Chapter 18: The Confrontation

Asher’s POV



Harper sleeps peacefully beside me, her chest moving slow with each breath she takes. Her hair is fanned around her like a halo, making her appear as if she is glowing. I don’t always watch her sleep, but sometimes when my mind won’t stop racing in the middle of the night, I turn to watch her in hopes my brain will fall asleep, too.

I haven’t been sleeping much since I found Harper stuck in the cave. I know she isn’t clumsy enough to have fallen in on her own or would have willingly gone in herself. Something, or someone, is behind this. I just know it.

I’m finding it hard to believe my uncles could’ve been involved because I know they would try and harm me first, not Harper. But it’s impossible to believe it could’ve been anyone else. No one in the pack dislikes her and she’s so kind to everyone, so I don’t think someone would try to harm her.

I roll on my back; a small sigh leaves my lips. Not knowing the truth is driving me insane. Harper is convinced my uncles were behind this, but I’m not so sure.

Without waking Harper, I roll out of bed and slip on a pair of shoes. I need answers, and I’m not going to get them sitting here keeping myself awake wondering. I need to be assertive and strong.

The compound is empty and quiet; everyone is asleep in their bedrooms as its three o’clock in the morning. I walk through the hallways, passing the kitchen and living areas, and arrive at Julius’s door.

I give the wood a gentle tap, but not too soft that I don’t wake him up. It takes him a few moments, but he answers the door rubbing his eyes.

“What time is it?” He grumbles, stifling a yawn.

“That doesn’t matter.” I need to get to the point so I can finally get some sleep.

Julius frowns at me, “What’s the matter, Asher?”

I fold my arms across my chest, “Did you hear what happened to Harper the other day?”

He looks confused for a moment, “I haven’t heard anything.”

I can’t tell if he is lying or telling the truth. Word travels fast through this compound, so I’m sure if he wasn’t directly involved then he would’ve at least heard about the incident.

I narrow my eyes at him, “Don’t play stupid with me. What happened to the Luna is important information among the pack, her safety is important to not just me, but all of us. So, I find it almost impossible you wouldn’t have known she was attacked.”

Julius changes his expression from confused to shocked, “How could this have happened?” He narrows his eyes at me, “How could you have let that happen to the Luna? A good husband would’ve have been keeping an eye on her.”

His last comment hits me in the heart. I know he’s saying this to make me feel like sh*t and make me doubt my abilities as the Alpha, but he’s right. I should’ve been keeping an eye on her, especially after the car incident just a few days prior. She thinks I don’t know what happened, but I heard her talking about it in her sleep one night.

Maybe I am a sh*t husband.

“A good Alpha would protect his Luna from any harm that may come her way,” he continues, “Instead of leaving her stuck in a cave for twenty-four hours.”

I open my mouth to speak but no words can be formed. He does know what happened. Why would he pretend that he didn’t? I can’t figure out what game he’s trying to play here, but I don’t like it.

Julius speaks before I can, “Did you really believe that I don’t know what’s going on within my own pack?” He leans against the doorframe, a smirk gracing his lips, “I know everything, Asher.”

Calling my pack his doesn’t sit right with me. I know he’s been wanting to take control but hearing him say ‘my pack’ has my blood boiling. From this conversation alone, it’s clear he is plotting something. Acting dumb about what happened to Harper and then admitting he knows exactly what happened makes me think he knows a little too much.

“It’s my pack,” I put emphasis on ‘my’, “And if you know anything about what happened to Harper you must tell me.”

Julius shrugs, “I don’t know who is out to hurt Harper, but it’s not me.” He takes a step forward, his eyes narrowing, “Besides, you would know if I was trying to hurt her because it wouldn’t be taking this long.”

A spark lights within my stomach, “You f*cking stay away from her, Julius,” I snarl.

He laughs, taking a step back, “Like I said, I’m not the one out to get her. Maybe you should be investigating elsewhere.”

“I’m done playing your games,” I announce, my hands balling into fists. I’m resisting the urge to punch the smirk off his face. “You and Dean no longer get a say in how I lead the pack. Per our agreement, you need to stay back and let me be the Alpha. You will be just like everyone else, answering to Harper and me.”

Julius’s eyes darken, his jaw clenched, “You’ll pay for this,” He growls, “You and that b*tch wife of yours.”

“Don’t speak about her like that,” I spit, “Don’t even try to threaten us.”

Julius’s emotions change, he’s now smirking at me again, “You’ll regret this, Asher.”

He retreats into his bedroom, slamming the door in my face. I release an angry breath, my blood pumping hard through my veins. The absolute nerve of him to threaten Harper and I is ridiculous. After our conversation I’m convinced he’s the one behind the attacks on Harper. He’s trying to kill her.

I stomp back to the bedroom, angry beyond belief. I don’t know if I will be sleeping for the rest of the night. I push the door open and walk to my side of the bed. When I slip in, Harper rolls over to face me, a sweet sleepy smile on her face.

My anger falls away in an instant.

“Where have you been?” She mumbles.

I get comfortable under the covers, allowing the warmth to relax my body.

I smile, tucking a piece of loose hair behind her ear, “I went to get some water, go back to sleep.”

She nods, and in seconds is softly breathing.

The fiery sparks of anger in my stomach have now turned to warm happiness as I watch Harper sleep, the rays of the moon lighting up her soft features.