“My Pack is facing grave danger,” he began.

Pack.It finally made sense to her why he'd been using that word.

“Our crops are dying, our soil is bad, and for the past two years, our women have no longer been able to have children.” He sighed, “Our Elders believe that the only solution is…The blood of a human.” A slight pause came when he watched her fear heighten by his last statement.

“Blood of a human?” She swallowed. “Like blood… Sacrifice? A…a human sacrifice?” Her words broke in terror.

“No! No. Of course not,” he objected, and her reliefwas evident. “We're not barbarians. Well, not anymore.”

She frowned. He was confusing her. Did he mean that they used to be barbarians but nolonger practiced that, or what?

“I came to your town looking for a woman who would follow me back to the Pack…”

“Just like that?” she asked in surprise. “Did you really think you were going to actually find someone with that method?”

His brows rose at the irony of her statement, and she was quick to realize it.

“It’s different in my case,” she added before he would start having any funny ideas. “I've always been an outcast. I never fit in anyway. If you had found someone other than me, things would have turned out a lot more differently. Especially because you bought me.”

“I didn't…” He sighed.

“Why exactly do you need me? I mean, I get the part about myself being the solution. But how?”

“You'd have to marry me.”

Her jaw dropped, and she choked on her words. A lot of thoughts suddenly tugged at her mind, constantly overlapping themselves.

“I know it's a lot to take in.” He got back up and approached her. “I'm not going to force you, the same way I didn't force you here. But what I would do is beseech you to consider.”

“I…I don't know, Asher…” she stuttered in shock and confusion.

His proposal had hit her harderthan she thought. Yes, she had prepared her mind for the worst, but she did not see this coming.

“Come with me,” he said, stretching out his hand. “There's something I want you to see.”

She exhaled sharply and decided after a moment of contemplation to go with him.

He held her hand and proudly showed her around the house. Esme thought that this house had a lot of technologyfor a small village. Of course, she wasn't expecting anything less, given that he owned a luxury car. The interior of the living room was exquisite, with-state-of-the-art furniture and gadgets.

“Who would have thought that this village would have such a house.” She admired the interior as they walked through a hallway.

“Never judge a book by its cover.” He glanced at her with a smile.

“So, what's causing this calamity on your lands?” she asked him as they stepped out of the building and into the open space.

“It's the vengeful spirits of the witches that were executed on this very land many years ago,” he responded.

“Werewolves, witches, spirits…They all exist. What's next, vampires?” she asked sarcastically, trying to hide her fear and shock.

He laughed and accepted the greetings of an elderly man. As they walked down together, all eyes were cast on them, and she could see the excitement in their faces.

“Why are they all so happy?” she asked with a smile.

“That's what I want to show you.” He offered his arm, and she hesitated before slipping her hand around it.

Asher led her to the place that looked like a graveyard.Therewereplants growing everywhere, with vines stretching out across the space.

The hair on Esme's body rose as they reached the graveyard. Those whispers she had heard earlier all came rushing back, but not as violently as before.