Chapter 11

Chapter 11
Kaeleigh POV

My reunion with my wolf would have to be put on hold for a bit because I had just reached Asher’s office. It was time to have words with my future “King”. Without stopping, I threw the door open and stormed in.

Asher looked up in anger, ready to chew out who had dared to disturb him, but as he saw me, his eyes softened and he smiled.

“Kaeleigh sweetheart, what are you doing here?” he said, heading round the desk towards me. “I am sorry I didn’t get back last night. I got caught up in-”

“Dayna?” I interrupted, and glared at him. He glanced at Adam behind me and let out a nervous laugh. 

“What’s going on, sweetheart?” He tried to pull me into his arms and I stepped back away from him.

“You were with Dayna last night,” I said, and he looked at me in shock. “You let her get hurt.”

“Wait, what?” Confusion crossed his face, and he looked at Adam again. “What did you say?”

“Nothing, Asher,” I spat. “He didn’t say anything, he didn’t have to. I could see it on Dayna.”

“Kaeleigh, please, it’s complicated,” he pleaded and reached out to me again. Again I moved back and a hurt look crossed his face. 

“Well, go slow for me,” I snapped.

“Adam leave the room,” Asher looked behind me, I glanced behind me and Adam stood and shook his head.

“Nope, I am fine just here, thank you,” he said, and Asher growled at him. I turned and nodded at him. 

“Go, I’ll be okay,” and he looked at me for a minute before nodding.

“I’ll be right outside,” he said, although it felt like more of a warning for Asher and left the room.

I turned and looked expectantly at Asher. 

“Okay, so want to explain to me why your father is getting away with abusing members of your pack?” Asher sat on the edge of his desk and looked at me with a pained expression.

“Things aren’t as simple as you think, Kaeleigh,” he said, sounding stressed. “This pack runs a lot different to your Dark Moon, or that band of rogues you were with before that.” I couldn’t keep the shock off my face. Asher knew about Scarlet Circle? How could he have? Did Adam tell him? I had been so careful in the bar. But those were questions for another day.

“My father ruled this pack with an iron fist of fear for decades before I took over,” he sighed and looked up. “I am still trying to change things, but that can’t happen overnight.” 

“Asher, we aren’t talking about changing policies here,” I said. “We are talking about protecting the people who are under your charge.” I was getting angry again and I could hear Ana growling. “We are talking about knowing that someone is causing harm to your people and not stopping it.”

“You are talking about my father!” he growled at me. “The man who raised me to be the leader I am today.”

“I am talking about a monster!” I shot back. “Someone who is not a leader, but a bully. And if you are at all like him, then maybe you are just as bad as he is.”

Asher’s face twisted into anger and he rushed at me and had me slammed against the wall, his body pressed against mine. He grabbed my hands and pinned them above my head in one of his. He buried his head in my hair and ran his free hand down my body.

“Maybe I am a bad man,” he whispered in my ear, “did that ever occur to you, sweetheart?” I tried to push him away, but he only pushed his body into me further. “But that doesn’t matter now, sweetheart, does it?” he slipped his hand under my top and connected with my breast and I shivered as the feel of his hand sent signals to my lower stomach. He began kissing my neck, and I fought back a moan as Ana started yipping in the back of my mind.

“It doesn’t matter what type of man I am, sweetheart, because you are still mine.” His hand moved down my body. “Mine to do whatever I want with. You always were and you always will be.” His teeth grazed against my neck and his hand played along my waistband. Then he went still against me, his head still in my hair, his nose against my neck. 

“Mine,” he whispered, barely loud enough for me to hear, “why won’t you be mine?” My breath hitched as he moved his hand round my back and pulled me into him. I could feel him rubbing my back and I felt myself relax into him as he whispered quietly against my neck. He nuzzled against me and I felt the sparks run through my body and Ana sighed in my head. His other hand let go of my hands and they fell onto his shoulders. He pulled me closer and purred into my ear and I wrapped my arms around his neck as he lifted me up and walked to his chair and sat with me on his lap. 

“You don’t think I’m bad, do you baby?” he asked in a soft voice and I nuzzled into him. Did I think he was bad? I didn’t know. I could see so much good in him, but I knew that he had done bad things. I felt like my head was getting fuzzy and I was struggling to concentrate on what I was here for. Then an image of Dayna flashed up in my mind and I felt something stir in me.

“Asher,” I said, pulling away so I could see his face. He looked so sad. “What he did to Dayna though,” I could feel the tears in my eyes. “I just don’t know how he could do this without some sort of reprimand.” Asher sighed and rested his head on my shoulder.

