Chapter 185 185

Chapter 185 185
Alyna quietly stood near the doorway and watched Asher sleep. The room was still dark, touched only by the faint silver light of dawn slipping through the curtains. The sun had not risen yet, and the entire pack remained silent in peaceful slumber.
Beside Asher, Leo slept soundly, curled against his father’s side.
The sight warmed Alyna’s heart instantly.

Her son’s tiny hand rested on Asher’s chest possessively, as though even in sleep he needed reassurance that his father was near him. Asher’s arm remained protectively around the child, his expression calmer than usual. For the first time in many days, Alyna felt stillness inside her heart.

She had woken early after another restless night. Sleep no longer came easily to her after regaining her powers. Some nights were better than others, but fear still lingered quietly in the corners of her mind.

So instead of forcing herself back to sleep, she had wandered here.
To the only place where she felt safe. Her eyes slowly softened as they rested on Asher. He looked younger while sleeping.

Alyna carefully stepped closer toward the bed. She wanted to touch him. To feel his warmth. To reassure herself that he was truly here beside her.
But she stopped herself. She did not want to disturb his rest.
Over the past weeks, she had touched Asher countless times, sometimes intentionally, sometimes accidentally, while trying to see fragments of the future.

Yet every single vision connected to him remained unchanged. There was never another woman beside him. No future where he moved on from her. No future where he loved someone else.

Only Alyna. Always Alyna. That realization made her both happy and unbearably sad. Because she still did not know what future she could give him in return. Her time felt uncertain.
And despite everything Asher said, fear still followed her silently.
Alyna’s eyes slowly welled with tears.She quickly lowered her head before they could fall.

At that exact moment, Asher stirred slightly. His eyes slowly opened. For a second, he looked confused from sleep before his gaze landed on her standing beside the bed.

“Alyna?”

She immediately turned her face slightly away and wiped her tears quickly.

“I didn’t mean to wake you,” she whispered.

Asher pushed himself up slightly against the bed, his eyes immediately narrowing with concern.

Before she could step away, he suddenly reached forward and held her hand gently.

The warmth of his touch spread instantly through her.

“Enough, Alyna,” he said softly. She looked at him quietly.

“You’ve suffered already.”
Those simple words nearly broke something inside her. Alyna remained silent because she did not trust herself to speak. Asher slowly tightened his hold around her hand.
“I hate seeing you this confused,” he admitted honestly. “You keep carrying everything alone inside your head.”
She lowered her eyes.
“You didn’t see your future because you’re uncertain about it,” he continued calmly. “That’s all.”
Alyna looked at him again.
“I don’t know how true your visions are,” he admitted, “but I know one thing.”
His gaze became firm.
“They’re wrong about your future.”
Her breath caught slightly.
“Asher…”
“I’m here to change it,” he said quietly.
The certainty in his voice shook her deeply. Not because he sounded arrogant. But because he truly believed it.
He truly believed he could protect her from fate itself. Alyna felt tears threatening again. She nodded silently.
Asher’s expression softened seeing her finally calm down slightly.
“And I know Xander wants to protect you too,” he added after a pause.
That surprised her. She looked at him carefully. There was no jealousy in his face this time. Only exhaustion.
“You’re not alone anymore,” he told her quietly.
Alyna smiled faintly through her sadness. For so long she had been trapped between fear, guilt, visions, and uncertainty that she had forgotten how comforting simple words could feel.
Asher slowly released her hand but continued looking at her gently.

“I’m not going to tell you what to do about Xander,” he said honestly. “Your friendship with him is your choice.”
She listened silently.
“I only want you to stop thinking your life is already over,” he continued. “If your mind stays trapped in fear, you’ll never find the right path forward.”
Alyna understood what he meant.
And maybe… he was right.
Perhaps her fear itself had become a prison.
A prison stronger than fate. Still, she had not found the solution to everything yet.

Days slowly passed after that conversation. And surprisingly, life began calming down little by little.
The tension between Asher and Xander remained, but open hostility disappeared for now. Sarmon’s looming danger still existed somewhere in the shadows, yet no immediate attack came.
For the first time in months, Alyna felt her mental peace slowly returning.
She spent more time with Leo. More time walking through the pack. Sometimes she sat beside Asher quietly while he worked, and even the silence between them no longer felt painful.
Time truly healed things in strange ways. Not completely. But enough for breathing to become easier.
Enough for smiling to return naturally. One evening, while Alyna was helping Leo arrange little wooden carvings on the floor, Asher suddenly entered the room with an unusual expression.

Leo immediately ran toward him excitedly.

“Asher!”

Asher lifted him effortlessly into his arms and kissed his forehead.

Alyna smiled softly watching them.

Then Asher looked toward her.
“Do you know what day is coming soon?”

She frowned slightly before suddenly realizing it.

Leo’s birthday.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Their son was turning three.

It felt impossible.

Time had passed too quickly.

Asher looked unusually determined as he sat beside them.

“We’re celebrating it properly this year,” he announced.

Alyna blinked in surprise.

“Properly?”

“Yes.”

Leo, unaware of the conversation, happily played with Asher’s collar.

Asher looked at his son proudly.

“He’s the future Alpha of this pack,” he said quietly. “And I want everyone to celebrate him.”

Alyna’s heart softened instantly.

The following days became unexpectedly lively.

The entire pack slowly transformed in preparation for the celebration. Lanterns were hung across pathways. Homes were decorated with glowing lights and flowers. Merchants arrived carrying gifts, sweets, fabrics, and decorations.

Even the warriors seemed happier. Everyone adored Leo. And Asher personally oversaw every preparation himself.

Watching him like this filled Alyna’s heart with warmth.
For once, life did not feel cursed. It felt hopeful.
Then one evening, Asher casually mentioned something that surprised her deeply.

“I invited Xander, too.”

Alyna looked at him in shock.

“You what?”

Asher simply nodded calmly.

“He should come.”

“Why?”

Asher looked toward Leo quietly.

“Because whatever happens between us,” he said, “I don’t want our son growing up surrounded only by hatred.”

Alyna stared at him silently.
In that moment, she realized once again why her heart could never truly leave Asher behind.
Despite everything… He still kept choosing peace whenever he could.

And for the first time in a very long while, Alyna genuinely felt happy.