Throttled Lauren Asher Novels & Stories

The tendons in her slender throat stood out as she swallowed and said, “…he didn’t want to get blood on them, so he dragged him outside.” I tore my eyes off Asher long enough to frown at the trembling woman and say, “You and any other employee that needs it, take a paid week off. It’s the least Asher can do to apologize for his disruption.” Her lips lifted for half a second, but Asher’s abrupt snarl made them drop. “Thank you, Luna. I’ll spread the word…” She said quietly, brushing one of her loose curls behind an ear before making a beeline for the door.

I laughed at Celia’s audacity and Gabriel’s foolishness. “If you are talking about monetary compensation, Ms. Ashford, which you are not going to pay from your pocket given the fact that you should instead of Mr. Westfield because you interfere with their relationship, Lauren spent a lump-sum amount of 34.5 million on buying herbs, different kinds of salts, oils, and expensive equipment important for the massage and other physical therapies given to Mr. Westfield, and as the f*e paid for learning all those techniques.” Lauren paused and took a deep breath before resuming putting everything that I did in the past three years in front of Celia.

Leigh-Ann—I guessed that was her name—shrank away from me, curling into Jason's body. His arms wrapped tighter around her body. “Calm down. This is Luna Elara Caelthorn, the Luna of Caelthorn.” Hearing my surname only intensified her fear. I sighed and squatted in front of her. “I am so glad Mason found his mate. He was my right-hand man when I was married to Asher.” The haze in her head cleared and she turned to Mason. “You…you know Luna Caelthorn personally?” Before Mason could respond, Karen's voice came from down the hall. “Who knows my Luna personally?”

“I won’t be surprised if it already has.” “I want you to proceed with the name change,” he said, “Cassandra Lane is gone. From this moment forward, she is Ashera. Wipe out all records that could trace back to her real origin. Birth certificates, school files, legal documentation, digital threads, burn it all. Let her be registered as a Thorn Pack member, born and raised.” Rowan blinked once, then nodded. “I’ll get on it immediately.”

I infused my voice with a practised steadiness, honed over the years in an effort to mask my emotions. Thalia's gaze lingered on me for a heartbeat longer, her expression inscrutable as if she were sizing up the depths of my soul. Then, with a slight inclination of her head, she turned to Asher. “I think I’ll go freshen up. It’s been a long journey,” she said, her voice light yet carrying an unmistakable undertone of fatigue. Asher nodded, gesturing toward the hallway that led to the bathroom with a welcoming smile.

"Mr. Ash Thunder, I'm mighty pleased to see you here, why, I was just talking about you with my friends." Her Texas accent grates on my nerves as she jabbers on and points to some other equally excited female fans who wave at Ash. She even dares to wave them over. Ten, or maybe twenty of them race over as well and they surround Ash. He tries, he really does try to hold on to my fingers, but that doesn't happen as they slip out of his and I'm effectively cut off from him.

“You’ve been hiding in my tunnels.” Vesper’s knives lifted. “Mara.” Mara’s gaze moved to me. And my mark flared so hard I nearly screamed. “There you are,” Mara whispered. “My ashbound.” Dax’s voice went low. “You don’t speak to her like that.” Mara’s attention finally acknowledged him. Her smile turned faintly amused. “Ashthorne. Still breathing.” Then her eyes dropped to the covenant tether linking me to Dax. Her eyebrows lifted. “Oh.”

She wouldn’t react like this if it were nothing. “Oh, perfect timing, your former boss is here. What a coincidence! It’s such a nice day for me. Well, since you’re here too, I’ll just tell Athena myself,” Lauren said, suddenly smiling—a smile that hinted at something wicked. “Lauren, shut up!” Zach shouted angrily, startling all of us, especially me. “You’ve done nothing but lie! What is your problem? What have I or Athena done to you for you to do this?!” Zach added, his jaw tightening with rage. His glare toward Lauren was harsh, and his fists were clenched.

The scent of pine and ash mixes with something more bitter—anticipation. The ceremony’s chant hums low through the night. Deep, resonant voices rise and fall in unison, echoing off the cliffs. I draw nearer, my chest tightening with every note. The council altar emerges into view. A massive stone dais carved with runes older than the pack itself. Flames flicker in braziers, blood-red and hungry, fed by the offerings of those who swear loyalty. Wolves crowd around the circle, their eyes glinting in the firelight. And then I hear the whispers shift. Louder. Sharper. Aria Thorn… she’s here… the exile… the cursed heir has returned.

"Guards!" Lauren cried out. She was soaked in cold sweat as a wave of hopelessness washed over her. She had just felt the unmistakable sensation of a divine realm expert pinning her down. "Get out of here and save Queen Eden, Ashton! I'll stay behind to cover you!" Lauren's eyes flashed with resolve. She had already prepared herself for a fight to the death. A series of deafening explosions rang out, and Lauren's guards were thrown through the air by a succession of heavy blows, leaving arcs of blood in their wake. It wasn't long before a squad of formidable assassins descended upon them, effectively surrounding both Lauren and Ashton.