All Chapters of Alpha Asher's Forbidden Mate: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The seer’s hut smelled of burning sage and damp earth, the faint flicker of candlelight throwing shadows that danced like predators on the walls. My hands trembled as I stepped inside, and every instinct screamed that what I was about to do could either save me—or destroy everything I’d fought to reclaim.Grandmother’s gaze pierced me, sharp and unwavering, as if she could see into the deepest corners of my soul. “Aria,” she said, her voice soft yet edged with authority, “a mate bond can be severed—but only with blood. The bond that chains you to Riven is no ordinary tether. If you break it, you risk both your heart and your power. Are you willing to bear that cost?”I swallowed hard, the weight of her words pressing down like iron. The dagger she held out was small, its blade glinting ominously even in the dim light. Its hilt was engraved with symbols I didn’t recognize, and when she placed it in my hand, a shiver ran through me as if the metal itself carried a pulse.“It’s not a wea

The air between us feels alive—like the moment before lightning strikes.Riven’s fingers are still wrapped around my wrist, the weight of the bond-breaking dagger heavy between us. His eyes burn with something raw, dark, and dangerous. “You’d really use this?” he growls, his voice low enough to shatter my composure. “On me?”I swallow hard, forcing myself not to look away. “I don’t trust anyone anymore, Riven. Not the council. Not Damien. Not even you.”The words leave my mouth like shards of glass. He stiffens, his jaw clenching, and I can almost feel his rage pulse through the bond.“After everything I’ve done to protect you—after I nearly died for you—you still think I’d hurt you?”His voice cracks. It’s the first time I’ve heard pain from him, and it pierces deeper than I expect.I take a step back, clutching the dagger to my chest. “You’ve hidden too much. You all have. Every secret, every lie—it’s crushing me. I just needed something that was mine to control.”Riven’s gaze drops

The council chamber smelled of iron and old secrets. Torches hissed along the stone walls, their flames casting shadows that danced like restless ghosts. I stood in the center—barefoot, bound by silence—while the council members stared at me as though I were something dangerous they couldn’t yet define.“Aria Shadowfang,” Elder Thane’s voice boomed, ancient and heavy. “You were seen leaving the Alpha’s quarters the night before the attack. You carry a blade of old magic—one forbidden by our laws. And now, whispers claim your bond with Alpha Riven goes beyond pack protocol.”My pulse hammered. I could feel every heartbeat echoing in my skull. The bond tugged at me even now, a silent thread pulling toward where Riven stood just behind the council circle, his jaw locked tight. His eyes—dark as storms—burned with a warning that said, Choose your words carefully.“I was protecting the pack,” I said, forcing my voice steady. “Everything I’ve done was to uncover the truth about Damien’s betr

The mark on my wrist pulsed like a heartbeat that wasn’t mine. Each throb sent a shiver through my arm, spreading warmth that soon turned into a sharp sting beneath my skin. I’d tried to scrub it away, to drown it in cold water, but it only burned brighter—like fire mocking my efforts.Riven paced across the room, his jaw tight, his hands flexing like he was fighting the urge to tear the world apart. “It’s not fading,” he muttered, eyes fixed on the glowing scar curling around my wrist. The veins in his neck tensed. “That witch didn’t just mark you, Aria. She bound something to you.”“I don’t feel any different,” I lied, though my head buzzed with a strange hum, faint but growing. It was like something ancient was stirring inside me, testing its cage.Riven turned sharply, his storm-gray eyes locking onto mine. “You shouldn’t have touched her magic. You know what rogue witches do—they use blood as currency.”His words stung worse than the burn. “You think I wanted this? She appeared o

The walls seemed to tremble with his growl.Riven’s shadow loomed over me—bigger, darker, more dangerous than I’d ever seen him.“You’re lying,” he snarled, his voice low enough to rattle my bones. “You’re talking to someone. I can feel it.”My pulse slammed against my ribs. The witch’s whisper slithered through my mind—Don’t let him see your fear.I bit my tongue hard, forcing the words away. “I’m not,” I said, gripping the table to keep my hands steady. “I’m just tired.”“Tired?” He gave a bitter, humorless laugh. “You’re burning from the inside out, Aria. That mark—”He reached for my wrist. I yanked it back before he could touch me.“Don’t touch me!” The words came out sharper than I meant. His body went still, but his eyes—gods, those eyes—were chaos and fury all at once.For a long, tight heartbeat, neither of us moved. His scent—storm and pine—wrapped around me, thick and suffocating. I wanted to step back, but my body refused to move.“Why won’t you just trust me?” he demanded