Asher's p.o.v:.I suddenly snapped up, my mind foggy and my head pounding. I tried to remember the events of the previous night, but my drunken brain was a jumbled mess. One thing was certain, though - I had slept with Black Rose. Or so I thought. The memories were hazy, but I could swear I remembered her perfect curves, her sultry voice, and her intoxicating scent.But as I turned around, my hand instinctively reaching out to pat the bed beside me, my heart sank. It wasn't Black Rose lying there, naked and serene. It was Anna. My mind raced with confusion and panic. What had I done? Had I really cheated on Anna with Black Rose? The memories were too fuzzy to trust, but the guilt was already eating away at me.I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the migraine that threatened to split my skull open. Think, think, think. What had happened last night? I remembered going to the restaurant, having a more than a few drinks with Vira and then... nothing. Just fragments of images and sensation
I slumped back in my chair, my eyes fixed on Sen as he stood before my desk, his expression grim. "So, how's the investigation going?" I asked, my voice low and urgent. "Have you uncovered what happened between Anna and my stepmother five years ago?"Sen sighed, his shoulders sagging. "Asher, there's something fishy going on. I can feel it. Whatever happened five years ago, it's like someone's gone to great lengths to cover it up."My grip on my pen tightened. "What do you mean? You're telling me someone's hiding something?"Sen nodded. "I'm telling you, Asher, it's like a brick wall. I can't find any leads, any evidence. It's as if someone's erased all traces of what really happened."My mind raced as a whirlwind of thoughts ran amok in my brain. "Keep digging, Sen. Question everyone who was involved. Especially my mother's head maid. She was always tight-lipped, but I'm sure she knows more than she's letting on."Sen nodded, his eyes determined. "I'll get to the bottom of it, Asher.
Asher’s P.O.V"I need you to book the most available premium first-class flight to Angeles-Dark Moon pack," I barked into the phone, my patience wearing thin like the threads of a frayed rope. I had to go back home for whatever reason my step-mother needed me or I might risk her discovering Anna and the kids. Whilst I didn’t have proof concerning what happened five years, I knew how intense my step-mother could be, especially with how she wanted me to marry Vira at all costs.Sen's confusion was palpable, even over the phone. "Asher, what's going on? Why are we heading back to the pack?" His voice was laced with concern, like a gentle prod to my already frazzled nerves.I snapped, my temper flaring like a wildfire. "Just do it, Sen. Don't question me." My words were sharp as a whip, lashing out at the one person who dared to challenge me.Less than ten minutes later, Sen called back, his voice hesitant, like a child tiptoeing around a sleeping bear. "Asher, there's a problem. There ar
Anna’s P.O.VAsher had been gone since that morning when I told him I was in an open relationship with Tony. I was trying to persuade Evan to eat his breakfast when Sen informed me that Asher had been called away to deal with an urgent company matter. I absorbed the news silently and held myself back from pointing out that it was very strange and almost impossible that Asher would hold a business meeting on a Sunday. It really was none of my business. I spent the rest of the day in a weird numbed state and forced a smile when Ivan and Evan tried to play with me.I was just…I think I missed him and the thought that I was the one who had run him off made my throat tight.Sunday dragged off into Monday and there was still no word from him. On Tuesday, dozens of red roses were delivered to the mansion. And yeah, there was no note accompanying it, only a black card with his name scrawled across it with gold ink. Why had he sent the roses? I wondered as tears filled my eyes, burying my face
I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. My step mother, Camila, had gone too fucking far this time. What if I'd been too late?My fists were still clenched, the phantom sting of Camila's manicured nails digging into my arm a reminder of what I'd seen her doing. But the white-hot anger simmered down, replaced by a cold dread as I looked at Anna.She lay sprawled on the floor, ashen and still. My brave, defiant Anna. The woman who dared to defy Camila, who dared to love me all those years ago. The mother of my children. Panic clawed at my throat. I watched in horror as Anna lost consciousness, her bloodied body crumpling to the ground. Immediately I bolted across the room and grabbed a blanket to cover her nakedness, the air around her cold and lifeless. When she was protected, I carried her into my arms and gingerly set her unconscious body on the couch, uncaring if her blood would ruin it. That was irrelevant. As I stared at her still bleeding body, j was suddenly filled with
I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. My step mother, Camila, had gone too fucking far this time. What if I'd been too late?My fists were still clenched, the phantom sting of Camila's manicured nails digging into my arm a reminder of what I'd seen her doing. But the white-hot anger simmered down, replaced by a cold dread as I looked at Anna.She lay sprawled on the floor, ashen and still. My brave, defiant Anna. The woman who dared to defy Camila, who dared to love me all those years ago. The mother of my children. Panic clawed at my throat. I watched in horror as Anna lost consciousness, her bloodied body crumpling to the ground. Immediately I bolted across the room and grabbed a blanket to cover her nakedness, the air around her cold and lifeless. When she was protected, I carried her into my arms and gingerly set her unconscious body on the couch, uncaring if her blood would ruin it. That was irrelevant. As I stared at her still bleeding body, j was suddenly filled with
I was burning up. It felt like every inch of me was on fire. A whimper slid through my lips as I felt myself being moved. It hurt, I wanted to cry, but no words came out of me, just an exhausted sigh, saturated with pain. As I slowly regained consciousness, a searing pain coursed through my body, like a raging fire burning every nerve ending. My mind fogged over, struggling to comprehend what had happened. Flashes of memories pierced my thoughts: The whip striking my skin, the sounds of my own scream. Why did you come back to my son after all my warnings? WHORE! Don’t you know he’s got a bride? ‘MAMA!’ ‘Stay away from our mommy!’ My babies…oh…the feeling of weightlessness as I was lifted off the floor. The pain intensified, making my head spin. I tried to cry out, but my voice was trapped, silence by the excruciating agony. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I drifted in and out of consciousness. I heard muffled voices, like whispers in a distant room. Doctors, I think. They
As I shut the door behind me, I leaned back against the wood, feeling tremors wrack down my spine. I replayed my actions from a couple minutes ago and my fists tightened next to me. Anna. Was. Mine. whether she knew that or not was not my problem. I’d come to the room to check on her and make sure she was asleep like Sen had told me but seeing her with her perfect brown hair all splayed over my pillows, casting those pretty brown eyes at me through hooded lids, my wolf had taken over my instincts and I rushed towards her like a mindless beasts, claiming those full luscious lips. I’d been filled with the innate need to rub my scent all over her, scent-mark her wrists so if fucking Camila ever called her out, it would be clear that Anna was mine. that Anna belonged to me and I would burn down the earth to protect her.Sliding down against the wood, I buried my face into my palm, my chest and wolf aching at the reminder that Anna had rejected me. Not outright, but I’d never seen her as a