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TRIGGER WARNING: Themes of torture mentioned below.)

Brody found him first, in the thicket where he had chosen to bleed out his feelings. He felt like a broken man and no words needed saying as Brody looked over Asher. It was obvious that he’d not found Kihara, that he had failed in protecting his mate and now she was in the hands of a moon cursed wolf.

“Come on Alpha, we’ll find her another day.” Brody said. Just not today, Asher thought. How was it acceptable that he came here with his mate and has to leave without her? How is it acceptable that she remains in that man’s lair, dead or alive for even a day?

Brody helped Asher up and walked him back the way he’d come, until they broke out of the woods and unto the road. Asher’s leg was still bleeding but not as profusely as earlier and the pain of the wolf’s bane was also fading. Asher missed that pain, it was more merciful than the clenching and unclenching of his heart. This ache and this utter feeling of emptiness that was evading