Anna’s P.O.VAsher had been gone since that morning when I told him I was in an open relationship with Tony. I was trying to persuade Evan to eat his breakfast when Sen informed me that Asher had been called away to deal with an urgent company matter. I absorbed the news silently and held myself back from pointing out that it was very strange and almost impossible that Asher would hold a business meeting on a Sunday. It really was none of my business. I spent the rest of the day in a weird numbed state and forced a smile when Ivan and Evan tried to play with me.I was just…I think I missed him and the thought that I was the one who had run him off made my throat tight.Sunday dragged off into Monday and there was still no word from him. On Tuesday, dozens of red roses were delivered to the mansion. And yeah, there was no note accompanying it, only a black card with his name scrawled across it with gold ink. Why had he sent the roses? I wondered as tears filled my eyes, burying my face
I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. My step mother, Camila, had gone too fucking far this time. What if I'd been too late?My fists were still clenched, the phantom sting of Camila's manicured nails digging into my arm a reminder of what I'd seen her doing. But the white-hot anger simmered down, replaced by a cold dread as I looked at Anna.She lay sprawled on the floor, ashen and still. My brave, defiant Anna. The woman who dared to defy Camila, who dared to love me all those years ago. The mother of my children. Panic clawed at my throat. I watched in horror as Anna lost consciousness, her bloodied body crumpling to the ground. Immediately I bolted across the room and grabbed a blanket to cover her nakedness, the air around her cold and lifeless. When she was protected, I carried her into my arms and gingerly set her unconscious body on the couch, uncaring if her blood would ruin it. That was irrelevant. As I stared at her still bleeding body, j was suddenly filled with
I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. My step mother, Camila, had gone too fucking far this time. What if I'd been too late?My fists were still clenched, the phantom sting of Camila's manicured nails digging into my arm a reminder of what I'd seen her doing. But the white-hot anger simmered down, replaced by a cold dread as I looked at Anna.She lay sprawled on the floor, ashen and still. My brave, defiant Anna. The woman who dared to defy Camila, who dared to love me all those years ago. The mother of my children. Panic clawed at my throat. I watched in horror as Anna lost consciousness, her bloodied body crumpling to the ground. Immediately I bolted across the room and grabbed a blanket to cover her nakedness, the air around her cold and lifeless. When she was protected, I carried her into my arms and gingerly set her unconscious body on the couch, uncaring if her blood would ruin it. That was irrelevant. As I stared at her still bleeding body, j was suddenly filled with
I was burning up. It felt like every inch of me was on fire. A whimper slid through my lips as I felt myself being moved. It hurt, I wanted to cry, but no words came out of me, just an exhausted sigh, saturated with pain. As I slowly regained consciousness, a searing pain coursed through my body, like a raging fire burning every nerve ending. My mind fogged over, struggling to comprehend what had happened. Flashes of memories pierced my thoughts: The whip striking my skin, the sounds of my own scream. Why did you come back to my son after all my warnings? WHORE! Don’t you know he’s got a bride? ‘MAMA!’ ‘Stay away from our mommy!’ My babies…oh…the feeling of weightlessness as I was lifted off the floor. The pain intensified, making my head spin. I tried to cry out, but my voice was trapped, silence by the excruciating agony. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I drifted in and out of consciousness. I heard muffled voices, like whispers in a distant room. Doctors, I think. They
As I shut the door behind me, I leaned back against the wood, feeling tremors wrack down my spine. I replayed my actions from a couple minutes ago and my fists tightened next to me. Anna. Was. Mine. whether she knew that or not was not my problem. I’d come to the room to check on her and make sure she was asleep like Sen had told me but seeing her with her perfect brown hair all splayed over my pillows, casting those pretty brown eyes at me through hooded lids, my wolf had taken over my instincts and I rushed towards her like a mindless beasts, claiming those full luscious lips. I’d been filled with the innate need to rub my scent all over her, scent-mark her wrists so if fucking Camila ever called her out, it would be clear that Anna was mine. that Anna belonged to me and I would burn down the earth to protect her.Sliding down against the wood, I buried my face into my palm, my chest and wolf aching at the reminder that Anna had rejected me. Not outright, but I’d never seen her as a
Asher's P.O.VAs soon as the sun came up, I was on my feet, taking Sen's words into consideration. By noon I was ready and nervously made my way into my room. I'd never felt this way, like the muscles in my stomach were bunched up.I'd hoped to meet her asleep when I entered the room but she was hitched up against the headboard. as soon as I stepped inside, she instantly sat up, her eyes bright with a mixture of fear and anxiety. Fuck I wanted to kick myself in the head. my actions last night had added even more friction between us.walking into the room and closing the door behind me, I stopped by the door of the bed, staring at her. "Hey."She licked her chapped lips and sniffled once. "About last night."she started to say but I shook my head. "Let me."Anna's eyes narrowed but she slowly nodded. "Okay."Closing the distance between us, I hovered her, looking down at her where she sat on the bed.Anna froze and her eyes widened with fear. I wanted to kick myself again. "Trust me."
