Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 398: Weakness For Wolves

Cynthia had no idea how she went from hunter to hunted. She sprinted through the woods blindly, running with every ounce of strength she had. Asher couldn’t get his hands on the kind of information she carried. She wouldn’t be the one to bring her darling Patrick’s downfall. So yes, she would die if that was the cost to protect his secret.

She was still holding on to that thought when something slammed into her, hard. Cynthia hit the ground with a gasp, the breath punched from her lungs. She scrambled to look behind her, and it was exactly as she’d dreaded.

Asher Nightshade had found her.

Without hesitation, Cynthia reached for the gun strapped to her thigh, not to shoot him, but to end her own life.

But Asher was faster.

He moved with the brutal accuracy of a werewolf, kicking the weapon out of her grasp in a blink. In the same motion, he hauled her to her feet like she weighed nothing.

"Aren’t you so eager to die now," Asher sneered, his face inches from hers, a gleam of contempt in his eyes.

He added coldly, "Usually, people who behave the way you do are the ones with deadly secrets to protect. What are you hiding, doctor?"

"No! Let me go!" Cynthia thrashed in his grip, struggling wildly. She couldn’t let him get into her head.

But Asher didn’t care. His hand clamped around her skull, firmer than necessary, and without warning invaded her mind.

What Asher met stunned him.

A wall of resistance slammed into him so dense and unrelenting that his knees nearly buckled. For a human, her will was formidable. But then, Asher’s own resolve was iron clad and he pushed harder.

When Asher broke into minds, he usually took care not to press too far knowing how fragile the brain could be. But with Cynthia, he had no mercy to spare. With a grunt of effort, he forced his way in, the sensation akin to a hot knife slicing through thick butter.

In reality, Cynthia screamed, collapsing to her knees as Asher ruthlessly plunged into her mind. Her eyes glazed over, lips trembling while her fingers clawed at nothing. But Asher didn’t look much better either with blood dripping freely from his nose.

And that was the sight Adele, and Lila, stumbled upon when they caught up to them.

"He shouldn’t be using his powers this intensely after barely

bending beside him.

there was

Lila offered, cracking

harm than good right now. We don’t know how deep into her mind he’s

might never find out by the time his brain melts out." Lila deadpanned, pointing at Asher, who now had blood

God," Adele murmured,

him. "Asher Nightshade! Let

He did not.

would Violet do if you die out here? Do you want her to bear the guilt of thinking you wouldn’t

That did it.

a sudden jerk, breaking the

gasping violently as her mind returned to her body.

to say before he dropped

screamed, rushing to him, her hands

bolted.The branches whipped against her face but she didn’t care.

fate had

her foot slammed down onto something

even see

treetops with terrifying force. It hurtled toward her like a missile, and before she

her against the trunk of an old oak, its pointed end impaling her midsection with such force that the bark behind her split. A sickening crunch followed as her ribcage shattered, the impact crushing her heart. Her eyes bulged, while her mouth

coughed blood once before her body slumped on the

like that,

out, watching helplessly as the healing glow in her palms faded out. She

furrowed line. She could help lend Adele the fuel she needed, but that meant burning through her reserves. And if she did, she

She exhaled shakily.