Chapter 44

"We have to leave, otherwise you're dead," I breathe, not mentioning the fact that Asher is my mate, and the distance that I'm about to put between us might just be my downfall. "We go on foot until we find Fate. We can summon him once we are out of Sinful's territory."

Aspen still looks nervous, trying to come to terms with what I am proposing. I don't blame him. A minute ago, Asher was helping him. Now, he wants him dead. Even I still find it hard to fathom.

"Trust me," I say gently. "I'm going whether you come with me or not."

Aspen seems wary, however, he knows what Asher is like. He doesn't trust him at all, and the stakes of staying here are too high. We both need to get out of here as quickly as possible, on foot too, so it's harder for Asher and Sinful to track us down. My plan is to take us to Time's territory before we summon Fate.

Getting out of Sinful's place was harder than imaginable. The only way out is through the front door, which is guarded full time. If I had known this at dinner, I would have drugged their food. Too late now.

We opt for a window in our quarters, right by the garden. There's one that might fit the both of us if we try hard enough. No one patrols this part of the estate, even outside, so we don't have to worry about that. We do, however, have to worry about the light laden garden that is a view from Sinful's room.

"You think this is a good idea?" Aspen whispers, as I prop the window open.

"Not at all," I reply.

The cool night air drifts in, however, I don't spend much time worrying about that. Instead, I stick my leg through the window, ducking under the top part before stumbling outside. Aspen passes my backpack through before following more awkwardly.

We make our way quickly through the garden, trying not to get too close to Sinful's oddly coloured roses that manage to survive in this eternal night.

"We are going to get caught," Aspen whispered, the stones under our shoes crunching loudly, "and when that happens, I'm going to be the one who gets killed, not you, because you're the Alpha's mate."

I don't reply. Partially because I know that's true.

The trek down the hill was full of nerves and cold. Aspen still seems uneasy, even though he's not about to turn around now. I keep glancing over my shoulder as if Sinful or Asher was stalking behind us. It makes me quicken our step, forcing Aspen to follow me down the hill at the same speed.

By the time we make it to the bottom of the mountain, I'm left to consider how Aspen and I are going to make it to Time's territory on foot. It will surely take us a few days, which will mean keeping low and talking to the smallest amount of people possible. It won't be hard for Sinful to track us if we keep in his territory.

Without the moonlight, we wouldn't be able to see a single thing, however, I can tell the sun will be coming up in around an hour. Then Sinful and Asher will wake. Then hell with surely begin.

Still with no words spoken between each other, Aspen and I reach the highway that leads back to the small villages in Sinful's territory. There, we will surely have to avoid everyone, considering how quickly I was turned in at the first door I approached when I first entered this territory. There is no telling what people here would do for Sinful, their leader. I'm sure some kind of reward will be put out for our return.

I'm staring at my feet when I hear the sound of a car approaching.

The headlights blear brightly in both our eyes as the car pulls over almost instantly at the sight of us. Fear spikes through me as I glance over at Aspen, wondering what is going through his head. If this is Asher or Sinful, we are both surely dead.

The car pulls up directly beside us, the window rolling down at the same time. Seeing the driver, recognition clicks in my mind instantly.

Myles, the boy from the party. Even after having my memories stolen many times, I remember him. This time, he looks stern, as he stares both of us down.

"Get in."

Instead, I stared the man down. My memories, even though they have been returned, are vague, and I don't remember a time where I trusted Myles. However, as Aspen stares me down, waiting for an answer, and I consider the coldness around us, and the likelihood that Asher would find us, I climb into the car.

My mind begs me to turn around, knowing Asher had Myle's working for him. At the same time, I remember Myle's trepidations toward whom he was working for. He claimed he didn't even know who was giving him the order.

I'm hoping my logic isn't as flawed as I have a feeling it is, but right now, it's this, or surely be caught.

"An explanation would be nice," I claim, as Aspen follows me into the car. His face is drawn off and bled of all colour. These past few hours can't have been easy for him at all.

"I'm here to take you away from here," he comments.

He steps on the gas, lurching the car forward. As uncomfortable as this may feel, Myle's is driving in the opposite direction to Asher and Sinful, which right now, is all I can ask for. Even if right now, his willingness to answer my questions seems vague and attached, but a part of me knows he has been like this from the start. When I met him all those years ago.

"I have a place you away from here. It's your choice whether you decide to stay there or not," Myles adds, looking at me through the rearview mirror. The more I look into those eyes, the safer I feel. It's an odd sensation I'm blaming on where he is from. We are both Desire Pack members.

"Why do this?" Aspen breathes from beside me.

Myle's sighs dramatically. "Why not?"

"For a start," I say tersely, "you work for Asher, don't you?"

He doesn't reply for a while, instead looking off through the window to the road. There are no other cars on the road at this time of the morning, which only makes the situation more eerie. Aspen seems to be feeling it as much as I am right now, by the way he sites close to me, as if being separated right now would surely bring him death.

"Not anymore," he replies. "Honestly. My work was once a year, however, Shanae killed me after you, and in return for helping you, Asher had me brought back as myself again. As an immortal."