Alpha Asher by Jane

Chapter 237

“You’re wondering how we’ve managed to stay on your lands this entire time without anyone noticing.” Ember spoke softly, Angelica’s hand clutched in her own as she led the child in between houses to where the backyard was.

Tall picket fences divided the properties, each one the same uniform shape, height, and color. With the moon as our guide,

Ember led us to the back of the property, right where the forest met the neatly trimmed grass.

“She’s not the only one wondering that.” Brandon muttered sourly, casting a glare in

Ember’s direction. “This entire time I thought you brought me to some witchy village.”

“Freya told me to bring you to her, and this just so happened to be where she was.”

Ember fired back.

Angelica giggled, watching the two of them with curious eyes that shimmered brightly even in the dark. My only option was to intervene before they could descend into a full-blown argument. We’d be here all night if that was the case.

“How have you been able to stay here for so long without anyone noticing? Someone should’ve been able to pick up mine and Brandon’s scents.” I said, wondering why even now I failed to pick anything up.

Right as we reached the forest line, Ember tugged Angelica to a stop. The little girl whipped around, a knowing grin on her face.

“You don’t have to cloak the house anymore, Angelica. If we’re going to play, you’ll need all your strength, yeah?” Ember said, lowering herself to the girl’s height.

Angelica tapped her chin in thought for a moment before nodding, a look of agreement on her cherub face. 2

“Okay.” She giggled.

The air around Angelica began to shimmer, like it had been embedded with shards of diamond. It grazed the bare skin of my arms, sending little electrical pulses of magic through my flesh. Angelica waved her hands, a self-satisfied smile on her face when the space surrounding the house and fence began to ripple and change.

the wood like wisps of moss. A quiet grinding sound filled the air as some began to crack and splinter.

the grass began to change. It wasn’t perfectly trimmed, identical to every other house in the neighborhood. Weeds sprouted in heavy clusters,

swallowed by them, only her head

and clapped

I said, somewhat amazed. There was one thing bothering me, though. “What happened to this place? It’s practically falling apart. None of the other houses in the neighborhood are like

on you. I’m sure you already know this, but it’s like a poison. It doesn’t matter where you are, that poison seeps into

from the house, and as she did so, they glowed like two warm coals. She spoke in a whisper that Angelica failed to hear, “…let’s get going before Freya comes back. She won’t hesitate to kill us all once she finds

to Asher. The connection between us wasn’t at its strongest, but it was enough to

I’m alive and safe…for the most part. All of

with a speed that made my skull rattle. I could practically feel his eyes turn my way, centering down the length of the bond where my presence

are in so much trouble.’ He growled. The sound was low and danced along the mate-bond, forcing a shudder down my spine that sent my thoughts veering in the wrong direction. Holding the connection was sapping the little strength I had. Asher, sensing the drop in my energy, quickly replied. ‘Where are you and what do you need me

back at the house. Don’t tell them I’m coming, make something up. I’m

faded into nothingness, it’s absence a reminder that I hadn’t been able to mention Ember and Angelica. I’d have to make it known quickly they

was, had been completely intentional. It could easily cost me my life, but despite what she had done, I didn’t want any harm to come to her. I’d make a decision, but I

everyone at the house.” I told Brandon, who replied with a

find out you betrayed me, I’ll use the last seconds of my life burning someone you love to a crisp. Got it?” Ember hissed under her breath, her eyes

I replied,

to flourish together or destroy the world. There would be no in

positive note, the four of us slipped into the forest, the muddy earth squelching beneath our feet. The whisper of cold air against my skin was a pleasant reminder that I was no longer locked in a basement, counting down the

I was still counting seconds, but this way I felt like I was doing something

I need you to hide the four of us, and our scents. Think

the forest. The child had a hold of Brandon’s shirt, using him to keep her balance over the rocky terrain. Whenever she hit a patch of mud and slid, she’d grab onto Brandon, nearly taking

on, she didn’t let it show. With her free hand, she made a series of gestures, waving it through the darkness like she was trying to catch a butterfly. Just like back at the house, the air around us began to shimmer,

stomach turning as a dark thought

a child. She can’t possibly understand everything that’s