Chapter 4 – She’s Mine

  Asher’s Perspective  

Lying on my bed, my wolf wouldn’t stop pestering me. He kept demanding a run, nagging at me nonstop since last night. I had denied him repeatedly, but he wouldn't settle down. Ever since my brief encounter with Elena a few hours ago, he had been restless, and I had no clue why.  

Was it because she was a runt?  

I exhaled deeply, pushing myself out of bed. After freshening up, I made my way to my mother’s room, knocking softly before stepping in. "Mom, are you awake?" I whispered, just in case she was still asleep.  

Peeking in, I noticed she was indeed resting. I walked over quietly, adjusting her blanket to make sure she was comfortable, then placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before leaving, shutting the door behind me.  

Something about today felt different. A strange, unshakable feeling loomed over me, like I was supposed to be somewhere important. As I strolled toward the pack house, Connor approached me with his usual smug expression.  

"Hey, man," he greeted, flashing that annoying grin of his.  

"Do you have any news for me?" I asked, stopping to face him.  

"The rogues we fought yesterday—they were from the Crest Moon pack," he informed me.  

"And where exactly is this Crest Moon pack?" I questioned, already plotting an attack in my mind.  

"They're beyond the forest, just past the riverbank," Connor answered, clearly anticipating my next move.  

"Understood. Spread the word—gather every warrior immediately. We’ll be launching an assault on the Crest Moon pack soon. I need them in the gym right away so I can decide who’s coming." My tone was sharp and commanding. Connor gave a quick nod.  

"Yes, Alpha," he acknowledged before heading off to relay my orders.  

I hoped this rival pack wasn’t large—I didn’t want unnecessary casualties on our side. I needed a solid strategy before making my move. But before that, my wolf was growing impatient, practically begging to be set free. Giving in, I made my way toward the dense forest.  

The moment I shifted, my wolf took off at an incredible speed, running faster than he ever had before. He was angry—no, furious. He was letting out all his pent-up frustration, but over what? I didn’t know.  

After he finally calmed down, I shifted back, grabbed fresh clothes from home, and went straight to the pack gym. The second I entered, all eyes turned to me. Some warriors bowed in respect, while others squared their shoulders in attention. They all stood in perfectly straight rows, ready for instructions. One thing stood out, though—Connor was nowhere in sight.  

"As you all know, we were attacked by rogues yesterday. They came from the Crest Moon pack. We will be striking back, taking over their territory," I announced, ensuring my voice was loud and clear. "Until I have a strategy in place, training begins immediately. Any questions?"  

Silence. No one spoke.  

Then, out of nowhere, my wolf started acting up again, more aggressive than before. He was clawing to take control, and I had to use every ounce of willpower to keep him restrained.  

"Begin training now," I ordered, turning on my heel and walking straight out of the gym.  

I had no idea where I was headed, but my wolf did. He pushed forward, forcing me to move, refusing to be ignored any longer. Before I knew it, I found myself at the pack house.  

The second I stepped inside, an intoxicating scent crashed into me—something so sweet and alluring, it took my breath away. It smelled like fresh strawberries mixed with delicate roses. It pulled me in, drawing me closer.  

Then, beneath that heavenly fragrance, I caught another scent. Hers. The runt.  

A sinking feeling settled in my chest.  

As I entered the living room, my gaze landed on Connor. His hands were wrapped tightly around Elena’s throat. A surge of confusion and fury shot through me. What the hell was happening?  

One thing was certain—Connor was violating one of my mother's most sacred rules: Never harm a woman.  

"Mine. Stop him. Now," my wolf growled inside me.  

What?  

Was my wolf serious? This runt—this fragile, beaten-down girl—was my mate?  

But as I inhaled her scent again, I couldn’t deny it. It was unmistakable. The reason my wolf had been unsettled wasn't because Elena was weak. It was because she belonged to us.  

"NOW!" My wolf’s voice roared through my head, more commanding than ever.  

The moment I saw her struggling, my instincts took over. Without thinking, I seized Connor by the back of his neck and hurled him into the glass table nearby. The sound of shattering glass filled the air as his head collided with it. Blood pooled beneath him, but he wasn’t dead—though he easily could’ve been.  

"Check on our mate! Now!" my wolf urged, more desperate than I had ever heard him.  

I sprinted to Elena’s limp body. She wasn’t moving. My heart pounded as fear gripped me. Was she even breathing?  

Then, miraculously, her eyes fluttered open. For a split second, our gazes locked.  

At that moment, I knew she was mine.  

"Mate."  

Before I could say anything else, her eyes shut again, and I panicked.  

Scooping her up in my arms, I sprinted toward the pack doctor’s clinic, moving faster than I ever had in my life. Sparks erupted where our bodies touched, but I ignored them—I needed to get her help.  

The moment I burst through the door, the doctor’s eyes widened in shock as I laid her on the bed.  

"Fix her. Now!" I barked, my Alpha command ringing through the room.  

My wolf was in agony, howling inside me. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her. The doctor moved quickly, reaching for her wrist.  

I let out a warning growl.  

"Alpha, please. I need to check her pulse," he explained, meeting my gaze. "I'm here to help, not harm." His calm voice somehow eased my rage. Maybe he already knew what she was to me.  

I nodded stiffly but stayed on high alert, watching his every move. The moment he checked her pulse, his face paled, making my wolf even more frantic. He grabbed a defibrillator, rolling it over to Elena’s side and connecting her to a heart monitor.  

"What the hell is that? Can you save her?" I demanded, on the verge of losing control.  

"It’s a defibrillator. She’s lost too much oxygen. This is our only option," he answered, rubbing the paddles together before pressing them to her chest.  

A jolt of electricity coursed through her body, making her jerk violently. I snarled, barely holding back my rage. My gaze flickered to the monitor—nothing. Just a flat green line.  

If she died, I’d kill everyone in this room.  

"If she doesn’t wake up, you’re dead," my wolf snarled through me.  

The doctor tried again. Nothing. Again. Still nothing. Again. No change.  

A hollow pain tore through my chest. Was this what it felt like to lose your mate?  

"Fix her!" I roared, grabbing a chair and smashing it against the wall. The sound of splintering wood filled the room.  

Then—finally—a faint beep echoed from the machine. Another beep. Then another.  

She was breathing.  

Elena was alive. My Elena was alive.  

Relief crashed over me like a tidal wave.  

But now that she was safe, there would be consequences.  

Whoever had laid a hand on her—whoever had dared to harm my mate—would pay.  

And I would make sure they suffered.