Alpha Asher by Jane

Read Alpha Asher [by Jane Doe] Chapter 87 – Asher’s POV

The moment I saw the note the Vampire’s had left, I knew a plan would form in Lola’s mind. I wanted to blame her, but I couldn’t, as I would have done the same. I would have given myself up to save any member of my pack, but Lola was different. The selfish side of me wanted to whisk her away, damning Breyona and Giovanni’s life in the process. Yet I couldn’t, because Lola would never forgive me.

I watched the gears turn in her head as we cleaned up the mess from the fight. She intended on turning herself in, that much was clear. My wolf and I were at odds. He wanted us to take Lola far away from this pack, away from the Vampire King, while I knew we needed to respect her decision, even if it might tear my mate away from me.

Sean, Mason, and some of my other men scooped up the corpses and brought them deep into the woods. The easiest way to dispose of the bodies were to b**n them. I wouldn’t allow them to be buried, to curse my land with their presence. They would be burned, their ashes cast far away from my pack.

The Vampire’s had toyed with my pack countless times, and the war was finally coming to a head. I had made preparations weeks ago in case we suffered another a****k, all we needed was information. Thousands of men had been brought in, from my pack, Zeke’s and Bran’s. Evacuation plans had been made, ensuring the safety of all those who couldn’t fight. Countless volunteers had stepped up to fight in this upcoming war, and each new volunteer brought on a new wave of pain. These people–my people were willing to give their lives for their home. I wanted to spare everyone, to fight this war on my own.

‘Just as Lola wants to willingly walk into the enemy’s arms.’ My wolf grumbled, ‘You two are not so different. She’s taking on the position of Luna without ever knowing it.’

Save Lola, save the people of this pack, I wanted to do it all and yet, I knew it was impossible. I knew lives would be lost on both ends, but I continued wondering if there was something more, I could do.

Once the streets were cleaned up, and the blood gone from the earth, I took Lola back to the packhouse. Once her Dad and Grandma left, I led her upstairs, watching as she wobbled on her feet. I noticed everything about Lola, the way her eyes would flutter shut when she got tired, or the way blush would stain her cheeks as she slept at night. She had me wrapped around her finger long before her birthday, probably since the moment I had met her.

“You smell like d***h.” I chuckled, a fluttering sensation in my chest as she blushed and rolled her eyes.

“You don’t smell so wonderful yourself, mate.” She smirked, making a show of smelling me, her small nose scrunching up.

If only she knew what she did to me, she might never let me live it down. Every expression that crossed her face left me in a perpetual state of awe. I’d watch as her plush lips turned up in a smirk, and a sly glint cross her eyes. If it weren’t for all of the drama going on, I would have long ago locked her in my bedroom and finished the mating process. Every smirk, every touch was beginning to drive me mad. This was how the mate-bond worked, it would drive us closer and closer, until the process was complete. The jealousy, the frenzy wouldn’t end until her first heat had subsided.

It was in the shower that I noticed Tristan’s mark still on her skin. The wretched Vampire had marked her against her will, and decided he had some false claim over her. The one thing I refused to take away was Lola’s choice. She often acted and spoke before thinking, but I would never take that away from her. Tristan declared himself her mate long ago, confident though he had been utterly mistaken.

“His mark is still there.” I grimaced, unable to keep the growl from escaping my lips. I traced over the vulgar mark, wishing I had been there that night.

“I asked the shadows. They said I have a mate for each side.” Lola frowned, looking truly torn. Her sadness evaporated some of my anger, as I was now distracted with the urge to remove her frown from her face. “I asked them to remove it, but the price was too much.”

I wondered what the shadows had asked for. Was it another life? Did they want someone else to d*e to wipe the mark from her neck? I would gladly k**l a thousand Vampire’s to pay that debt.

“What did they ask?”

“They wanted our mate-bond.” Her voice was soft, though my stomach dropped. I could hear the fragility of her voice, how she desperately wanted his mark removed, and yet she absolutely refused. She would rather remain connected to that Vampire than destroy the bond between us.

was no need to ask. I could see how Lola felt about me every time her eyes met my own,

what about this Vampire?” My voice emerged in a guttural snarl, “What

worked their charm, calming

Asher. Nothing compared

much emotion within me. I had been loved, and loved in return, but I had never been in love. So desperately in love that I was willing to sacrifice everything I cared for, everything I worked for, just to keep her safe. The emotion was raging and uncontrollable, but I couldn’t

sleeping b**e as much as I did. I had caught her eyes roaming me when she thought I wasn’t looking, and enjoyed every ounce of attention I received from her. As devious

pears calmed me, wiped all worries from my mind. Her soft breaths fanned across my chest; her body molded perfectly

family.” She asked, surprising me yet

fall asleep, and could be a nightmare when you woke her up. In the mornings, her hackles would raise and her bright eyes would narrow at anyone who dare woke her up. It was another thing I had quickly come to

worked out in the end. I have an annoying little brother, Brandon, and a couple cousins.” I told her, giving her the shortened version as she was quickly on the verge of

a*****e at first, but quickly fell under the pull of the mate-bond. It took a truly awful person to abuse their mate, to treat them badly. Though my Dad held the

I smiled as

Aunt, Uncle, and cousins are all someplace safe.” I assured her, “As for my Mom, she dealt with some things when she was younger, things that came back to haunt her. Dad wasn’t so understanding at first, but eventually he

to force the bond between them, and Mom retaliated. Dad told me she had bit him a number of times, something I could easily see Lola doing. When I was old enough to understand, I asked my Mom what happened to her all those years ago. Even with a rough start,

the sound making my heart flutter. Anything else she planned to

soft snores, running my finger along the blush on her cheeks. With Lola in my arms, sleep had come easily, pulling me into

up before Lola, a usual occurrence as she somehow could manage to sleep half the day away. After the long night we had, I figured I’d let

headed down to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water and a Tupperware container of Lola’s Grandmas cookies. Lola had a strange addiction to anything her Grandma baked, and could eat her cookies by the dozen. Her and Zeke had easily gone through four containers. Their

Lola asked, her eyebrow raised as the strolled

cup of coffee, noting how her jeans hugged her full hips perfectly. Her round bottom was on display, and though it wasn’t her intention, she was teasing me mercilessly. I had half a mind to skip work today and carry her to

me? You and Zeke ate everything last time. I never thought lavender cookies would be

Mom had been absolutely horrible in the kitchen, though her skills improved over the years, her

hair fanning out from the motion. “She’ll have you on the

me.” I chuckled, though the

and I knew this conversation was coming. I had watched her plan formulate in her mind for hours last night, and knew she

side, and was willing to lock her away if need be. I was constantly fighting him for control, to give Lola the chance

plan for hours. Her face would contort in determination, just to fall in sadness. I knew she worked through every

think they’ll k**l me. I’m the Vampire King’s only daughter, he needs me to take the throne. My Mom’s d**d, so he can’t have any more children.” She said, taking a deep breath before continuing. “I’m going to turn myself in and gather as much information as I can about where their headquarters are. We know nothing about the Vampires, Asher. We don’t know where they sleep

a head start. It would take time to evacuate the people in this town, to get the elderly, pregnant, sick, and children far away from the battlegrounds. The Vampire’s would tear them to shreds without a second thought, uncaring if they