“Baby, it’s complicated,” he said. 

“How?” I asked. “Asher, you’re the Alpha of this pack. How does he still hold control?” He looked up at me again, and I could see the pain in his eyes.

“For a long time I thought that the way he ran the pack was the only right way. I grew up seeing how, through fear and punishment, people did what he wanted.” He averted his eyes. “It was how I did what he wanted,” he said in a small voice. I felt tears in my eyes. I suspected that Asher’s upbringing wasn’t pleasant. Cade had alluded so several times. But to have it confirmed was something completely different.

“I am ashamed to say that I ruled in his image too, but when I realised there was another way,” he looked up at me with a smile and raised his hand to wipe away the tears that had escaped my eyes. “When you showed me that there was another way, then I started to make the changes I wanted.” I nodded, but his eyes grew sad again. “But his hold is still strong, and he has too many loyal to him, and now he knows that I-” he paused and looked away.

“That you what?” I asked, “what does he have over you Asher?” I reached out to get him to look at me.

“No Kaeleigh, I can’t,” he said, pulling my hand away.

“Asher, please,” I urged, “what does he know?” He looked up at me again, with tears in his eyes. 

“He knows I love you,” I held in a gasp as he searched my face. I felt Ana shift in excitement inside of me. Asher nodded sadly and looked away and I saw tears fall down his cheeks.

“Asher I-” I stopped. I didn’t know what to say.

“It’s ok baby,” he said smiling at me. “I don’t need you to feel it yet. I just know that if anything was to happen to you, then I don’t know if I would survive.” He pulled me in tight. “Unfortunately, my father knows that, too.” I felt a cold shiver run down my spine and he pulled me into a tight squeeze before looking up at me again.

“Don’t worry, baby,” he smiled. “I will always protect my queen.” I smiled back down at him and leaned down to meet his lips and kissed him. He gripped me again and deepened the kiss, running his tongue along my lip. I parted my lips to give him access and his tongue joined mine and he moaned into my mouth. His hands gripped the back of my top as I felt him pour his hunger and passion into the kiss, and I felt breathless. 

Suddenly, Asher pulled away and growled. I looked at him, startled, and saw his eyes were glazed over. His eyes cleared again as he uttered, “motherfucker,” and the door flew open and Adam came running in. Just then the alarms started blaring, which signalled for all warriors to jump to action. Asher jumped up, landing me on my feet, and pointed to Adam.

“Her room now, protect her,” and Adam nodded. He grabbed my hand and started pulling me out of the door.

“Come on, beautiful,” he said, which resulted in a growl from Asher. Adam just threw him a grin before pulling my hand again. I looked back at Asher, who was standing. His eyes glazed over and his face twisted in anger.

“What’s going on?” I asked Adam as he pulled me down the hall. He turned and grinned at me.

“We appear to be under attack,” he said, and his eyes lit up with excitement.

“What!” I exclaimed “By who?” 

“Dunno beautiful, but I can hazard a guess,” a ripple of excitement ran through me at his guess.

We headed into my room where Cade and Dayna were. Cade was pacing, looking very stressed. He looked relieved when he saw me. 

“Fuck Kaeleigh!” he exclaimed. “Asher is demanding my presence.” I threw him a confused look. 

“Okay?” and he screwed his face up.

“Beautiful,” Adam said as he closed the door and the alarms quieted down. “You commanded him to stay.” He chuckled, and Cade glared at him.

“Oh, shit!” I exclaimed. “Yeah, you can go again,” I said, and his body relaxed briefly before he rushed out the door. I glanced at Dayna and then back at Adam. He seemed to figure out what I was thinking and nodded.

“Come on, Dayna, let’s get you to the safe house,” and I smiled. He turned to me. “Do not leave this room. I mean it. I won’t be long.” I nodded in response. As they went out the door, I noticed the light on the wall turn red, signalling the door was locked. Clearly, he didn’t trust me to do as I was told. I shrugged. I probably wouldn’t have either. 

I felt a shift in my mind as Ana stretched. 

“Do you trust that I know what I am doing now?” she asked, and I nodded. “We have complete control. Just do everything I say, and I promise everything will work out.” My mind flashed back to the dream from what felt like so long ago, and the first time I met Ana.  

“I would never give you something that you weren’t born to control.” I felt a shiver of power flow down my back.

“And the funny thing about control, it can’t be given, but it must always be taken! And alphas were born to take control!” I smiled to myself as I took control of Asher’s spell that invaded my head and heart and pushed it back to the surface, ensuring that it never penetrated me again.