17. Asher

Chapter seventeen

Asher

When I stepped into the grand foyer of the castle, the scent of polished wood drifted into my nostrils, welcoming me. I caught sight of Tayla walking toward me, and something felt off about her.

Tayla, who usually had a warm expression, furrowed her brows, and her lips were set in a thin line. She approached me, her eyes glaring with a look of hate—just like how she had stared at me the first time we met.

“What's wrong, Tayla?” I asked, my voice laced with concern.

Her eyes blazed with fury.

“I remember,” she spat. And that’s all she needed to say.

I felt my heart sink down into my stomach at the profound news. She remembered? Did this mean…did she remember everything? How I had kidnapped her?

“Remember what?” I asked, trying to feign ignorance. Confusion clouded my face as I saw her anger rising. I took a step forward, but then she stepped backward.

“I remember that you kidnapped me, locked me in a carriage, and tied me up. I remember how you used a wolfsbane collar on me when I shifted for the first time. Made me lose my memories and lied to me that we were married,” she said. “I remember everything. Why would you do that to me?”

I closed the distance between us and gently touched her face. "I think you must be feeling ill," I said softly. "You look so pale. We should go upstairs.”

“So you can give me the herbal tea to drink to mess up my memories?” she scoffed.

“You know that I would never do anything to hurt you. Never once have I raised my hand to you,” I spoke to her softly. “You are hallucinating again, and I think it's getting worse.” How long could I keep up this guise to make her stay with me?

"Lies," she scoffed back. "You made me think I was going insane. You made me feel wrong…made me doubt everything.”

“Tayla,” I warned.

“I’m leaving,” she said.

“No… No….” I shook my head, walking toward her, but she snarled at me, her eyes turning yellow. She snarled again, warning me not to make a move.

No one had ever dared to use their wolf to threaten me, the Alpha. Doing so only meant you were challenging me to a fight, which would lead to certain death.

I clenched my hands into tight fists, feeling the tension rise as she glared at me defiantly.

"I'm leaving, and you are not going to stop me," she declared, determination evident in her voice. "I am going to pack my things and leave.”

As she turned around, I called out, "Tayla."

"What?" she snapped, turning back to face me. Before she could react, the two guards beside me moved swiftly, grabbing her arms to restrain her.

"Take her to the tower," I commanded firmly, leaving no room for argument.

"What? Let go of me!" she yelled, struggling against the guards' grasp, but they dragged her outside the castle and placed her inside the carriage with themselves to ensure she couldn’t escape.

As the first carriage drove off, I entered the second carriage, and the coachman began to drive me to the tower building, which wasn't too far from the castle. A ten-minute walk on foot, if at all.

When the carriage reached its destination, I stepped down, feeling the cold air bite into my skin as I gazed up at the imposing gray stone tower before me.

The guards seized Tayla, forcibly escorting her out of the carriage. My frown deepened as I watched her struggle and kick against the guards, desperate to break free.

"Behave!" I yelled at her, frustration evident in my voice. Our eyes met, and her frown deepened. I didn’t want her to get hurt while trying to break free.

"Why are you doing this?" she demanded, her voice laced with disbelief.

"I'm doing this because I love you," I replied firmly, my tone unwavering.

"Well, I promise you this—you are going to regret your actions," she shot back definitely, as the guards wrangled her up the stairs.

As we ascended, my gaze remained fixed on her. I knew she loved me deeply and was only reacting this way because she had discovered my deception. But we could move past that with time. I knew it.

Finally, we reached the top tower, and the guards shoved her inside the room before locking the thick door behind her. Tayla stumbled forward into the isolated room, her eyes filled with fear and confusion. She turned to face me through a barred opening in the door.

“Why?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Why are you doing this to me? Why did you lie? I thought you loved me, Asher.”

I looked at her through the iron bars, feeling the weight of my decisions pressing down on me. This was the only way out now. If I didn’t do this, then she could run away from the castle, and that would be the last I would see of her. I didn't want my worst fears to come true and wake up to find her gone. I couldn’t live without her.

I didn't want that to happen. Not when I had fallen in love with her. Not when I had become so obsessed with her that I could not bear a day without her.

“The guards will bring you food to eat. There are clothes in the wardrobe,” I informed her, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me.

I had initially planned to keep Tayla here when she woke up from her coma, intending to prevent her from escaping. But when she woke up and lost her memory after that incident in the garden, I made the decision that she would stay in the castle with me.

