Alpha Asher by Jane

Read Alpha Asher by Jane Doe Chapter 156 – “Hopefully, Breyona makes it out before this all blows up.” Cassidy huffed, tightening her grip on the steering wheel as we raced down the winding backroads, closer to the center of town.

She seemed at ease behind the wheel, taking the sharp turns with a look of focus on her face. I jumped and clutched the seatbelt against my chest when the car lurched forwards, the exhaust snarling from the rush of power. Cassidy cursed, which was decidedly more surprising than the sudden acceleration, and leaned down to grab something off the floor.

“…can’t drive with these things on.”‘ Her snarl was forced through gritted teeth.

We neared the trunk of a thick oak tree and just when I thought we were going to plow into it, she sat up with a fuzzy pink slipper clutched in hand. With the flick of a wrist we coasted around yet another sharp curve, back to driving smoothly even though the speedometer didn’t dip below sixty-five.

“You didn’t notice anything strange when she mentioned Asher and Judge Armstrong, did you?” I asked, forcing myself straighter in the seat.

Cassidy drove some sort of vintage sports car, and the expensive looking seats were all too easy to sink into. Maya had gone into full alert mode, scanning our surroundings even though there were nothing to see but trees. I had to force myself not to follow the bond between Asher and me. We could talk later about why he decided to block me out and exact punishment by himself.

“Strange how?” She turned her head and flashed a worried glance in my direction. “I didn’t notice anything, did you?”

“I…”‘ I began, but quickly realized the panic I’d spread if I were to say anything. “…I think I’m just stressed, and probably need a good nap.”

“No kidding, you were tossing and turning all night.” A puff of air escaped her lips in what would’ve sounded like quiet laughter if her face wasn’t scrunched with stress. The harsh blues in her eyes softened when she said, “I can only imagine. I’m drowning midterms and piles of homework, but you’re fighting against what could become a full-blown war.”

I paused, feeling my heart skip a beat as I was thrown through space and time, reeling back to the day the earth ran red with blood. Only a split second it took to dredge up the screams, snarls and sounds of d***g breath from my memory. Stars danced behind my eyes a s I got whiplash from returning to the present so soon.

“A war, who said anything about a war?”

Cassidy shrugged one of her shoulders but worry remained painted across her face as she said, “First with the Vampires, and now the witches…Everyone in towns saying it. That’s what this is, isn’t it?”

A cold sweat broke across the back of my neck, and this time I let myself sink into the expensive leather seats. Not even the sudden flush of Asher’s rage reverberating down our bond, could distract me from the sinking feeling in my gut that told me everyone was right.

“No amount of damage control can fix this.” Cassidy said under her breath, sending the car screeching to a stop in the middle of the busy street.

A couple blocks away from the University was Town Hall. Only a sprawling garden and a few skillfully placed fountains blocked the pedestrians on the sidewalk from the main entrance. It mirrored a famous human building located in the capital of the country and stood tall with its four large pillars and abundance of square windows. Rather than a white-turned-eggshell sandstone on the exterior, there was slate grey paneling.

swerving to the shoulder to catch a better glimpse at what was going on. My heart hammered at the thought of Asher

took you so long?” He huffed, keeping his voice low until I was at his

it, I’d been holding my breath waiting for their stares to turn into something more. Not a single person uttered a word, but I could tell by the

not see the insane amount of traffic?” I muttered and was preparing to say

on one of the pillars showed that following

pained as he spoke to Flora. That was the first thing that struck me as odd.

or awards, no ceremony honoring the sacrifices of the wounded. Just a single letter saying ‘thanks for contributing’ was all dad received. Two if you counted the

him leaning against the railing for support reminded me of those days, where after Sean and I left for school his stubbornness would win out and he’d try to stand anyway. The day he made it halfway up the stairs was the day Mom forbade any other attempts. He

thought about when I turned to Sean and asked, “Why is dad here and what happened

he turned his ear in our direction and lowered his voice, obscuring the words he said to Flora. My question had him looking over here, only it wasn’t me or Cassidy

dare,’ dad’s

narrowed, identical right down to the splotch

the judge guy showed up with today’s paper. Dad was talking to Rowena when he heard them. Tried to pull them apart

she let out a low whine that made my ears ring. I felt the instinct to defend Asher rise in my throat, along with the cruel words I knew would make Sean regret speaking

all my allotted restraint for the day to clench my teeth and keep my mouth shut, but the action had an

mean-” Dad began to defend him, his face pale as though he

didn’t wait for Sean to escort me

been less enraged and more focused on my surroundings, I would’ve been able to hear the reassuring words Flora said to my dad, her hand

to catch a glimpse of. The people lingering in the parking lot, watching protectively by their cars were employees. Zeke and Beta Drake couldn’t do much about them

who remained stoic on the porch,

glassy mocha eyes and a green-tinted face inched towards me, doing everything she could to keep

hardwood redone…” She murmured, toying with her dainty french tip manicure. The tendons in her slender throat stood out as she

enough to frown at the trembling woman and say, “You and any other employee that needs it, take a

second, but Asher’s abrupt

Luna. I’ll spread the word…” She said quietly, brushing one of her loose curls behind an ear before making a beeline for the

Asher. What skill he might’ve possessed dried up when he chose to sit behind a

his face and was overwhelmingly bitter as I scented it in the air. I could see where some had dried along his cheeks and lips, from where the wounds Asher left healed only to be