CHAPTER 33
ASHER P.O.V
That night at the party, Julia practically begged to come along with me.
I didn't want to bring her.
But I did anyway.
People always wondered why I was close to Julia. The truth was simple— she was the little sister of a late friend I hold dear till this day and I made a promise to him to take care of her.
When I saw it—
A different man's hands wrapped around Alexia's waist—
Something inside me snapped.
Red.
All I saw was red.
I was ready to march over there and rip those useless hands off him… but Julia held me back.
"Asher, aren't you going to get me a drink?" she asked sweetly.
"Get it yourself," I gritted out, shaking her off.
I walked away—but I didn't leave.
No.
I stayed.
Close enough to watch.
And then—
Was she really about to let that idiot kiss her?!
My fists clenched.
I couldn't go to her.
And yet, I couldn't look away.
Thankfully… her instincts kicked in.
Then the full moon rose.
I had learned to control myself long ago during nights like this.
But having my mate just a few meters away?
That was torture.
Her scent—sweet, intoxicating strawberries—filled my lungs, clouding my mind.
She looked… irresistible.
Mine.
A low growl rumbled from my chest.
Every instinct screamed at me to go to her… to claim her.
But I couldn't.
If I lost control…
I might hurt her.
And that?
That was unforgivable.
So I turned away—fast—and disappeared into the nearby forest, letting my wolf take over before I did something I would regret.
By the time I returned—
She was gone.
I exhaled sharply, relief washing over me.
If I had stayed any longer… I would have lost it completely.
"Asher, some supernatural scents were detected here."
Allen's voice pulled me back.
"Did you identify them?"
"We couldn't. The scent vanished almost instantly… but we suspect it was a hybrid."
"A hybrid…"
My jaw tightened.
"Scout the area," I ordered coldly. "Any hybrid on sight… kill them."
Allen nodded and left.
Vampires and werewolves had always been at odds.
I never cared for their petty war.
But hybrids?
I hated them.
With every fiber of my being.
*Flashback*
Carlos once a very very dear friend of mine and one day Carlos and I went hiking in the mountains.
We encountered a group of hybrids.
I didn't trust them—but Carlos… Carlos believed in giving people chances.
He convinced me.
That was my first mistake.
They turned on us.
Fast.
Ruthless.
They shot me with wolfsbane bullets—straight to my leg.
I couldn't move.
The poison spread quickly, numbing my body, dragging me down.
They aimed for my heart next.
And just when I thought it was over—
Carlos jumped in front of me.
I can still see it.
The way he smiled.
Like he had no regrets.
Then—
He fell.
Off the mountain.
Gone.
His body was never found.
The idiot…
He didn't even blame me.
But I blamed myself.
Every single day.
If I hadn't convinced him to come…
If I had trusted my instincts…
If I had used my Alpha senses…
He would still be alive.
That day, I made a vow.
Never again.
Never to be weak.
Never to be helpless.
And never—
To trust hybrids.
Back at the party, I noticed something.
Clara… and her friends were gone.
Strange.
Clara would never leave early.
"Where is my sister?" I asked Julia.
"Oh, I saw her leaving with her friends," she said casually. "And I'm still upset with you. You were rude earlier. Where did you even go?"
"Handling something. Let's go."
"So soon?"
"Yes."
She sighed dramatically. "Fine."
The next day at the mall, I was handling some minor business when I noticed a crowd forming.
"Isn't there somewhere quieter?" Felix asked the manager. "My boss doesn't like noise."
"Of course, sir—this way."
"How dare you?!"
That voice—
Familiar.
"Sir, that sounds like Miss Julia," Felix said. "Should I handle it?"
"No," I replied. "If you intervene, she'll just make it worse."
We turned to leave.
Then—
Another voice.
Her voice.
Alexia.
Without thinking, I changed direction.
"…He said not to go there, but now he's heading straight into it," Felix muttered under his breath.
I shot him a glare.
He immediately lowered his head.
There she was.
Dressed in a simple sports outfit, her hair tied into a high ponytail—but still cascading down her back.
Effortless.
Beautiful.
Julia rushed to my side, grabbing my arm.
I noticed it immediately—
The way Alexia's gaze dropped to Julia's hand.
For a split second—
I saw it.
Rage.
But it disappeared just as quickly.
I gently removed Julia's hand.
She was getting too clingy.
Then I noticed the fox.
The one I gave Alexia.
A strange sense of satisfaction settled in my chest.
She kept it.
"What's going on here?" I asked.
"She bullied me!" Julia whined.
Annoying.
"Of course," Alexia scoffed. "Why not run to your prince charming to solve your problems?"
I almost laughed.
She was… adorable when she was angry.
"See? She insulted me!"
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
"Alexia!" I called.
I needed to talk to her.
"Not being so formal anymore?" she snapped. "What now—another lecture?"
Why did she think I'd do that?
Was that really how she saw me?
I had only been formal because I thought it made her comfortable.
"Stop being so stubborn," I said, my patience thinning.
"If anything, you're the stubborn one. I'm not standing here listening to you."
She turned to leave.
"Alexia, I'm still talking."
"You don't own me, Asher."
Her words hit harder than I expected.
"And tell your dumb girlfriend to keep her hands off my cat next time—or she'll lose them."
Then—
"Let's go, Dylan."
That name.
That face.
The same guy from the party.
The way she held his hand—
Familiar.
Comfortable.
Like he belonged there.
Something dark twisted inside me.
Fine.
If that's how she wanted it—
Then so be it.
I walked past Julia without another word and continued with my business.
But something lingered.
Something I couldn't ignore.
Alexia…
She felt different.
Her aura—
It had changed.
And I couldn't explain how.
Or why.