chapter 38
Asher’s POV
The door to my parents‘ suite was shut tight, thick smoke
pouring out from beneath it. A crowd had gathered outside, but everyone seemed helpless.
I rushed forward, trying to force the door open, but the moment my hand touched it, an unbearable burn shot through me, forcing me to let go.
“Oh my god look!” Violet exclaimed, pointing at the door.
The surface and handle were coated with thick layers of mercury–a substance deadly to the werewolves, capable of weakening our powers. Whoever set this fire was determined to make sure my parents didn’t make it out alive.
A furious roar tore from my throat. “What about the windows? Can we get in through the windows?”
“We checked,” someone replied, “but they’re coated in mercury too…”
The heat of the fire felt like it was boiling my blood, every vein in my body threatening to erupt as frustration and panic
consumed me. I lunged forward without any concern of the mercury, grabbing the doorknob again and screaming as I tried to force it open. My skin seared and blackened, but I didn’t care.
“Stop it! That’s not going to work!” Violet shouted, pulling me back. “Do you want to lose your hand too?!”
The chaos continued around me. Soldiers rushed to and from the scene, desperately trying to control the fire. My uncle and aunt were there too, shouting toward the door, hoping for some kind of response from inside.
I clenched my fists, my eyes locked on the door as blood pounded in my ears.
I couldn’t lose my parents.
Suddenly, I turned and bolted downstairs. In the courtyard, I found a pile of logs waiting to be split into firewood. I grabbed
the thickest one and hauled it over my shoulder, then raced
back upstairs. The rough wood bit into my burned hands, but I
didn’t care.
“Get out of the way!!!!”
I shouted as I charged back into the smoke–filled corridor.
The crowd quickly parted, and I slammed the log into the door
with all my strength. The impact reverberated through the air, but the door held firm.
I pulled back and rammed the log into it again. This time, the
hinges groaned in protest. Violet and my uncle rushed to help, throwing their weight behind the next hit.
On the third strike, the heavy door finally gave in, crashing down to the floor.
We charged in without hesitation.
The smoke inside was suffocating, so thick that I could barely see anything in front of me.
“Mom! Dad!”
I shouted, but my voice turned into a harsh cough as the acrid air burned my throat and lungs.
The smell of scorched mercury hung heavy in the air, making me dizzy and nauseous. It drained my strength, making every
step feel like a battle. My parents had to be in here–there was
no way they could escape on their own with all this mercury in
the air. But where were they?
“Asher! Get out of there! The mercury is too strong!” my uncle
shouted from behind me. Others called my name too, their
voices frantic.
But I ignored them and stumbled deeper into the suite. If the mercury was this lethal for me, it would be worse for my
parents. I couldn’t leave them here to burn or suffocate. I wouldn’t.
I staggered into the bedroom, but all I could see was a blinding white haze. The symptoms of mercury poisoning hit its peak. I collapsed against the wall, sliding to the floor in pain.
No…
Darkness closed in around me. I passed out in the thick, choking
smoke.
2
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying in a hospital
bed. Every inch of my body felt burned, my head throbbed, and
my throat felt like it had been scraped with hot coals.
Violet sat by my side, her face full of worry.
“Thank god you are awake,” she said softly, leaning closer. “How
are you feeling?”
I tried to speak, but the sound that came out of my mouth wasn‘
t even a word.
“Don’t talk,” Violet said quickly, taking my hand to stop me. “The doctor said you need to rest.”
I gripped her hand tighter, silently demanding answers.
“Your parents…” she began hesitantly. “They were found in the bedroom. They’re safe now.”
Relief washed over me, but it was short–lived. Her next words hit me like a punch to the gut.
“But they’re badly injured. The doctors aren’t making any promises. All we can do now is wait and pray.”
My eyes widened as a new wave of anger and helplessness
surged through me. I clenched my fist and slammed it into the
bed. A low growl escaped through my clenched teeth.
My parents weren’t perfect. They made many mistakes–like
abandoning my brother Isaac years ago. But they didn’t deserve
this. They were victims of fate just like anyone else.
…Isaac,” I hissed, ignoring the searing pain in my throat. “It was
him…”
“Asher, don’t…”
“He admitted it!” I croaked, my voice raw with fury. “In the forest, he said he hated my parents. He said he wanted them dead! He’s the only one with a motive! He even swore he’d make everyone pay, but I didn’t take him seriously. I thought…he’s my brother…he wouldn’t actually do it. It’s all my fault…if I took his words seriously, none of these would happen!”
Violet’s face twisted with pain, tears shining in her eyes. “This isn’t your fault.”
“You were right earlier. About Isaac,” I spat bitterly. “I shouldn’t have let him go just because he’s my brother. He’s never treated us like family anyway.”
My voice dropped to a growl.
“He’s a monster.”
Violet pressed the call button. Doctor, nurses and medical staff
poured into the room. They wanted to check on me, but I waved
them off.
“Tell me about my parents,” I demanded.
The doctor hesitated before saying, “They are both injured
severely. Both of them are in the ICU. We’ve done everything
we can, but… now, all we can do is hope for a miracle.”
I snarled, reaching over and grabbed the doctor by the collar. “I don’t want a fucking miracle!! I want you to save them! Find a way, or you’ll regret failing me!!!”
The doctor trembled, nodding frantically. I wasn’t proud of myself at this moment–an Alpha should never threaten their own pack members. But I couldn’t control my rage.
When the medical staff left, I immediately mindlinked Jayden.
“Gather all our soldiers,” I ordered, my voice sharp and deadly. “Get ready to launch an attack on those goddamn rogues.”
Isaac was going to pay for this. My twin brother had crossed the line, and I would make sure he suffered for it.
