Alpha Asher by Jane

Hours later I could still hear his roar in m y ears , trickling down my spine in wave after wave of crippling pleasure . His face was
painted in my head , eyes black with need and jaw carved from stone even though the promises he whispered were soft and
sweet . It played in the background of my mind and along the swollen , tender bits of my skin as Rowena’s delicate voice
threaded words together in small notes of conversation .
” I’m not sensing any magic attached to him . ” She said with an encroaching frown , her lips painted in a new shade of lipstick –
one with a nude undertone that reminded me of a caramel latte . Her dainty hands moved swiftly , weaving around one another
in a graceful dance that was made mysterious by the jade glow they emitted . A scowl coated Asher’s face in harsh lines and
angles when she dropped them abruptly . ” ... just a great deal of stress , and quite a bit of anger .
” As I thought he would , Asher stood from the leather chair the moment a wilting note of sympathy laced itself within Rowena’s
voice . ” With the pressure you’re both under , no one can blame either one you for acting swiftly . You’re both so’young , with
such little time to enjoy it . ” The stubble across his jawline rippled from the tensing of his muscles as he grunted , ” There will be
plenty of time to enjoy youth once the people murdering our pack members are brought to light .
” ” Yes ... well , with that attitude you’re bound to succeed . ” She replied , aiming a tight – lipped frown in his direction . It
mirrored one a teacher might make when an unruly child spoke out of turn . Her eyes , the same jade green as the treetops
outside , slid over the stony expression on my face and stalled . ” Will I still be seeing you at training today , Lola ? ” ” She’ll be
there . ” Asher answered first , his voice curt and attention placed solely o n me even though the witch he replied to was standing
a few feet to his left . I didn’t break my stare from his , and instead listened to the ominous beat our hearts made , counting each
note until Rowena cleared her throat and said , ” I’ll leave you both to talk , then ...
” ” You’ve gone fully insane if you think I’m letting you out of my sight . ” I told him only after the thud of the heavy office door
swinging shut faded from our ears . My words hung in the air between us and were much truer than either of us could’ve known .
As his eyes narrowed and head tilted , I shifted on my feet and nearly bumped into the bar cart and coffee maker I stood beside
– both of which I knew were unused because Asher didn’t drink coffee . ” I may be called insane in tomorrow’s papers , but what
this article is calling you i s much worse . .
” Both his baritone and the tiny ink of the newspaper clipping traveled the short distance to pelt me with the truth . He spun the
page around and stopped it with a finger . ” I’ll spare you the specifics , so you’ll still be surprised once you read it yourself , but it
paints a pretty little picture of your life this past year . Tyler’s birthday , returning home , meeting me , the murders . The wolf that
wrote this , the web of lies that they’ve spun –

It’s more than convincing . It’s already begun to turn heads , and not just ones in our pack . ” ” Whose , then ? ” I asked and
instantly regretted it when his fists clenched , and irritation flashed within the pits of his eyes . His laugh was as dry as the air I
sucked into my lungs , swirling with dust particles that made my throat constrict . ” The ones surrounding ours know , and the
news is spreading by the hour . Within a month every pack in the world will know someone else’s version of your story . They’ll
have more reason than ever to hate you and every witch or vampire they stumble across .
” His eyes softened at the sudden rush of my fear , but he didn’t move from where he stood . I wasn’t sure my stomach could
plummet any further , but as always Asher lived to prove me wrong . I could practically taste the wicked promise on his tongue
when he said , ” I wish I could tell you that were it , but it’s not . Our old friend Alpha Bran .... he’s already campaigning against
you . ” ‘ You’re joking . ‘ Cassidy hissed , narrowing her eyes in a way that reminded me of Breyona .
I had mind linked my best – friend during the fifteen – minute drive to the training center and told her everything that happened
after our peaceful morning turned tumultuous . Part of me needed a second opinion on what happened with Asher , while the
other side wanted to shove his vicious glassy – eyed stare deep within the depths o f my mind , buried so deep I’d never have t o
hear the empty tone of his voice again , a Half an hour later I found myself sitting beside Cassidy , stretching on the padded mats
that lined the classroom we met in every weekday for training . With over a dozen other students doing warm – ups around us ,
talking wasn’t an option .
‘ I wish I were joking . ‘ I sighed out loud , leaning forwards to touch my toes . Cassidy followed my movements and together we
stared at the floor , our ponytails grazing the sweaty , bloodstained mat . ‘ I mean you saw him . H e was he was feral or
something . How does that just happen to someone ? ” ... maybe it is an Alpha thing . ‘ Cassidy’s baby blues were reluctant as
they , flitted over to meet my own . When I turned my head in her direction and the burn in my muscles faded into static , she
swallowed and quickly explained . ‘ What I mean is there’s still a lot we don’t know about Alpha’s .
They’re stronger , faster ... they have bigger wolves . We know they have rage and possessiveness down to a science , but
maybe this is what happens when an Alpha gets overwhelmed ... ” ‘ You don’t seem convinced of that , and you’re the one that’s
known him his entire life . ‘
I pointed out the obvious , returning to a standing position in time for Emilia to begin today’s lesson . Even though this was the
second time I’d seen her sweep into the room and claim the attention of every student , the awe that followed hadn’t lessened .
There was something incredibly feminine about her delicate eyebrows and slender nose . Even her wide – set mouth and plump
lips were symmetrical and gave her a softness one wouldn’t associate
with a warrior . Those qualities paired with her rippling muscles and broad shoulders highlighted her unique form of beauty . ”
Alright , class . I know we’re all a bit amped from what happened to Devin Armstrong- -and may he rest in peace , but this is

