The days slipped by stealing moments, whispering quietly, and drawing out touches. Every second we spent together erased the rest of the world and made everything around me disappear because nothing, and no one, before, mattered but how his eyes lit up as he looked at me, and the warmth of his hand on mine.But beneath the frivolous thin shell of romance we'd strung together, unease built like a shadow. Each day the thing that haunted the edges of my vision grew heavier.Then there was this feeling of being watched. A sense that eyes were lingering in the dark even when we thought no one would see. The sensation followed me to the busy market and among the visored faces, and I'd see the cloaked ones blending into the crowd as well as through the forest as they rustled with whispers behind me.I knew the danger was real - but it wasn't until the night they came for me that I finally understood how real.
That was how the evening began, as normal. It was a loaf of bread tucked under my arm and thoughts of Asher at that time. I had promised later to meet him and now my heart fluttered at the thought of his smile, and how his touch made me feel electricity.Usually, the streets of Raven's Peak were noisy, lanterns that gave strange shadows on the cobblestones glowing faintly, but they were unusually quiet. Each step claked in the stillness, but the air felt heavier.That's when I saw them.Five men had come from the shadows; their movements were planned and methodical. Black cloaks obscured their faces, and they were dressed, but their eyes... I guess their eyes glowed a little, they glowed faint-like, like ember in the dark."Out late, miss?" His voice was smooth, too calm, sending a shiver down my spine, and one of them said.I gripped the loaf of bread tighter. "I'm just heading home."Another man chuckled and asked, "The home?" "Instead you're coming with us," I think.Panic surged through me. I could see what they were after and I knew I should run. Waving a hand in their general direction, I spun and bolted, the boots rat tat -ting on the cobblestones. I ran into the woods as fast as I could, trying so I could lose them in the dark.They were faster than any human should be. They closed in, their footsteps filled their own cold clutch on my throat.I tripped over a root, my ass landing hard on the ground. As they closed in I scrambled to my feet, and pain shot through my knee.One of them sneered, his voice dripping with satisfaction, and bruised his knuckles together as he said, 'Nowhere to run.'
Only then a sound rose out of the shadows, a deep guttural growl that stopped them in their tracks.
Then Asher inched out like he was some sort of storm, his body changing into something altogether alien. The clothes tore, his frame expanding, fur growing on his arms and his back. The golden fury in his eyes burned my face, even his raw power sending shivers down my spine.Frozen, I watched as he charged the Hunters like I'd never seen him charge before. His claws shot through the air and forced them to scatter. With a swipe of his paw Asher easily disarmed one of them of a weapon, something sharp and glinting in the moonlight, but one of them raised a weapon.Others looked back and forth without much certainty. They hadn't expected this much resistance. They retreated into the shadows muttering curses as quickly as they'd appeared.He didn't shift back right away. The wolf stood in his wolf form, chest heaving, his sharp eyes going still on a search of any other threats in the dark. He turned slowly towards me and I watched the tension leave his body.He went back to his form and rushed to my side. "I said his name, 'Emilia'," he told in a rough voice, shaking his hands when he gripped my face. "Are you hurt?"
My legs were jelly though, but I shook my head. I whispered, "I'm okay." My voice was barely audible.I pulled him into his arms, so tightly I couldn't breathe. His warmth wrapped around me and I clung to him, my fingers squeezing into his shirt. His broken voice mumbled, "I thought you were gone."My vision was blurring and I looked up at him. "You saved me, Asher. You always save me."His thumb reached over and brushed at the sting on my cheek. His voice was solemn vow: 'I'll always protect you.'The weight of the night pressed us down back at the cabin. Asher walked around the room, troubled in his expression. "We can't stay here, Emilia. It's not safe anymore."My heart ached as I watched the torment of his eyes. "Where can we go?"Finally he stopped, and he turned to look at me. "A safe house my family used a long time ago." The Hunters don't know it's hidden in the woods that deep."Swallowing my lump in my throat, I nodded. "Then we'll go."He stepped forward, his gaze softened and he took my hands. Don't have to come with me. This life... it's dangerous. You don't deserve this."I held on tighter to his hands. Asher, I don't care about the danger. I care about you. Wherever you go, I go."His eyes searched mine and the tension was brushed away for a moment. He leaned down while his forehead rested on mine. He whispered, 'You're too good for me.'I gave a small smile and teased, "Maybe." "But you're going to be with me now."
His laugh was soft like it could have warmed the cold parts of my heart. Then he kissed me, slow and tender, as if he was pouring every bit of a feeling into that one thing.
The drive to the safe house was hell. A thick and unwelcoming mass of woods lay, heavy with the headiness of an almost tangible tension in the air. I followed closely behind and had my senses on high alert and Asher led the way.The snap of a twig, the rustling of leaves . . . something tipped my nerves into what now felt like an endless nervousness. Asher paused more than once, and listened for threats.Neither the lines of worry on his face nor his voice was low, as he said, "We're almost there."Finally we had cleared to a clearing. A weathered stone cabin that had grown moss over it, but still defiantly stood up like the rest of the island.The air inside was warm and there was a faint wood smoke perfume to it. The room remained illuminated by a lantern that Asher lit.His voice was tinged with apology, but it didn't matter much, he said. "But it's safe."I said it 's perfect, every word.We couch in for the night and I leaned into him, needing the comfort of his presence. His arms came around me, strong and protective, and that tension melted away slowly.I nestled my head into his chest and murmured 'Asher.' "Thank you.""For what?""For everything. For saving me. For staying with me. For loving me."His lips pressed against my chin and his eyes soft and full of emotion. "You make it seem like I'm the hero." But you saved me too... Emilia."As his lips brushed against mine slow and deliberate I understood that there was something worth fighting for and we would live through whatever dangers lay ahead. Together.