The Forbidden Truth
1139 Words
The compound smelled like blood and gunpowder as I dragged Asher into the medical room. His wound was deep and bleeding badly from the fight. I knew if I did not stop it fast I could lose him.
“Hold on,” I said pushing him onto the table. “Stay with me Asher.”
He winced but gave me a weak smile. “I am not going anywhere love.”
I cut away his torn shirt and cleaned the bite wound on his shoulder. It was ugly. Deep punctures from the enemy wolf. I worked fast mixing modern medicine with the special healing herbs only werewolves used.
“This is going to burn,” I warned as I poured the mixture on.
Asher sucked in a sharp breath. “Worth it to keep you safe.”
I stitched the worst parts carefully while my hands shook from adrenaline. “You should not have taken that hit for me.”
He caught my hand. “I would take a hundred more. You are everything to me Soren.”
I looked into his eyes. The tenderness there hit me hard after the chaos of the night. “I love you. I do not know what I would do if I lost you.”
He pulled me closer despite the pain. “You are not losing me. We just got engaged remember?”
I smiled through the worry and kept working. For the next hour I cleaned treated and bandaged him. He talked the whole time trying to keep me calm.
“Tell me about the boy,” he said softly. “How bad is it really?”
I wiped sweat from my forehead. “Very bad. Rare combination of heart defects. His body is fighting itself. I am the only one who has the skill to give him a real chance.”
Asher nodded. “Then you should do it. I hate that Lucas is involved but a kid should not suffer.”
I finished the last stitch and stepped back. “You are going to be okay. The bleeding has stopped.”
He sat up slowly and pulled me between his legs. His hands rested on my hips. The room felt smaller. Just us and the quiet after the storm.
“Come here,” he whispered.
I leaned in and kissed him. The kiss started soft then grew deeper. Passion mixed with relief and fear from the fight. His fingers dug into my waist pulling me closer. I wrapped my arms around his neck careful of his injury.
“I was so scared tonight,” I admitted between kisses. “When that wolf came at me I thought it was over.”
Asher rested his forehead against mine. “I will always protect you. Even if it hurts. You are my future Soren. My mate. My wife soon.”
Tears stung my eyes. “I do not deserve you. You took me in when I had nothing. You never pushed. You just loved me.”
He smiled and wiped a tear from my cheek. “You saved my life first remember? When I was bleeding out after that rival attack last year. You could have left but you stayed and fought for me.”
I kissed him again. Slower this time. Full of emotion. Our bodies pressed close. The bond between us felt stronger than ever. Like nothing could break it.
“I want a life with you,” I whispered. “A real one. Away from all the old pain.”
Asher cupped my face. “You will have it. We will get through this surgery mess and then plan our wedding. Just you and me.”
I nodded and rested my head on his good shoulder. For a few perfect minutes the world felt right. Then I started checking the rest of his injuries. I moved to his side and noticed an old scar near his ribs. Something about the mark around it looked familiar.
I traced it with my fingers. “This scar is old. What happened here?”
Asher shrugged. “Got it years ago in a bad fight. Family stuff.”
I looked closer. The faint family mark beside the scar was unmistakable. A specific pattern only certain bloodlines carried. My stomach dropped.
“Asher,” I said slowly. “This mark. I have seen it before.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
I stepped back. My hands started shaking. “Lucas has the same mark. On his shoulder. It is a family bloodline symbol.”
Asher sat up straighter. “Soren…”
I stared at him. Everything clicked into place. The missing years. The tension between them. The way Lucas had called him uncle at the gate.
“You are his uncle,” I whispered. “Asher Kane you are Lucas Blackthorn’s long missing uncle.”
He reached for me. “Let me explain.”
I pulled away in shock. “You are his uncle? All this time and you never said anything?”
Asher stood up carefully. “It is complicated. I left the family years ago. Bad blood with my brother. I did not know Lucas was looking for me until recently.”
I backed up against the wall. “So when you took me in you knew who I was? You knew I was his ex mate?”
He shook his head. “Not at first. I swear. When I found out I already loved you. It did not change how I felt.”
My mind spun. “This is forbidden. Twisted. I almost married my ex mate’s uncle.”
Before Asher could reply loud banging sounded at the compound gates. Lucas’s voice carried through the night.
“Soren! I need answers about my son’s surgery. Open up!”
Asher moved toward the door but I grabbed his arm. “This is not over. We are talking about this later.”
He nodded but his eyes were full of worry. “I love you. Nothing changes that.”
I walked outside with him. Lucas stood at the gate looking angry and impatient.
“Tell me about the surgery,” he shouted. “Is my boy going to make it?”
I stepped forward. “The condition is rare and dangerous. I can do the operation but it is risky.”
Lucas gripped the bars. “Then do it. Whatever it costs.”
Asher stood beside me protective. The two men stared at each other with new tension now that the truth hung between us.
I looked at both of them. My future and my past. One man I loved and one man connected to me by blood and old pain. The revelation about Asher being Lucas’s uncle changed everything.
And I still had to save my son.
- Writer