when we need to settle down and focus . You’re here to learn how to defend yourself , to master your weaknesses and turn them
into strengths .
That , my students is how you stay alive . ” 15 Emilia walked the length of the room , eyeing us like we were soldiers prepping t o
step onto the battlefield . Her soprano voice bounced off the brick walls , sharp like the commands of a general at war . I was
immediately grateful she hadn’t taken a side , unlike some of the students i n the room who felt the need to tell me they
supported Clint Armstrong and the mess he had made .
As her speech came to its conclusion , she came to a stop at the center of the room . For a moment she stood there , hands
clasped behind her back as she stared us all down . More than half the wolves began to shift on their feet , averting their eyes in
favor of the floor , ceiling , or their athletic shoes . Even Cassidy’s jaw began to clench , but I knew from the stubbornness written
across her face that she’d never submit to Emilia .
It was my position in this pack which made staring into her champagne tinted eyes all too easy . ” How many of you know the ten
core fundamentals to Krav Maga ? ” Emilia asked , holding my stare as though she were waiting for me to raise my hand . No
one else in the room responded , except for Cassidy who let out a disgruntled huff under her breath . As my hand inched into the
air and the curious and condemning of the other students fell on my face , I felt a rush of Maya’s stubborn strength fill my bones .
eyes ” Luna , if you’d be kind enough to tell us the first three ... ” Emilia said , gesturing to the room to show that everyone was
waiting for me to speak . I stepped forwards and met the eyes of the
students staring me down , the word murderer ‘ written across the tense muscles in their faces . ” The first is to aim for your
opponents ‘ weak points . ” I said loudly , plastering my attention on a she – wolf who at the beginning of class felt the need to
snarl the word traitor as I walked into the room . My words were directed at her and her alone . ” Shifting weight to a particular
side could mean a childhood injury that didn’t heal correctly .
” Without waiting for the blood to rush to her face and embarrassment to claim her features 1 pivoted my head in the direction of
another student , this one a muscular guy who promised I’d receive my comeuppance soon enough . ” The second and third go
hand in hand . Quick and powerful responses are what will save you in battle . You have to be ready for the situation to go from 0
to 100 ... but strength will only get you so far . Speed and technique are crucial .
They’ll win you any fight , no matter how big the H meathead you’re up against is . ” One by one I ran through them all , using
each fundamental to pick apart the weaknesses of the students who decided t o stand against me and Asher . As I recited each
one by memory , courtesy of Chris who pummeled me into the dirt until they were etched into the back of my skull , Emilia’s
smile seemed to widen . ” Wonderful .

” She exhaled , speaking only after I’d finished shaming half the class . I f she noticed their embarrassment and anger she didn’t
let on . Her eyes darted from face to face , ” ... now that is a warrior . Someone who not only memorizes every single aspect of a
fighting form , but also uses those moves in a way that turns them into art – into a dance where one lives and the other dies . ”
Once she finished making the rounds , her attention returned to me . ” Luna , would you mind sparring with me ? I’d like to give
the class a demonstration of a few of those fundamentals . ” ” Of course . ” I replied instantly and without a hint of hesitation . ...
good luck , she punches hard . ‘ Cassidy’s voice trickled into my head , and I glanced back to see her eyebrows furrowed and
lips pursed in the direction of our trainer .
I made sure to take my time approaching , using those valuable seconds to scan Emilia from head to toe . Her widening grin told
me she knew what I was doing and was thrilled to see me respond accordingly . As I watched her walk a few feet to her left , I
noted no imperfections i n her long stride nor in the way she bounced on the balls of her feet .
” This might actually be challenging .... Maya murmured , impressed even though we’d yet to begin . ” Can anyone here tell me
what our Luna just did ? ” Emilia asked the class once I stood at her side . When no one raised their hands she continued , ” She
sized me up and took in my movements , posture , and the way I distribute my weight .
This i s what a warrior does . They see the fight i n their head before it even begins , and that way they’ll always be prepared . ” ”
The man who trained me always said preparing is half the victory . ” I said both t o Emilia and the class , thinking back to simple
days in Grandma’s cottage , where training with Chris was the most strenuous thing I had to deal with .
Emilia’s eyes twinkled pleasantly.when she asked , ” And what is the other half , Luna ? ” ” The other half is earned . ” I told her ,
this time turning away from the class to stare into the eyes of the she – wolf Cassidy claimed long ago tried to win Asher over .
There was no malice I could detect whether it be with my eyes or what strange sense unlocking my magic had given me . Either
way , right now she was a n opponent . With that reminder swirling i n my head , I squared my shoulders and sank into my
fighting stance . ” Through blood and sweat , it is earned . ”