Chapter 10

Chapter 10
Kaeleigh’s POV

I woke up in bed alone. It was the first time I had slept alone in a few weeks. I got out of bed and saw Asher’s shirt still on the sofa where it had been discarded, and smiled. I went and picked it up and raised it to my nose and sniffed. That wasn’t right. The smell didn’t seem as strong. Maybe he had only had it on for a little of time, so his scent wasn’t strong. I shrugged and put the shirt down and headed to the bathroom to shower. 

I climbed into the hot shower and leaned my head against the tiles as the water fell. I still had the feeling of anticipation, only this time it felt stronger than last night and had a sense of excitement about it as well. The feeling was mixed in with an unease. I felt like I was missing something, too. Something that was just on the edge of my mind. Was it my wolf, Ana? It had been a few weeks since I last heard from her. I know we hadn’t been able to talk for so long, but that time was so amazing. I felt almost complete. 

I remembered back to my first day here at Crimson Shadow. I had just rejected Chase and left my entire family and pack. I was in so much pain and it was all my own doing.



6 weeks ago

“Sweetheart, you need to eat something,” Asher stood at the end of the bed, looking down at me.

“Just get out,” I said as I pulled the covers over my head again. I didn’t want to see his face. I wanted to wallow in the pain in my heart, the pain that I had caused. 

“I won’t allow you to starve yourself,” his voice turning stern “If you don’t eat anything then I will have you strapped to the bed and hooked up to tubes and feed you that way,” I pulled the covers down and glared at him.

“LEAVE ME ALONE!” I screamed, and he took a step back with shock on his face. It quickly switched back to arrogance, though, before he turned and stormed out the door. I pulled the covers back over my head and the tears returned. I replayed the rejection in my head. I made myself feel the pain of ripping my heart in two, over and over. I deserved this!

“Stop, please!” I heard Ana cry out, “I feel the pain too,” and I started sobbing again.

“I thought you had left me,” I said. I hadn’t heard from her since last night.

“No, it just took a lot out of me,” she sighed, “But it was the right thing to do, I promise.”

“Was it?” I asked, crying again. “I feel so empty. I feel like I am dying inside.”

“Kaeleigh, please listen to me,” she had a determination in her voice. “I mean it, I promise. This is the only way we can save Chase.” 

“But Asher won’t have the curse removed until we have fully bonded,” I said, “and then I won’t be able to go to Chase.” 

“I know and I promise you, as a part of you, that everything is going exactly the way it should be,” she said “I just need you to complete the bond with Asher, and I will take care of the rest.”

“Why Asher?” 

“Because despite how much of a jackass he is, he’s still a powerful Alpha, and we need a powerful Alpha to break this damn lock.” 

“I don’t care about the cage. I care about Chase.” I knew what I was saying was that I was fine with her staying locked up forever, but I wasn’t here for me. I was here to save my family.

“I know,” she said sadly, “but activating the prophecy and becoming the queen we are destined to be is the key to breaking the curse.” 

“What! How?” I cried.

“I promise it will come clear. Remember, jigsaw puzzle pieces!” 

A flash of Elaina came up. Sat on my bed at Dark Moon and Elaina telling me, “Everything we do, everything that happens, is part of a path.”

“Is this really part of the path?” I asked.

“I promise you, complete the bond with Asher,” she urged. “I will do the rest, and it will come clear.”



Present day

Remembering the pain of rejection took my breath away. I stood in the shower, panting, as I tried to regain myself back to the present. I had been trying to complete the bond with Asher the whole time, and he had been dragging his heels. There had to be a reason. I think I needed to have a word with him. Chase’s birthday was only two weeks away. That was why I was here, to save Chase. 

I switched the shower off with a fresh determination. I had to get answers from Asher. I quickly dried myself and brushed my teeth and dressed before heading out into the bedroom again. I was going to get Asher now. Get some answers. I saw that Cade, Adam and Dayna had come in again while I was in the shower. I went to walk past them, but I was stopped by what I saw. Dayna looked, well, she looked like she did every day. But there were subtle things, like the way she held her arms round her knees and her eyes seemed dull. 

“What did he do?” I knew it! I knew there was something wrong about Malcolm wanting Dayna. I should have listened. I sat next to Dayna and reached to take her hand, but she flinched and I pulled my hand back.

“I-I’m sorry Miss Kaeleigh,” she stammered, her eyes filled with tears. “I’m fine. Please don’t worry about me.”

“Dayna, did he hurt you?” and Adam growled. I glanced at him and back at Dayna. She shook her head. 

“I’m okay, I am, really.”

“She won’t say anything,” Adam said, “but we all know what happened here.” I looked at him in horror. Then I looked at Cade, who was looking anywhere else.

“Does Asher know?” I asked, and Cade glanced at me and then away again, and Adam scoffed.

“Who do you think was on the clean-up crew?” he said and Cade growled.

“Watch what you say, Adam,” he warned, and I glared at him.

“Cade for the love of all things, you better tell me right now,” I growled, I could feel the anger rising to the surface and from the look on Cade’s face my eyes had already switched to the gold, something I realised hadn’t happened in the last six weeks.

“Is this why Asher didn’t come back last night?” Cade hesitated, and it was all I needed as confirmation. I stood and headed for the door. Cade jumped up and blocked my exit. 

“Whoa love, just hold on a minute,” he said, holding his hands up in front of him. I growled. 

“Get out of my way Cade, before I make a fucking hole through you.” It was like the floodgates had opened and I felt feelings I hadn’t felt in some time. 

“You better move, man,” Adam called. “She can get vicious real quick. I know I’ve been on the receiving end.” I turned and glared at him, and he grinned at me.

“You!” I pointed at Adam, “with me, and you,” I whirled around on Cade, “Get out of my way and stay with Dayna.” I felt the tone before I realised what I was feeling. Cade moved from the door and went and sat by Dayna, with an uneasy look in his eyes. 

I had commanded him, like Alpha tone commanded him. And he had complied. I looked at Adam, who grinned wider at me with something that looked like pride in his eyes. I turned back to Cade.

“If anything happens to Dayna while I am gone, I will hold you personally responsible, you understand?” and he gulped and nodded his head, and moved closer to Dayna. Adam was by my side as I stormed out the door and headed down the hall towards Asher’s office. He grinned at me again.

“Welcome back, beautiful,” he said, and I glared at him.

“What the fuck does that mean?” and he just grinned in response.

“Yes, welcome back indeed,” the familiar voice stopped me in my tracks and I looked around, confused. Adam watched me as I searched.

“What are you looking for?” he asked, looking around.

“Yeah, silly,” the voice said again. “What are you looking out there for?” and I heard a giggle. I took a breath and grinned.

“Ana?” I said tentatively. “You’re free?”

“Nope, still locked up in this bloody cage, darling,” and my smile dropped.

“But” she said and I could feel the excitement in her voice, “I am back!”