Asher's POVThat hug wasn't what I wanted. However, I had swindled away my right to want anything from her, lost my ability to make demands of her. She was with Philip now, and she looked happy.He was better than me in so many ways. He was strong, skilled, a good leader, and even a good person. He was all the things I could never be. As I drove out through the back, I couldn't shake the thought off my mind. But no matter how reluctant my head was about letting it go, I knew I needed to think about other things. For example, I needed to think about why Devlin and Kaden were working together and what sort of understanding or deal was existing between the two of them.I wanted to know what was going on, but it wasn't like I could just demand that she told me the truth. The only thing she wanted was Philip, but he rejected her advancements, and somehow she found her way to Kaden.Kaden was a cruel, disturbed man. From what Steven had told me, it seemed like he had suddenly developed a so
Lyra's POV"What do you mean by that?" I asked him, "Why do I have to tell them you're the father?"Philip groaned in frustration. He pinched the bridge of his nose before shaking his head, "Do you trust me, Lyra?"I frowned and raised an eyebrow, "I used to, but you just said something I don't think I can trust. What's going on?""Nothing is going on," he held my shoulders. His eyes darted around as if anxious that we would be getting some company, "Lyra, please, I need you to trust me again. I'll tell you all you need to know, but right now, we have to leave. We don't know if they'll be on our tail any moment from now."I wanted to push him away and refute the idea of leaving with him, but I was wise enough to know that staying would get me killed without a second thought.I did trust him, and something like this wasn't going to ruin the trust when I knew that he was the perfect husband and the perfect father for my baby. There was no way I was going to let go of this rare gem."Oka
Lyra's POV"There's nothing to confess," he said.I didn't refute his words nor did I have it in me to hold it against him. All I wanted to do was reach the destination he had set out for me. All I wanted to do was have this journey come to an end.I was yet to find out what he was hiding from me. Yet to find out what it was that was going on with him. I couldn't even guess what it could be because Philip was inherently a very mysterious man. I didn't know what he was holding in his heart nor could I guess it.I was only sure of one thing as I watched the waves of the sea move to the bright moon that was shining on it.This issue he was keeping from me was something that I cannot guess on my own.I didn't argue with him; instead, I turned to ask him, "so are there any cabins on this ship?" I asked.His expression metamorphosed. From being one of uncertainty and curiosity to that of excitement and pleasure. He surely had prepared something for me.He took my wrist and led me away.I ha
Lyra's POVMy heart was beating dangerously fast; the need to run away was provoked within me. I needed to get away from here as soon as I could. Being in such a place was a lot traumatizing, and I honestly didn't want to deal with any more trauma.However, as I turned to meet the man I had come here with, he seemed unmoving like a hill, stoic, cold, and utterly ferocious. His two hands were tucked into his pockets, and the wind ruffled his hair continuously. His sunglasses gave him the look of undeniable respect, and I knew at once that he was not scared, seeing the army that was waiting for us.His courage or lack of fear made me wonder if it was sane that I was terrified when he surely wasn't.I wondered if this could be a joke, a prank? Some sort of messed-up tradition.The men at the dock were about twenty, but whether or not he was skilled and adept in what he did, he surely couldn't win against all of them. And these ones seemed more skilled than the ones that Devlin had brough
Lyra's POV"I'll show you to your room," Marilyn said, and I nodded my head.I followed right behind her as she climbed up the staircase and then walked to a door in the hallway. There was nobody around, and the place seemed poorly illuminated.I looked around, and there weren't any other persons who used that hallway. The walls seemed to have been cleaned in a hurry; the lights on the hallway kept flickering and then gave out in surrender.I wasn't pleased. I wondered if Marilyn was doing this on purpose; I wondered what was going on here. There seemed to be another force at play here, one that wasn't Philip's and neither was it mine.There was something notable from what I could see, and it was that Marilyn was suspicious, and so was the room she was leading me to.I walked to the door where she had stopped and then opened the door. I was met with a small bedroom; a small bed sat in the middle of the room, and I didn't have time to finish the scrutiny with my eyes when my nose felt
Lyra's POV"I couldn't believe what I had just heard; I looked at him, unable to fathom the reality of the confession he just made. I shook my head. It seemed like my head was filled with air because I couldn't believe that my brain had stopped working for a moment. What other reason could there be that I couldn't understand the simple words he had just said to me?I was fighting against my rationality to not understand and not believe it either."What did you just say?"He nodded his head and walked past me, "I am impotent, Lyra," he said, and his hands found his waist, "I cannot bear children. And I am a ruler. I am a ruler who cannot bear children. At first, I thought the problem was with the wo…""Look at me when you address me."He instantly turned around and met my eyes. I was sure he obeyed before he gave it a second thought because the second his eyes met mine, they fell."I'm sorry," he muttered."What do you mean that you're impotent?"He raised an eyebrow at me, "I am impot
