Chapter 7
The next day, an older she–wolf arrived at the cave. Her expression was kind, and the strong scent of herbs clung to her clothes, filling the space with its calming aroma.
“I’m the healer of the Ashborn Pack, child,” she said gently.
Asher followed behind her, his eyes locked on me with quiet concern.
“Let her examine you,” he said, his voice firm and final.
I didn’t argue. The damage to my wolf from the severed mate bond was growing worse–pain that no normal healer could fix.
The healer took my wrist; her eyes closed in concentration as she felt the flow of energy inside me. Her fingers were cold but steady.
After a few moments, she opened her eyes, and a flash of anger crossed her face.
“Her wolf is severely damaged from the broken bond, as expected,” she said. “But her bloodline aura is being unnaturally suppressed.”
Asher’s expression hardened, his jaw clenched.
“It’s a slow–acting poison,” she continued. “Colorless, tasteless. It weakens the strength of the bloodline gradually, until even an Alpha seems powerless.”
The truth hit me like a blow. That’s why my Alpha aura had vanished during my first shift. Why Mia, a rogue, suddenly radiated an Alpha presence that wasn’t hers.
It had all started when she met Leon four years ago.
Everything they stole and they did it with purpose, poison and betrayal.
“Can you cure her?” Asher asked, his voice low and tense.
“I can,” the healer replied. “But it will take time and rare herbs. The antidote is painful.”
“Find them,” Asher ordered. “No matter the cost. Heal her.”
The healer nodded and left.
Asher turned to me, his eyes darker than before, but softer, too. “What happened to you?”
So I told him.
About Mia crashing my first shift ceremony with a child in her arms. About Leon’s cold rejection. My father’s silence. My exile. And my belief that Mia had poisoned me to steal what was mine.
I didn’t cry. I didn’t break.
But Asher felt the storm beneath my calm–the grief, the fury I had buried deep.
Flames flickered in his silver eyes, fierce and protective.
“The Alpha of Black Stone is a fool,” he said. “He threw away his own blood for a lie.”
“And Leon…” His voice dropped. “He never deserved you.”
His anger gave me something I hadn’t felt in days–comfort. For the first time, someone stood beside me without hesitation or question.
“You’re safe now,” he said. “In my territory, no one will touch you.”
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Chapter 7
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His words echoed through our growing mind–link, steady and warm.
“You are my mate,” he added, quieter. “Protecting you is not duty. It’s instinct.”
He straightened, tall and commanding, blocking the firelight at the mouth of the cave.
“Rest well, Pauline. I’ll help you reclaim everything they stole.”
In the days that followed, I stayed in the cave, slowly healing.
Each morning, the healer brought bitter antidotes that burned like fire. The pain was brutal, but with every dose, I felt my Alpha blood stirring again, fighting its way back.
Asher visited daily. Our bond deepened. Thoughts passed between us with increasing ease. Silence spoke volumes.
The connection was different from the one I’d shared with Leon. That had felt like duty.
This was soul–deep.
And my wolf knew it. She had already chosen.
Asher was her Alpha now.
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.
