Chapter 41

Cirilla's Point Of View

I released a loud growl, my inner vision blood red, and a deep thirst for their blood overpowered me.

My eyes narrowed on the witch closest to me, and two witches rushed closer, eager for their deaths.

I felt their fears. It was delightful. And I knew I would enjoy ripping their hearts out and drinking them dry.

Then I felt Asher's presence as it came with a thundering growl that shook the walls of the room and the smell of blood soon filled the air.

But I didn't dare look away from my soon-to-be victims. They lifted their fingers and an invisible shield was created imprisoning us.

My smile only deepened at their obvious stupidity. Nothing could stop me. I knew that, even as they began whispering foreign words, and channeling their energies to attack me, my smile only ran deeper.

They lifted their fingers collectively, and I felt magic that charged my way to harm me, but nothing happened.

The horror on their faces was priceless, as my smile vanished and my eyes turned completely red.

One of the witches took a step forward, about to attack again when the electric fire burning the corner walls of my soul pushed through my chest, rushing up my throat and I released a scream that sent every one of them flying against their shield which vanished, their blood spilling in the air, drenching me.

I staggered back on my boots, feeling every energy in my bones abscond me. I felt exhausted, and my legs had completely grown weak and my eyes were a second from shutting close even though my every thought was getting my hands on Jasmine.

I was about to collapse to the ground when I felt Asher's strong arms around me. They were covered in blood.

He was talking to me but his voice was reaching my ears in a blur and my entire focus was on the face I detested the most with every fiber of my being.

"Jasmine. Find…" I whispered, unable to complete my words and losing my vision.

The last thing I managed to see was the blinding white light in the room, swallowing up Jasmine and she vanished.

I lost consciousness.

*****

I jolted up and I crashed right into Asher's arms. His large arms tightened more around me, pulling me against the headboard while I tried to steady my vision.

I groaned, recognizing his enormous bedroom. We were back in the pack.

I sighed. "She escaped, didn't she?" I couldn't keep my rage and resentment away from my voice.

Asher's hold on me loosened, nodding. "Tell me how you feel?"

The question stung my heart and I couldn't fight the hot tears from my eyes. I felt hatred, rage, and confusion. That's how I felt. Like my whole world had been shattered. I felt utterly lost and broken.

Asher pulled me back into his arms, tightly.

"Fuck!" I heard him hiss bitterly. "I hate it when you cry," His words caused more tears as Jasmine's words rang in my ears.

I couldn't even begin to utter the words aloud but the truth was, I wasn't her daughter.

"I am not her daughter," I uttered ruthlessly. "She's not my fucking mother. All these years—" My voice cracked in a sob. All these years, I had been living a lie.

I heard Asher do one of his deep exhales. "I know,"

"If I wasn't her daughter, then who the fuck was I, and why did she have me?" I had to know. "We have to find her, Ash,"

"I already have my people on it. They are searching for her," He said.

"What is that? How did she escape?" I queried, remembering the glowing light.

"Through a portal," Asher replied. "She has witches' friends which made it easy for her to spellbound you,"

I held him tighter, placing my head on his chest as fear crawled in with a thought and they rested on him. The man in the photo I found in Jasmine's drawers. My father.

I inhaled deeply, clutching Asher tightly. I had to find Jasmine.

"Princess," Asher pulled away a little so he could stare at me. I could see the words dancing in his eyes. He had something to tell me.

"What?" I turned to him, properly.

"That woman, Jasmine. She's a rogue wolf…" He trailed off. "She's a wolf," He said. "Or at least used to be because I can't sense her wolf in her. She must have lost it somehow,"

"What?"

*****

Asher's Point Of View

I glanced over to Cirilla, several emotions were twirling in her eyes as I told her about Jasmine.

I kissed the top of her forehead, as the image of her back in her apartment, fighting off those witches, flashed in my mind.

What Ryker and I felt from her back there was mighty. Everything about her screamed power.

I wrapped my arms around her, burying my face in her hair.

"We have to find her, Asher. She can't just leave like that," She had a lot of questions and they can only be answered by Jasmine.

And so did I. So many. How and why did Ciri end up with Jasmine? What about her real parents? Didn't they want her?

Well with Jasmine being what she was, a rogue who had lost its wolf, and was moving from one place to another was definitely hiding from someone. So, I doubted the latter.

That woman knew so much, including why those rogues were after Cirilla and we had to find her.

I met my mate's gaze. "We will find her," I promised.

*****

Cirilla's Point Of View

Everything was in a blur. I didn't know where I was, I had never been there. There were people around, all seated in a big circle. Their voices kept echoing in my ears. I could feel their intimidating auras, every one of them. But there was something else I felt, something dark and dangerous. It felt so familiar.

I searched around, and my gaze caught a woman. I could see her face clearly. She was seated around the big circle wearing white clothes. She had big dark circles under her eyes, and her gaze was unmoving from the glowing white stone in her hands. She was unfamiliar to me. But that dark, and dangerous energy was around her, seeping into her.

Blood began to spill from her nose, her eyes, her ears, and her mouth. She was dying, and it was as if she knew it.

Suddenly, a tall figure rushed to her side. A woman, with shoulder-length blonde hair, and her eyes, familiar blue. It was her. The woman in my dreams.

