Chapter 9

ChapterNine

Ibelieve some of us, humans or werewolves, were built to be with one another even before our birth. Just two souls made to be fire and water altogether.

So, the thought of Asher being hurt, this being the last time I would see him, or he’d see me, was too much to bear. My real form was prying my skin apart, just wanting to be free and to be able to hold my mate in my arms. All the crying had gotten to my head. I felt dizzy as I kept trying to shift. Losing Asher? Even the thought makes my heart rip.

A voice inside me calls my name, urgent and fast, causing me to still with every inch of my hair. Fortunately it goes unnoticed by Justin who continued to walk ahead with my body in his wolf mouth. It called again and then the realization hit me like a truck.

My Wolf!

I half-gasped, scrambling to focus and hear further. "Asher," the voice spoke in a pained tone that I realized was the same hurt I was feeling. "Need to get to him."

Of course, we needed to get to him, I urged in my head.

"He’s our mate, we need to save him. He’s dying, we need to go as soon as possible." I whimpered in desperation. Justin let it pass off as another of my pained cries. My heart was aching like someone had replaced it with Asher’s.

But how was I supposed to get to him with this necklace on?

My wolf seemed to have heard me and after a soft little snarl, replied, "The necklace is blocking your lycanthropy, but the real power lies in your blood! You have to use your blood!"

How was I supposed to use my blood?

"Use all the power you have and break free Elaine. Asher needs you." Following my wolf’s instructions, I started to protest in Justin’s hold. My energy returned with how Asher’s pained look flashed across my pupils. I needed to get there as soon as I could.

The black wolf’s throat vibrated with a loud growl and I twisted my body over and over till he got more worked up. In anger, Justin lost his cool and bit down against my shoulder blade. I gasped loudly, and a few moments later, blood started to soak through Asher’s shirt.

Justin, as expected, tasted it against his canines and once again, the wilder part of me unleashes. The necklace trembled against my chest, glowing brightly under the moonlight until it shattered completely. The shards flew in all directions. The moment felt so magical that I knew I had won once my nails lengthened into claws.

I howled loudly, eventually shifting into my real form and without a glance at Justin; my wolf asked me to run, so I ran. There was not a single care in my mind about him following me back into the hideout. I was the world’s strongest wolf in her true form.

There was no competition for me.

My feet landed on the soil and just like the two times before this, I felt more alive than ever when I started to run in the direction. "Left, left, go left!" My wolf instructed, and I followed without any second thoughts given. The trees and air whooshed by as if they never existed. I wasn’t bothered by it.

My eyes lit up when the mansion was visible. I ran and ran.

The doors were wide open just like Justin had left them and I made a beeline straight to the guest room. I cried out in pain at Asher’s limp body with the blood still fresh and scrambled to sit beside him in my human form. "Come on, draw your blood and give it to him!"

I nodded at my wolf’s instructions and tried to work best despite the cloud of tears in front of my eyes. The only object sharp enough to cut me was the silver dagger. I pulled it out with all my will power and cut my finger open. Asher hadn’t moved an inch.

He looked lifeless.

I held his jaw in my non-injured hand and pulled it slightly open to let the blood drop inside. A cough followed from his mouth and then another before my mate slowly pulled his eyelids open. Asher blinked at the ceiling a couple of times. When he finally registered my presence, the boy hurried to sit up and hug me against his chest.

I sobbed loudly, blood sticking awkwardly on both our bodies but there was not a care in the world. Asher was okay. I was okay. We were both together.

"I’m sorry." He sniffled. "I was supposed to protect you, save you. Not the other way around."

Shaking my head in denial, I pulled away and used my clean thumb to wipe the salty tears off his face. "Don’t be sorry, it’s all fine. I’m just glad you and I both are safe. We can deal with everything else together now." He nods, still frowning slightly. He rubs his palm over my bare back.

"Let’s get you some clothes first." Asher laughed softly. "This is going to be really awkward if someone comes." I rolled my eyes but got back onto my feet along with him.

"Are you okay though? You looked very silly with your tongue out and all sprawled out on the floor," I joked despite my tears still flowing down my face and neck.

"Yes, I am, your magic worked on me," he teased with a gentle smile and continued to let his gaze wander around the place for a few seconds. "Get in there, I’ll be back in a second and will wake up everybody else along the way. Apparently, Asher had thrown a sleep bomb cast with strong spell inside the mansion.”

