Chapter 182
Asher’s POV
When I stepped out of the bathroom, the sight before me made me pause. Violet was already asleep.
She looked peaceful, her breathing slow and steady, but there was something about her stillness that unsettled me. She had never looked this exhausted before. The pregnancy was taking a toll on her, and it gnawed at me. No matter how strong she was, her body was weakening.
I slipped into bed beside her, pulling her into my arms. She stirred slightly, her face nuzzling into my chest before settling again. Holding her, I listened to the rhythm of her breaths until I, too, fell asleep.
I didn’t sleep well, the former queen’s curse lingering in my mind, refusing to fade. Just as I was about to grasp something, I heard a faint rustling sound. My eyes snapped open, and I
found the bed empty.
My heartbeat quickened. Violet’s warmth was still lingering on
the sheets, but her scent had shifted–stronger, wilder.
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I pushed the covers aside and got up. My senses locked onto her
trail, leading out of the palace and into the night. Without
wasting another second, I followed.
The forest was eerily silent. Moonlight streamed through the
trees, casting long shadows across the ground. The deeper I
went, the heavier the air became. Something was wrong.
Then I saw her.
She was crouched on the ground beneath the silver light, her
hands gripping something–something still moving. My stomach
twisted when I realized what it was.
A deer. Its body trembled, a weak gasp escaping its mouth.
Blood stained its fur, glistening in the moon’s glow.
Violet’s face was buried against its neck.
“Violet?” My voice cracked.
She lifted her head slowly, and my breath caught in my throat.
Her lips were smeared with blood, her eyes wild and unseeing.
Her pupils, usually warm, were now dark and dilated, glowing
faintly under the night sky. The veins around her eyes stood
out, pulsing as if something inside her was burning.
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She looked like an incomplete transformation into wolf.
Her gaze locked onto me, but there was no recognition in them.
Just raw, primal hunger.
“Violet, it’s me.” I took a cautious step forward, keeping my voice low, careful.
She didn’t respond. Instead, a low growl rumbled from her
throat. A warning.
Then, she lunged.
I barely had time to react before her body crashed into mine, her teeth sinking deep into my shoulder.
A sharp pain shot through me, but I didn’t push her away. My arms wrapped around her instinctively. She clung to me, her breaths ragged, and then-
She drank.
I felt the pull of my own blood leaving my body, her lips warm against my skin. I clenched my jaw, bracing myself against the sensation, my grip on her tightening. She was feeding. And I let her.
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Minutes passed and her breathing finally slowed. The tension
in her body eased, her grip on me loosening. Then, like a puppet
whose strings had been cut, she went completely still.
What happened? Panic surged through me as I pulled Violet
from my arms to check on her, But she was just asleep. I
exhaled, shaking from the weight of what had just happened.
The situation looks a bit bad.
Carefully, I lifted her into my arms, her head resting against my
chest as I carried her back through the woods.
Back in our bedroom, I laid her down gently on the bed. Her
skin was pale, her breaths shallow, but peaceful. In the forest,
she seemed to be under control. But now, that control has
disappeared.
I cleaned her up, wiping away the traces of blood, and changed
her into fresh clothes. The wound on my shoulder throbbed,
but I ignored it, focused only on her.
She needed rest.
I sat beside her, watching for any signs of distress, but she
remained still, completely unaware of what had just happened.
Morning came slowly.
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I felt her shift beside me, her fingers brushing against my arm.
Then, she stirred, stretching with a small sigh before blinking
up at me.
“Good morning,” Her voice was thick with sleep.
I pushed back the hair from her face, smiled. “Morning. How
was your sleep last night?”
She smiled softly. “I slept so well, like I haven’t slept like this in a
long time. But, I’m really sorry for passing out so early last
night.”
I studied her face, looking for any hint of memory from the
night before, but there was nothing.
She didn’t remember.
Violet wrapped her arms around me, burying her face in my
chest. The warmth of her embrace should have calmed me, but
when her fingers brushed over my shoulder. I tensed.
“You’re hurt?” She pulled back slightly, frowning.
“No, it’s nothing,” I said quickly.
She didn’t look convinced. “Then why did you flinch?”
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“I think I slept on that side too long. It’s just a little stiff.” I forced
a small smile.
Her eyes studied me carefully, as if she wasn’t sure whether to
believe me or not. After a moment, she reached out, her fingers
gently touching my shoulder..
“Does that help?” she asked softly.
I exhaled, leaning into her touch. “Yeah,” I lied, ignoring the dull
ache beneath her fingertips.
She gave me a small smile, seemingly satisfied. I couldn’t let her
know the real reason behind the injury–not yet.
Violet just leaned in, pressing a soft kiss against my uninjured
shoulder before resting her head against me. I held her close,
forcing my own worries down.
After breakfast, I mind–linked the pack doctor, and he arrived
quickly.
“You know, Asher. I’m fine. You don’t have to be so nervous.”
She said to me.
I forced a casual smile. “I know you do, but I just want to make sure you’re getting everything you need. The baby, too.”
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She sighed but nodded. “Alright. But I’m telling you, I’m really
fine.”
When the doctor was doing his routine check–up, I stayed by
Violet’s side.
“How is she?” I asked nervously.
“Everything is fine, Alpha.” He gave me a smile.
This couldn’t be right. Violet didn’t even seem like herself last
night. But if the doctor couldn’t find anything, it could mean
there was magic involved.
After settling Violet down, I decided to discuss the matter with
someone, so I mind–linked Philip and asked him to come to my
office.
Not long after, Philip arrived.
“What’s going on? You sounded serious just now.“”
I didn’t answer him immediately, instead I pulled the collar of
my shirt aside, exposing the bite wound.
His eyes widened. “What the hell? Who did that?”
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“It was Violet.” I exhaled slowly.
“Violet?” How could that be?
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Chapter 183
