Chapter 17

"Calm down"

"Oh my god he's back, he knows where we are, he's coming to kill me"

"Rose"

"I thought I got away from him but no- he's going to kill me, I'm gonna die, he's going to hurt us, how can this be happening-"

"ROSE"

Asher's booming voice finally stopped my erratic thoughts, but only for a moment.

Why can't he just leave me alone?

What did I ever do to him?

Please, God, please just send him away from me, please.

"Rose," he began, his hands clutching my cheeks softly, guiding my head up so I could look up at him.

"I swear to you, that he will never hurt you" he looked down at me, a look so full of sincerity that a tendril of hope and safety reemerged.

"Don't make promises you can't keep"

I spoke with tears falling down my cheeks.

Rose, you're stronger than this. You can get through this. Don't waste your tears on your pathetic excuse for a father.

"Look at me Rose. I'm a werewolf. I could rip out his jugular in a second. And when we find him, I'll make sure he regrets being born."

By the intensity of his stare , I could tell that he meant it and as I clung onto his arms, my breathing slowly reached normal again.

"I just... I thought I was safe again. Why can't he just leave me alone?" My legs wobbled and a wave of illness overcame me.

Asher simply swept me up into his arms and pulled me to his chest. I was faintly aware of movement, but I was cradled into Asher's chest and I buried my face into the familiar smell of his t-shirt; committing the harsh lines of his body to memory.

"I hate feeling helpless" I mumbled into his shirt.

"I feel it everyday here, not only with my father. I'm not a werewolf, I'm a human, I don't belong here" I choked on a sob.

"I don't belong here, and we both know it"

"No" Asher shook his head, "no", he repeated, harsher.

I wriggled out of his strong hold.

"You said you'd never hurt me again?" I questioned.

"Never" He replied, looking at me directly in the eyes.

"Then you'll let me make my choice and leave" I declared with a wobbly voice.

It was killing me.

On the inside, I felt like my soul was tearing apart.

But this was the best thing to do.

With my dad after me, I didn't want any more damage. In some ways, id grown to love the pack. I would never let my pack die, I'd rather sacrifice myself. I couldn't live with myself if anyone died, especially the children.

The pack was everything I had, it was my bright escape. And now, I had to make a decision that's best for the pack, even if I have to break my mate bond. But it killed me to even think about it, my heart was shattering and I couldn't stop it.

Asher would think better without me. After all, during the attack on the pack he was distracted and the pack felt those repercussions. He will be more ruthless and take necessary actions without me there to watch him.

"No Rose, no" He was pulling on his hair, with a strained look adorning his beautiful countenance.

"Let me go" I whispered, my hand lifting to caress his cheek.

"Everything will be ok, I promise. You will be a better leader and deal with the witch better without me here"

"I'll do anything to make you stay" he begged me, his voice becoming frantic as he looked up at me with eyes that radiated such sadness and hopelessness.

"I can't. Everything is becoming too much" I whispered truthfully, salty tears running down my cheeks.

His body slumped, his head resting on my stomach.

"You can't leave me Rose, you can't, you can't...." His voice muffled into the material of my clothes. I could feel his breath on my skin, and all of the sparks lit up within me. But they didn't matter anymore. They couldn't matter. All that mattered was protecting the pack, regardless of my emotions.

I had no idea where I was going to go, but the pack would be safer without me.

Maybe it would be best to get far away from here, back to my family in England? It would be less painful, that way. But I loved this area, the mountainous landscape was absolutely stunning. Maybe I should get a little cottage in the woods, away from civilisation and Asher. One thing I knew for sure that'll was that I couldn't lead my father here. But he already knew where I was, so I had little time left.

I lowered to my knees, leaning into Asher's touch as his arms circled around my waist, pulling me into his body deeply, as if committing every feature to memory. And I did the same.

But each touch sent ripples of desire throughout me. And in those moments I knew that I would never feel this connection with anyone ever again.

So I did the only thing that was repeating through my mind.

Pulling Asher's cheeks into my hands, I leaned down, slowly and sensually, as I pressed my lips to his. His response was immediate, and our lips mingled into one moving form. I was completely entranced with each movement of his lips as I forcefully pushed my mouth against his, wholly addicted to him.

My hands clung onto the hair at the nape of his neck, and there was no space between our bodies.

Reluctantly, I pulled my face back slightly, regaining my breath.

I rested my forehead on his and closed my eyes in content.