(Anna's Pov) I was still reeling from Asher's words. How could he bring it up like it meant nothing? Fixing my blurry gaze on the projector screen which I wasn't even seeing anymore, shivers racked my body.All I could remember were the days I'd been bullied...by the nurses back at the hospital, by the waitresses in Westside before I became the manager and the parents in my children's school. Asher had no idea how it felt to hear people whisper and call my children bastards, unable to do anything about it. I was shocked by his question, and a chill ran down my spine as memories of those brutal days came flooding back. The pain of being bullied, the sting of rejection, the ache of loneliness - it all came flooding back. And to make matters worse, my physical wounds were still tender, a constant reminder of the brutal attack I'd survived from his evil step mother. I felt myself shivering, and before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face. I tried to get up and walk away, but As
Asher's P.O.VI glared at my phone, my thumbs hovering over the screen as I debated my next move. I needed to take responsibility for Anna, and that meant dealing with Black Rose. I sent the text, my jaw clenched in anticipation."Meet me at the bar. Now."I hit send and waited, my phone clenched in my hand like a lifeline. But a response never came.I glanced over at Anna, her pale form sleeping on the bed. Guilt gnawed at my gut, but I pushed it aside. I had to do this. I had to take care of her and prove to Anna that I could be what she needed even if it meant leaving her alone for a few hours.After checking the kids to see they were asleep and their new nurse was taking care of them, I grabbed my keys and headed out into the midnight air, the cool breeze a welcome respite from the stifling atmosphere at home.Just as I started the car, my phone pinged and it was a text from black Rose.--Ok.That was her only response. I shook my head at the incredibly arrogant woman and slid in
ASHER'S POV~“Let me go! Let me go, you stupid disgusting things! I'm going to ruin you! You're going to regret putting your disgusting hands on me!" The guards dragged Vira towards me as I say quietly in the dark room, my cold eyes on her. Her struggle against their hold was ferocious. Snarls ripped from her throat, her body writhing and twisting, her muscles tensed and coiled like a feral beast. But the guards were impassive, their faces stoic as they held her securely in their grasp.“Here you are. I've being wanting to meet you… step mother.” My lips curved upward, the corners of my mouth stretching into a sadistic grin. I watched as the guards hauled Vira towards me, a low, guttural chuckle rumbling in my chest.She gasped in shock before faking a broken expression. “Asher… what's the meaning of this? You asked these cruel assholes to hurl me like a criminal just for us to talk? Couldn't you send a text or something?” Her voice quivered. What a cunning bitch! Her eyes kept dar
ASHER'S POV~Finally, the day had arrived. Yet again, I didn't seem to sleep a wink. I kept turning on the bed, sending several messages to Anna who in turn returned all of them. She was anxious like I was. She was my perfect fit. I watched how the sun slowly began to rise in the sky and for the first time in my life, this was the first time I acknowledged the sun was indeed beautiful. It helped to light up my day.It didn't take me up to an hour to get dressed. I already gave an earlier instruction to Anna's stylists to dress her up quickly, I wouldn't want anything to delay my bride from coming on time. I was fucking dying to see her. I made sure every single thing in the venue was the best. Made from the very best.I wouldn't mind taking a drive to the hotel where she's been dressed up but Sen kicked against it and mentioned it to be a taboo for a groom to see a bride before their wedding day.Finally, I arrived at the venue. Sen made sure to scatter the guards at every station, m
ASHER'S POV~Last night I couldn't bring myself to sleep a wink. Tossing and turning in the bed, I fought against the grip of sleep. Anger, disappointment, and confusion mingled within me, keeping me wide awake.I couldn't think straight. No, I just couldn't. I thought about the several possibilities of me not appearing on time, what could have happened? Anna would have said yes, wouldn't she? My heart instantly clenched, I groaned while I pulled some strands of my hair in anger. Last night, I couldn't face Anna, not now, not while I was still struggling to make sense of it all. So I avoided sleeping in the same room as her. Someone suddenly knocked on the door. My eyes that were shadowed with dark circles lazily made their way to the door before I began to rise. My movements were sluggish and unfocused. “You look like shit, to be honest." I heard Sen mutter the very moment I let the door open for him. I rumbled under my breath, “So you came to taunt me about that?” I raised a br
ANNA'S POV~“For fuck's sake, Anna you're going to get me killed!" Tony groaned, pulling his hair as he turned around and refused to stare at me. I grinned, my cheeks widening and I went ahead to poke Tony's back which faced me but he softly slapped my hands away. “Heavens bear me a witness that I'm clearly the one chasing you away, Anna." The thought of seeing Asher storm into this place like a bull, his face set in a fierce scowl, his brows furrowed, his nostrils flaring, and his steps heavy to come ruin this playdate made adrenaline to curse through my veins. It made me so excited and I was looking forward to it. “Come on… Asher doesn't bite!” I brushed past him, only coming to stand right in front of him and I saw him turn around again from me, giving me his back and I barked out a laugh. “Jeez, Anna, go away. Asher would think you're dressed sexily for me when in reality this is just a prank. Go away! I don't want to lose a tooth.” He whined and I giggled more. I intentional
A year laterASHER'S POV~My mind was a swirl of thoughts, each one circling back to Anna. No matter how much I tried to make it stop, try to even focus, my thoughts kept drifting back to her—especially when she declared she was going for a vacation which was absolutely weird. I hated how suspicious it made me feel. I didn't sleep a wink last night and had spent the entire late hours of the day to search on several search engines on their search bars on ‘WHY WOULD A WOMAN SUDDENLY DECIDE TO GO ON A VACATION ALONE WITHOUT HER PARTNER.’My heart kept pounding in my chest as I waited for the results to load. As page after page revealed the same terrifying possibility, my face had gone pale and my fingers trembled. The realization that she might be losing interest in me, that she might have someone else, had filled me with dread and despair.The silence of our room was deafening, every tick of the clock in our room was a cruel reminder that my girl was about not to return to me anymore.
