Never in my life have I felt the kind of fear I am feeling right now. I am Alec Ashford. The big bad alpha. Nothing terrifies me. Nothing shakes me. Well, except for the terrified scream of my daughter.
Is that Aspen? Piper asks in confusion, her eyes now dry.
She already knew that the night Sadie and I were drugged resulted in a child. Just like me, she hasn’t interacted with Aspen. On her part, I think it’s mainly because she’s been focused on Calvin, and besides, even if she wanted to get to know her niece, I doubt Sadie would allow it.
Without giving her or her question a second thought, I get out of my office, rushing towards where her scream came from.
All kind of thoughts ran through my mind as fear gripped me. What if something bad happened to her? What if she is hurt? What was wrong? Why did she scream?
My heart felt heavy. My chest felt like it had a boulder on top of it, crushing it. Making it hard for me to breathe. My legs literally carry me as I rush to get to Aspen as quickly as I can.
Slow down, Alec, Piper’s voice carries towards me, but it sounds drowned out over the loud beating of my heart.
I ignore her and continue running. Soon I am out of the back door and outside. I scan the area, looking for any signs of my daughter, but there are none. Sniffing the air around me, I lock in on her scent.
Hurry up, she maybe in danger, Knox urges me, his fear feeding me. He is pacing in my head in agitation.
I swear, if someone has hurt her, there will be hell to pay. I know my pack wouldn’t hurt a kid, especially my child. I didn’t tell them about Aspen, though. I didn’t think there would be a need, given that she looks just like me.
Knox gives me his strength. Aspen’s scream came from the training arena. I speed there, probably going faster than I’ve ever gone in my entire life.
I get there. My heart stops beating for a second when my eyes fall on one of my pack members, gripping Aspen’s hand tightly while shaking her.
Mommy! Help me,
Tears fall down her green eyes as she screams in fear. She’s trying to pull her hand away from her but she won’t let her go.
A growl vibrates from my chest and I see red. My body starts to vibrate as both my essence and that of Knox combine. I know what is happening. It has happened before when I was furious. Instead of shifting into Knox, we both take control and we do a half-shit, where we are not fully human and not fully wolf.
Nobody, and I mean nobody, hurts my daughter and gets away with it.
We were just about to attack when the sky darkened for a while, with lightning cracking. There is a gasp from some of the others who were there when Sadie appears next to Aspen, still in her hospital gown.
I don’t really know her name, but I know her. The bitch has been trying to get me in her bed since Lola left me three years ago. She let’s go of Aspen and steps back. Her eyes kept shifting from Sadie to me.
I take steps forward, walking further into the arena. Closing in on my daughter and mate. Everyone scrambles away, giving me a wide berth. I don’t care, though. My focus is on my daughter, who is holding tightly to her mother. Still crying.
What happened, Aspen? Sadie kneels down to her level and asks while smoothing down her hair.
It hurts, mama, she cries, holding her upper arm.
I approach them slowly so as not to scare her, given that I am still in my half shift.
My eyes lock in on the bruise marks on her upper hand. The anger inside me surges to higher heights. I am literally vibrating with the need to tear out her fucking heart.
Where does it hurt, baby? Sadie’s voice is gentle as her eyes scan Aspen’s body.
My hand an-and h-head
And where is Martha?
She was taking too long to make b-fast she answers. I got bored.
I assume b-fast meant breakfast. I find it cute how she has shortened the word.
Tell me what happened, Aspen, I demand softly, my voice distorted by my half-shift form.
She turns her head and looks at me. Unlike other kids, who shake in fear whenever they see this form, Aspen doesn’t look fazed. There is no stitch of fear as her eyes collide with me.
I wanted to see warriors fight, like in our pack. I didn’t mean to. I bumped into her, and she got angry. I tried apolowgising but she didn’t let me. She hurt my hand. I said sowwy again, but she shake me. Her speech is distorted even more because of her crying. You said sorry? Sadie asks as if she wants her to be clear.