Alpha Asher by Jane Doe (Alpha Asher & Lola)
Chapter 36
My idea was stupid, very stupid. It would result in plenty of people being angry at me, Alpha Asher included. But, if I pulled it off everything would be fine; right? I couldn’t tell Asher about the note. I knew I should, hell I wanted to desperately. But the note specifically said to come alone, and Alpha Asher would never allow that. He would hinder our one chance at information for my personal safety. While I appreciated the notion, I couldn’t p@ssup a chance like this.
Alpha Asher would be furious, but hopefully the information I provided would help placate him. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t going in completely blind. I recruited the two people I trusted the most.
“You’re insane.” Breyona threw her hands to the sky, “That Vampire turned your brain to mush.”
“I know it’s a bad idea.” I frowned, pleading for their support with my eyes. “But you saw the threat. Someone close to heart. That could be you, Mason, Dad, or Grandma.”
I purposefully left out Sean. For once, I was glad he left. He didn’t need to be dragged into this. Sean was safe, that much I believed in. I didn’t bother mentioning Alpha Asher in my little list, I couldn’t see Tyler actually managing to k*il*l him. Breyona frowned, her eyes flickering to the white index card.
“That doesn’t change the fact that your idea is down right suicidal.” Breyona shook her head, giving Mason a hard look.
“It’s—Well thought out.” Mason frowned, “But so much could go wrong.”
“I know.” I sighed, “But what else can I do?”
“You could start with telling Alpha Asher.” Breyona frowned, but she knew that wasn’t an option.
“If I told him, he’d never let me go.” I grimaced, “He’d send his men and whoever sent the card would know. They’d k*il*l someone close to me before I could even scream.”
Breyona went quiet, and I knew I had her. Mason fixed me with a worried stare, rolling his bottom lip in-between his teeth.
“If we can’t talk you out of it—then we have to help.” Mason frowned at Breyona.
Breyona sighed, “Well, what’s your plan?” I grinned at my two best friends, even with the haunted looks on their faces.
“I’m going to go alone.” I sighed, “I’ll keep you and Mason in a constant mind-link. You’ll know everything that’s going on, and everything that’s being said. If—If something happens to me, make sure the information gets to Alpha Asher.”
“We need a back up plan.” Breyona grimaced, “We can’t just leave you unprotected.”
I paused, “If things go south, I’ll alert you two. Bring Alpha Asher and all of his men.”
“Alright,” Breyona still looked troubled, “I can live with that.”
“Good.” I nodded.“How will we know where to find you?” Mason frowned, “I’ve never seen a swimming hole around here.”
“Alpha Asher knows.” My voice held many meanings, the main one being determination.
Everything was set, The plan, location and time. My only worry was sneaking out of the house, making sure I wasn’t caught by Alpha Asher. Mason headed home early, after getting a call from his Mom. That left me and Breyona sitting in my bedroom alone. She looked troubled, more so than usual. Breyona always had that care-free feel to her, but she looked down right anxious.
“Don’t worry.” I smiled at her, “Everything will work out.” My stomach was in knots as well. I knew it wasn’t that simple, but I tried to sooth my friend. There was so much that could go wrong with this plan, but I couldn’t give it up. I needed to know who was behind this, and if it had any ties to Tristan. So many questions swarmed in my head. Did they know about my heritage, what I truly am? Did they want to use that against the pack?
“What if that Vampire is connected in all of this.” Breyona frowned, giving me a worried look. “What if he’s there tonight?”
I frowned, a clear image of Tristan running through my mind. Breyona had a solid point. Thinking about Tristan made his mark on my skin burn, and that small part of my mind longed for his cooling touch. His mark had an affect on me, making me long for him in his absence.
“Grandma said something about training me to defend myself against their mind games.” I paused, “I don’t see why she couldn’t give me some pointers. Without giving away my plan, of course.”
Breyona nodded, but she didn’t look convinced. “I think that would be a good idea.” We sat in silence for a moment, when Breyona asked me something unexpected.
“What’s it like?” Breyona frowned, her eyes flickering to where the scarlet mark sat on my shoulder.
