Chapter 25.1

He froze, his claws were midair, an inch away from me. Instantly, the night became too quiet. Only Asher's ragged breathing and Stefan's groans pierced through the terrifying silence.

I held my breath as I gazed into his bloodshot eyes. They were like a scary, fathomless pit. So deep that anyone could lose themselves. But I fought hard not to, my breathing was becoming labored and it became worse when Asher's lips spread into a narrow smile. It was so sick and dangerous that it sent shivers down my spine.

"Finally, we've met, mate," he sounded so darkly, that I couldn't stop my insides from trembling hard. Now more than ever, I missed the crazy whispers of the voice in my head.

"Get Stefan!" Wren shouted, almost in a rage, fear, and frustration. Immediately, everyone around began to move. They gripped Stefan's body and rushed him away while the wolves around stepped back, and before Wren could take a step closer to where Asher and I were, Asher's sharp claws moved closer to my neck, and just then I felt its pointed edge against the skin of my neck.

My body stilled, and I gasped almost instantly, feeling Asher's other hand around my waist. His sick and murderous smile was still displayed on his lips, almost in a smirk as his gaze held mine for a deathly second before shifting to Wren and the warriors that surrounded us.

His lips didn't break apart, but one could see the words shooting from his dark red eyes. 'Move closer, and she dies!'

Wren paused immediately, his eyes on Asher. "Don't do this, she is your mate as much as she is Asher's. Don't do this Azalea,"

Azalea? I thought Asher's wolf was Ryker. If that was his name, then who was Azalea?

My eyes widened in confusion, but I couldn't move even if I wanted to, at least if I didn't want Asher's sharp claws to sink into my throat and slash me open.

Asher only snickered, his gaze moved from Wren and the warriors and found mine again. His lips still held an amusing smirk, and I felt his eyes regarding me deeply.

'Want to go for a ride?' A deep, husky voice sounded so clearly in the walls of my mind. It took me a minute to realize it was Asher's voice that filtered into my mind.

Well, not Asher's real voice but whoever was in control. His grip on my waist tightened, and he pushed me, making me crash into his broad chest.

'Hold on tight,' were his last words in my mind, before the rumbling of the earth beneath us tore abruptly into the air, and suddenly, clouds of dust of sand carried by the wind, enveloped us in a tornado.

I felt my heartbeat spike to the maximum as my boots shifted from the earth and I felt myself being lifted within the tornado of sandy wind. Without hesitating, I gripped Asher's neck like I was holding on to my life, and then the surroundings became so violent that I was forced to shut my eyes.

Almost in an instant, everything stopped, I couldn't feel anything again. I pulled my eyes open, and to my utter shock, we were no longer in the meadow. I glanced around, and we were at a cliff near the mountains. Asher's hand was still on my waist, and the other retracted from my neck.

As soon as I was free, I pushed him off me, putting enough distance between us.

"Where the fuck are we?" I yelled, scanning around in a frenzy.

Asher, or whoever was in control remained silent, with his smirk of amusement still growing on his lips which was irritably gorgeous by the way, but that wasn't even important right now.

"Relax, mate. I am not going to hurt you," he said, "yet," he added threateningly. But as usual in the sickest way, I wasn't a bit terrified. His red eyes narrowed on me, and as if reading my thoughts, he chuckled so darkly, but it sounded like a beautiful melody in my ears. He pulled his eyes to his claws, retracting them and his hands became normal.

"Who the bloody hell are you?" I moved in the darkness, away from the cliff. I was way too curious to know who Azalea was. It was obvious he wasn't Ryker. Asher's wolf had beautiful golden eyes and was so warm and gentle. Whoever this was, was the complete opposite.

"I thought you'd never ask, mate," he whispered into the night, moving closer to me, but I took a step back, not out of fear but it was a precautionary measure to keep my mind clear and sane. I couldn't trust myself with whatever versions of Asher stood in proximity to me. By the heavens, they all had a dangerous effect on me.

"I go by the name, Azalea," he counted each word, taking a step closer to me.

What was this? Did Asher have more than one wolf?

