Chapter 14

It had been a week since the dinner. A week mainly consisting of waiting around, twiddling our thumbs.

J and Asher still hadn't got any further with the prisoners so in the mean time we were preparing ourselves for an attack.

We were currently sat around the dining table in the pack house, like we had been doing for the past 7 days, exploring our options.

"Why don't we visit another Alpha and ask for their help?" I suggested, "the more warriors we have, the more likely we can eradicate them once and for all."

Murmurs were transmitted around the table, analysing my suggestion.

"I know who we can go to" Asher declared, immediately reducing the whole table to silence.

I nodded in affirmation, before speaking up,

"Who will go?"

"Only 2 or 3 people should go. This needs to be an minimal as possible as we need all the pack members here in the pack right now." One of the elders declared.

"He will be most likely to accept our proposal if I am there directly. So your Luna and I will depart once this meeting has concluded. I'm not wasting any time and that gives me enough time to make necessary requirements."

Just as a stir of voices began accumulating, he cut in with orders.

"J, you will be in charge while we are gone, and mother you will assume as Luna for now. See that everything runs smoothly."

"But Alpha surely they will attack if your are gone!" One of the elderly men exclaimed, his grey beard bobbing up and down to his frantic gestures.

"No. They won't. They are attacking me personally. The pack are simply an inconvenience for them. Trust me, I'm certain. This witch has something against me and we need to find out what" his voice went dangerously low.

"Anything else?" He arched his eyebrow at the congregation daringly, knowing the answer to his question.

"Me and Rose will see you again in a few days" He affirmed as we all stood up.

Some bunched off into small groups to gossip and catch up, but Asher quickly edged around the table and grabbed my arm, pulling me to the front door with him.

Without him prompting me, I twisted myself into the passenger seat and turned to Asher with a playful smile on my face as he started up the car.

"Are we going.... to the mountains?"

"Nope."

"Countryside"

"No"

"The beach."

"No"

"Desert?"

"No"

"A cold place with sub-zero temperatures?"

"Nope"

"Where then?" I asked impatiently.

"That, is a secret." He replied ominously.

"Fine. At least tell me how far away it is" I huffed, exasperated.

"Nope."

"This is ridiculous!"

"Yeah" he hummed, just as we pulled into the mansion.

"At least tell me what clothes I need to pack. Is it gonna be hot or cold or between..." I rambled as I legged it up the stairs and into the room me and Asher had been sharing for the last week. In a platonic way, of course. I made him sleep on the floor. I didn't really feel bad for him either, despite hearing him grunt in discomfort at god knows what hour each morning.

"Hot" he replied, clipped.

I squealed in excitement as I practically ran into the closet, grabbing a suitcase and hauling bikinis, shorts, tops and a jacket into it before pushing it shut and joining Asher who already had his bag packed.

"You know, were not staying for weeks. Only a couple of days, 5 days maximum." He declared sternly. The amount of love he has for his pack is incredible. He would do anything for them, and I really respected that.

"Let's go" he shouted as he vacated the room, his long legs causing me to practically run in order to catch up to him.

"Catch" I grinned as he quickly turned his head and grabbed the suitcase I threw at him as I took a detour into the kitchen to grab some food and drink for the journey.

I heard an impatient huff from behind me, which I ignored accordingly.

"I'm coming, Jesus Christ" I muttered to myself as I spun around and wandered out, trailing Asher to the car as we settled in.

"I'm gonna miss this little house" I declared sullenly as I glared out the window at the beautiful woodland mansion I was now accepting as a home.

A home from home I thought, a slash of pain coursing through me as I thought about my mum and sister I'd left behind. I didn't even fight for them, and it angered me to the core.

Would Asher ever let me see them again? Don't get me wrong, he had no right to dictate my life, but a part of me wondered what it would do if I just left. If I go back to England with my family and live a normal life.

But my life would never be the same again. My existence has been tainted with the supernatural and now, there was no escape from it. No escape from my...mate.

It felt weird to think about Asher like that. A mate. My mate. Even though Asher and I don't have the best relationship, what would it do to us if I left? What would it do to him? I didn't particularly care, but I suppose the compassionate, human part of me did.

