Alpha Asher and Lola novel Chapter 77

Read Alpha Asher [by Jane Doe] Chapter 77 – Lola’s P.o.v

Eating dinner with my family brought back some normalcy into my life, but I couldn’t ignore the empty chair where my Mom used to sit.

I wondered if she was looking down on me, watching as I discovered who–what I was. Would she be proud to see me resisting Tristan? Or disappointed that I wanted to reject half of myself?

After dinner Sean and Dad retreated to the couch, watching sports as they once had before this mess started. Dad couldn’t see it–but I could. I could see how much Sean had changed. Even with a smile on his face, the light had left his eyes. While I could never understand the feeling of losing your mate, I hoped he found happiness in his life.

After helping Grandma clean up the kitchen, the motioned for me to follow her outside. Standing on the back patio, I looked over to where my bedroom window sat. I could still see Kanyon’s lifeless eyes staring into my window, his scarlet blood staining the grass. I wondered if I were to look close enough, would there still be little droplets of blood on the grass?

“I’m not using the shadows again.” I assured Grandma, grimacing as I stared out into the forest.

There used to be something reassuring about the dense forest that surrounded our little town, but now it filled me with unease. There could be anything–anyone out there, watching and waiting.

“I don’t think you should ignore that side of yourself, Lola.” Grandma frowned, as though the words pained her. “The shadows are not an inherently evil force, their actually neutral.”

“Neutral?” I scoffed, “Slitting someone’s throat doesn’t sound very neutral to me.”

“A life for a life.” Grandma sighed, looking much older in that moment. “You can’t expect things for free, Lola. Sometimes they’ll want blood, sometimes they can be–creative.”

“Creative? That sounds reassuring.” I grimaced, “How do you know all of this anyway? You know more about Vampire’s then the history books.”

“Your Mom moved here when she was young, after she met the Vampire King. She hadn’t a clue he was a King, or that he was the heir of the Kouritis bloodline. She rejected him before fleeing from her little town, hoping he wouldn’t dare hunt her down.” Grandma sighed, “I became close friends with your other Grandma, and eventually your Mom. Your other Grandma and I–well, we were the only two your Mom told.”

“Then how did Dad know?” I asked, my attention captivated because I was finally getting the answers I craved.

“They too became close friends over time. It had been a couple years since she moved to this pack, but one day she went outside of the territory. The Vampire King had found her within the hour.” Grandma paused, shuddering as she relived the memory but continued. “He toyed with her, let her live in safety for a couple years. He could have gotten to her at any time, should he use the shadows. Something you need to know about your true Father, there is not a price he wouldn’t pay for power. That makes him dangerous.”

I had figured as much, but hearing the words out loud sent a chill down my spine. I had no doubt the Vampire King would remove his own child if it helped his cause.

“Your Mom was a half-blood too, only her other half was human. She was the one who figured out how to block her mind, and she passed the information on to me.” Grandma smiled grimly, “The Vampire King needed a way to produce an heir, so he called to the shadows. He could have chosen another woman, but your Mom would give him the strongest offspring.”

“What price did he pay?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to ask.

“Complete control of the mind is quite the favor.” Grandma’s smile dropped. “They asked for someone in her bloodline, someone who loved unconditionally, and they wanted him to do the job himself. It was your other Grandma they wanted.”

Buttery light from the setting sun bounced across the forest and grassy floor, a beautiful sight in the midst of a grim conversation. The unspoken words lingered between us, their meaning loud and clear. The Vampire King had gotten what he wanted, as I was proof of that. He had taken my other Grandma’s life with his b**e hands, paying his debt to the shadows.

“I always thought you didn’t like Mom.” I chuckled dryly, remembering the countless angry looks and sideways glares.

“I always liked your Mom.” Grandma scoffed, waving me away. “I just hated how hard she was on herself. She loved you, but blamed herself for her Mom’s d***h.”

Grandma and I went back inside once the sun had completely vanished behind the forest line, carrying that buttery light further away. After giving me more leftovers than I needed, Dad dropped me off at the packhouse.

As I scurred into the kitchen I locked eyes with Alpha Asher who leaned against the counter enduring a conversation with Alpha Bran. I hadn’t seen the sandy-haired Alpha since I had beaten him in the fight, and from the grim smile on his face, I knew he remembered that night very well.

“Room will be made for when your men arrive.” Alpha Asher grunted, an irritated look of indifference on his face.

With a dark sweatshirt draped against his form, my eyes found the dip and curve of his arm muscles easily. My eyes trailed up his broad shoulders, and chiseled-jawline to meet his darkening eyes. As he noticed my attention, a sly smirk formed on his face. Sensing Alpha Asher’s attention was elsewhere, Alpha Bran flashed me a transparent smile.

“I’m sure that you’ll see them taken care off.” Alpha Bran smiled stiffly before turning leave.

“It seems he’s taking his loss rather hard.” Alpha Asher smirked, the curve of his lips warming my insides.

“His men haven’t arrived yet?” I asked, an amused glance in the direction Alpha Bran stalked off in.

“He has had issues gathering his forces.” Alpha Asher grunted, “Wasting as much time as he can.”

“Are we sure Alpha Bran isn’t working with the Vampire’s?” I snorted, “Procrastinating could be to their benefit.”

“Alpha Bran isn’t stupid enough to work with the Vampire’s. His family has hated them for decades.” Alpha Asher shook his head, “He’d forfeit his position as Alpha to see them all k****d off.”