(Anna’s Pov) Darkness. Stifling, all-encompassing darkness. My lungs burned, a primal panic clawing at my throat. I was trapped. A metal cube, cold and unforgiving, held me prisoner, stealing my air bit by agonizing bit. This was it. This was how I'd die. They locked me in this cube that didn't have oxygen in it.As I tried to give up, my fist suddenly tightened around the object in my hand and I froze..A crazy idea, born of desperation, took root. My breath hitched, but not from lack of air. This time, it was anticipation.With trembling fingers, I flicked the lighter and the gas ignited in a blinding explosion, fire and debris hurling me through the air.Pain exploded in my limbs as I hit the ground and the force of the blast turned the room into a chaotic inferno, flames licking the walls.But I forced myself to move, crawling through the debris, my lungs burning with each gasps of smoke filled air. The acrid scent of burning metal and plastic filled my nostrils. Suddenly, a b
Asher’s P.O.VThe crisp white tux felt suffocating as I fumbled with the buttons, my reflection in the mirror absolutely mocking me. Was this really happening? Was I about to marrying a monster? How none-the wiser everyone would be, blind to the truth unfolding beneath their champagne flutes.Just then, a knock on the door startled me. “Alpha.” Came the voice through the heavy wood.“Come in, Sen.” I called in a rough voice.The door creaked open, revealing my Beta’s stoic face. He scanned the room, his gaze landing on the hidden remote nestled right under my sleeve. A flicker of understanding pasted between us and he gave me a curt nod.“Everything is in place, Alpha.” he reported. “The projector and screen are set up in the main hall, discreetly hidden behind the floral arrangements.”I nodded curtly and my stomach tightened in worry. This was the only way to do this. The door cracked open without an introduction this time and Vira appeared at the doorway. In a white silk lace dres
Anna’s P.O.VDrip, Drip, Drip.That’s the mix of sweat and blood running down my spine from where I was hung. Trying to move sent pain like a million darts ripping into my skin. So with gritted teeth, I stood on tiptoes, tears burning behind my lids.Vira was a crazy psychopath, no doubt, but what if her words had some truth to them? After all the million ways her team of doctors had tortured me to activate my phantom powers, I was starting to believe it.But why? Why won’t the so called fucking powers manifest so this torture could end? All my fucking life, I’d felt useless, hating myself for not having a wolf when my peers got theirs. I only had a useless shapeshifting ability. Now I was told I had such great powers at the tip of my fingers and I still couldn’t save myself, my babies and the others.The tear I’d been holding since I was locked in a tube without oxygen poured down my eyes and choked sobs seeped out of me. Goddess, please save my babies. I cried to myself as my sh
Asher’s P.O.V: My knuckles were white-hot around the steering wheel, the leather cool and slick beneath my clammy palms. Every muscle in my body felt coiled tight, a knot of churning anxiety that had taken root in my gut and refused to loosen it grip. It had been days since Anna’s kidnap, days that had stretched into an agoninzing eternity. To make matters worse, the wedding loomed ahead on my calender, a fucking deadline that mocked my helplessness. Marrying Vira. The very thought made my stomach churn. The woman was a viper, a fucking sicko and the last person I’d consider spending the rest of my life with. But what choice did I have? It was the only leverage I had, the only flimsy thread keeeping Anna and the kids alive. Tony had mentioned a possible lead but said I had to come to a hidden location to speak to him. It was a long shot, but fuck, it was all i had. The city soon gave way to sprawling surburbs as I droce, then slowly dissolved into a desolate landscape that h