Chapter 82 Pained

Chapter 82 Pained
Chapter 82: Scarlett

The night was cloudless but the moon refused to shine. The only thing helping us see was the soft glow of light from the manor.

My eyes went to the sky again and I sighed.

It was almost as if the goddess herself wasn't certain of this plan. My heart was starting to drum with panic. But I refused to give up.

I was going to do this and I would do it right.

"Give me the car keys, he should be out any moment from now," I whispered to Albert.

Albert's wise eyes caught mine and I saw the glint in them just before he got off from the dark corner we were perched on and slipped to the car in question.

Confused, I quickly dashed after him. "What are you doing?"

"Driving you to the location." He casually replied like this was part of the plan from the start.

My eyes narrowed and I remained rooted by the foot of the car. "Albert, I am the one going inside that cave. And you are returning back to the manor..."

"I am not saying you won't go to the cave... I'm only trying to help. Let me drive you down there," he countered but I shook my head.

"No, that won't work." I hissed under my breath. "Have you forgotten that he could pick out your scent since you are not wearing the protection bracelet?"

He rolled his eyes. "I know... but I won't even get close enough—"

"No!" I hissed, in a firmer tone. "And you are starting to waste my time. If you won't give me the keys, then I will walk after him if I have to."

I knew he was just trying to look out for me— just like Bee and everyone else was trying to do.

But I already told them that I needed to do this alone and having to repeat myself over and over was becoming annoying.

"For the last time Albert, give me the car keys!" I hissed, my patience already running very thin.

My legs were already moving from where I stood to carry out my threat when he suddenly offered me the keys.

Burning with irritation, I practically snatched it from his hands and went into the car. Then shot the door, leaving the window open in case he wanted to say something else.

"Hmm, I'll remain here till he comes... Do you need anything?" He asked, his voice clouded in worry.

My heart skipped a beat at the anticipation of what I was about to do, but I subtly shook my head— my eyes never leaving the manor.

"I don't need anything... All I have to do now is wait. It can't get harder than that, can it?"

Albert mumbled a response that I didn't pick up— partly because my mind was already carried away with thoughts on Asher.

From his earlier escapades, we noticed that he never took the main exit. It was always the emergency door.

So, we made sure to pack our car at a position where we could easily see him come out.

Albert remained by my window and we waited for almost an hour before the atmosphere in the whole estate suddenly changed.

And then I heard it.

A faint creak of a door and then I saw his silhouette slipping away.

"That's Asher..." Albert whispered and I nodded in confirmation.

My hands tightened around the steering as a bitter taste filled my tongue... "This is it," I mumbled.

And just like we hoped, he got into his car and drove out of the manor.

Albert nodded and rolled a couple of steps closer to see where Asher was headed.

“This is it... Please be careful,” he warned.

My body was already charged. So instantly, I started the silent engine, nodded at him and drove after Asher.

My heart was racing and the charm bracelet around my wrist felt warm, giving me the comfort I could need ahead.

Driving slowly, I followed Asher's vehicle.

He was going so fast, I was sure he barely even noticed that there was another car behind him.

But just to be on the safe side, I made sure there was enough distance between us and since the roads were empty, I could see him from a couple of miles ahead.

Plus having an idea of where he was going made it even easier. I was on the right path, I just needed to keep him in my line of sight.

"My Queen..." Bee's voice cackled from the hearing device I had to my ears. "Stay calm and follow from a distance."

"That's what I'm doing Bee... just relax." I breathed, as my eyes narrowed at Asher's car ahead.

"The cave is only two kilometers away," Albert's firmer voice came up. "Make sure to park at a different location and double back to him as fast as you can."

"Copy that!" I said and pushed hard on the accelerator as I swerved to the right.

I then went further and parked my car a good distance away from the direction of the cave.

Then just like Albert had advised, I doubled back to the cave with a small torch light in my hand.

The light was bright enough for me to see just a few steps ahead of me but dim enough for anyone in the surrounding not to see me.

My heart was literally in my stomach as I hurried to the cave.

I saw Asher's car parked and my insides twisted as my discoveries were about to start.

First I had proven that he was indeed coming here to see someone. Because why would he risk his life by coming here most nights?

Following the faint marks of his shoes, I went into the cave as well.

"I'm in," I whispered, keeping my eyes fixed ahead.

There was a tunnel ahead of me and from the far side, I could see a soft glow of light.

I quickly put off my small torch light and focused on getting there using my Lycan senses.

"Do you see anything now?" Bee asked, but I ignored him and continued moving through the tunnel.

Every crunch my shoes made on the floor of the cave, made my stomach twist with unease.

It was like going on an excursion to the devil's house and you knew that if he found you, then you were going to be dead.

My hands turned sweaty and I could literally hear my heart as it drummed.

I pressed myself against the wall, moving cautiously till I got close enough to the source of the glow light.

My narrowed eyes were already moving towards the light when I suddenly heard Willow's voice.

I froze.

She was talking to someone— no, she was talking with Asher.

“We should make love tonight, Asher. I've missed you so much... Isn’t this what we’ve always wanted? Just us… and a family of our own...”

My heart cracked like a thunderbolt had struck me. My breath caught as I took a bold step to see things with my own eyes.

And as I did see them... My already broken heart exploded.

They were in each other's arms... She was kissing him— my mate...

Her eyes were glowing with a dark light that brought a twisted smile to her face as she layered kisses all over him.

"Oh my sweet boy King!" She moaned, holding him in her arms.

—And Asher... He wasn't pulling away.

A sharp pain instantly split through me and my whole body began to tremble.

Tears filled my eyes as the only hope I had left shattered right before me. How could Asher do this to me?

My breath caught in my throat as my eyes kept taking in the scene before me.

Why did he do this to me? I kept asking myself over and over....

Why did he steal my heart and then tear it apart like it was an old ragdoll?

And all of it for what— to be with Willow?

Of all the people he could have chosen to cheat on me with... To break my heart for... He settled for Willow?

I was still in this state when the magical bracelet on my wrist buzzed like a warning.

The effect pulled me out of the emotional pit I was falling into and I blinked, remembering my brother.

He was all that mattered to me now. Not Asher... Not our bond.

Since he decided to break it in this manner, then he had won. I was done too.

Swallowing my pain, I turned and started moving back the way I came.

The pain in my heart became a sting that refused to ease off. And my vision became blurry from all the tears I was shedding, but my stubbornness pushed me forward.

A few steps down the tunnel, I heard a low grunt. It was almost faint, but I heard it.

My instincts came alive and I immediately turned towards it. 

Taking off my hearing devices so I could listen in more carefully— I heard it again.

This time even clearer and I instantly knew that it was coming from somewhere deeper.

It was a ragged breathing... of a person in pain!