Chapter 40 Wanted back at home

Chapter 40 Wanted back at home
Asha
    Something's off about today.
   The sun doesn't greet my room warmly as it normally does. Today, it decides to hide itself behind the clouds. The morning breeze is so chilly, I can feel it in my bones. The atmosphere is dull and gray.
    I would have dismissed it as a normal cloudy day, but no, I can't. Something's definitely wrong.
   I clutch at my invisible pearls, thinking of what could possibly land me in trouble. So far, nothing comes into my head, but still that unmistakable feeling of something bad about to happen won't leave my chest.
   I sigh, and walk back towards the living room. Some reality show will clear my head.
   I'm almost at the living room when I hear some voices coming from there. One's Auren's, and the other... a voice I can't recognize.
     I hide behind a wall, and peek my head just enough to see the figures, but so much my head's exposed.
    I furrow my brows as my eyes settle on the new face.
  He looks oddly familiar.
   I squint my eyes wondering where I've seen him before, but my memory is a little clogged.
    "My purpose here is simple. I want Asha."
   "Asha?" Auren repeats, "Why are you looking for Asha?"
   "We had some intel that she lives with you. This can be as quiet as possible. Just hand her over, and we'll leave."
   My heart freezes at his words. A cold feeling of fear glazes my chest, then drips down into my stomach. For a moment, my legs almost give out.
   He wants.. me?
   I blink my eyes to look at the face properly. Wait.. that man is from Silver Crest pack! I remember seeing him among the Alpha's court back at home. He sometimes visited Damon too.
    I don't really know his name, but I do know he was dear in the king's court.
   I swallow hard, feeling my throat bop.
   Auren pauses, staring intently at the man.
  "Who the fuck are you? And I ask you again, why are you looking for Asha?"
   The man straightens himself, "I'm Vladimir, the now Beta of the Silver Crest pack. I want Asha, because she's a fugitive who killed the past beta, and fled. She's a traitor, and deserves to die."
    Paralyzing chills run down my spine at his cold words. The air is immediately knocked out of my lungs, and my knees give out. I crash to the ground, hopelessness sinking into my stomach.
   Oh gosh, this can't be. I thought my past was behind me? Besides, didn't Roger fight for me?
   Asha my love, Roger is dead.
   A startled gasp escapes my lips, and I quickly place my hands over my mouth.
   "What the fuck?"
  Orion killed him. He didn't spill your location, so Orion had him flayed, then shot him to death.
   Tears burn the back of my eyes at the new revelation. My heart squishes in a painful way, further making it harder for me to breathe.
  All he wanted to do was save me, and he got into trouble for it. All because that bastard couldn't keep his dick to himself!
    I'm trembling all over, my tears threatening to blind my vision.
    What the fuck did I do to deserve all this bad luck? Why was I cursed with a lusting stepfather? All I did was to protect myself, and now I'm a wanted woman?
    I swallow hard, my throat hurting from it.
   "Lucien, I know.. I know I've said horrible things to you, but please help me. What do I do in this situation?"
    Don't panic. Nothing will happen to you. As long as I'm within you, you'd be fine.
    That assurance gives me a flicker of hope, but how is he supposed to help out? His first plan concerning Rheagar didn't exactly work out.
     I inhale deeply, peeking out to look at them again.
   "I don't know who you're talking about. Asha doesn't live here."
   My eyes light up.
   Vladimir frowns deeply, "the intel we had informed us that she lives with you. We're not mistaken."
    Auren's eyes darken, "You must be so bold to talk to a Lycan this way. Don't forget you're no more than a beta. You don't get to talk to me in that manner in my territory."
    Vladimir lowers his gaze, "I'm.. I'm sorry."
  Auren stands up, "You can leave. Get out."
   Vladimir hesitates, his eyes darting around.
   "Now."
   He stands up, then straightens himself, "No problem then," he gives a small bow, then leaves.
   Auren's face twists with something I can't read as soon as he leaves.
   'Intel he had? Who the fuck gave him intel?'
   Exactly, who the fuck gave him intel?
   I stay on the floor still trembling. With all the strength I can gather, I force myself to my feet, but my feet are still so shaky I have to hold the wall for support.
    Auren spots me, and rushes over to where I'm standing.
   "You must have heard everything," his eyes soften with concern.
   With my hand still on my mouth, I nod incessantly.
   He places his hands on his waist, "Seems Orion hasn't stopped searching for you. What a pathetic little thing," he shakes his head.
    "You have a mole on the inside. I mean, how did he know? What did he mean by he had an intel?"
   His face twists again, and he rubs his chin, "I can't explain that. That troubles me.. really. I have to find that traitor and rat him out as soon as possible."
    I let my head fall, my shoulders trembling, "Am I going to die?"
    "You're not going to die. I'm not letting any of them come near you. I mean if you leave me for more than three hours, I'd die."
    I almost roll my eyes. Of course that's the reason.
   He gently wraps his palm around my wrist, and pulls me to his chest, enclosing me in an embrace.
   My body tenses up, and so does his.