"You don't know how long I've wanted to do that" he whispered into my hair with a playful and seductive tone to his voice.

"Hmmm"

"You're really going aren't you" He moved his head from mine, the abrupt movement causing me to look up at him.

"It's the best thing to do" I replied, melancholiness clouding my voice.

"No, it isn't! The best thing to do is you to be with me" He growled.

"And look how that's turned out so far!"I countered. "The pack has suffered enough! You need to put them first"

"They are my top priority! Everything I have done is for the pack, I can make no decisions without thinking about the pack, don't you understand?!"

"And I'm fucking sick of putting the pack first! For once,I want something for me. I want you. Don't I deserve that?"

"I can't let innocent pack members die for something I could prevent."

I quickly stand up, smoothing out my outfit.

"I'm going, Asher. You can't talk me out of this" I spoke softly.

"So you can either help me pack a few things together or just sit there"

It took him a few moments to stand up, and when he looked at me, he gazed at me with a glazed look in his eyes, signalling that his facade had been erected once more.

"You can stay in my beach house. It's around 3 hours from here, and I never go there anymore. It's in the middle of nowhere, the nearest town is about 15 minutes away, so you'll be living in solitude."

"I don't want to take that from you." It would just be more painful.

"It's the least you can do. It will give me peace of mind knowing you're safe. Laurent did a protective barrier around it years ago, so I know you will be safe" He glared at me with such a strong gaze that I felt compelled to agree, so I nodded in acquiescence.

"I'll programme the directions into the satnav" he spoke in a distant, almost programmed voice before slamming the front door and leaving me in the quietness of the house.

A mixture of emotions blossomed within me as I traipsed up the stairs, my fingers caressing the carvings on the banister as memories engulfed me.

But I couldn't push them down. Each part of the house brought different memories back to me, and tears were streaming down my face in an unstoppable current.

By some miracle, I made it to the bedroom and thrust the doors to the closet open, hastily packing a bag of clothes and all necessary items.

Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. Since when did I get so attached anyway?

Then reality came crashing down on me. I had no money, nothing. But at least the pack will be safe. My dad will catch up to me anyway..... at least I'll be leading him away from the pack.

The suitcase banged along the stairs, but I didn't care. That was the least of my worries.

I heard a commotion from the kitchen, so gingerly walking towards it, I noticed Asher ransacking the cupboards and putting different items of food into a bag for me.

I noticed another duffel bag next to it, but I didn't bother to ask its contents.

I patiently waited until Asher walked over with the bags, only to sidestep away from me and exit the front door, like I was invisible.

If only he understood that everything I was doing was for him.

As I traipsed outside, I glimpsed upon Asher slamming the boot of one of his expensive cars.

I audibly gulped.

"I....I can't take that" I pointed towards the wealth in front of me.

"I don't care about the car, just take it" He spoke dismissively in an emotionless tone.

What did I expect? Him to be jolly and happy that I was leaving?

Everything was ready now. I had my phone with me for emergencies, but it would probably be too painful to stay in contact with Lola and Asher.

Reluctantly, I sat in the front seat, my whole body numb with sadness.

It was killing me to leave, It was unbearable knowing that I was leaving my mate, my soul mate. It felt like molten iron was being poured into my chest.

My eyes flickered over the place I was leaving. The beautiful mansion surrounded by the now dark woodland.

And honestly, it was surreal. I was meant to be here. But I couldn't just think about myself anymore. I have a duty as Luna of the pack to protect them. If only I could tell Asher this. But he wouldn't understand, he would just lure me back into staying and then people would get hurt.

Asher was standing by the front door, leaning against one of the majestic stone pillars with a nonchalant look adorning his countenance.

A sudden burst of light exploded within me, and I pushed the car door open and ran towards Asher, engulfing him in my body.

We were stood there for an unquantifiable amount of time, his heat spreading through me as his arms were tight around me body, wrapping me in a safety blanket.

But  I knew that if I don't let go now, I never would.

Moving my head so my mouth rested by his ear, I whispered:

"Please don't hate me" with my salty tears staining his cheeks, before pulling away and not looking back.

I jumped into the car as a mixture of emotions, I could barely see all of the buttons and other paraphernalia through a cloud of never ending tears.

And as I drove away from that house I was learning to call home, I knew that I had left my heart there with the only man I would ever grow to love.

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Okay so this was quite emotional to write 😂😂

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