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.

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

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

side. She’s going to give our kind a home, a place where we

you think she’ll stop once the Vampire’s and Werewolves fall into

only a matter of time. Tessa knows that, and something

that a bad thing?

Ember shot back; venom laced in her

the fire in her eyes, but there was another layer hidden beneath the surface.

never got the chance to reply because Brandon

nature, right?” He asked, his eyes on Ember.

replied stiffly. “More or

that needs to be kept. Can you honestly tell me that what this Blood Witch is doing doesn’t fuck with that balance?” Brandon said, effectively stunning me into

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

and hotheaded.

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, Ember. She won’t stop until there’s nothing

Ember’s body seemed to ratchet higher, reaching it’s peak when she whirled

mission for –for her?! What’s so

upside the face. “You can’t tell me you think Vampire’s, Witches, and

sitting around a campfire singing Kumbaya instead of killing one another.

and I’m telling you, you are

and you-you’re mated to an Alpha’s younger 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.

before in her life. I didn’t have it in me to feign indifference anymore. She needed to know

we 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, I was begging. I let every broken, shattered piece of my soul shine through my eyes,

as though she couldn’t bare to look. Her eyes drifted to the door and my heart crashed,

you do if I were to let you go,

and I’d kill her. Then,

other witch we sent into your pack?”

know we’re already in

the world. They’re in danger no

eyes growing wide as she cocked her head. “Wait, you think she’s enslaving

yeah?” I stammered. “What else would she be doing?”

like this. Her eyebrows were pinched and the fire in her eyes was

barely moving. “Enslaving you is only the first part of her plan. There’s another

the spell?” I croaked as what little spit coated my throat

to step closer. “Tell her, Ember. What is

A wave of nausea hit me in the chest, and only

you’ll never guess whose