ASHLEYI tried to pull my hand away from his, but he wouldn't let me go. Jason dragged me towards a giant tree, pushing me to it. My back hit the trunk, and the rough bark grazed my arm.“I asked you a question, Ashley. Why do you smell like him?” he sneered.I looked up, my chin set stubbornly in his direction. “You only made it a direct statement. You never asked me a question until now. Besides, why should I respond to you?”“Ashley…!” Jason growled, his eyes burning with a fire I hadn't seen before, not even when he rejected me.“What am I to you and why do you even care?!” I retorted, my voice cold, and all the anger trying to burst out of me, I tried to push them back. I wanted to be furious, to punch him in the face as hard as I could, break down and ask him why he was doing all that to Kael when he knew the truth, but I didn't. I didn't want him to see me totally helpless.He'd used that to goad me and even beg for his mercy. That was the last thing I had in mind to do.Jason
ASHLEYI opened the door, stepping into the darkened room. I squinted in the darkness, my hands feeling for the wall to guide my movement. It'd make no sense if I hit a box that'd create a noise, making them aware that someone was there.When I successfully found the wall, I breathed in and out, resting on it. I looked around me, but all I saw was darkness. I couldn't even make out a single window in the room. That'd allow the light from the moon to seep in, so I'd know if I was in the right room or not.I shouldn't be wasting time here. Kelly said I had only ten minutes. I was sure I had used more than three minutes, which meant I had seven left. But I was sure that if I exceeded without realizing it, she'd be here in no time to tell me. Again, I didn't want to stand inside this darkness longer, looking at nothing.I turned to the door as I wasn't too far from it, and turned the wooden handle, about to open it, when I heard his voice.“Is that you, Ashley?” Kael said, his voice was l
ASHLEYI was alive.The beating of my heart was enough evidence to tell that I had lived through the pain. I groaned as I came to, turning on the cold floor where I was curled. I didn’t remember returning to the room; someone must have brought me back. I opened my eyes slowly. They were blurred, and I could barely see a thing. The dimness in the room wasn't helping matters. Besides, it wasn't as if my room had always been bright, except during the day. I had only a lamp that looked like it had been through hell and back, and three candles left; I often managed. My father had stopped giving me things to ensure I was comfortable, and I had no money to buy things for myself either. I doubted whether I'd be able to keep it even if I had the money to get what I desired.Gradually, I rose from the ground to a sitting position and pushed my fingers into my hair. I winced as pain flared in my arm. I glanced at it to see some puncture marks that were starting to heal. It was where the lancet h
ASHLEY“Let me out of here!” I kicked the door. I had been doing that for the past few minutes when my father brought me in here. The door was locked, and no matter how hard I kicked on it, I received no response. The only response I received was the pain in my wrists, fists punching the door several times, and in my legs.Striding towards the window, I opened it and peered out of it. Although this was opened and allowed me to see everything that was going on, it was the same situation as the door. It was heavily guarded. It was as if my father knew I'd use it as an alternative to escape, so he'd made sure to place about five guards outside. They all looked up as soon as my head was outside, and their eyes locked on mine.I withdrew my head, biting hard on my lower lip as I paced the room. I sniffled, wiping the tears that began to fall my cheeks.“What do I do?” I choked out, blinking back tears, but the more I blinked, the more they rolled down. I dragged in a staggering breath, my
ASHLEYI yanked my hand free from Jason’s as we stepped into the living room, my eyes locking on his. They blazed with fury, and he seethed, his jaw clenched.“What the hell do you think you're doing?!” He barked out.“What do you mean?” I retorted, folding my arms in front of my chest.“You fucking know everything I meant. Stop giving me that fucking pretense, Ashley. Why the hell are you trying to defend him when he did all that? We're talking about your sister. Don't you feel bad that a man lured her into the forest, took advantage of her, and now she's fighting for her life?!”I snorted, raising my chin in defiance. “Kael did nothing to Maria. He would never lure her into that forest to hunt her. You don't even know what happened for you to accuse him in that manner. Don't be a fucking hypocrite, Jason. Just because you don't like Kael doesn't mean he's all that evil!” I snapped back, my anger rising to the surface.“Were you there when it all happened? Or you merely got there whe
ASHLEYMy thoughts were far away. I was barely listening to what the alpha was saying at this point. All I could think about was Kael. What was he doing? What was going on with him? Was he getting punished? Or was he just in his cell awaiting a verdict from the alpha? It could even be all three questions.I stared at the door, my legs squeezing in my shoes as I resisted the urge to walk out of the room this instant. I couldn't leave because I wasn't permitted to. The Alpha was seated, and he was the only one who could make me leave. That was if he desired to.“Is someone going to explain to me what happened?” The Alpha asked, breaking the silence in the room.I moved from one foot to another, glancing at Jason as he pushed away from the door, walking to the room's center. When my father and I arrived, he had been here. I wondered why he hadn't filled his father in on what had happened when I heard about half the gist from the guards that had brought Maria in.Jason cleared his throat,