Alpha Asher by Jane

Chapter 235

“No. No, I don’t believe you.” Ember said after several seconds of silence.

She turned around, her face turned towards the door as though she might storm through it and leave Brandon and I to our own defenses. She didn’t, though. Her hesitation wasn’t just written across her face but was also in her posture. In the way she stood with her arms folded over her chest, her foot tapping incessantly against the concrete floor.

I needed to say something, because if Ember left, I had a feeling I wouldn’t be here when she finally returned.

“Why would I lie?” I asked her, truly wanting to understand.

She scoffed, shaking her head at the door.

I was met with a scathing eye roll when she spun on her heel. “Are you really asking me that? What a stupid question.

You’re lying because you want me to turn against Freya.”

“As if that would work.” Brandon muttered.

I sent him a warning glare which he attempted to shrug at, but it was hard to do so when you were bound to the wall by the fiery touch of silver.

“If that was even a possibility, wouldn’t I have started with that the second you came into the room?” I countered, pulling Ember’s attention away from her idiotic mate and back onto me.

“It doesn’t matter. Tessa’s probably rotting away in one of your cells, being tortured for information.” She snapped, her eyes flaring with magic.

There was a hint of vulnerability in her voice, a crack in her armor that I could use to my advantage. Clearly, she and Tessa were all one another had. Ember was stubborn, that much I could tell up front. She’d never believe me outright.

“You’re wrong, but if it helps fuel your hatred for us, you can go ahead and keep thinking that.” I replied indifferently.

The air in this dingy basement began to heat, radiating from Ember like she was our personal fireplace. Instead of the crisp scent of a bonfire, the air smelt of charred apples and burnt cinnamon.

“You’re insane, then. She’ll slit your mate’s throat in his sleep.” She replied.

If she was trying to goad me, it wouldn’t work. I was running on limited energy as is and I wasn’t nearly foolish enough to waste it screaming at her.

This was my one and only shot, and I needed to take it.

I chuckled humorlessly. “Yeah, I doubt that. She’s got her hands full already with Zeke. Unlike you, she hasn’t explicitly stated what she wants, but I have a feeling she’d like to keep her mate too. I’m not saying she hasn’t seen the inside. of a cell. She has, but that’s not where she is currently. Oh, and we didn’t torture her. Actually, I gave her a choice.”

Ember narrowed her eyes into two small. slits. “A choice? What kind of choice?”

“I told her to pick a side: mine or Freya’s.”

“What did she say?” She pressed.

side of life.” I replied, regurgitating Tessa’s

once, tilting that slender chin of hers towards the floor. A look of understanding

to give our kind a home, a place where we can

for isn’t peace, it’s domination-total control. What makes you think she’ll stop once the Vampire’s and Werewolves fall into

time. Tessa knows

is that a bad

for centuries.” Ember shot back; venom laced in

the surface. The

chance to reply because Brandon beat me to

from nature, right?”

replied stiffly.

to be kept. Can you honestly tell me that

I wasn’t the only one. Ember glowered at her mate but said nothing. That was definitely going to take some getting used to if we survived this. I couldn’t help but wonder what Asher would think if he could see his brother now. Honestly, it was a bit

and hotheaded.

from his mouth before. It was soft and warm in all the right places, both soothing and heavy with a dire plea. “You know as well as I do that she’s destroying that balance,

it’s peak when she whirled on him. Her cheeks were flaming nearly as bright as her eyes

me to give up my life’s mission for –for her?! What’s so great about her plan?” She spun around and let out

that slapped me right upside the face. “You can’t

going to be sitting around a campfire singing Kumbaya instead of killing one

for our kind to get along and I’m telling you, you are

brother. Did you know Brandon here was the one that planned all of the protection detail for the Vampire’s safe haven? He wanted to take charge, and he did an amazing job. That is who you’re mated to.

was such anger on her face, such disbelief in her expression that I truly wondered if Ember had ever trusted anyone before in her life. I didn’t have it in me to feign indifference anymore. She needed to

can all live One where Witches and Vampire’s don’t have to answer to Wolves – a world we all rule. We can do more than just coexist, Ember. Your Brandon’s mate. You’re meant to help us. We have a chance at actual peace, but it won’t happen without you on our side. How could you not want that?” This time,

eyes drifted to the

if I were to let you go,

go home, find the second witch and I’d kill her. Then, I’d find

everyone you love in danger just to murder the other witch we sent into your pack?” Ember frowned, a strange light flickering

know we’re

can kill every werewolf in the world. They’re in danger no matter where I

turned away from the door, her eyes growing wide as she cocked her head. “Wait, you think she’s enslaving you

“What else would she be

setting eyes on Ember, never had I seen her look like this. Her eyebrows were pinched and the fire in her eyes was nonexistent. She looked… worried, and I wasn’t at all prepared for how unsettling

She whispered, her lips barely moving. “Enslaving you is only the first part of her plan. There’s another spell, one she’s been working on for years.

it? What’s the spell?” I croaked as what little spit

step closer. “Tell her, Ember. What is it?”

to see our reactions. A wave of nausea hit me in the chest, and only grew worse when she

back to life, and you’ll never