However, I hadn't planned for her to remain here indefinitely. She would be free once she calmed down, and then we could talk things out. We both knew we were fated mates. We had felt it. She would make the right decision.

“I'm not hungry,” she replied defiantly. “I don't want to eat anything from you.” Her words stung, a painful reminder of the breach of trust between us.

“Tayla, you have to understand that I am doing this not because I hate you but because I love you, and this is the only way out,” I explained, hoping she would calm down.

“If you really love me, then let me go,” she pleaded. “I don't feel safe around you.”

“Have a good night,” I said, turning around and walking down the stairwell, the weight of her words heavy on my heart. The carriage ride back was silent and awful.

Upon arriving at the castle, I found Aurelia standing at the entrance in a flowing amber cloak and dress with a furious look on her face.

“What is it, Aurelia?” I asked, bracing myself for whatever news she had to share.

“Where is Tayla? I didn't see her in her room. Where did you take her?” Aurelia demanded, her expression tense.

“She is safe,” I replied, taking a step forward, but she blocked my path. “Aurelia,” I warned, my tone cold. “Get out of my way.”

“She told me how you lied to her about everything. Why should I believe that she is safe?” Aurelia countered. “Where did you take her?”

“She is my mate. Maybe you should mind your own business and go find yours,” I retorted, stoking her fury even more.

“She didn't eat breakfast or lunch. She must be hungry, for goodness sake…where is she?” she asked again.

I didn't respond to her.

“I'm going to find her myself,” Aurelia declared, determination flashing in her eyes.

“If I see her here in this castle, I will exile you from this pack. You will regret your actions,” I warned, my voice laced with cold resolve.

Her feet froze in place on the ground, hesitating for a moment before she took a defiant step forward. “You wouldn't dare.”

As she spoke, I saw her teeth flashing white, a testament to the unresolved tensions between her and her mate—which is what had brought her here in the first place.

“Dare me. Perhaps you're unfamiliar with the concept of boundaries,” I asserted. “You're encroaching on mine, and if you push too far, there will be consequences.”

“If you had exerted as much effort into finding the kidnapper and killer of those missing children as you have into threatening me, then you would have at least been a decent Alpha,” she retorted, her words striking a nerve and deepening my frown.

“Even though she is your mate, she is also my close friend,” she continued.

“Don't provoke me further, Aurelia,” I warned.

“I'm just speaking the truth. You know that ignoring our people's turmoil harms everyone, yet you remain silent,” she replied, her tone firm but edged with concern. “And you’ve caused turmoil for Tayla too.”

“Now you think I am the guilty one here? Why not say that you killed a maid and your mate when you were once young because you caught him cheating on you with her?” I taunted her to see her frown deepened.

“Say as much as you want, but you have committed infinitely more evil than I,” she said.

“I never said I was the saint here,” I smiled, watching her turn around and leave angrily.

I walked upstairs to my room, and after taking my bath, I lay down in my bed to sleep. But I just couldn't stop thinking of Tayla…and now the missing children as well. Deciding to step out of the room for fresh air, I went down to the garden. As I stood there in the moonlight, I closed my eyes, allowing the air to brush against my skin.

My mind drifted back to the events from years ago. As I stood before the imposing, dark mansion, I knocked on the door. A pregnant woman emerged, her expression one of surprise and trepidation.

“Alpha Asher,” she greeted, bowing her head respectfully. “What brings you to my house at this hour?”

A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips as I confronted her. “You have been accused of practicing magic in this pack despite being warned against it.”

She gasped in protest, attempting to retreat into the safety of her home, but I seized her wrist and pulled her back out. “I didn't do anything. I'm just a human,” she insisted, desperation evident in her voice.

“Seriously?” I scoffed. “You know how much I hate lies. You were seen performing magic in the pack.”

“I am just a young orphan girl who was raped and got pregnant. I am not a witch,” She muttered. Her sob story seemed fake to me.

“I will give you one more chance, and if you lie to me again, I am going to kill you right here and now,” I said.

She broke free of my grip and ran into the house. Before she could lock the door, I pushed it open and followed her upstairs. I burst into the room where she was and walked inside to see the woman there…

“Alpha Asher.”

My body shook slightly, and I turned around to see a guard waiting.

“Dinner is ready.”