Chapter 84 Dead
Chapter 84 Dead
Chapter 84: Asher's POV
Scarlett's words in the cave were jumbled in my mind as I got to my car.
She wanted us to make love... In the cave?
What exactly was happening to me?
From my rearview mirror, I stared back at the cave as if looking at it would somehow explain to me what was happening...
But all I saw were the silent trees and the dark night that sadly stared back at me with as much confusion that was going on in my head.
How was it possible that each time I came to the cave to see Willow, I ended up with Scarlett in a very twisted way...
What was happening to me?
'You need to leave my little boy king...' Scarlett's words suddenly echoed in my memories.
Those were the words she said with urgency as once again a grunt had filled the cave...
I started the engine, but my thoughts tried to linger on those words.
Each night I had come to the cave to make love to Scarlett like she had always invited me— which was already confusing enough— we ended up postponing because there was always a grunt that kept interrupting us.
As if there was someone there... trying to tell me something— if that even made sense?
And each time, Scarlett would ask me to leave.
Wait—
'My little boy King...'
The words rang out in my head and I almost ran into a tree as it suddenly sounded familiar. But not with Scarlett.
It was a term Willow used for me.
My heart jumped in my chest and I suddenly felt a panic growing inside of me.
Something was off... And though I have felt this way for the longest time, tonight it was worse.
I started the engine again and drove to the manor as fast as I could with my heart hammering in my chest.
Whatever was going on, my priority was Scarlett. For once, I recognized that the one I have been spending time with at the cave... No, that couldn't be her.
Or could she?
I had to see her at the manor and hear her say those words again to confirm.
So I pushed my feet even harder on the accelerator, swerving past the trees till I got to the manor in good time.
Jumping down from my car, I went into the manor, going straight to the stairs.
"My King!" Someone called, but I couldn't even bring my legs to stop.
I could see people around the manor— and though it was odd to find them all awake by this time of the night, I couldn't think it through.
I just had to find Scarlett first.
So I went to the guest room she had moved into. "Scarlett—"
My heart dropped to my stomach as my eyes landed on the empty bed.
Time slowed as I took in the condition of the room a second time... More carefully this time...
The bed was untouched. Almost like she hadn't been in it from the start...
My wolf stirred already panicking but I fisted my hands and snapped out of it. I marched into the bathroom instead and kicked the door open.
As the warm air from the bathroom hit my nostrils, I picked up her scent. But it was faint.
Too faint.
"Scarlett?" I called, searching through the separator. But she wasn't there.
A cold, heavy dread punched me straight in my chest and I almost lost my balance.
"Scarlett..." I whispered in a broken tone and like it was the cue my wolf needed, our bond sizzled to life...
And like in a trance, I realized what has been happening at the cave.
I saw the flash of the scar, the very first day I saw Scarlett there...
The nickname... The unsettling smile... The misplaced statements about Axel...
My blood froze as it finally clicked.
I wasn't spending time with Scarlett. It was Willow all along.
I didn't know how she did it, but she had dulled my bond with Scarlett and somehow made her appearance like that of my love...
"Oh no..." I hissed as a dangerous thought crossed my mind.
How she did that... What if she had my Scarlett— the real Scarlett?
My mind exploded with fear and anger as I quickly ran out of the room.
'Scarlett could not be gone...'
No. Goddess please...
The words didn't leave my mouth but they burned inside of me as I stormed downstairs like a feral wolf.
This time, my eyes picked up the people gathering at the reception— and the one who had called me.
Because from the look on their faces, they knew something that I didn't.
Burning with dread, I went to him first. “Albert,” I asked in a trembling voice, “Where’s Scarlett?”
He froze for a fraction and then frowned.
“Forgive me if my next words sound like treason,” he began in a tone that hit me hard like a whiplash.
"What the fuck are you taking about? Where is Scarlett?" I hissed, drawing towards him with murder in my eyes.
But he didn't even flinch. Neither did the angry faces behind him.
"We should be asking you that question... my King," he spat, almost like talking to me was playing with a curse on its own.
But at that moment, my head couldn't think straight. Instead, my blood turned cold and in a blink of an eye, I had him by his throat.
"Do not piss me off old man. Where the fuck is my mate?"
His beady eyes didn't even blink as he replied; "She went after you."
My heart instantly stopped. "What?"
"Yes, she went after you because she wanted to bring back my Axel from your mistress!" Violet yelled in a shaky tone that destroyed whatever calm was left inside of me.
My claws were unhooked from Albert's throat and I turned to her. "She— she went to the cave?"
"Yes! And now we can't track her!" She added, wiping off the tears from her eyes.
"Not the tracker we gave her... Not the cave itself... It's like she has disappeared..." Bee cried out from his end.
My breath caught in my throat and the world started spinning.
"Right now, we don't know where to begin... You alone can save her. Please, tell us where you and your partner have kept our dear queen..." Fiona finished.
And my wolf shattered. Their words jumped within me, refusing to make clear sense.
And I knew that I had to get the answers for myself. I had to see my Scarlett.
Like someone obsessed by some spirit, I immediately turned to the exit and ran.
I didn't even need to use the car, because my wolf charged.
I transformed midway and ran across the woods like my tail was a fire— and literally it was.
Because if anything happened to my Scarlett, the world would burn.
My wolf moved at a blinding speed. Within minutes, I got to the cave and changed back to my human form as I dashed inside.
"Willow!" I roared, shaking the whole place by the sheer strength of my vocals.
But there was no response, only the pounding of my heart and the panic rings in my ears remained.
"Willow! Where the fuck have you kept Scarlett?!" I roared, as I marched through every tunnel.
My voice echoed back to me in a dangerous way that made my insides melt with fear.
No. This couldn't be happening.
"Scarlett!" I screamed, now running to cover more grounds as fast as I could.
But there was no sign of them. Not Scarlett, not Willow...
The reality crashed down brutally on me, but I refused to accept it.
Willow could run, but she had her minion under my roof. Surely, I would find her.
So I ran back out of the cave.
But outside suddenly looked different as it was flooded with men— my men, all searching for Scarlett.
I saw Albert at the forefront yelling commands at the soldiers. And my heart sank with guilt.
There was no one else to blame except me. This was all my fault.
I was the one who opened the door for the devil. I let Willow back into our lives... And now, she had—
"No," I hissed, stopping my own negative thoughts.
This wasn't over yet. I was going to find Willow... I just needed to get to her minion.
Angel.
So once again I transformed into my wolf and ran back to the manor. I went straight to Angel's room.
"No!" Someone suddenly screamed just as I got to the corridors.
My heart accelerated and I moved at a blinding speed to the room.
But as I got in, my strength faded at the scene before me.
Angel was slumped on the flood with blood oozing out of her mouth...
Fiona knelt beside her, checking her pulse, while Violet was already crying.
I tried to open my mouth to speak, but no words left it. I could only wait as the tension grew thicker...
When Fiona pulled back her fingers, she shook her head and then she said the words I dreaded;
"She is dead."