"I'm his demon counterpart, "His words were shocking and unbelievable. I didn't realize when Azalea reached closer for me. But before he could grab me, I sent out a punch at him, and my fists connected instantly with his jaw. I was about to send another one when he gripped me and pressed me against a rocky wall.

"Feisty, I like," His hot breath fanned my lips. But I pushed him away, swinging my legs to him. It hit him hard in the guts. He groaned internally. "And strong," his sickening smile appeared again. "This will be fun,"

I sent a kick to him again, but instead, he grabbed both of my legs and pushed up against the wall, pinning my legs around his waist. He pushed up to me, and I felt the heat radiating from his bare chest. I couldn't help but gasp at the electrifying sparks and tingling sensation that made my blood boil in pleasure. Suddenly, I felt my body on fire. I don't know why, but every piece of me just wanted Asher so badly.

"Don't worry, mate, it's the effect of the full moon on mates," he pressed up to me harder, making me gasp again at these alien feelings. He rested his forehead on mine.

"Mates?" I said in a whisper, "What the hell does that mean?" I asked, almost breathless.

He smirked in amusement. "You really don't know," his smile deepened. "Foolish human didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?" My blue eyes caught something deep in his bloodshot eyes.

"That you are the one created by the moon goddess, only for him,"

My brows were crippled in confusion. And he read my thoughts.

"Think of it as his soulmate," he paused. "The other half that completes him,"

"What the fuck are you saying?" It wasn't even remotely funny.

"I am telling you what that human will never say, you are his mate. What do you think the sparks, and the unexplainable emotions you feel mean, dear mate?" He sounded, and I was frozen in shock as his words kept ringing in my ears.

What the fuck!

"And to my kind, you are exactly what I need to survive," his words forced my eyes back on him. Immediately, Azalea leaned closer, and his lips covered mine, and his hands left my legs that were around his waist, and found my waist. "Your blood is all I need,"

I tried to jerk away but he had me pinned to his body, and his eyes glowed bright red, I felt his canines extend against my lips.

I headbutted him and escaped from his grasp. His hands had extended into claws, and his canines were out. He moved closer to me, but I took a step back.

"Wait! I do not want to hurt—" his eyes began to torch brightly, Azalea crippled on the earth, groaning. "Fucking bastards!" He groaned louder. "I will be back," his voice filtered into my mind, as he groaned.

Slowly, Asher turned around, and my blue eyes fell into his golden blazing pair. He wasn't in control. His wolf, Ryker, was the one in control. He began to move closer to where I was and stopped only when he was a breath away from me.

"Mate," he whispered. Even though his face was expressionless, his tone held a satisfying smile.

"It's Cirilla," I corrected, even as Azalea's words were ringing in my ears. "Ryker?"

He nodded, a smile showcasing on his lips, as if pleased I remembered his name. Before I could speak again, his large hand fell on my cheek. I moaned internally at the electrifying sparks that didn't hesitate a second before forming.

"I want to speak to Asher," I said, and Ryker's eyes torched angrily.

"Why?" His voice was hard, but he wasn't yelling. "That stupid human hurt you. He hurt mate,"

There was something about his words that reached my soul. "I know," I whispered to him, unable to break away from his gaze. "I know best how much of a jerk Asher can be,"

"He's an idiot too. Also, a coward," Ryker muttered, and I found myself nodding to his words.

"He's a bloody bastard too," I added, making the corners of his lips stretch into another smile. "Could you wake Asher up?" I said, and he was about to protest, but I muttered. "Please,"

Ryker's golden gaze bored down on me intensely, his hand caressed my cheek gently before his golden eyes began to flicker, and it changed into Asher's emerald green. He was back.

"Asher?" I held my breath, and his eyes scanned around before his head lifted to my level, his bright emerald green eyes softened as regarded me quietly.

His deep green eyes scanned me gently, and he breathed out in relief.

I moved backward in the darkness, now feeling the cold that mercilessly lashed on my skin. I was only wearing a tank top and black pants. I just realized I had left home without taking a sweater.

"Oh no, please goddess, no," his usual husky voice filled the air. He moved closer to me and hands fell on my arms, and then again, those sparks weren't slow to erupt. I felt the tingling spark all over my body. Was everything that Azalea said true? Was there more to what I felt for Asher? I had to know.

