Chapter 13

Asher's point of view

After an eventful evening at Miles's bar, we were in the car waiting for Lyra, she had left for the restroom and was taking her sweet time. But I didn't mind. Any minute from now, Cirilla would be done with her shift and hopefully, I would get the chance to watch her leave. I was disconnected abruptly from my thoughts by the frenzied state of Lyra as she raced to us from a distance.

I jumped out of the driver's seat. 'Lyra what's wrong?' I asked her in a rush through the mind-link.

At a glance, she was before us, and Stefan was by her side calming down the wild pounding of her heart. Her worrisome chocolate eyes held horror and an oppressing rage. "Julia has totally gone nuts!" She yelled in a rant.

"What did she do now Ly----" Dorian's attempted words were silenced by Lyra's yell.

"She's attacking Cirilla. She might kill her!"

"What??!" The loud chorus from the guys was nothing but muffled sounds compared to the shattering echoes that pierced the walls of my mind. Like something in me had snapped. I had snapped, and Ryker was on the verge of gaining control.

I felt my blood boil in rage, my emerald green irises torched brightly from the cave of my eyes. My breathing became loud and rough in a beastly manner. Ryker had partially gained control, and this time I was barely fighting him. Julia had made a terrible mistake that would cost her.

'PROTECT MATE!!!' I didn't need to be told twice. I may not want to have anything to do with Cirilla, but as far as I haven't rejected her and destroyed every connection we both shared, she was as sure as hell, my mate and Julia's fucking Luna.

I sprinted off speedily in my human form, with Ryker sharing partial control with me, my speed was faster than that of a normal human. I ignored the screams and calls of the guys behind me. I had to find Julia before she did something stupid. It wasn't hard to find them, I concentrated on Cirilla's scent and it led me to the dark alley. Before my eyes, I watched Julia leap high in her wolf form, a second from descending on Cirilla, who seemed stuck on the cold ground.

In a split second, I closed the distance between us, leaping into the air where I gave Ryker full control of my body and we both shifted into our form. Before Julia could land on Cirilla, I grabbed her shoving her aside, she released a whimper as she crashed against the wall. I landed on all paws, scanning the perimeter, thankfully there wasn't a soul within the surroundings.

Julia was up on her paws, her stupidity still leading her on, her gaze was still on Cirilla, and I didn't need a damn soothsayer to tell me her next choice of action, I growled in profound anger just at the thought of my mate being attacked by my own Pack member, it enraged me.

I grabbed Julia with my sharp claws, tossing her into an exit corner of the alley covered in darkness. I didn't care at all if she got hurt at all. She would heal, but Cirilla wouldn't. She wasn't like us. I raced to the exit, but something caused me to halt all movements. I stopped in my tracks, turning my head to Cirilla's way. I wanted to see if she was okay. If she had been hurt by Julia.

I could have been prepared for anything, but not the look in her tender blue eyes. It didn't at all hold fear. It held a surprised, astonished look. A knowing look. An intent look of recognition. She knew. She knew exactly who I was.

I faded into the darkness in a hurry. I joined the guys at the end of the alley. Julia was still in her wolf form. And I was seething in rage. I shifted to my human form and snatched the shorts Dorian offered me since I destroyed my clothes by shifting.

Cirilla couldn't have recognized me in my wolf form. But she did. Her eyes told me she knew exactly who I was. Fear and uncertainty fueled me. It soon morphed into a rage when my eyes found the root of this new problem. Julia.

"Shift!" I yelled in my Alpha tone, it caused everyone to flinch in submission and Julia whimpered under my command. She couldn't fight my command. Instantly, she shifted to her human form. "What the fucking hell Julia?" I charged at her with my full nonhuman strength, my hands draping over her neck.

My pointed sharp claws were out digging into her flesh. She struggled for air as warm crimson fluid roamed down her skin. Stefan and Wren grabbed me before I could successfully detach her head from her body.

"Easy Asher" Stefan muttered, standing between Julia and I. I shut my eyes closed, fighting Ryker's influence on me. I needed to remain calm and in control.

Everyone could feel the vibrations coming from me, I felt their fear. I was in a state that I could easily lose control of Ryker and we'd both snap and do something ugly. It was Julia's audacity for me. She dared touch what was mine. She let her stupid jealousy get to her and attacked my mate. I would never forgive her for that.

What if Cirilla had gotten hurt? If I hadn't arrived at the precise time as I did what would have happened to my mate? I didn't want to think about that but I was damn sure Julia wouldn't have her life.

Stefan carefully walked to me. He was cautious, and I really appreciated that. And was glad he didn't make the mistake of touching me or telling me to calm down. My eyes never broke away from Julia who molded against the wall.