He pushed me into the guest room and returned with a new shirt and jeans a few seconds later. It was a white shirt that hung loose on me; it being a possession of Asher’s. I quickly got dressed and while Asher kept a keen gaze outside the room, I continued to stare at him with peace.

"Done?" he asked quietly, still looking away and I hummed causing him to turn around.

"Come here," I said in a soft tone as if it was reserved just for him. Asher agreed, easily plopping down on the guest room bed with a sigh. "Did you wake everybody else up?"

"Yeah, I did. Samantha and Audra woke up. I told them everything, they’ll be waking everybody else up." He smiled softly and I went to stand in between his parted legs. "Does your back hurt?"

"No." I lied but I knew it would be okay in nothing more than a few minutes.

"How do you feel?"

I let my palms fall on top of his neck and the other on the injured area. Asher winced when I slightly pressed the width of my hand upon the wound but made no attempt to stop me.

"Better," he said in a shaky whisper, eyes trained on my lips and I wasted no time in leaning down to peck his lips. Then, they met again in a chaste kiss full of comfort and want. Asher leaned back, his hands holding my waist in a bruising grip and I rested on top of him. We were both getting lost in the feeling when I smelled the familiar scent of my blood mixed with that of soil.

My eyes shot open and we both pulled away at the same time.

Justin.

The door was tugged open by a large black wolf who’s scent immediately gave away that it was Justin. I pried away from Asher, ready to attack with my claws out. There was rage inflicted in my eyes for the wolf in front of me but surprisingly, he only stood still.

There was no sign of emotions in his eyes, only blank irises staring at me like a damn robot. My breath hitched and it was as if I was expecting something to happen. Justin calmly sat down in his wolf form in the corridor with his eyes fixated upon me.

He seemed harmless and as if there was no concept of consciousness in the wolf.

Me and Asher shared slightly confused gazes.

Asher chose to test the water. He stood up and tried to approach Justin. Nothing happened. The air was very still and so was everything else. The moment I tried to move around, the black wolf would stir and change the position of his eyes in my direction.

"This is very suspicious," I muttered to Asher who seemed to agree with my statement.

"Hey, I think the Alpha is on his way here," he said, perking up from his position suddenly. I could see that Asher’s strength had returned and his wound was almost healed.

I seconded his guess with a little concentration and closed eyes. A few moments later, gasps filled the corridor and Axel Chester’s dominant voice boomed through the hallway once again. We both stood upright and the Alpha sighed in relief when he noticed both of us together.

"Oh, thank God," he murmured. "Who is this now?" Axel then grew more furious as he stared down at Justin’s wolf that laid on the marble floor of the mansion.

"That’s Justin," announced Aunt Audra as she appeared at the scene with arms folded across her chest. "The black wolf that attacked them before. He seems to be in a daze or maybe he’s hypnotized. Elaine, dear, did something happen when he took you away?"

I parted my lips to speak, but where was I supposed to begin? I ended up nodding. I squinted in Justin’s direction. "Get the hell away from us," I hissed and everybody else could only gasp when he listened, standing up to slowly walk off into a little distance.

"What exactly happened?" Samantha asked.

"My wolf told me to try and break free so that’s what I did." I shrugged, and very weirded out by the whole situation. "She told me that my blood was where the power lied and the moment his canines were smeared with my blood, Justin let me go, so I ran."

"The will bending," she whispered to herself, and Aunt Audra simply nodded before stepping into my room. "Come to the meeting room with us. Justin is going to listen to everything you say."

"W-why?" I blurted out but she gave no reply, only asked me to be patient.

"We should cage him," Asher suggested, rolling his shoulders back for comfort and Alpha Axel nodded along. It was a good idea, who knew when he could turn wild again?

"It’s your blood’s power." I stop dead in my tracks at my wolf’s voice and wait for her to explain things further. "Your blood, the Eden Wolf’s blood has the power to make any wolf’s will bend. Remember how your blood entered his stream when he bit you?"

I nodded.

"Yes, that’s exactly when you bent his will. Justin will now be listening to you and will be answerable for everything. Ask him why he did what he did and what his real motive is. He has killed people; punishment awaits wolves like him. You will get him punishment Elaine."