I turned away, pulling out of Asher's hold, I couldn't trust myself and these infectious emotions. But Asher gripped me again, gently. His hand fell on my neck, "I am so sorry," his voice was broken and full of extreme pain as his padded thumb brushed the small trail of blood on my neck from where Azalea's claws had me.

"It's alright. I am fine," I pulled away again. What was up with him? Why was he so concerned? I didn't see those emotions in him when he hurt me brutally last night. Suddenly, I felt enraged.

"No, it's not. I shouldn't have hurt you —"

I cut him off, "And why?" His brows furrowed intensely, but the gate of his lips was pressed shut in silence. I rolled my eyes. "Is it because I am your mate?"

I watched his expression widen in surprise. "How— What the fuck did Azalea tell you?"

"From the looks of it, the truth," That demon of his was right. I was Asher's mate, but why didn't Asher tell me? Didn't he want me?

I didn't know my true emotions had betrayed me. I couldn't pry my thoughts away from my eyes. Immediately, his words last night echoed in my head. I wasn't a wolf, but I also wasn't dumb. His very words explained it all to me. He didn't want me.

"You rejected me last night right?" The words came out more harsher and fiercer than I would have liked, carrying so much pain and hurt. Why on earth did I care so much? My eyes threatened to form a tear but I forced it back.

"It's not what you think, Cirilla. I had no choice. Don't you understand I pose a danger to you, just take a look at what happened last night with Ryker, and today, with Azalea. You are safer without me," he said, wanting to touch me but I backed away.

"I hate you," I whispered, more to myself, but his instant frown and the pain that covered his deep green irises meant he heard me. My words seem to have inflicted pain on him, I should be happy right? But that wasn't the case. I was hurt. God, I was a fucking idiot.

I pushed past him, walking back to the woods when I felt Asher's hand grab my wrist. He pulled me closer to his chest, and his lips crashed on mine. And his large hands pinned my waist to his. I felt a deep piercing in my soul, and fireworks exploded within my chest, spreading throughout my body. I gasped, and Asher took the opportunity to invade my mouth. I felt his tongue inside my mouth, sucking every corner of my mouth. I didn't know when my body began to respond to him, and I began to kiss him back. My hands moved from his chest and found his way to his neck, getting lost in his hair. Asher lifted me off the ground, pressing me hard to his body, and his large arms completely swallowed me. He pulled away from me gently, his head resting on my head. I was panting hard, we both were. I couldn't describe what I was feeling but it was simply exquisite. It was nothing I'd ever experienced.

"Cirilla," My name left Asher's sweet lips, and the manner it rolled out from his luscious lips made me moan internally. "This shows that the bond between us is not broken, I don't know what exactly went wrong, but I swear I am glad it did. The fear of losing you made me insane, and when I thought I had lost you, I lost myself Cirilla, I am sorry," Asher whispered against my lips.

I couldn't concentrate on what he was saying. I tried, but I just couldn't. I was more concentrated on Asher's lips, I was dying to feel it again. Whatever he was saying, we could talk about it later, but I just wanted to taste his lips on mine again. My hands cupped his face, running to the back of his soft hair. Just shut up Asher, and kiss me.

It was as if he could hear my thoughts, a small smile crept on his lips and he kissed me so tenderly. We hadn't gone too far when the cry of a twig startled us apart.

"Fuck it, man! I thought you said Asher's demon had kidnapped Cirilla, and she was in danger?" I knew that voice. It was Cory's.

Asher and I swerved to the left where Wren, Cory, Dorian, Andy, and Trish were standing in total shock. My cheeks instantly colored from abashment, and immediately, my sanity came back.

"I thought she was," Wren furrowed his brow, inspecting Asher carefully.

"Does that seem like danger?" Dorian whistled, stalking closer to us, but before he could reach us, Lyra pushed her way through.

She sprawled her hands around me, pulling me tightly into one of her sweet and comforting hugs. "Oh Cirilla, thank you for coming,"

I smiled into her embrace, pulling away gently. My lips parted about to say something, but what came out was a sharp gasp accompanied by a deep pain that ran down my spine, starting from injury at the back of my neck. I felt my eyes snap close, my legs weakened, and darkness drowned me.

Shit!