Alpha Asher and Lola novel Chapter 147

Read Alpha Asher by Jane Doe Chapter 147 – “Sacrifices…” I said for the third time, narrowing my eyes as I followed the curvy backroad in the new car Asher reluctantly loaned me.

“The red-haired witch, doesn’t she know how to do blood-magic?” Mason asked, refusing to let me stew in silence. “She really can’t think of a reason for these… sacrifices?”

“She doesn’t know much blood-magic. It runs in her family, but they don’t practice it themselves.” I explained. “I just wanted Holly to know where she comes from. As much as she can, anyway.”

I hated having control over Holly’s life. Making decisions for her, forcing her to see a therapist, it made me feel like she was a prisoner and not part of the pack. I didn’t want to make her feel how our father did, like pretty bird shoved into a cage, left to rot as it sang itself to d***h.

Only one other person truly knew how I felt, and it was Tristan. The sour vampire seemed like the only person able to get through to Holly. It made me feel marginally better that Tristan and I agreed on one thing vehemently. The soft-spoken, raven-haired girl I now called my sister could never, ever meet the woman that birthed her-the world’s most powerful blood-witch and the one coming for my head.

My thoughts drifted to Lars and those scuffed boots of his. At one point I’d been positive he had something to do with all of this, but now I wasn’t sure. The more I let my mind wander, the easier it was to convince myself that it wasn’t his specific pair of boots I had seen.

A jolt shot down my spine, electrifying my nerves as it forced my attention back onto the road.

I’d been following a sharp curve when a figure darted out of a cut in the forest. My heart seized in my chest as I yanked the wheel to the side and sent us careening out of the way. Instinctively, I slammed my foot into the brake which sent Mason and I flying forwards.

Panic lodged itself in my throat, growing larger until only a sliver of oxygen could pass through. Lars’s hand froze mid-wave from where he stood on the shoulder.

Even though my heart still raced from shock, he hadn’t caused the emotion currently choking me. For a split-second, day was replaced by night. There was no Mason by my side, no help or rescue on the way, yet I wasn’t alone. Only those scuffed boots kept me company, but they were also the countdown to my d***h.

“Are you alright, Lola?” Mason asked, his voice low. The sound of his concern sucked me right out of my thoughts.

“I am really beginning to hate driving.” I replied through clenched teeth, tightening my grip on the steering wheel to keep my hands from trembling.

It took every ounce of patience within me not to jump out of the car and strangle Lars. What mostly stopped me was the lingering thought that he could somehow be involved.

“D**n, Luna. You tryin’ to k**l me?” Lars asked, his arm resting on the roof of the car.

There wasn’t a hint of amusement on my face.

“What are you doing here, Lars?” I deadpanned.

“Bike broke down, can you believe it?” He shook his head, and I was surprised to see he looked a bit pained. A second later the emotion vanished, replaced by his usual charming grin. “I got a buddy just inside town whose got a shop, he can put my bike in his truck. I’ll be forever indebted to you if you give me a ride.”

“That’s supposed to make me want to help you?”

When his lower lip jutted out in a less than effective pout, I started to roll the window up.

“Alright, I’ll behave!” He held his hands up in surrender. “I promise, just give me a lift.”

“Get in the d**n car, Lars.”

The first five minutes were quiet, but there was a tension building that I swore I wasn’t imaging. Lars seemed completely at ease; his arms draped across the backseat like we were his personal chauffeurs. The voice of curiosity in my head, which sounded suspiciously like Maya, poked and prodded me with all the questions that needed answering. The feeling became so overwhelming that there was no stopping myself from asking the first and least suspicious thing on my mind.

“What brought you all the way out here?” There was just the right amount of disinterest in my voice to make it seem like I was being polite or trying to break up the silence.

“That buddy I mentioned has some property. He lets me park my camper there.” He replied, watching the passing evergreens through the window.

“You’re that torn up over your bike?”