Alpha Asher by Jane

Read Alpha Asher by Jane Doe Chapter 169 – “Did you seriously stop for coffee?” Tristan deadpanned; his expression unamused as he stared down at me.

I shrugged and pushed past him. “Not all of us are used to night shift. Judging from your grumpiness, I’d say you’re not used to it either.”

“I am not grumpy.”‘ He huffed, blinking at me a few times before regaining his composure and leading the way through Asher’s maze-like dungeon.

The network of underground tunnels wasn’t known to anyone in the pack but a select few that Asher trusted. I’d been more than reluctant to venture down there the first time Asher brought me. The entrance was in the basement of a local bar in town, part of the roadways that would allow alcohol to be smuggled in during the human’s insane prohibition.

There was a slight sting of alcohol and fermented fruit that lingered within the tunnels, which helped to dull the scent of blood, sweat, and p**s.

Thankfully, having the Vampire placed in one of the nicer cells turned in our favor. The stench was far less noticeable in this part of the dungeon.

The walls were made from smooth stone, and there was actually a toilet and small stall that served as a shower, though privacy was an impossibility.

Beneath the dim light protruding from the ceiling, swaying slightly though there was no breeze, was the Vampire whose life I had saved.

She was propped against the wall, perched on the metal bedframe that sat in the corner of the cell. With the barest hint of light, I could see that her mane of curly hair wasn’t black but a rich shade of caramel with blonde highlights dispersed throughout. Her deep-set cheekbones casted shadows along her jaw. It was that and the slant to her sculpted eyebrows that made her appear both grim and gaunt.

A pair of eyes the same shade of caramel as her hair darted up to meet my own. She had asked for me, yet her expression seemed to worsen as I walked into the small circular room.

Her cell was the only one occupied, the other four were vacant.

called.” I spoke, unflinching as my voice reverberated off the

either side of her cell. One of the guards slid a creaky metal chair in front

woman blinked twice before saying,

instinctively generating some generic Luna response that would make me appear strong and above it all-above the

the confident look on my face, but I didn’t bother trying to conceal it. I was every bit as human as

of their species.” I kept my voice neutral, lowering myself into the fold-out chair without breaking

body to face my own and glanced up

gone.” She said, narrowing her eyes until the swirls of caramel brightened to a warm gold. “If I decide to give anything up, it won’t be with them

decide?” Tristan snapped, his voice cracking like a whip through the

of Asher’s only a bit more watered down. It was a look of assessment, one that threatened to slice me in two, flesh and

know what type of person I am.” I murmured, inclining my head in the same way I’d seen Asher do hundreds

stray far, just enough to give us the barest hint of

walk in the night, who call its darkness our home…” She spoke only when the two guards’ footsteps silenced. The words emerged softly, but despite the delicate tone

the feeling churning in my gut told me she’d sniff out a fake answer a mile away, and that upon the first whiff she’d shut down

go back to sleep. Even more than any of that, I want peace.” I exhaled sharply, forcing the words out in a rush that made my chest feel as though it were caving in. “I’m fighting an impossible war, trying to keep both sides alive long enough to realize who the true enemy is. It doesn’t matter how far things get, how b****y or horrific. I’ll never be able to stop, because stopping means picking a side,

subtle in its explosion into existence. Short of breath was an understatement. It felt as though the walls were crumbling, like the stone were giving away to damp earth that piled up around m e

remained silent for several seconds before she stood and approached the iron bars that kept her contained. Tristan stiffened but maintained his position beside

last question for you.” She said, watching as I rose from the chair. “There’s

“It’s true.”

side, was a relief she’d never known. Her shoulders sagged and lips parted,

breathed, leaning forward on the b***s of

but depending on what you tell me, you may live to see

potent chemical that brightened her eyes and took years off her face. “I apologize for my role in this, just as

she had left behind when a small coven of witches

slowly gathering to form families of their own. They sought out shelter and food