After all, it's my dream to open up a hospital in a foreign country, to help the less fortunate and to make a significant difference by saving people's lives. So, I don't know if I could live with myself if I wrecked one.

"You will be apart from your dearly beloved house for like 5 days, drama queen" Asher pulled out of the gravelly driveway and onto the woodland track that led to the main road.

"What? I love that house and we all have things that we love, even you Mr Heartless and Emotionless Alpha." I joked.

"I know for a fact that you love your family" I stated, my heart strings pulling slightly for my own blood-relations.

"Love is weakness" he replied casually, as if he nurtured this ridiculous belief his whole life.

"Well I think it's beautiful and it shows when someone truly cares about you to put your life before theirs. It's the ultimate sacrifice and although it may end tragically, it's beautiful all the same." I countered whilst transfixing my gaze on the landscape that passed us in a blur. Because I'd only recently moved the America, id had barely any clue as to locations and where the hell we were going . All basic things I suppose I should of learned.

Asher didn't reply after what I said, although from my peripheral vision I saw him staring at me every 5 or so minutes as if to make sure I was safe.

"Can we get a puppy?" I blurted out, placing my book into my lap before diverting my full attention to Asher.

"Or will there be a fight to see whose the male leader of the house" I inquired in a purposely low and playful voice.

"Are you serious?" He laughed, before i lightly hit his arm in punishment, causing him to bite his lip to ensure an eruption of laughter wouldn't escape.

We carried on with our conversations of varied topics until the sun descended below the horizon and darkness began emanating in deadly tendrils from the brooding sky.

"Can we stop the next time we pass a McDonalds?" I asked, my stomach rumbling as I consumed or "engulfed" as Asher said, the rations a few hours ago and, hunger was now setting in.

"Yeah, I'm hungry aswell" He replied, and I detected a hint of tiredness in his tone.

"I don't mind taking over driving for a while. You would need to give me the actual location though" I spoke sarcastically.

"No, it's fine" he replied quickly.

"What, are you scared I'm going to harm your expensive, beloved car?" I inquired sweetly, feigning an offended nature.

"Well you are unpredictable and probably would-"

"McDonalds!!" I shouted, frantically pointing at the M sign that stained the horizon line a bright, luminescent yellow.

"How can you see that from here?" He laughed, shaking his head.

"I'd have you know, I'm a rather talented individual. Having good sight is one of them. Also, one of my proudest achievements, is winning our regional spelling competition 5 years in a row. It made me so happy..." I was sucked into a daydream, but was swiftly pulled back into reality from the sound of Asher's laughter.

This wasn't just any laugh. This was his special laugh. The one only few people procured. It was like heaven to a condemned soul.

I never noticed the crinkles around his eyes when he smiles or the way his Adam's apple bobbed up and down with each glorious laugh.

Snap out of it! I commanded myself.

He was beautiful though. I think anyone can't help but just.. stare and admire.

"Were here!" He announced merrily, pulling up into a parking space and hopping out of the car.

I followed his actions and was just about to run to catch up to him only to notice that he was actually waiting for me.

"Do you know what you want to order?"

"Ur yes! Please can I have the medium meal of chicken nuggets with a chocolate milkshake followed by an apple pie?"

"Sure thing" he looked down at me while we were waiting in the queue, an indecipherable emotion sparkling in his grey depths.

"So, how far have we got left to go? We've already been in the car for like 4 hours"

"Were about halfway there"

"Are you expecting to drive through the night?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowing.

"Yeah. After this we will head off, and you can try and get some sleep"

"Are you sure?" I replied, whilst hiding a yawn. I didn't want to seem selfish., "I don't mind driving for a bit while you get some sleep"

"No. I'll be fine. End of discussion."

"Okay.." I muttered in acquiescence.

We devoured our meals in record time, in a comfortable silence. Once I ate the last chip, Asher practically dragged us out and into the car, eager to gain this mysterious' persons help and to return to the pack and make it safe again .

We had only been in the car for half an hour after, driving through the flat, farmlands of god knows what state, when a wave of tiredness enveloped me.

I curled up into the soft seat, getting into the most comfortable position as possible before closing my eyes.

"Sleep" I heard before feeling a calloused hand lightly massage my hair.

And blackness overcame me.