Lyra's POV.I could not stay still in the same room with him anymore. At first, I had been looking to stay in the same room with him, even getting angry at Marilyn for not doing it. But now, I desperately wanted to thank her.She did a good job.It was as if she knew right from the start that staying in the same room with him was not a good idea.Under his scrutiny, I walked out.I knew Philip to be a respectful man, and he didn't chase me because he respected my decision. But having been told this news, I wondered the real reason why he didn't run after me.If he claimed to love me, would he not try to get me to see from his point of view? Would he not battle to be understood?There was only one answer to that question: he doesn't love me, and that's why he isn't affected by anything. That's why it doesn't bother him because he doesn't actually care about me.I walked back to the room Marilyn had showed me. I didn't have it in me to fight anymore. I walked to the curtains and pulled
Lyra PovEverybody in the room turned to look at me. My words also succeeded in shocking me because this had been said straight from a place of rage.I looked to my side where Philip sat. He had paused. Unlike others, he didn't turn to stare at me, but rather, the food he was eating was suddenly not interesting. He dropped his fork and then pushed the plate forward."Yes," he suddenly said, "we're getting married tomorrow."Pamela and Kayla looked at each other. Kayla looked to be more surprised, but Pamela's own was at a minimum. None of them appreciated what I had said, but I said it anyway because their response was what I had been hoping for.I nodded my head, "Philip and I decided that we shouldn't push this forward anymore, and if we have it after I give birth, it'll be too late, so we're deciding now.""You're only like a few weeks away, what's still late?" Philip's mother asked.I knew she didn't like me as well, but I ignored her expression and smiled, "It would be. I think i
Tessa's PovIt's been a month ever since what happened. Kura returned to the silver moon pack and from what the news said the economy of he place wss taking a turn for the better. Things were finally looking up for them.I wss still yet to be given a nate and so was Michelle, there wasn't anything better to do than to just continue with our relationshipsMatt as expected became the leader of the pack for a while till Keagan was old enough to return. We all wanted hom as the leader. Philip had seen something in hom, the something he saw in all of us. Other than the fact he was born an alpha, he probably had zeal, he had the strength of a leader.Michelle had gone to meet Lyra, sje had a particular liking doe the kids and loved that about her. There were news of lyra and Asher's relationship probably leading to marriage and I was happy for Gomez finally throwback going to be married to their mates and they were happy.We were all happy for them.The rest of the betas had gotten themselv
Asher's POV"No!!" Tesaa screamed.Emily smiled victoriously asbshe saw the small cottage engulf in flames, she had a satisfies smile on her lips and shebste the projectile weapon on the ground next tonher feetz unknown to her, she setbthe remote control as well."Thwn that's jt, they both are dead."The flames were intense bring everything in the cottage turning it all to crisp, inwas sure that Tessa ws on the verge of jumping intonthe flames asbshe grww sloser yknthe cliff onnher knees and so I quickly hekd her down. Inwraoed my hands around her and then whispered into her ears."You csn kill her now".Tesaa froze. She disnt react to what insaid by looking at me, but rather she just slithered outnof my hold and then rose tonher feeshe tuened to where Emily stood lookingbatbthe flames, haooy that she had brought suxh destruction.Tesaa smirked, "you must be proud"Emily clapped, "you cannot even begin to fathom how excited I am.about thism this is truly a miracle. Thjs js something j
Asher's POVI shuddered slightly at what she said and instantly just started the car. I drove the car and sped of so that I would be driving right behind Emily she was moving so fast out of town out of everywhere and towards the docks. She was going to take a boat sowmehre and there were a large number of boats available for use.She immediately stopped her car and then jumped into one of the baots there.I saw this from the windscreens and madensure that I caught up with her. Tessa was as impatient as I was because she didn't even wait foe.me tonstoo the car before she was already running out and running towards a free motorboat bjust like the one that Emily had taken.I quickly pulled over and huried to where Tessa was getting the boat into the water, I quickly koined her and mived to first start the motor engine. Then it roared to life, I looked behind me andnsaw Tessa's approving glance. We started driving l, as fast as we could so nthat we could be right behind Emily.Emily dorve
