Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 151 - Chapitre 160

I stand in his office for barely three minutes before I turn and chase after him and Reid. What could be so urgent that they won’t even tell me? A knot tightens in my stomach, the dread pooling like ice water. Could Braden have come here, finally showing up to drag me back? The thought churns my gut and leaves me feeling queasy.I race down the stairs, taking two at a time, nearly tripping over the uneven stone steps in my haste. The guards bow as I pass, a gesture I’m still adjusting to, though it’s becoming less foreign the longer I stay here. Bursting through the front door, I scan the grounds, but they’re nowhere in sight. Frustration bubbles up, and I clench my fists, sprinting toward the forest. That has to be where they’ve gone. I know Asher loves to run in his wolf form and its the fastest way to get anywhere unless you travel by car. The cold air stings my face as I run, my breath puffing out in sharp bursts. Should I shift? I hesitate, unsure if they even went this way. My w

Reid and I manage to push back the mob of savage rogues as they try to breach one of the borders near the old ruins. Just as I start heading back to the castle, a sharp tug pulls at my chest. It’s Claudia. I can feel her distress through the bond, an ache so deep it steals my breath. Without a second thought, I sprint into the forest, letting my wolf guide me.The trees blur past as I push harder, my heart pounding with every step. She’s close, but the sinking feeling in my stomach tightens like a vice. What if someone took her? The thought sends icy fear coursing through me, gripping my chest like a steel trap.Then I hear it—growls and snarls echoing through the trees. She’s still here. Relief washes over me when I catch a glimpse of her: black hair cascading over her shoulders, porcelain skin almost glowing under the faint moonlight, and those red, plush lips that could command armies. My wolf settles, but only slightly. My eyes sweep over her, scanning for any injuries. Nothing. S

We step inside, hand in hand. My anger simmers beneath the surface, but I let Asher keep his hold on me. Something about his presence clears the fog in my mind. I don’t want to be impulsive, to act in a way that will brand me as a cruel alpha—the broken leader who rules without care or mercy. The thought makes my chest tighten.A nurse pulls up two chairs beside Gaia’s bed. Asher and I sit, the sterile scent of antiseptic filling the air, mingling with the faint coppery tang of blood. My fingers fidget in my lap, twisting and untwisting as I study her face. The more injuries I notice—the bruises shadowing her skin, the faint tremor in her shallow breaths—the heavier the guilt weighs on me. I was going to send her to the cells without even having her looked at? My stomach churns at the thought. I don’t want to be a monster. I don’t want to be like Braden.Asher’s presence anchors me, even as my thoughts spiral. I hate admitting it, but I’m glad he stopped me from throwing her into a ce

Asher and I walk back to the castle. Part of me aches to be dropped off at my room so I can sneak out to see Gaia. I've been alone with her so many times, and despite his story about witches and lycans, I know Asher only told it to scare me. My father used to tell the same stories for the same reason. I understand what Asher meant—I acted rashly trying to throw Gaia in the cells. If I had succeeded, it could’ve jeopardized my title and ruined our friendship. What kind of best friend would I be to toss her into the cells? He’s right to worry since Gaia did try to take me back to the New Moon pack, but I know his concern runs deeper. He wants to protect me, and I love him for that, but there are questions I need to ask Gaia, truths I need to uncover, that I don’t want Asher to hear. His protectiveness is a shield, but it’s also a wall.As we approach the quarters, our hands intertwined, Asher doesn’t stop at my door. He doesn’t kiss me goodnight like he normally does. Instead, he keeps

Asher pulls back from the kiss, his gaze locking onto mine, and it sends a flutter straight through my chest. “Alright, go to sleep now,” he says, his voice low and soothing. His lips curve into a lazy smile, his half-lidded eyes heavy with exhaustion, yet he pulls me closer. The hard press of his arousal nudges against my lower belly, and I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face.The thought that Asher wants me in the same way I want him sends a delicious warmth coursing through me. Moments like this make me ache for more, but he always pulls back, leaving me wondering. I’m not a virgin by any stretch, but I want us to take that next step, to feel the bond deepen.Asher falls asleep almost instantly, his breathing evening out, but I lie awake, wide-eyed and restless. The room is dim, moonlight slanting through the curtains, casting soft shadows over his face.I let my gaze wander across his features—his strong jawline, the elegant slope of his high cheekbones, the straight