brows furrowed in worry. I lean on the door frame a bit, watching her, taking her all in. Oh God, how I've missed her.She’s been gone for three days and it felt like three years. I missed her so much. Raven finally notices me, she rushes over to me, hugging me tightly, her legs locked behind my waist.“Oh thank the goddes
Raven’s POVI wake up feeling Asher’s length poking my butt as he snores softly into my neck. I huff out a laugh, turning around to face him.He’s bare underneath the duvet. I use the tip of my fingers to trace the outline of his face, he murmurs something before snuggling in closer.He’s so adorable when he sleeps, I'm so happy to be back home and back in his arms. Last night was intense.Asher made sure I was okay, he took very good care of me. Now, it’s my turn to return the care. I trace his morning wood, all hard and swollen.I want to see it well and feel its weight. I’ve tried to put my mouth on Asher like he does so well to me, but he wouldn’t let me, he always stops me.Today, I'm not going to stop. I palm his length, stroking gently and softly. Asher moans out, his eyes fluttering open.“What’re you doing Raven? Sneaking up on me, huh?”“What do you think I’m doing?” I ask, stroking harder once more. He hissed out a breath.“Fuck Raven! This is a good way to wake up.” he gru
Asher’s POVAfter the run we settled in the sitting room, relaxing and watching a movie. Matilda comes in a while later holding a plate of fruits.“Good to see you two all relaxed and having fun.” she says, handing the plate of fruits to Raven.“Thank you Matilda.” Raven says, giving her a small smile and taking the plate from her.“Thanks Matilda”. I tilt my head a little to the side.“Oh dear! No need for all that. I’m just happy everything’s settled now and our Luna is back home safe and sound. Thank the goddess.” she says, smiling.“Matilda,” Raven calls out to her, stopping her as she was about to take her leave back to the kitchen.“Yes Luna, do you need anything?” she asks.“No, nothing. I don’t need anything. I… I just want to apologise. I lied to you, I shouldn't have done that. Please forgive me.I’m sorry.” Raven apologises to her, her brows pulled together in a small frown. Matilda comes forward, taking her hands and pulling her to her feet.She gives her a hug. “No need t
Asher's POV Raven has not talked to me or said any word to me since our discussion yesterday. She even turned her back to me on the bed and didn't let me touch her throughout the night.She's been giving me silent treatment. I know she's mad at me, but treating me like I don't exist at all grates on my nerves.My wolf hates that she's ignoring us, he wants me to force her to talk to us but I know if I do that she'll just hate me.I need her to understand the reason I'm doing all this is for her.I went down to see her brother Bryon and her mother.They were locked up in different cells, so I could talk to each one of them privately.Her mother had cursed at me, spat in my face when I asked her what she knew about her dead husband's doings.She swore at me, saying she would kill me and her son Axton would come save her.She's still under the impression that her son Axton is alive and will come save her.I left her screaming and cursing in her cell. Then I went to see Bryon.He was mo
Raven's POV Have I been ignoring Asher? Yes,I have. He deserves it. He wouldn't let Bryon go.I have no issue with him holding my mother. She wanted to kill me so she deserves to die.Follow her husband to the underworld and pay for all their sins. But Bryon is innocent, I know it. Why can't he just give me a chance to speak to him?A wave of dizziness hit me, making me stagger a bit. “Shit! What the hell is that?” I sit back down on the bed, trying to relax and regulate my breathing.“Raven, what happened?” Asher's voice sounds in my head, concern dripping from his voice.“I felt your heart rate increase. Are you okay? Where are you?” He asked all at once.Taking a deep breath, “I'm fine, just felt a little dizzy suddenly that's all. It's all good now, I'm okay.” I replied.“Okay, I'm on my way home now, should be there in the next twenty minutes.” He said.“Hmm.”“Raven–We need to talk, we can't keep ignoring each other like this.Raven, Raven, I know you heard me. Please say som
Raven's POV “Do you remember what we talked about? No going too close to him, we can't tell what he's up to.Keep your recorder close to you and stay within limit. Dale will be right outside the cell just in case you need him.I'll be two cells away with Lucian, listening to your conversation, okay?” Asher says, for the umpteenth time today.He's been repeating the same thing since morning, trying to drill it into me.I roll my eyes at him, tilting my head to the side and giving him a bored look.“I've heard evening Asher, just calm down. You're beginning to sour like a repeater I'll be fine okay, and Bryon would never hurt me.”“I…” he starts to say, but I cut him short, placing a finger on his lips.“I know, I'll stay within the limit, give him a reasonable distance, I promise.So please stop nagging and worrying about me like a mother hen.I'm more than able of taking care of myself, trust me on this, okay?” I tell him with a narrowed look.He sighs heavily, rubbing his face with