I kicked my legs into motion, moving closer to her but blinding bright light covered my vision and my eyes snapped open.

"Fuck!" I heard a low curse and a deep hiss. "Sorry, princess, I didn't mean to wake you,"

My sleepy eyes adjusted on Asher and I jerked up from the bed, noticing his clothes. He was dressed already in his tee, leather jacket, and jeans.

A small smile covered his lips as he leaned forward, taking my lips in a passionate deep kiss.

"Happy eighteenth birthday princess," His words brought an unimaginable warmth to my chest. This was the first time someone was saying those words to me.

I looked away, pushing him off me. I didn't want him to see the stupid tears that had begun to form in my eyes.

Asher cupped my face, the skin on his forehead creasing with confusion upon seeing my tears. "What's wrong?"

I shook my head. "Nothing,"

His green eyes hardened more with concern, prying into my mind. I felt his gaze touch my soul, and it brought more tears to my eyes.

I was never this emotional or sentimental. This wasn't who I was. But then again, everything that had happened in the last few days made me realize I didn't truly know who I was. In all of this madness, I was truly thankful I had Asher. He made it all okay and for once in my life, I didn't feel all alone.

"It's nothing, really," I brushed my cheeks, fanning myself to get my emotions in check. "Where are you going?" I looked outside the window, still dark outside. I glanced at the time, and it was the early hours of the morning.

"I will be out for a few hours," His words made my heart stop. "I'll be back before evening and meet you guys at the bar, I promise, I won't miss out on your day," He quickly added.

"Is it important?" I mentally hissed at the strain of emotion in my words.

"There's an urgent meeting regarding the case," He was talking about the demons abducting humans. "And after, we'll attend a meeting with Daimon. It will be quick, and I will be back in no time," He said, scooting me into his lap.

My hands moved on their own to his neck. "Can't it be tomorrow," I forced out. "I don't want you to go," I confessed shamelessly.

My very own words startled me. When did I become this dependent on Asher?

But the truth was, I didn't want him to go. There was this strange, sad feeling in my chest that wanted him to stay by my side all through today. I didn't want to be apart from him.

Asher's gaze softened and his lips kissed the tear that rolled down my cheek. His torn gaze told me he didn't want to leave either and I didn't want to make it any harder for him. He was an Alpha and had other priorities, I couldn't keep him by my side twenty-four-seven.

"You will be back right?" I was acting silly, I know, but I just wanted to hear him assure me. Maybe then this sick feeling in my chest would disappear.

"Of course, princess," His words warmed me but I still felt sadness and fear deep within like I would never see him again.

I couldn't let that happen.

"Oh, Asher, just stay, please," I couldn't do this. I couldn't let him just go.

"What's wrong? Tell me," I was worrying him, but I couldn't dismiss this sick feeling in my bones and it had started to grow into fear.

"I don't want to lose you. I feel this sadness in my bones and it's like if you leave now we will never see each other again," I was crying.

Asher pressed his lips to mine, swallowing mine, and tasting every corner of my mouth in a wild breathless kiss. We pulled apart, our foreheads resting against each other. "We will never be apart, princess. As long as my heart still beats, nothing in this world can keep us apart. You are my life Ci, I love you, keep that in mind,"

I kissed him. "I'm sorry," I wiped my tears. I must seem like a complicated, messed-up mate.

"Don't ever apologize, alright," He pushed out a smile, but worry was still in his depths.

I smiled. What on earth would I have done without him?

"You are not allowed to miss out tonight," I warned.

With everything that had happened recently and all, we decided to cancel the party Lyra was planning at the mansion. But we were all going to Lakita bar tonight to celebrate.

He nodded. "I won't, especially not when tonight you are likely to shift into your wolf,"

I was looking forward to it.

"I will see you tonight, princess,"

I followed him outside of the mansion and a few of the guys were outside. Wren, Cory, and Andy were going with Asher, leaving Stefan in charge of the pack in his absence.

I waved at him, one last time, blowing a kiss to him. I smirked when he caught it, as usual, bringing it to his chest.

I hid the tears in my eyes, fighting the fear and sadness that had begun blossoming in my chest. I missed him already, and I can't wait to see him again tonight.

I tried to think less of Asher and more of what happened yesterday between Mum and me.

I had never felt so many emotions all at once like I did yesterday. It was terrifying. I had lost control and felt myself slip away. It was like something had awoken deep within me, and had taken control over me. Something dark and frightening. And I could see it in what I had done to those witches.

I didn't know I could do that, and even how I did it, but it was magic, and it sent a sick pleasure down my spine just having to end those bitches hearts. Now I understand why Jasmine fled, she made a smart choice there.

I had always hated her. No doubt. But now, what I felt was much worse. I couldn't explain it. I couldn't wait to find her and drill every answer from her, and when I was done, I couldn't trust myself what I would do after. Even her death was incapable of quenching this rage within me.

Now I understood it all. Her hatred towards me all these years and why we looked nothing like each other. The reason why we kept moving every time.

I exhaled, exhausted.

Asher had given Wren Jasmine's belongings last night so he could try and locate her using his abilities. But there was no result so far.

I needed to find her to find my roots. To find out who I truly was, and what sick fate destiny was playing with me.