Alpha Asher and Lola novel Chapter 54

Read Alpha Asher [by Jane Doe] Chapter 54 – Breyona’s P.o.v

Against my better judgement, I had given Giovanni the address to my Aunt’s house. I knew what I should’ve done instead, beating myself down for being too weak.

I should have rejected him on the spot. I should’ve grabbed Lola and Mason, leaving the club and my mate behind. My Mom had spent my entire life telling me about the mate bond, and how it would be the happiest day of my life. I wonder what she would think if she knew the truth. This wasn’t the happiest day of my life; it was the worst. A mate I could never be with, one destined to fight against my kind.

It was selfish to hope he would abandon his kind when I would never do the same. I couldn’t leave my pack and family behind, yet I couldn’t say the three words that would sever our connection for good.

‘I reject you.’

Those words physically couldn’t form on my lips.

The night Lola was marked by Tristan, I took her and Mason home. I stayed around long enough to learn the truth about Lola. She was half-vampire.

As bad as it sounded, my heart soared at the news. That meant a werewolf and a vampire were compatible in some form. If they could have children together, couldn’t they somehow be mates? Maybe this wasn’t such an anomaly.

After taking Mason home, I hopped into my car. I knew I should’ve driven straight home, but my heart led me elsewhere.

I was released from my thoughts as I pulled into the driveway of my Aunt’s house. The lights were off as they had been since she died. My Aunt was much like Lola’s Grandma. They were both erratic with an incredible outlook on life.

I turned my car off and stared up at the old farmhouse. There had been countless summers where I and my older sister would visit to play. My Aunt had all kinds of animals back then. We would play with the horses, running from the hyperactive dogs that would circle our feet.

When my Aunt died, the animals were sold to various farms. The grass began to whither and d*e, no longer being taken care of. My Mom could never bring herself to come back here. She had been close with her sister. Her d***h hit her harder than anything I had witnessed before. It was terrifying to see my Mom down on her knees, tears streaming from her eyes as sobs of agony hit her.

I opened the car door and stepped into the cool night. My body was on auto pilot. I felt as though someone were tugging the mate bond, pulling me closer to where Giovanni may be.

Things would have been so much simpler if I had just gone home.

My hands were shaking as I unlocked the door, hearing it creak loudly as it swung open. The house smelled of dust and my Aunt’s cinnamon apple air fresheners. They had long ago run out, but the smell remained. It was faded by time but was a peaceful reminder of who had lived here.

I didn’t lock the door behind me, some small part of me hoping Giovanni would show. I flipped on the lights, thankful my Mom continued paying the electric bill. I think some part of her enjoyed pretending my Aunt still lived here, that she was just a phone call away if anything happened. That made two people who were ignoring the truth, like mother like daughter.

I sent my Mom a quick text, letting her know I was sleeping over a friend’s house. I made sure not to include any names, determined to keep Lola out of trouble if I could.

I curled up in my Aunt’s teal armchair. Mom had hated this piece of furniture for years, yet my Aunt never got rid of it. She claimed to love the wide seat, constantly stating how easy it was to curl up on with a book in hand. I think my Aunt only kept it around to see the grimace on Mom’s face. My Aunt was funny that way. The armchair still smelled like her, light and floral.

My eyes snapped open as the floorboards creaked warily. I had fallen asleep in my Aunt’s chair, lulled by the familiar scents of home.

My heart nearly jumped from my chest, my eyes widening as I noticed Giovanni standing in the open kitchen. He was leaning against the counter, his dark eyes on me.

I wondered how long he had been standing there for, and if he had watched me sleep.

“You came.” I choked out; my voice thick with sleep.

I had to remind myself to stay on guard. Mate or not, Giovanni was the enemy. My wolf howled pitifully, pacing in my head. She had been trying to deny the thought, pretend this entire fight wasn’t existing. It went against her nature to betray her pack, and yet it was also against her nature to reject her mate. We were both in a tight spot.

My feet moved on their own, approaching Giovanni as he stood in the kitchen. His clothes had changed from what he was wearing at the club. He was dressed in a dark sweater, a thick leather jacket enclosing his torso. His curly hair was messy, drops of rain clinging to each strand.

“I’m not sure why I came here.” Giovanni murmured, his dark eyes were bright and wide as he looked down on me. “I felt as though you wanted me here.”

My mouth ran dry at the sound of his voice. His rough voice, with just a hint of an Italian accent. His voice sounded like honey, thick and sweet. It was something I could never tire of, and yet we could not be together.

“It’s the mate bond.” I murmured, running my tongue along my dry lips.

I could only imagine how it felt for Giovanni. Vampire’s weren’t raised knowing about a future bond they would experience.

“Mate-bond.” Giovanni repeated, his dark eyes glued to my lips. He was hanging on my every word, just as I was hanging on his.

The mate-bond cared not for species or wars. The mate-bond had one duty, to bring two people together. It worked against Giovanni and I, turning our willpower to mush. The urge to step into his arms was overwhelming, his scent swirling around me in suffocating waves.