Asher's POV I give Derek a side look and he raises one brow at me in question. We all heard Raven's conversation with her brother, but do we believe it or not?“What do you think? Do you think he's telling the truth?” I ask.“Sincerely, I can't tell. From the tone of his voice it shows he loves his sister very much.” “But does he love her that much not to betray her for money and power? People do anything just to gain power, her father is an example.” I say.“I know, but her father never cared for her, she was just a tool for him to use and manipulate as he wishes.” Derek says, leaning against the bars of the cell.I rale my fingers through my hair, frustrated and tired. When Raven gets here, she'll want me to let her brother go and I can't do that.He hasn't earned my trust. I don't believe all he said was the truth, for all we know he might be making it all up to gain sympathy from Raven.“You don't believe him right?” Derek asks.“I feel he's telling the truth in my opinion, b
Asher's POV I take a seat opposite Alpha Jackson and Edward. Derek leans against the wall with his arms folded.Dale stands by my side, Liam and Connor are seated close to Alpha Jackson and Edward, staying by their sides.“Welcome to my pack.” I sat, once seated. “How may I be of help to you?” I ask, crossing my legs.“Alpha Asher, the one people call the Cruel Alpha. Hmm, nice to finally place a face to the name.” Edward says, smirking.I snort, “Seems you've heard a lot about me then.” I say, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees.“But you see, I don't know you nor have I heard anything about you.So why don't you do us the honors and introduce yourself.” I say with a forced smile.“Oh yes, I'm sorry. I should have led with an introduction.” He said, placing a hand over his chest.“My bad. My name is Edward Pierce, I'm what people will call a pirate. I come from the sea, but I'm also a merchant.”“A merchant?” Derek asks, raising a brow at him. Edward faces him, a smile on his
Asher's POV It's a week now since Raven left home. I've not been myself, I've been flying into a fit of rage and fuet every now and then.Threatening my enforcers and even attacking my best friends, my betas too.I don't know what to do anymore, my wolf is losing control and I'm finding it very difficult to keep control of it.I'm on the verge of insanity right now. I need Raven, I need my mate back into my arms.I need to smell her sweet scent of vanilla and roses to help calm me down.I huff out a breath, sifting my hands through my hair, I look at my reflection in the glass of my office.I look like a mad man. My hair is way overgrown, my beards look so tacky, they need to be shaved off.My eyes are close to bloodshot now. I close my eyes briefly, breathing in slowly.I need to control myself, my pack is falling apart, everything isn't going the way they should.Fear permeates my pack members, they're all scared and afraid of me now, and who can blame them? With the way I look, I'
Raven's POV Whoever said life was easy, lied. It's hard as fuck and sucks too, and the crazy thing is, nobody has the mind or gut to admit to it.Everyone, I mean everyone likes to live in their little delusion. Everyone has a secret to keep and a story that needs to be told.Hurt is everywhere, for both humans and shifters, we both practically drown in its essence.Yet we all pretend like it doesn't exist or matter and we are fine, when deep down we decide ourselves.But everything within us screams in agony and outrage. Our soul pleads that we should be honest and true to ourselves at least once in our lives.It begs for us to tell one person and the very second that we do that, everything becomes better.But the moment that one person we became vulnerable to shatters everything we struggle to admit.Then the world becomes nothing but emptiness and darkness.For a moment, life isn't as hard as it seems, we only make It so.“Jesus Raven!” Maya calls from the doorway, making me star
Asher's POV I watch Raven slowly leave from the corner of my eyes. Tears escape from the corner if my eyes and I wipe them away.Ever since the death of my parents, I've never shed a tear for anything or anyone until now, until Raven.Raven ripped out my heart, broke our mate bond just like that. She didn't even think twice before doing it, before ripping us into shreds.My wolf howls in pain, pain unlike anything I've ever felt before.The pain was so blinding and heart wrenching, I thought I would lose it. But she just walked out the door, leaving me all alone here.Derek and Dale helped me to meet. “Asher,” Derek starts, but I cut him off by holding up my hand.I don't say a word neither do I want to hear anything from them. I walk up to my roon, into our bedroom.Raven's scent still lingers in the room. She didn't even bother to take any of her belongings with her.She really wanted to escape this place,vecape me. I huff out a sad chuckle.Am I such a bad person that Raven need