After tuning my raging emotions down a little bit, I took a step closer to her.

"Why on earth did you do that?" Ryker growled in anger at my question. He wanted to get his claws in her heart and rip it out. I ignored him. She didn't answer, which only aggravated me. "Julia!"

"I swear I wasn't going to kill her, I just wanted to… to…" It was obvious she was in need of the right word to plead her case. "Yes… scare her. I only wanted to scare her"

"What nonsense. Cirilla didn't deserve that, she's my friend. My friend. I won't forgive you for that" Lyra charged at her but Dorian caught her from pounding on Julia.

"Fuck Julia. You wanted to kill her." I gave a tug at my hair. Remembering the look on Cirilla's face. "You didn't just try to hurt her, you broke our important rule. You exposed not only yourself to her, but me as well" I yelled, swallowing as much air as I could.

"Oh my God! Did she recognize you?" Dorian was very concerned and Ryker growled at that.

I haven't told anyone yet that Cirilla was my mate, but still, Dorian's emotions towards her were enraging. Focus Asher. That was not what was important now. The hellish truth was Cirilla knew about us, well about me. She recognized me. But I couldn't exactly tell them that. It would put Cirilla in danger since I hadn't told anyone yet that she was my mate. If the pack or dad knew about this, the only solution would be to either kill her or force her to make a blood oath. Either way, it went, it still wouldn't be good.

I sighed. "Maybe she does. I don't know. There was this knowing look in her eyes when she gazed into my eyes. But it could be she didn't recognize me" I said, knowing it was a lie.

"Oh my goddess! She knows" Lyra began to pace, obviously worried for Cirilla and maybe more about the close friendship they'd begun to share.

"But she deserved it though. How dare she disrespect me with so many eyes watching..." Julia continued to rant on. Was she seriously stupid, or just getting on my nerves?

I growled, and Ryker was in control, his eyes glowing brightly. I gripped Julia's neck, jamming her against the wall. Stefan tried to tear me away from her again but this time Julia was asking for her death, and Ryker was far stronger compared to their strengths. My hand partially shifted into Ryker's sharp claws, and I could feel it eating through her flesh. I pulled Ryker behind and took control back.

I release her neck. She clutched it tightly, gasping for air. Her wounds would heal soon enough but my thoughts were on Cirilla.

So she knew exactly what I was? What if she turned on me? Or even worse, decides to go far away from Beaverton.

The thought of Cirilla going away from me surprisingly scared Ryker, it scared both of us. I admit, I tried distancing myself from her, only to protect her from Azalea, it was better that way. But everything was different knowing she would detest me, and look at me differently. That I couldn't bear.

The guys looked at me with different emotions. They had never seen me react so angrily and violently. Only if they knew Cirilla was my mate and that idiot tried to hurt her.

"Let's head back home. And not a word about what happened tonight to anyone!" I growled, commandingly.

They all agreed and we headed back home. I was restless. I felt restless throughout the night. My mind was spinning with several thoughts, all of which were consumed by Cirilla.

I crawled out of bed and headed to the window. The moon was bright from its abode. My memories from a few hours ago flash through my mind. She knew it was me back at the alley. I couldn't shake off the look from her eyes. The first rule in our Pack was never to reveal our identity to humans, and now she knows what I am. What we all were.

I should be worried about that, but what worried me more was her thoughts about me. Was she terrified of me? Did she hate me or something? My large hands tugged frustratingly at my hair. I groaned aloud.

It was true I didn't want her. And not because she was a human. But it was because it was better that way, and much safer for her. Plus, less drama for her to deal with in her life. But this was different, knowing she might resent me was unbearable for me. I couldn't bear it.

I gazed at the time, it was at the peak of midnight. I grabbed my jacket and hurried out of my room. When I was out in the woods I shifted to my gargantuan pitch-black wolf and raced off to Cirilla's place.

After the party last night, I secretly followed her home to a small apartment. Soon I halted my paws and moseyed into the darkness right opposite her place. I hid behind a tree, shifting back to my human form, and got dressed.

The light in her room was still on. She wasn't asleep yet. What was she thinking about? How to expose me or how to escape far away from me? Neither of those thoughts seemed fine with me. For the first time in my life, fear prickled down my skin. What was she doing up so late? I had a bad feeling about this.

*****

Cirilla's Point Of View

I momentarily lost every strength I had in my bones. Like my mind, body, and soul were rendered paralyzed. It was one thing to dream about being attacked by some weird creatures and another thing to come face to face with it. I knew my recurring dreams were missing pages from the night I couldn't remember, but this was different. Very different. Asher was also like those things. He was a wolf. A fucking wolf.

