Chapter 50

Third Person POV

Asher knew that Sienna had seen him talking with Mia, but it wasn’t what she thought. He had been at the scene, helping people.

But he was growing more and more suspicious of how the attack had even happened with Lucius’ strict security. There had never once been a raid like this in the history of Blackmoon.

Yet when Mia was there…somehow it happened.

He just couldn’t shake it.

Even though Asher had observed every second of Mia that he could since the attack, he couldn’t figure out a single thing.

She was a blank wall, letting nothing out, showing no hints of deceit.

Once Sienna left the infirmary, he slipped out too, heading back to where the charity event was.

When he arrived, it was eerily quiet, over an hour having passed since the initial explosion. Everyone still alive had been filtered out, and anyone remaining…well, they were probably dead.

The scene was beyond haunting, the rubble from the high walls covering most of the floor in massive, shattered pieces.

It was the thought of one of those crushing someone that chilled him the most.

He waded through the rubble, an acidic taste in his mouth, the mustiness of the room caking his nostrils.

Ugh, it stinks, he grumbled, not quite sure what he was looking for. It wasn’t like there was going to be obvious evidence of a setup — that was wishful thinking.

Moving around to the hole in the wall, he inspected the cracks of the surrounding wall, finding the skeleton of one of the explosives amongst the debris.

So explosives were planted without anyone noticing them — security, the standard human eye… no one.

Asher knew for sure that Lucius had security patrolling the entire event, in and out. It was the way he’d always done things, and it was why his events and his pack as a whole were as safe as they’d been.

I need to talk to Lucius, he thought, wanting to voice his suspicions. He’d almost lost his best friend, so it was time to right things.

He made his way over to the hospital, smelling Sienna’s scent faintly at the entrance.

Surely he’d just missed her — and that was for the best.

A few minutes later, he was in Lucius’ room, looking at his friend sound asleep and wishing he didn’t have to interrupt him.

“Lucius.” Asher took a step closer, watching as Lucius’ eyes fluttered open very slowly.

It was obvious he was extremely groggy.

“Hello, friend,” Lucius was weaker than Asher had ever heard him. He was so used to hearing his friend’s voice stronger than ever, loud enough to fill a room no matter what.

“I’m glad you’re alive,” Asher smiled, taking a seat in the rickety chair next to the bed. “You scared us.”

“Can’t kill me that easy,” he said hoarsely, trying to laugh but ending up coughing instead.

“I didn’t mean to wake you — you probably need rest.” Asher tried to push aside his guilt, so curious to discuss the idea of a traitor.

“All that’s on my mind is how the explosion happened in the first place.” Lucius stared sadly up at the ceiling, appearing to blame himself.

They were always on the same wavelength.

“Your security is the highest in the region for a reason,” Asher said, shaking his head. “It doesn’t make any sense. I believe there’s a mole.”

“I do too.” He and Lucius locked eyes, both subtly nodding to each other.

“I don’t know how to figure out who, but…” Asher trailed off, afraid to say his true suspicions.

But he didn’t need to say a thing — Lucius already knew.

“You think it’s Mia, don’t you?”

There was a beat of silence before Asher nodded, very lightly.

“I do. Because she shows up, and suddenly, after a lifetime of security, your walls fall.” Asher met the sad look in Lucius’ eyes.

“That can’t be an easy thing to admit.”

“She’s changed,” Asher said, clearing his throat. “She’s not the girl she once was. My loyalties are shifting.”

Lucius gave him a single nod of understanding. “We’ll investigate this, once I’m on my feet again.”

Asher gave him a single nod back, a beat of silence crossing between them.

“Asher…” Lucius started, and it was clear he felt the same tension Asher had been feeling. They knew each other so well.

“Things haven’t been feeling right.” Asher finished the sentence for him, clasping his hands in his lap.

“We’ll fix it,” Lucius croaked, falling into a fit of coughs so intense that Asher winced.

“I should go.” Asher had become very aware of Sienna’s scent in the room, the hairs on his arms rising.

“Rest would be good for me,” Lucius agreed, the heart rate monitor a constant beep behind their words.

“I’ll come back tomorrow, okay?” Asher said, standing up and brushing himself off. “I need to find Sienna.”

Asher didn’t miss the way that Lucius’ eyes flashed at the mention of her name, but he let it go for now.

It wasn’t the time to have an argument. That was for when Lucius wasn’t drugged up on morphine and almost dead.

“Take care, my friend,” Asher smiled, stepping out of the room, closing the door with a soft click behind him.

For a minute, he just stood there, basking in Sienna’s scent. None of this was easy for him — not the bed of lies he laid in every day, or the falling out that was surely about to happen between him and Lucius.

What if Lucius is the better one for Sienna? he whispered to himself, knowing his wolf was about to have a fit.

Are you insane??? it roared, snarling, practically frothing at the mouth. You doubt the bond? You doubt my choice?

It’s not that. Asher rolled his eyes. Look how easily we’re falling apart.

If one of you fools would just speak to the other then the problem would be solved. Instead, you decided to lie, over and over and over again.

Okay, his wolf was right about that. He’d dug himself into this grave by himself, most definitely.

And now I’m in too deep to get out. That’s what Asher had convinced himself of, at least.

See, you’ve convinced yourself of it, but it’s not true, is it? You could get yourself out of it, but you won’t talk it out.

Apparently it was lecture Asher hour, and he honestly deserved it. His wolf was a part of him — the smarter part — and maybe, just maybe, he should listen to it.

I don’t know how. She hates Alaric. Asher winced, thinking of all the venom in her voice when it came to Alaric being a traitor who killed her parents.

She’ll understand when you explain it from start to finish. With the way it is now, you’re letting your uncle manipulate her.

Again, his wolf was very right.

You really are the voice of reason, aren’t you? Asher chuckled, strolling out of the hospital and back into the cool night air, immediately spotting Sienna on a bench near the front.

They locked eyes, and he knew it was time.

I’ll talk to her, he said, not only to his wolf, but to himself, too.