CHAPTER 37
ASHER P.O.V
I wasn't in any particular mood to sit through a meeting, but since Alexia had called for it, I showed up anyway.
The moment I walked in, something felt… off.
She didn't look at me.
Not even once.
That alone was enough to put me on edge. Alexia always acknowledged my presence—whether with irritation, defiance, or something else entirely. But today? Nothing.
She handed everything over to her assistant, barely speaking, barely engaging. Physically, she was there… but her mind was somewhere far away.
Gone.
Completely unreachable.
I watched her closely, studying every little movement, every flicker of emotion she tried—and failed—to hide.
Something was wrong.
So I asked her a question.
She didn't answer.
Didn't even realize I had spoken—until her assistant touched her shoulder.
She flinched.
Not a normal reaction. Not mild surprise.
It was sharp. Defensive.
Like someone expecting danger.
My jaw tightened.
I requested a private audience with her, but she dismissed it immediately. That only confirmed my suspicion.
Something was very wrong.
So I went to her office anyway.
And what I found there only made it worse.
She wasn't herself.
"Are you alright?" I asked, my voice quieter than usual, genuine.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
A lie.
A terrible one.
And I knew I wasn't going to get the truth out of her—not like this.
So I made a choice.
A bad one.
If I couldn't get her to open up willingly… then I'd force it out.
I provoked her.
Pushed her.
Said things I didn't mean.
And the moment she snapped—
I regretted every single word.
"Fuck you, Asher! So that's all you have to say? You're really the robot I said you were before—I was an idiot for thinking otherwise! Whatever happens to that project should happen because I'm freaking tired of overthinking like an idiot! And now there's someone out there who wants me dead, so I'm not only worrying about the damn project but also my own life! The worst part is… I'm so helpless and alone—"
Her voice broke.
And something inside me shattered.
Tears streamed down her face, and for the first time… I saw it.
Not the stubborn, sharp-tongued girl.
Not the fearless one.
But someone exhausted.
Someone breaking.
Guilt hit me like a punch to the chest.
I had done this.
I had pushed her to this point.
And worse… she thought she was alone.
Maybe staying away from her had been a mistake.
I had convinced myself it was safer—that distance would protect her.
But looking at her now?
I had never been more wrong.
That ended now.
Without thinking, I pulled her into my arms.
She stiffened at first—hesitant, uncertain—but I held her anyway.
She needed this.
Even if she didn't trust me yet.
And that was the problem, wasn't it?
She didn't trust easily.
She carried too many secrets… too many walls.
But I had been digging.
And I had found things.
Things she definitely didn't want anyone to know.
I tried to calm her, murmuring softly, but then—
She suddenly grew flustered.
Shy.
Almost… embarrassed.
Before I could even process it—
She pulled away.
And ran.
Out of her own office.
I blinked.
"What was that about?" Ethan asked.
"No idea."
But I had a feeling it wasn't something simple.
"Sir, I contacted the Silver's Clan. They agreed to a meeting," Felix said as he drove.
"Good."
He hesitated before speaking again.
"Sir… if I may ask… why are you suddenly interested in the Silver's Clan? I thought you wanted no part in their conflict."
"This has nothing to do with the conflict," I replied, staring out the window. "I just want answers."
"Understood, sir. Also… you received an invitation to Hayden's wedding. Should I accept?"
"Will Alexia be there?"
"Yes. My sources say they were close in high school. She'll definitely attend."
I nodded.
"Accept it."
"Yes, sir."
The city blurred past us as my thoughts drifted back to what I had uncovered.
Three years ago… Alexia vanished.
Completely.
No trace.
No explanation.
Then suddenly—she reappeared.
A year after her grandfather died.
That alone was suspicious.
But it didn't end there.
She was adopted.
No records of her biological parents.
Nothing.
And the most unsettling part?
The military had been involved in erasing her past.
Whatever she was hiding…
It wasn't small.
And then there was the tattoo.
Three curved waves.
I had seen it clearly that day at the Slade house when she pinned me to the ground.
At the time, I ignored it.
But yesterday, I saw the same mark on a member of the Silver's Clan.
Same design.
Same placement.
It couldn't be a coincidence.
Was she one of them?
It sounded insane.
But right now, it was the only theory that made sense.
"Sir, Miss Julia has been trying to reach you. Should I connect the call?"
I exhaled slowly, pressing my fingers to my temple.
"What does she want?"
"She didn't say. Just insists on speaking with you."
"Fine."
Felix muttered under his breath, "I still don't know why you keep up with her."
Neither did I.
Not anymore.
But I had made a promise.
To Carlos.
My best friend.
Julia's brother.
His last wish… was for me to take care of her.
And I don't break my promises.
"I have to," I said quietly.
Even if I don't want to.
We arrived at the den.
Before I could step inside, someone rushed toward me.
"Master! You're here! What took you so long?"
Kyle.
He looked like an innocent kid.
But that illusion didn't last long.
Everyone here knew what he really was.
Blood excited him.
Pain entertained him.
And his favorite toy?
The slicer.
I found him years ago—trapped in a lab where our kind was experimented on.
He had been in a weak, broken wolf form.
Barely alive.
I saved him.
And in return… he gave me absolute loyalty.
But the damage had already been done.
His mind was fractured.
Unstable.
A child trapped inside something far more dangerous.
"I was busy," I replied. "How was your pet?"
Kyle's eyes lit up instantly.
"He was stubborn at first," he said cheerfully. "But after I amputated his fingers… he talked. He's dead now though. Did you bring me another toy?"
"No. Not today. Has the hybrid woken up?"
"Oh yes," he grinned. "He was screaming earlier."
I nodded and walked in.
The room was dark.
The scent of blood hung thick in the air… mixed with garlic.
A figure hung from chains, body torn open by countless cuts.
Dripping.
Broken.
"I pity you," he rasped.
I raised an eyebrow.
"How dare you speak to my master like that!" Kyle snapped, punching him hard.
The hybrid coughed up blood.
"Let him speak," I said calmly. "Why do you pity me?"
"You think I'm scared of you?" he spat.
"You're not," I admitted. "But you will be. Now talk."
"You're evil," he said hoarsely. "You kill and torture hybrids… even when we've done nothing to you. For what? Entertainment?"
"You hybrids deserve no peace," I replied coldly. "You manipulate everything—pretending to be the victims."
"We did nothing," he choked. "My wife and I were just passing through the forest… when you attacked us. You killed her… and tortured me."
His voice trembled with rage.
"I will never forgive you."
Silence filled the room.
Then he looked straight at me.
And smiled.
A broken, terrifying smile.
"I couldn't avenge her… but remember this, Alpha."
My body stilled.
"One day, you will sacrifice your life… for one of us."
My expression hardened.
"The Chosen One will rise again," he continued, voice gaining strength despite his state. "And when that happens… all of you will pay."
Before I could respond—
Kyle drove a sharp metal pole straight through him.
A hiss tore through the air.
Then silence.
He was dead.
"Clean it up," I ordered.
And walked out.
People think I just kill hybrids mindlessly, heartlessly but truth is only ones that are despicablely manipulative like this one; they claimed they were traveling couples when in reality were traveling cannibals, treating human life as if it were a toy. The rest I lock them up then erase they're memory.
In a cleaner room, I lit a cigarette, leaning back as smoke curled into the air.
My mind replayed his words.
You will sacrifice your life… for one of us.
I scoffed.
Impossible.
I would never—
Yet…
For some reason…
The words refused to leave my head.