Ever since I arrived home, I haven't moved from my fixed position on the bed. My mind kept repeating everything in slow motion. My memory shattered into a trillion pieces and starting back from the top whenever I came face to face with those crystal green eyes. Those gazes. They had plagued my every waking second for the last two days and I couldn't be mistaken they were his.

My legs charged and I began pacing about my small room. They were Asher's. And he was a wolf. It made me wonder about the rest of the guys. Dorian, Wren, Stefan and Lyra. Was Lyra also like Asher?

Even though she told me she was adopted by Asher's father when she was younger, there was a high chance they were all wolves. But I had no way to prove it.

Quickly, I pulled out my sketchbook, taking a pause. I conjured the image of the black pitch creature and I began drawing on the book, if anyone could see me now they'd think I was losing it completely. I knew I had lost a little of my sanity from the second Asher walked into my life but now I had completely lost it all.

I pulled up the sketch. It was identical to the pitch-black wolf from my memory. I pulled up my phone and did some research on it. It was past the peak of midnight and I had spent the last few hours researching werewolves and anything that related to them. They were considered only myths, but they actually do exist. It made me wonder what other things existed out there.

I squeezed the skin on my temples, gazing at the time. I didn't know how time had flown so fast. The air inside of me had become too cold for my liking. I strolled to my open window, gazing into the bright moon. Even though I was completely lost in my thoughts, I felt the hairs on my skin stand in alert. Like I was being watched. It was hard to see anything in the darkness.

Fear jammed my chest instantly. I couldn't help but wonder if Asher suspected I knew what he was. Would he be capable of killing me? I couldn't tell. He didn't exactly like me or hate me. I jammed the window shut, retiring to my bed.

The next day I woke up early, before Mum got out of bed. I showered and got dressed. I rushed to the kitchen which was littered with cigarette butts and beer cans. I wasn't in the mood for house chores. I prepared a quick breakfast for myself. I was halfway into it when Mum strutted from her room. She was all dressed and was holding a small bag like she was going on a trip.

Her sandy brown eyes fell on me. "You're up early?" It sounded more like a question, so I nodded.

"Are you going somewhere?" I asked, and she nodded. This was the first time we were conversing like two normal individuals.

She moved to the kitchen, grabbing one of the abandoned beer cans that still had some drink in it. Gosh, isn't it too early for that? But I reserved my comment.

She drank from it. "I'm going on a business trip. I might be back tomorrow or the next" She said, taking another swig. Business trip? That sounded really odd. The last time I checked Mum never did any business. But what do I know, I barely knew my own mum.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

She eyed me briefly, not saying a word. I took a second look at her. She seemed on the edge, worried and maybe scared. "You don't have to know. Just don't bring any idiot into my house" She dropped the can and aimed for the door.

"Bye Mum," I said, but there wasn't any response from her.

I finished my breakfast silently. I grabbed my bag from my room and headed for the gym even though Vince had given me the day off. I didn't want to spend the day inside the corner walls of my house. I'd go insane. I'd feel much better if I worked out. I stripped from my clothes into my usual singlet and shorts.

I trained all by myself, till it was noon. I tried my utmost best not to think about my discovery about Asher and the other guys, but I failed. Some new questions rang in my head about the wolf that Asher supposedly saved me from. It looked really angered and wanted me dead.

Again, just like I had no answer to why some wolves attacked me back in Vermont, and why I was saved by a man covered in flames, I had no answer to this either. I was totally confused, even more now that the voice that had been hovering at the back of my head was no more.

Ever since last night and her constant yell for control and wanting to help, she just vanished away, without a trace and completely abandoning me. So much for being my tutelar spirit. It was already time to begin my shift when Vince approached the ring.

“I thought you were sick and weren't going to turn in for today" I turned to him as he stopped just outside the ring.

"Well, I supposed I surprisingly got better" I answered, discarding the gloves.

"That's fantastic to hear. You have a new trainee. He's new. So be good to him" Vince said, "Come on in" He yelled over his shoulder and the face I had not mentally prepared myself to see yet, moved closer to us. Asher.

I had to fight my body from trembling, not out of fear. I just haven't gotten over the fact that his pretty face and handsome body were actually not human in any sense. It made sense why he had such peculiar muscles. I was able to maintain my composure but my heart didn't take the hint. I could hear it violently pounding in my ears as if wanting to jump out from my chest.

"This is your new trainee, Asher," Vince said, pointing to Asher who wore an expressionless gaze. His green eyes were darker than usual, and there was this brutally cold, murdering vibe emitting from him, or was it just my paranoia and imagination? I wasn't completely sure. But at this moment, fear ran down my spine and everything in me had the damn feeling he was aware that I knew about him.

But the question was, would Asher actually be capable of harming me to protect his secret?