Asher's POV"What do you mean by that?" I asked her and i moved forward."Oh," she chuckled, "you didn't realize? I think the person who poisoned you was Steven."I shook my head as I began to feel by body vibrate with the sense of being betrayed. Incident know I'd trusting Devlin's words were the right thing to do but at the moment, it made sense.He was the one that the assasin hadbeen warning me about. He was the person that was close to me thst wanted me dead. I didnt know why hebwas behaving kike that. Why he had posioned me and started tk act like the ruler.I didn't know what j should be thinking about ir even feeling but I felt frustrated. I felt broken."It cannot be" I said to myself.Devlin laughed, "stop lying to yourself, you already knew abiut jt."Somehow, when I thought back, it really was the truth, he had in so many ways done a lot of things. Hehad been the one whonkeot pestering me to go out and get drunk and how can I have possibly slipped away from him and he just
Asher's POVAfter the confession last night, I didn't even know how I ended up on.my.bed, I didn't know how I even slept but as I stared at myself in the mirror, with dark circles under my eyes and a certain fatigue in my.bearing, I believed that I might not have had any sleep last night.I brushed my teeth, and then proceeded to take my bath before I went downstairs to keep searching for anything that woukd kead ne to Philip.But ko matter how I'd love to go over the issue with Philip, s that i can work my way around finding him, i just couldn't even think for a minute. I couldn't understand what was happening nor why it has to be.like this.If Lyra's babies were really mine, did Philip know? Did he decide to be their father regardless? Lyra hsd saud she thought I hated her and all, so was the reason she hid the children from me because sbe thought I was going to deny them? That it was not going you accept and love them?I couldn't helo but winder jow broken she must've bee to even c
Asher's POVI ran my hand over my face and steooed forward to where shebwaa standing, maybe it was the distance that made me hear incorrectly what shebhad just said.Maybe i had been imagining things that she just said that Philip wasnt home.Because if he wasn't here, then where was he?"Lyra, I am not joking"She frowned, "I'm not joking either. I suddenly got tired and then I left the party after searching around for the both of you. What would make you think I'm lying?"She suddenly went quiet and her whose focused somewhere else, "what are you saying?" She asked, "Philip isn't with you?"I shook my head, "he isn't, and if you say he's not here then I have no fucking clue where he is". I said exasperatedly."Thus was what Fiona had saud, she told me that there was nothing i could do to stop their fucked up plan from going into action". I said shaking my head and recalling every bit of my conversation with Fiona. "If I had known, I would've left instantly"."Left?" Lyra's eyes chan
Asher's POVI grabbed a drink off from the tray of drinks a waiter wss passing around. The spaces between people kept getting more narrow and weaving through them became a huge hassle.I downed the alcohol in a go and then kept the glass on a nearest table before finding a way to swim through the sea of people, so that I could use the bathroom.I didn't even know where the bathroom was located.I looked around some more. Everybody wore masks and I was sure even the celebrant had her own mask. I suspected this because everywhere I've looked, I haven't seen her face. Akk I could see were different colors, shiny or dull and just eyes.I wasn't particularly looking for her fir I had nothing to say to her, anybody that could lead me to the bathroom right now was going to do me a huge favour."Asher?"I immediately turned around and saw a woman standing behind me.She wore a silver dress embedded with stones that glistened under the light. Her hair was shirt and brown and so were her eyes.
Philip's POVThe party was all I thought it would be, soft music playing, people talking amongst themselves rather than dancing. Only a few people were on the dancefloor doing nothing really amazing.As we walked further into the place, a waiter holding a tray approached us holding a tray of masks and then presented it to us.Asher picked one and then Lyra did before i settled for mine.I looked at the two of them first and saw the design of their mask, Lyra's own had feathers, jt was blue with shiny stones and quite beautiful to look at.Asher picked something more manly, it was plain black and had nothing quite noticeable. He just tied it around hisbface and instantly he blended with the group. So djd Lyra.I did the same."Well," Asher said, "be careful". Again he was here with his advice. Something inwas not against.I gave Lyra a kiss on her cheek and then decided to go around the olace. We all knew what we wrre doing. We all knew our plans and showing affections or soending the
Asher's POVThe visit to Emily's place had been a waste of time. I had found out absolutely nothing about Tristan. The women kept talking about the upcoming party and the theme they were using and everything else that was no business of mine. Fiona even went as far as to show me all that she had prepared.And when I walked out of there, a headache was already spotting.I had no intention of ever paying a visit to a female friend just because. There was nonjoy from such an activity but only stress.When I returned to Philip's place, I was praying and hoping that hebhad sorted out whatever he needed to sort out with Lyra. I hadkeft thwn with a strangeness in the air. They were aost having a fill out fight iverghe fact that Philip had feelings. Over the fact that he was feeling guilty over betraying his friend.I understood jownhe felt, but unfortunately, Lyra was not even about to hear it. Hwr opinion of Tristan had never been the best but after what he did to her, she was not about to