Chapter 21

Cirilla's point of view

I kept turning and tossing on Lyra's bed. I was restless. For some reason, I just couldn't sleep. The moon was shining bright in the sky, a little of its light peering

through the curtains. I was alone in Lyra's room while she spent the night at Stefan's.

I felt agitated for no reason, as my mind and thoughts were solely on Asher. He was driving me insane, and I couldn't quell the crazed need to be next to him.

I released another groan, burying my head beneath the soft pillow. Then I heard the faint squeaking of the door. It pulled open and then shut almost instantly.

I could only be Lyra. I thought to myself, but after a while, she didn't join me on the bed.

I pushed the pillow on my head away, my eyes darting around the room. It instantly fell on the figure standing in front of the door. That was definitely not Lyra.

I couldn't see the face, but there was an electric charge in the air, and I could never be mistaken. It was Asher. Only his presence was capable of creating such a sensation in the air.

I felt the hairs on my skin stand on alert.

"Asher?" I called in the darkness, watching him unmoving from his spot. What was he doing here?

I called again, but he did not answer. Suddenly, he took a step closer and then several steps until he was beside the bed. I forced myself to sit upright on the bed. My lips parted to speak, but they fell shut the instant Asher leaned closer to me. His manly, hypnotic scent swarmed into my nose, rendering me paralyzed.

I felt him press down on the bed beside me. His large hand pulled up to me, landing tenderly on my face. His actions took me by surprise.

I shook at the sparks that lighted on my cheek, sending a jolt of electricity to my entire body.

"Ash–" I called, suddenly out of breath, my heart racing blindly against an unknown force, and Asher silenced me with his thumb before I could finish my sentence.

He drew closer to me, leaning so deeply that I felt his slender nose against mine. I could barely breathe through my nose. Somehow, the air refused to pull in. I gasped, parting my lips as I began to breathe in more of Asher's scent.

As if also suffering from lack of oxygen around him, Asher's lips parted as well, breathing me in. His breathing was rough and labored.

I couldn't stop myself from leaning into his touch, his head gently resting on mine. I was no longer in control of my body. I felt a need begin to grow within me, as Asher snaked a hand around my waist, while the other continued to caress my cheek.

I pulled my eyes towards him. His eyes were closed as he drew closer, allowing our lips to brush against each other.

I gasped again at the electricity that formed there. Asher saw the opportunity and quickly pressed his lips to mine. There was an atomic explosion within me, arising from the cave of my heart, spreading like blazing wildfires around my body. I felt myself burn intensely as Asher's lips began to move on mine. I was so drawn into the blissful moment that I began to kiss him back.

My hands, having a life of their own, fell on his bare chest, stalking their way to the crook of his neck.

He continued to attack my lips, his hand leaving my face and moving down to my waist, where he gripped tightly. In a swift motion, Asher lifted me into his arms, his lips never leaving mine.

He kissed me passionately with so much need and hunger. I felt his hands slip under my tank top as he lowered me onto the bed, positioning himself gently on top of me. His kisses became even more urgent as his hands walked their way on my body and began to caress them. I felt Asher's hands fall on both sides of my breast.

I released a moan in a voice I couldn't recognize as mine. With every opportunity, Asher buried his tongue deeper into me, exploring my mouth.

His hands didn't stop there. It began to move fiercely, with purpose, down to my waist, further down to the band of my shorts. I felt his hand slip into my shorts. Instantly, I realized exactly what was about to happen. As much as I loved what was happening between us, I felt something was indubitably wrong. My body wanted badly to continue with what Asher was proposing, but my sanity fought against it.

I pulled my lips away from his, breathing hard for air. "Asher, we should..." I was cut off as his lips swallowed mine again, possessively.

Something was definitely wrong.

I pulled away, placing my hands on his chest. "Asher stop!"

He didn't listen. He resumed kissing my lips. I tried to escape his grip on me, but his large body only pinned me deeper into the bed.

My heart began to pound warningly against my chest as I forced my lips away from his. "Asher stop, please."

Still not listening, his hands had begun to wrestle with my tank top, trying to yank it away from my body.

I clutched his face with his eyes still shut. I was trying to get his attention. And I got it. Asher's eyes snapped open in the darkness, and I froze.

I was left momentarily paralyzed. My breath got stuck in my throat as Asher's eyes peered down at me. It was a brilliant golden color.

