Chapter 15: The Long Night

Harper’s POV



The night has grown cold, and quiet. I’m sitting in the corner shivering, wishing I had brought a stupid jacket with me this morning. I’ve been wondering for hours now if anyone has noticed I’m gone.

I’m sure Amaris noticed I was missing when I didn’t show up for our walk this morning, and hopefully Asher thinks something is up since I haven’t joined him in bed.

I’ve had the same routine for weeks since I arrived. I have a shower around nine p.m. and then get into bed with Asher to read a book. Sometimes we’ll talk about our day, or we’ll both read in silence. I’ve never not been in bed at that time, so I hope he has realized that and is searching for me.

Maybe everything I’ve been doing has been a mistake; Asher, the marriage and trying to become Alpha. I should’ve left everything the way it was, and I wouldn’t be in this mess. My life was normal and easy with my pack. I could be an unofficial Alpha to them and still live my life however I please. It was great.

Instead, I’m here in a cave completely alone because I wanted more than just a normal life; to have more responsibilities than a simple pack member, considering members of the pack come to me for guidance over my Father. I want to be a leader; an authority figure someone can look up to and be there for them in times of need.

I will be a leader once I get out of this mess.

I won’t give up on this plan, no matter how badly I want to. I owe it to not only myself, but Asher, too. He’s been a good friend to me since I arrived, and I want to see him strive as Alpha. We both deserve what we want.

I sigh, I won’t be getting out of here tonight, though. I’m just going to have to wait until morning and pray someone finds me.


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*Flashback*


The weather is unusually warm today. Amaris and I are sitting on the back porch drinking a cold glass of water. We’ve been watching Asher and Jack’s group of friends play soccer. They’ve been playing for hours, resulting in them removing their shirts from the heat.

Amaris was happy to see Jack shirtless.

“He’s so hot!” She exclaims, her eyes practically falling out of her head.

I laugh, “Please go out with him already. Asher has given me the green light to say he’s single and ready to mingle.”

She starts acting shy, letting the loose hair around her shoulders fall over her eyes, “What if he doesn’t like me? And thinks I’m a loser.”

I want to slap her across the face to knock some sense into her, “You’re not a loser. You’re funny and sweet, I know most guys find that attractive in a girl.”

“Is that what Asher thought about you?” Amaris asks, not shy anymore.

Asher runs past us laughing, the sweat on his chest glistening under the sunlight. He’s a very attractive man; I wonder why his ex-girlfriend left him. Because if I met Asher under different circumstances, I would want to pursue him. However, our arrangement is strictly professional. It’s weird how often I have to remind myself of that fact.

Asher kicks the soccer ball past Jack and straight into the back of the net.

I do have to admit that I am very lucky my first fake husband is as attractive as he is.

“I guess so, yeah,” I come back to Earth, tearing my eyes away from Asher, “Just be confident in yourself and Jack will see that.”

Amaris watches Jack guard the net as if his life depends on it. Her cheeks turn a light shade of pink when he turns to look at us. I giggle as Amaris covers her face with her hair again, like it’s her shield from the world. Jack smiles, watching her carefully.

“I’m fairly certain he likes you,” I say when Jack looks away, “Just trust me on this.”

Amaris and I spend the rest of the afternoon watching the guys play soccer. I ate a big lunch whilst watching them, so I decide to go to bed without dinner.

I retire to the bedroom and jump into bed with the book I’m currently reading. It’s about a couple agreeing to enter a fake marriage. Ironic.

I’m deep in the words on the page when Asher stumbles through the door. He’s drunk.

“Hey, baby,” he slurs his words, ‘Whatcha doing?”

I sit up in bed, “Clearly not having as much fun as you.”

I watch him stumble to his side of the bed, kicking off his shoes in the process. He pulls the covers back and slips in beside me.

“I just had a few drinks with the boys,” he mumbles, his eyes beginning to close.

I laugh, “I can see, and smell, that.”

The room falls silent. Asher’s breathing is soft, and his eyes are closed. He must’ve fallen asleep. Well, passed out to be more accurate. I stand from the bed to turn the main light off, letting the room fall into darkness.

“I love you,” I hear Asher mumble.

I frown and move to his side of the bed. Is he dreaming? Or am I dreaming? I’m sure he doesn’t mean what he just said.

“Asher?” I whisper, moving to stand directly above him.

In the darkness I see two crystal blue eyes open wide, staring at me. My own eyes widen in shock, and I move to step back, but Asher’s hands are too quick, cupping my cheeks. Now we’re both staring at each other, neither of us moving a single muscle.

In this moment I’m consumed by him. His eyes, his soft breathing, his warm touch, and his kissable lips are screaming at me for them to be touched. I want to, but I can’t move.

Asher starts to lean in, his eyes close and I’m instantly set free from being trapped. I follow suit, letting the moment take me on its course. If I stop this momentum I might crash.

My lips brush against his, sending shivers down my spine. All I must do is lean forward and we’ll be connected.
This doesn’t feel fake like our marriage, it feels real.

A loud knock at the door startles us.

I jump back into reality.


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I’m startled awake by the nightmare I was having, being chased by a mob of people trying to kill me. I’m so exhausted I hadn’t realized I had fallen asleep. I try to catch a glimpse outside and see specks of orange and red in the distance. It’s morning.

I hope by now Asher is sending out members of the pack to help rescue me. I need to get back and find out who is after me, and for what reason.