Unexpected Shift

19

My willpower was starting to give out and the powers were knocked out of me like a soccer ball out on the field. I gasped for more air, more power, more energy, but nothing came. I was losing. We were losing. Who knew this could be the end of us?

Raven, once done with sucking my blood, let my body fall to the floor. I screamed in pain, feeling hurt in every inch of my body. What was going on?! There had to be some way out of this!

I gave up my full strength and ended up with my cheek pressed against the cold surface.

From my position, I could hear and see the vampire's boots click into the direction away from me. I squinted and focused a little to find Asher's body, lying exactly like I was with his eyes looking right into mine with an apologetic expression. The pain that coursed through me at the thought of him dying made me scream again.

"Asher! Watch out, Asher! Escape while you can!"

He shook his head and while Raven crouched down in front of him, I tried to crawl in his direction. Asher gulped painfully and propped himself up on his elbows.

Asher shifted his claws out, still just as weak and at the same damn time, Raven lunged forward with his teeth bared. The room echoed with my cry of pain, blood splashing, and finally with that of a headless body thumping against the floor.

The head landed somewhere further before I blacked out completely.

Chapter Fourteen

I had personally always hated the last day of a vacation. It just indicated that a really good time was about to come to an end and you must enjoy it while it lasts. Why couldn't every day be a vacation? Okay, now I was starting to sound just like a ten-year-old instead of the proper functioning adult I was supposed to be.

A sigh puffed my cheeks out. The day was so melancholic even with Clare going on and on about her trip to Europe. I really wanted to listen, wanted to know everything, but at this current point in time, my mind was far away in that particular guest room in Millerville.

The warm breeze, the grilled cheese sandwich I ate this weekend with everybody on Aunt Audra's dinner table. Clare was unaware of everything that had happened during the vacations which led to her not paying any heed to my usual sad expressions.

I missed him. A lot.

Like I've always said; goodbyes are hard but they're harder when you're lying.

The white shirt I was wearing still smelled a lot like him or maybe my sense of smell was just too strong nowadays. "He gave me a ring." she smiled and my attention finally returned to her.

"A ring?" I confirmed. "As in an engagement ring?"

"No silly." Clare laughed, the kind that ringed through your entire being with how bright it was.

"Then what?" I inquired, since I was feeling curious for the first time in a while.

"A promise ring. You know, he stays out of the city most of the time so it's like a reminder to say that he's here for and with me even when he's physically not." She blushed and tried to hide her smile, but I smirked and nudged her shoulder even more.

"I see you got yourself a permanent seat booked into his heart." I laughed, throwing an arm around her shoulders. Clare happily hummed and leaned into my side.

"You should find yourself a boyfriend too. Trust me, it's like the best thing in the world." I sighed at her dreamy words. Of course, I knew what it felt like. We all have our priorities don't we?

The only regret I had was that even though, I understood Asher and his ways of thinking; I couldn't help but feel like things were unfair to me at the moment. I had lost everybody I ever loved. Being away from Asher only settled the same feelings deeper into my soul.

"What did you do during the vacations?" Clare finally asked.

I sighed and relaxed further into my seat before speaking up.

"Nothing too major, I was busy catching up with all my friends and my aunt. She's a very sweet lady, even dropped me off at college two days ago. You weren't back from the trip at the time, otherwise we would've gone out for coffee together." I smiled brightly.

Aunt Audra was very supportive through everything after the big fight with the Vampire King. Fortunately, I knew I could always rely on Asher for backup. He had cut the i***t's head right off but in my state of the unconscious, I couldn't figure out what exactly had happened.

She even insisted on buying me clothes. We eventually ended up going shopping together with combined funds. Asher wanted to tag along, but we figured we needed some time away from his naturalistic Alpha brooding personality no matter how gentle he was.

Is.

A smile crossed my features and I found myself giddy with the feeling of love even at the slightest mention of Asher. I just couldn't get him out of my head no matter how we had ended things. He was right at his place. I knew that.

We both knew that he could never leave the pack. What would the members think? What would he think of himself? The son of the Alpha leaving the pack alone when his father was just starting to grow old enough for him to take over? It would sound like he was running from responsibility.

"Can you leave me then?" I had asked stubbornly and when he lowered his gaze, I knew I had my answer with me. He was there when I packed my bags to come back. He was there when I cried. He was there when I complained about missing everybody.

He was there to catch me each time, risking everything, and yet I never understood him.

"You look like you didn't want to come back. Am I right or am I right?", Clare winked, her freshly dyed purple streaks brushing against her shoulders made me wonder if I would look that good with my hair dyed.

"You're right and wrong both." I laughed. "What if I tell you I actually got myself a boyfriend during my vacation in Millerville?" Raising my brows, I shot a challenging look to Clare who gasped and lunged onto me for details.

"Tell me everything about him. I'm so happy for you," she squealed.

"Okay, okay." I patted her hands to get her to move a little away from me. "His name is Asher Chester, a total gentleman and very handsome. Oh, God, I don't even know where to begin Clare. He's just so gentle and caring, but dominant and assertive at the same time!"

"Wow, he already sounds really cool," Clare said with another dreamy smile.

"I know right? And he's six-foot-four-inches tall. I look like an Oompa Loompa in front of him and his Greek god body." I flushed, finally being able to talk about Asher in front of somebody who wasn't himself.