“Being marked by one of them.” Anxiety was a constant companion these past few days, breathing down my neck in times like this.
“It’s—strange.” Strange was the only word that seemed to fit. “It’s like some small part of me misses him, when really I don’t even know the guy.”
“My Mom said with werewolves, the mate bond connects you to the person. You can hear their thoughts, and even feel some of their emotions.” Breyona explained, “Is it anything like that?”
“I don’t know.” I answered honestly, “I don’t feel anyone else’s emotions, and I’m definitely not hearing any thoughts. There isn’t much space left in my head with Maya there.”
“I heard that.” Maya grumbled, giving me a playful growl.
“Do you think it’s possible?” Breyona questioned, only making me more worried. “I’d a*s*sume the mark isn’t finished. With werewolves both partners have to mark the other. I wonder if it’s the same with Vampires.”
“I wish we could find out.” I sighed, “I thought your Mom would be able to help.”
Breyona’s face turned up in a small grin, “Ever since you asked for texts about Vampires, Mom’s been scouring the United States for another.”
I chuckled, “Really? Who knew we had Miss Shelby on our side.”
“My Mom fights on the side of knowledge and truth.” Breyona rolled her eyes, reciting something her Mom had been saying for years.
“Maybe she’ll find something that’ll help us.” I tried to keep my tone positive, but I knew the chances were slim.
“I’ll keep you updated in case she does.” Breyona nodded, “Now, where did you want Mason and I tonight?”
I pursed my lips, “Hang around the training grounds, but stay out of sight. Head to the back of the building, no one should see you over there. That way you’re close enough in case I need you.”
“Got it.” Breyona nodded, the worry still clear in her eyes. “Be safe out there, Lola.”
“I will.” I smiled at her, “We both know I can handle myself against Tyler.”
“Tyler isn’t what I’m worried about.” She chuckled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. The two of us headed to the kitchen after our long conversation, munching on some baked goods Grandma had made.
Breyona left early, heading back home to sleep while she had the chance. I had the feeling the three of us were definitely going to be lacking sleep tonight. I was too on edge to even think about taking a nap. Midnight was awhile away, and the minutes ticked by excruciatingly slow.
“Where’d Dad go?” I turned to Grandma, nibbling on my third cookie. Grandma was washing some dishes, her eyes trained out the little window. I must’ve pulled her from her thoughts, and I watched the haze leave her eyes.
“Picking up a few things from the grocery store.” Grandma smiled softly, turning the sink off and facing me. “I haven’t asked how you’re fairing with everything.”
“No need to ask.” I f0rced a smile at my Grandmother, knowing she could see right through it. “I’m dealing with it. The way I see it, I can’t change who I am.”
“You’re right, you can’t.” Grandma frowned, “I know you keep things to yourself, and deal with them on your own but you don’t have to. Your Dad made a mistake not telling you sooner.”
“He did.” I agreed but when I thought about it, what would be the right time to explain that? “Have you ever met my Mom’s mate before?”
Some small part of me wanted to resent my Mom. She cheated on Dad, and ended up pregnant with a Vampire’s child. My resentment faded as I remembered Mom and Dad were never mates to begin with. I couldn’t imagine the struggle she went through, loving someone and knowing she could never have them.
Grandma’s face went dark, her eyebrows turning down in a grimace. I had never seen Grandma look that way before. The expression on her face haunted me, and made me wonder what type of man my Father actually was.
“Once.” Grandma nodded, “It was not a pleasant experience. Your Father is the reason I learned to shield my mind.”
Maya’s ears perked up; She was all too eager to learn how to protect our mind. She wouldn’t admit it, but the thought of her being locked away and forgotten terrified her. We were two halves of a whole, and she feared what would happen to me in her absence.
“He messed with your head?” I frowned, “So–He was a pure-blood?” Grandma nodded, “He messed with my head alright.”
“Could you teach me?” I leaned forward, my eyes burning with interest. “Could we start now?”
Grandma’s stern face softened, “We can try. It takes time to master. You must learn to control yourself and your emotions to block other influences out.”
“How do I begin?” I grinned up at her. If only I had known what I was getting myself into.