Chapter 79: confused

Chapter 79: Asher

After the confrontation with Scarlett, I couldn’t stay in the manor and continue pretending like I didn’t know more than most people thought I did.

And even though I was sincere about not committing the crime myself, I knew very well who did it— and this was why Scarlett and Violet blamed me.

But Scarlett's opinion of me hurt more. She had called me a liar and accused me of taking her brother away...

Those words had burned in my heart like I swallowed the lava from a volcano. I couldn't shrug them off no matter what I did.

When she had walked out of the room earlier, I wanted to chase after her. I wanted to hold her until she believed me... but I felt too ashamed. I felt the blame.

And I realised that she was right... This was all my fault.

'You used me...' Her words echoed in my head and for the hundredth time it felt like an arrow had been plunged deep in my heart.

This was because she was right. I had wanted to use her...but that was months ago.

A time when those words would have also hurt me, but I wouldn’t have minded. I would have accepted them with a proud head on my shoulders.

But seeing her breakdown like that, all I wanted to do was to make things right. And the person who could do it, was none other than Willow.

She was the one who took Axel— there was no need for questions or doubts.

The only problem I had was if she still had him alive. Because I wouldn’t be able to face Scarlett if her brother died in Willow’s care.

I wouldn't be able to live seeing that hatred planted in her eyes forever.

And the moment I realised this, I knew I had to do something.

So the next morning, carefully, while everyone else was busy with updates on the search or trying to console the hysterical Violet— Who was struggling between the delicate threads of insanity and denial— I slipped out of the manor.

I got into my car and drove through the forest to the cave.

With a racing heart, I marched into the cave as soon as I got there.

The whole place had this strange cold aura that was stronger than what I was normally welcomed with but I didn’t let that deter me from my goal.

Keeping my hands into fists, I walked through the first tunnel and then headed into the second chamber where she usually received me.

But before I could take the bend, the shadows hanging around the walls of the cave like curtains parted and to my surprise, it was Scarlett.

Scarlett?

My entire body instantly melted as her cold hands touched my face and then she smiled.

"Scarlett…" I called out in shock. "I thought— but you were— how did you get here?"

The words barely left my lips as her face twisted into pain and longing all at once.

“Asher… don’t bother your beautiful little head on such matters… I’m here. You are here. Nothing else should be more important than that my love…” she replied with an unsettling smile on her face.

Instantly, my wolf felt a strange shock wave that messed up with my brain even further. I couldn’t think of the last time I saw her… or if there was even a car outside to prove how she got here...

And then there was a situation in the manor. With us... With her Axel?

“What about your brother?” I asked, as flashes of the previous scenes replayed, making me even more confused than I already was. “You were just crying about him—”

“My brother?” she suddenly laughed softly, shaking her head like I had made the most misplaced statement. “Asher, have you forgotten that the little boy king is a monster?”

The shock wave within me intensified with even more confusion but as she leaned closer and held my face with both of her hands, everything suddenly changed...

The image before me... her presence suddenly felt right. Like she belonged here... in this cave?

But as much as it felt right, something within me remained unsettled. I tried to think but nothing could be formed. The Scarlett I knew never spoke badly about her brother...

“Asher, sometimes you get so gullible… Axel is just like my father. He has taken lives and stolen lands— your lands.”

My eyes narrowed as my head got even heavier the more I listened to her… it was almost like she was a different person… because how was this even real?

“Scarlett… we need to find him… he is your brother,” I insisted in a weak voice that couldn’t possibly be mine. “We should find him…”

“He is evil, Asher!” she snapped, holding my face tight so that our eyes met… “You… you deserve better than to waste your pity on him.”

“But… Scarlett, with your brother gone, there might be a war… people will die…”

Her eyes rolled and I could have sworn I saw a flash of darkness in them before it vanished and she smiled.

“Asher, with you as King, there won't be a war,” she countered. “And if one comes up, I’m confident that you can save the people. We can save them together if you want...”

Her statement suddenly made sense and the confusion in my eyes melted away. I then pulled her closer into a warm hug. “You are right, Scarlett… we’ll save everyone.”

She hugged me just as tight, letting her fingers wrap lovingly around my head.

“Asher,” she whispered, as she gently caressed my head. “We will be happy… but we should start from having a family. Just you and me…”

My heart flipped and I felt something in my head scream.

But I pushed the thoughts away as anxiety, and then I looked into her eyes; “You’re right. Scarlett… let’s make our family.”

Her perfect lips curved into a smile and she leaned closer to kiss me on the lips. But as my eyes narrowed to do the same, I saw a flash of a scar on her face.

Panicking, I snapped my eyes open and blinked at the spot on her cheek— but it was back to her usual smooth skin.

But just as she smiled, a low groan suddenly escaped into the air. And I instantly pulled away from her.

“What is that?” I asked, already trying to reach there but she held me back.

“It’s nothing,’ she said, a little too quickly. “Just some stray bear I got to eat.”

“Bear?” I blurted, hit with another confusion. “Since when did you start eating hunted food?”

Her cold hands suddenly held my mine and the cold wave from before shut through me again.

“You need to return to the manor… come back tomorrow, I have a surprise for you…”

The rational part of my brain screamed to protest, but I found myself accepting with a smile in a way that confused everything inside of me...

“Don’t you— need help with the bear?” I heard myself asking.

“Oh, don’t worry,” she said, waving her hand as if shooing away a stray thought. “Everything is under control. You can go…”

Again, I simply nodded like someone being controlled like some puppet, I slowly turned and started heading.

“That’s my smart king,” Scarlett beamed behind me.

I turned to find her with lips curled into a sickeningly sweet smile. It was the kind of smile that clearly hid a blade behind it.

But for some reason, my body was acting on its own accord. I found myself already moving out of the cave and into my car.

In fact I was behind the wheels before the strange shiver vanished.

It was almost like I was a puppet. Like my body could speak and make decisions without involving me.

And the further away I got from the cave, the more flashes of another reality played out in my head. And then I felt it.

Something… wasn’t right.

I remembered going to the cave to see Willow. But why did it feel like I met Scarlett there instead?

It was impossible for Scarlett to be in that cave. She didn't even know the cave existed. Did I see that out of guilt?

My heart continued pounding with questions throughout the ride and by the time I reached the manor, I was a total mess.

Didn't I leave to get information on Axel's whereabouts? And after going to the cave, what did I get from Willow?

I should probably go back. I should...

The thoughts alone made my wolf stir nervously inside of me. But what else could I do? How else could I solve this?

But days passed and each time I left the manor for the cave, I came back even more confused than the first time...

It became a routine I couldn't comprehend. A regular journey that I started for a purpose I could no longer even define.

—Yet, I didn't stop.