Page 70 of Forbidden Mischief
Dad looks at him for a moment longer, then his eyes shift toward the lifeless body of the wolf on the ground. "I'm sorry," he says quietly. "I know he was your father."
Asher turns his head, just enough to see. He blinks slowly, face unreadable.
"Don’t be," he says. “He might have helped bring me into this world, but he was never anything more than that.”
I slide my arm around him, careful of his ribs. He leans into me like his body can't fight anymore.
“Let’s get you home, baby,” I whisper.
He tries to smile. It twitches at the corner of his mouth, then fades.
Alice helps me lift him. We move slow, steady.
Dad glances back toward the pit and the still-standing wolves, then lowers his voice. "We need to get out of here.Fast."
I glance around. The wolves are tense, shoulders squared, faces hard. They’re watching us with clenched jaws and fists, like they’re one breath away from coming after us.
My chest tightens. I adjust my hold on Asher, keeping him close. My hand—my free one—starts to glow as magic flares. Fire flickers at my fingertips, small and angry.
“If even one of you takes a step toward us,” I say, loud and clear, “I’ll bring this whole place down. Then your pack. I’ll burn it to the ground—with your families inside.”
They freeze. Nobody speaks. The fire crackles like it’s daring them.
Then a voice cuts through the quiet. "Leave them."
I turn, and there’s a guy standing near the entrance. He’s built like a wall, big and solid, probably around our age. His face is calm, but his eyes say he’s seen too much. He doesn’t look angry. He just looks... tired.
He glances at Asher, something soft in his expression—regret, guilt, or maybe just understanding.
He nods once.
We move past him. He doesn’t try to stop us. His eyes stay on Asher as we leave.
I don’t know who he is, and I don’t have the energy to wonder. I’ll ask Asher later—after he’s safe. After he’s healed.
Dad leads the way, keeping the path clear.
None of us look back.
The ride home is quiet. Asher is curled up in my lap, wrapped in my jacket, warm and breathing steadily. I keep my hand on his chest, feeling each breath rise and fall like it’s the only thing keeping me grounded
They took him from me once.
They won’t again.
We’re going home.
CHAPTER 27
ASHER
I’d have to say, one of the best things about being a wolf shifter is the quick healing.
Being in the pit, getting my ass beaten within an inch of my life, was the worst pain I’ve ever felt. Something I never want to experience again.
I hated that I was so weak, but the drugs they gave me didn’t let me properly defend myself. It was a weak, pathetic move on their part.
It wasn’t a fair fight, not by a long shot, but that's what he wanted.
