Chapter eighty-eight

Aurora

Days have passed. Morning came and go. Yet, each day I was still in here. In the middle of the woods.

Asher has been gentle with me, good to be precise although there are a lot of things that I don't know about him. The only thing I know of him was his name, that he's my mate and nothing else.

Who is he?

Whether he has a family and why he's alone, living comfortably inside the woods? There are a lot of questions that I want to ask him but not when he's not around. Sometimes, I get to see him once in a day, and if I was lucky twice.

Where he normally goes is still what keeps confusing me. But one thing, before he leaves, he makes sure to leave what I will eat that day behind.

So I was always alone, lonely and bored to death.

Today, just like always, I sat on the patio, staring up at the sky and watching the birds, enjoying the peaceful sensation when suddenly my mind drifted back to Isabella.

I hope she's fine.

It has been days away from there. I know Alpha Valerio would never allow any harm close to her even if it means hurting himself to save her but my concern was Beckett. They don't know who he is, his true identity and again, Brielle.

I was scared, scared for Isabella and again, Alpha Valerio. He has a spy from the enemy beside him and yet he doesn't know.

I wish I could go back. Isabella needs me. I wondered how she is doing there without me? If her wolf has surfaced?

I was still in my thoughts when I heard a soft chuckle beside me, startling me immediately. I flinched and tilted my head to the side to see Asher.

"Fuck," I let out a deep sigh of relief. "You scared me," I mouthed, taking in his appearance.

He's putting on a loose white shirt and black shorts. His long hair was packed in a ponytail.

"Sorry," he said softly, striding in forward. "You seem so deep in thoughts and your face…." He squatted on my level, concern swirling in his green eyes. Asher lifted his right hand to cupp my face and I felt a sharp spark at the sudden touch. ".. you look sad, what's wrong?"

"I need to go back,"

Immediately the word fled out from my mouth, his face scrunched and his eyes shot wide.

"Why?"

I swallowed. I have already talked so no need to keep quiet anymore. Ellie also seemed worried, we had no idea how Isabella is doing there alone.

She might be with Alpha Valerio but enemies had her surrounded.

"Who are you?"

"Don't change the question," Asher said, his hand still cupping my chin.

"I'm not changing anything but I am sure I have the right to know more about…" I paused, my gaze staring into those deep green orbs. I gulped hard, feeling hot under his intense gaze before I managed to sputter the last word. "My mate,"

A soft golden spark flickered in his gaze immediately, something warm but indefinable. some emotions that I couldn't quite read but in an instant, it was gone, leaving me wondering what it meant.

"You want to know about me?" His deep husky voice asked and I bobbed my head, feeling my heart racing. "Fine," he added and stood up, extending his hand for me to take. I nervously placed my palm on his, feeling the tinges and electric sparkles.

Holding my hand, he turned and started walking us inside. Once we stepped in, Asher carefully allowed me to sit before coming to sit on the small chair in front of me, his leg crossed over the other.

"Now, I think we have to be open." He stated and I yanked my head in agreement.

"So who are you and why are you here alone?" I repeated the questions that had been bothering me for the past few days but he chuckled in return, confusing me. "One question at a time," he teased before relaxing back on his chair and the smile disappeared, leaving behind bottled up anger and resentment.

"My real name is Asher Rowan Everett," he blurted and I gasped instantly, my face turning pale.

"Alpha Asher…. of the shadowglade pack?" My lips trembled, the words stammering off my mouth. I could feel sudden fear clouding me.

He's a shadow born, banished from the pack. According to the rumors, he killed his father. So since then, his immediate brother, Alpha Alexander Atlas has ascended the throne after he was cast out.

How did I end up with him?

An outcast alpha!

My heart was heaving up in panic. And he sure noticed my uneasiness because a sad smile crept into his lips.

"I was expecting this reaction though, that's why I had been hesitant to come clean." He mumbled.

"They said you were dead," I said instead, my voice shaking in disbelief.

His face darkened before he let out a cold chuckle. "They thought but_" he sighed and leaned forward, his gaze staring into mine as if searching for something. "I didn't kill my father. I didn't kill Alpha Xandros, why should I kill him?"

Is he asking me?

"But according to everyone, your heirloom was found beside his dead corpse." I said. Although Ellie was telling me to listen to him, to hear his side of the story…. I was scared.

The rumors described him to be a ruthless, brutal and powerful hungry beast.

Asher looked at me for a while before tearing his gaze away, his jaw clenched as he hissed out. "Because it was a conspiracy!" His furious gaze snapped back at me and I flinched at how deadly it looked. "..... For years I had been cast out, wandering in the woods, living an isolated life because it has been issued for anyone to kill me on the spot. And after years of not hearing from me, everyone claimed that I might probably have been killed by the rogues," he laughed, a sad, bitter sound.

I swallowed, listening to him.

A sudden bead of sweat formed on my forehead. And I nervously clutched my hands on my dress tight to hold myself from collapsing.

He looked at me and proceeded. "I had lived for years for revenge. To claim back my rightful position,"

"But_ but who conspired against you?" My stammering voice cuts in, interrupting him and pain…I mean raw pain appeared on his eyes. His emotions were now readable for me. And from the bond, though we haven't marked each other but I could feel his pains, they were like a heavy weight that pressed upon my chest, making it hard for me to breathe.

His emotions were too much. I guess the pains that he had buckled up for years.

He gulped, his lips stretched down in a sad smirk.

"My step-brother, Alexander Atlas Everett."