"Asher," I called in a whisper, my hand on his face, stretched to the bedside table, turning the lights on. I could see his face clearly. His bright golden eyes pierced into my soul.

Asher leaned into my touch, releasing a low growl.

"Asher?" I called again, but he grunted angrily.

His golden eyes were flashing right into the depths of my very own soul.

"Not Asher." He sounded pissed and frustrated. But his rage and evident frustration weren't aimed at me.

I crippled my brows in confusion. As if sensing my confusion,

He spoke again. "Not Asher, Ryker. His wolf, "

My blue eyes widened. "What?" I could barely form any more words. "Where is Asher?"

"Sleeping." He grunted again, annoyed. "He's a coward," he growled more in rage.

I didn't understand what he meant by the last word, but I placed a hand on his chest. My sudden action seemed to please him and he sighed in satisfaction.

"Mine," he said, and his eyes fell back on me, and he leaned closer, brushing his lips against mine. It was sweet and tender, making me gasp. He did it again as if trying to seduce me back into the heated feelings from a minute ago.

I almost gave in. Almost. But sanity banged against my head, reminding me this wasn't Asher. It was Asher, but it wasn't him. This was wrong.

I put a stop to what was happening, and by the way, he growled. He hated it.

Asher's lips left mine, roving to my neck where he began to suck, implanting kisses that made my stomach flutter and my knees grow weak.

I found myself moaning as he kept on kissing the crook of my neck. Then the kisses turned rough and aggressive, I began to feel his teeth in my skin as if wanting to bite me.

I tried pushing him off me, but he only pinned me.

"I promise this won't hurt." He said, continuing his work. I released a scream as I felt a sharp piercing into my neck. I began thrashing around.

"Asher, please stop! You're hurting me. Snap out of this."

Immediately, he came to a halt. His golden eyes fell on me, and I could see them starting to glow a bright green. It was like the two colors were fighting for dominance.

Asher groaned, clutching both sides of his head, and shutting his eyes.

He stopped groaning after a while, finally opening his eyes, and they were the usual emerald green.

Asher's eyes widened as they fell on me, taking in our compromising position on the bed. I could feel his eyes on my almost torn tank top and then it trailed up to the warm blood that had started to flow from the crook of my neck.

"No. Fuck!" He jerked up from the bed. Fear, guilt, and remorse ate through him as he kept stalking the floors of the room, muttering curses.

"Shit! I am sorry. I swear I didn't mean to— fuck! " He kept on rambling nonstop, the pain eating through him. A similar pain also stabbed my chest.

"I-It's fine, Asher. You weren't in control." I said, trying to lessen the intensity in the air.

Asher stopped moving. His eyes pierced through me intensely, like he was having a serious conversation with himself or trying to make a serious decision.

Asher's stare on me was broken and sad. It hurt me to see him this way. I got up from the bed, about to approach him, when he drew a hand in the air, forcing me to come to a halt. Asher took a step back, his eyes now glistening with tears that were caged stubbornly in his eyes.

"I will never be able to forgive myself if something bad happens to you because of me. This only proves to me that every part of me is a danger to you." Asher spoke slowly, counting each word.

I was confused, not understanding what he was saying.

"Even though it kills me, I have to do this. It's what's best for you."

The more he spoke, the more fear gripped me, as if I sensed something bad was about to happen. Something I wouldn't like. Something that will hurt me. The presence at the back of my head stood on alert, similar fear paralyzing us.

"What are you saying, Ash?"

He cut me off. His stare was firm. "I, Asher Cohen, Alpha of the Black Blood Pack, reject you, Cirilla Bane, as my mate and future Luna of the Black Blood Pack."

I froze.

I watched in horror as a saddening tear rolled from Asher's eyes.

I had no idea what was happening, or what he meant by those words, but a sickening pain sliced through my stomach, and tears gathered in my eyes. The presence within me screamed in pain.

Before I could speak, I heard Asher groan in pain. He gave me a sad look before leaving the room.

As soon as he was gone, the night's cold feasted on my skin, and the stabbing pain in my stomach spread to my chest.

I felt an excruciating burn there. Instantly, I collapsed on my knees, groaning in pain. I could hear the voice within me howling intensely in pain, as a force within me wanted freedom.

What the hell is happening to me?