Chapter 5

ASHER'S POV

The party ended on a lovely note. The people knew their stuff when it came to having fun and I was glad they weren't boring unlike my cousin’s pack where everyone stuck their noses up in the air and drank tea and biscuits.

I was escorted to my chamber in Alpha Nathan's mansion. I just say his daughter was very beautiful. Isabella, what a lovely name.

She was a trophy wife. A trinket a man would possess as his own, to mark and to please. Her petite frame felt right in my hold and her glassy pearl skin was lovely and costly to maintain. Her small silver-hazel eyes never left mine as we danced earlier and at one time, I touched her long curly blonde hair. She was most exquisite.

But she paled in comparison with the priestess I saw earlier. I never knew she would be so young and so beautiful. The fire in her hazel-blue eyes ignited something in me I never knew was there. She was dressed in a  simple yet delicate red and white gown that complimented her pale skin. While I stared at her, I knew I had to have her. Not only was she captivating with her Long white hair and fairy-like looks, she was also my mate. I sniffed lavender and wildberries from her and I knew she did to me too.

I laid in bed and smiled. “Layla White… I think I'll postpone my plans and come for you.”

******

To keep Layla on a leash is a very easy task.

I promised her a life outside the pack and a crown to be my Luna. For one used to being isolated and hated her entire life, Layla easily believed me and even swore to be mine.

I found a way to convince her to tell her family that she wanted to revoke her priestesshood. That didn't turn out as I had hoped. Her father was infuriated. Isabella is more furious and she confronts Layla. When I had visited Layla, she told me Isabella badmouthed her and called her a whore. I consoled her and told her that Isabella was just being mean and that I would always love her. And like gravity, she fell for it.

After several failed attempts in bringing Layla into his bed, I had finally succeeded in sleeping with her. Now, my plan would be so much easier. The only thing to do now was wait.

I was in my room preparing to meet Layla when the door flew open and Isabella walked in.

“What am I lacking?” She asked with tears in her eyes.

“What?” I was puzzled.

She unfastened the buttons of her blouse, exposing her sumptuous bosom. “What does she have that I don't have?”

I chuckled. Desperate woman. I approached her and pomed at her chest. “Well, Layla has a scar right here.”

Isabella whipped out a dagger from her dress pocket. “If you want, I can get the same scar.”

“Woah,” I grabbed the dagger and hurled it across the room. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Yes! I'm out of my mind! I love you, Asher! Why can't you love me back?” Isabella sobbed.

“Aww, poor thing.” I put my arms around her.

Like a vixen, she grabbed my wrist and pushed me down on the sofa with her on top of me.

“I'll do anything for you.” Her chest rose and fell and for one second, I almost removed her corset.

She noticed my gaze on her and began to remove the lace.

My lips curved into a grin. This woman was desperate. “Will you really do anything for me?”

“Yes.” She breathed out as she was done removing the laces, leaving her chest bare.

“Okay. Then there is something I want you to do.” I smiled.

Without a word, she started grinding her hips on me.

“You… will…get…your…paws…dirty.” I chuckled as she moved against my hard member.

“Yes.” She whispered, throwing her head back.

I covered my hand around her throat and drew her closer. “You have to destroy the drum of Alkali and bring me a map of the pack. Will you, sweet thing?”

I expected her to say no. No one in their right senses would betray their pack.

“I'll do it.” She said with a determined look on her face.

Ah, she's one of those stupid ones. I like her.

“Undress properly and get down on all fours.” I ordered and like a puppy she did as she was told.

That night, I invited Layla into my chambers giving Isabella time to sneak into her hut to destroy the drum. As for the map, it was easy for her to get it from her father. Isabella was such an obedient little thief. When I was done with Layla, I gave her a little thank you for her efforts and like the stupid girl she was, she was down for it.

Without hesitation, news of the broken drum spread around the pack like wildfire. Isabella came to me terrified that everything would lead back to her so I told her what to do. The next day, rumours began to spread.

When the Alkali drum breaks, it severs the bond between the priestess and the moon goddess. The other side of the coin was advantageous to the priestess. Now, she could leave the pack and she was pleased. I had gotten this info from Layla during one of our late night escapades.

Isabella succeeded in creating enmity between the pack and Layla. She poisoned the mind of the people that Layla destroyed the Alkali so she would be free from her bond with the moon goddess and leave the pack with me. And like the good guy I was, I demanded to leave with Layla but Alpha Nathan refused my request so I left the pack. It was time for war.

LAYLA'S POV

Ever since the dawn of time, the Crescent Moon pack is known to be a powerful pack.

We have won wars without forming alliances and prospered because the Moon Goddess was on their side. But now, we have lost any connection with her because someone had destroyed the drum. And it's all my fault.

The people are terrified of their fate as so was I. In the heat of the moment, someone began to spread fake rumours of me being the cursed child of the prophecy made several years ago. Shortly after, the people began to hate on me. They even wished they had killed me years ago.

I ran away to the temple in the mountains to pray to the Moon Goddess to listen to me.

“Oh goddess,” my lips trembled as I rubbed my hands together. “P - please, heed my call.”

The rain began to shower and thunder rumbled in the sky.

I placed the broken drum on the altar and sniffled as I tried to beat on it but I shattered again. I did that ten times over but the result was the same.

“Where is she!” I heard the villagers' angry voices.

“She will be in the temple! Find her!” Cassandra yelled.

“No.” I rose to my feet and stared at the sky. “Please, just help me just this once.”

The wind blew past me and I fell to my knees. I quickly clutched my stomach. The wind howled as if to say I was no longer welcome. Indeed, I wasn't.

“There she is!” A cry came out.

I rose to my feet. “No! No!”

They grabbed my arm and dragged me down the mountain steps with them.

Cassandra, who led the people, declared her judgment as soon as we reached land.

“Layla will burn for this!” She yelled.

My blood chilled. “What?”

The people agreed with her in an enthusiastic roar.

“No! I can't be burnt alive!” I scenario as they dragged me into the pack's square.

Heaven probably suppers the people because the rain stopped falling instantly.

“What is this madness!” Dad walked in.

Cassandra answered him with a yell. “She has to die so we will be saved.”

“Fire!” A man screamed.

Immediately, thunderstruck from the sky, setting the apple tree ablaze.

“Burn her at stake!” Cassandra yelled.

“King Asher is here with his men! Kill the girl!” Another ran in.

Carnage, blood, pain, screams and raging cries were all I could hear and see. The fires licked at the edges of the village square, leaving the people petrified like a cornered rat. They ran helter-skelter, seeking refuge from not only the fire but the armed soldiers that haunted them.

It was just like the nightmare I had. In the end, Raven was right.

Elena raced through the crowd to meet me but they held her back. “Layla, no!”

“It's alright, Elena.” I gave her a small smile.

“Walk into the flames!” Cassandra yelled.

“Layla! No!” Elena sobbed terribly.

I couldn't bear to look at her anymore. If I did, I wouldn't know what to do anymore.

While humming mom's lullaby, I walked into the fire. The fires began to tear at my flesh and I screamed in pain. The moment I gave into the darkness, I jolted awake.