Raven's POV Asher looked up at me dumbfounded with hurt in his eyes.“Okay, I think we all need to calm down now. Raven please calm down. You're hurting right now and we all know it.Let's not say hurtful things now, things we'll regret later.” Dale says, trying to douse the tension.“No, I'm calm now, calmer than I've ever been before.” I say, wiping away my rears furiously.“It's all Asher's fault. If he had only believed me when I told him Bryon was innocent.If he had trusted me enough and let my brother go, he wouldn't be dead now. My brother would still be alive by now, here with me.” I yell.I keep pacing back and forth the room, raking my fingers through my hair. Asher walks up to me slowly but I back away from him. “I can't, I can't right now. I can't do this anymore, Asher.”“What're you saying Raven? What do you mean by "you can't do this anymore?” He asks, breathing heavily.I shake my head, slowly drawing farther away from him.“It hurts too much. Everytime I see you,
Raven's POV Dead, dead, dead, those words keep ringing in my ears. My mouth hangs open and eyes widen in shock.I can feel the color drain out of my face. Asher tushes over to my side, trying to tell me something, I can't hear him but I see his mouth moving.It seemed like air was being sucked out of me. I struggle to breathe at the moment.“Raven, Raven, Raven!” Asher snaps and yells in my face. I turn to look at him.“That's it,” He says. “Just look at me and breathe with me. In…out, okay, just like that.” I follow his steps, breathing in and out until enough air gets into my lungs and I can finally breathe well.“Very good, you're doing well.” He commends with a sad smile.My brother, Bryon, is dead. “No, not Bryon. Bryon isn't dead. He's still waiting for me.” I say, hysterical.I try to get out of bed but as soon as my legs touch the ground, I stagger on my feet. A wave of dizziness hits me at once, causing me to sit back down on the bed. Asher and Dale move towards me at once
Asher's POV Arianna and King have been attending to Raven since we got back home.She looked so pale now, marks and bruises covered all her body. I could see the mark of a footprint on her stomach and rib cage.Those motherfuckers, I should have dragged out their death, made them suffer more before killing them for hurting my mate like this.I keep pacing back and forth in the room. Raven is deadly still and it scares me.“Alpha, I would need you to excuse us. Your pacing back and forth is distracting.” Arianna tells me.“I'm sorry, I'm just anxious and worried. She…she's not moving.” I muttered.“She'll be fine, we are doing our job but we can't keep getting distracted by you packing around, back and forth.” She gives me a stern look.I n9d my head, raising my hands in the air. *I'll excuse you, but I'll be right outside the door if you need me.“Thank you” she says, gesturing to the door for me to leave.I leave the room with Arianna slamming the door behind me. Damn! I can't even
Asher's POVFrom the movement Raven told me it was a trap set by Axton and Torren, I became cautious.I knew Axton had taken her but I didn't know he had someone with him too.Torren Shade, Raven's ex. Lucian had him investigated on our way and sent all his details to me.He was the lying and cheating ex who betrayed Raven. My guess is that he wants Raven to pay for leaving him.The bastard's not going to beg for mercy when I'm done with him. Raven's hurt, I can feel it.Axton, that motherfucker, I should have made sure he died in the building.“What's the plan now?” Dale asked as we neared the location on the tracker.“We go all in but be very cautious. It's a trap meant to lure me in and kill me and I'm sure it won't be easy.”“Then we stay alert and move as one.” Derek says, cocking his gun and checking the bullets.Luckily we still had some silver bullets we took from Alpha Nicholas guards during the last attack.“Okay, let's bring this motherfucker down once and for all.” Dale gr
Raven's POV Oh no, Asher's close, I can feel it. I struggle against the binds. “Let me go, let me go.” I shout.“Gag that bitch.” Axton commands “No, no, you can't.” I muttered. Torren comes over, placing a piece of cloth in my mouth, sealing my lips.I shout but it sounds muffled. “They are here, take her away and don't forget—” a look passes between them.Don't forget what? What are they planning to do to me?Torren loses the rope binding my legs, pulling me to my feet with my hair. I grunt out.“Move bitch.” He growled out, pulling me with him. I try to steel my feet, hoping to see Asher but Torren doesn't let me, he keeps dragging me away.I see Axton lay out some weapons before I'm finally pulled away from his view.We move deeper into the forest and stop at one point.The night air crackled with tension, fear of the unknown. Torren rips out the clothing from my mouth with force, causing me to wince in pain.I swallowed the knot in my throat, looking all around us in fear. T