Asher was forced to remember that day, twenty years ago, him convulsing on the ground while Irene and Hephzibah fought to save his life and how he had watched his father despite the pain he felt fight with the woman. He was panting as he leaned on a tree, feeling the sharp pain in his chest. Ever since that day, he had never seen the woman again except in his dreams and now she has appeared to him twice in one night. He knew she was the one in his room earlier and now she was here again. He may not be a pure blood witch to see visions but he could feel it deep in his bones that something would happen soon and he might be the villain in the story.

Scared of what might happened in the night or that the woman might return back to really hurt him, he instantly teleported, arriving in the cave. He had wanted to go back home but the thought of leaving Naomi alone here and at the mercy of the woman or any nightwalker that might seem to run past didn’t let him.

Naomi gasped, feeling instantly that someone was with her even though she couldn’t see a thing. “Asher,” she breathed.

“I will take you back,” he said.

“It’s everything okay? Are you feeling better?”

“Yes,” Asher said. He could sense the worry in her voice for him but he doesn’t think he deserves it. He doesn’t think he deserves the worry of any woman for at this moment, after his encounter with Catherine and how scared he had gotten, he doubt he can ever protect a woman in his life. Maybe it’s for the best that he hasn’t found his mate because how can he protect her if he is scared himself?

“Hey,” Naomi whispered, “what happened?”

“Nothing,” he replied, his eyes closed as he tried to reign himself in. “I will just take you home.”

“My father is in the woods.”

“Not anymore.”

“Did you hurt him?”

“No.”

Naomi nodded. “Asher, can I go to you now?”

“It’s not necessary.”

“Why not?”

“Naomi,” Asher sighed. “I can’t protect you.”

“Coming from someone who put himself in harms way just to protect me this evening. What happened, you weren’t sounding like this before you left.” She said and following her guts, walked towards him.

Asher could see her perfectly and he could see her almost stepping on another rock and without a word, moved the stone away with a wave of his hand. He made it easy for her to find him and when she did, her hand went up to caress his cheek. Her touch was warm and for some reasons, filled with promises that seemed to wash away his fear and refill him with hope. He didn’t know when but he was leaning into her warmth with his eyes closed. “Thank you for today. You saved me twice.” She whispered and Asher sighed deeply, his eyes still closed. “Although I just wish I can see you now,” she giggled, making him scoff and placing his hand on hers, they appeared in her room.

Even though Naomi was still surprised as the first time, she didn’t let it show and just took the opportunity to stare at his face with the moonlight sipping into her room from the open window. His eyes were transparent brown and gradually, they turned to midnight blue. The sight rather fearful was mesmerizing to her. She smiled, “you are one lucky bastard.”

Asher frowned slightly, asking what she meant with his eyes.

“You get to have different eye colors while the rest of us are stuck with one.”

He chuckled at that and placed his hand on hers that was still cupping his cheek. He pressed her hand on his skin, like he wanted to bury her hand on his face as he looked deeply into her eyes like he could see her soul. Her hazel eyes were twinkling softly in the semi dark room, illuminated by the moonlight and they seemed to be drowning him in, making him want to get closer to her. “You may have one but it’s the most beautiful I have ever seen.” He whispered.

Naomi blushed and wanted to turn away from him but he wouldn’t let go of her hand and so she could only look down. “No one has ever associated me or anything about me with the word beautiful before.”

“That is because you hide in your hoodie all day. The first time I saw you, you were dancing with Justin in the woods and you looked happier than I have ever seen you since then. That was until he kissed you and you kissed him back. Then you ran away from him, from the party and I had to follow you for some reason that I don’t know.” He said softly, his eyes going to her lips as she looked up at him.

“Why didn’t you kill me that night?”

“Why should I?” he chuckled, “if I remember correctly, you weren’t even scared of me.”

“I was when I didn’t know what was following me but when I saw you, even though I was taken aback by your size and red eyes, I knew instantly that you wouldn’t hurt me. Although I must admit, you are the biggest wolf I have ever seen.”

“Oh really?” Asher smiled this time, showing his pearly white dentition. “And how many have you seen?”

Naomi opened her mouth to reply but no words came out and realizing that he had teased her, she snatched her hand back from him and pouted which Asher immediately admitted in his mind was cute. “I have seen movies about werewolves and have read some books too. None has ever shown or said that a wolf can be bigger than humans, or taller.”

“Well, the taller part is understandable. You are short,” Asher said matter of fact.

Naomi glared at him and he snickered at the look in her eyes. However, she said nothing else to him and just went to sit on her bed.

Not taking her anger to heart, Asher went and sat beside her, his fear already forgotten and his mood getting better. They both remained silent before he asked after some time, “why did you run that night though? I saw you kiss him back and it was obvious that you liked it, that you liked him, so why run from him?” he glanced at her with a raised eyebrow.

Naomi let out a long breath of air and shrugged. “I don’t know, I felt you watching me, I guess? And plus the fact I thought he was doing it under the influence of alcohol.”

Asher nodded like he understood but he really didn’t, however, he decided not to ask again. “You like him, although it seems like you are avoiding him now.”

“I used to like him?” she said, unsure as well but then she shook her head. “I am not ready to stick my head out for someone who is not willing to do the same for me. His father is working with Stacy’s father, one of the richest men in town and his only condition was that he gives his daughter his attention. I know Justin doesn’t like her but he is not ready to disobey her father and cost his father such a great opportunity. I understand him though, but I don’t think my heart can understand the pain that comes with it.”

“Of course not,” Asher said. “The heart never understands when the person they love is giving another their attention.” He smiled softly, “however, I picked up on what you said, used to, who is onboard now?” he grinned.

Naomi stared at him, even she doesn’t know why she made that comment. For as long as she can remember, she has been crushing on Justin and had wanted nothing but for him to notice her, but now it seem like its not like that anymore. “I don’t know, you tell me.”

Asher smiled and shrugged, not knowing the answer to give.

Naomi bit her lip before asking, “what about you? Every movie and story about werewolves talked about finding their mates and stuff. So, have you found yours?”

Asher smiled and shook his head, “not yet.”

“When?”

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t you like find them at fifteen?”

“Sixteen, once you find your wolf,” he corrected. “But not everyone finds them immediately. Some takes time, leaving them with hope every mating season.”

“Mating season?”

“Yes. It happens once a year, on the blood moon night.”

“Oh, I thought you just know when you see them.”

“You know when you see them, but you will need the blood moon night to confirm.”

“What happens in the blood moon night?”

“Our senses increase and you can be able to smell out your mate’s wolf within a hundred miles. It’s a wonderful experience, or so I heard,” he shrugged. “Mate-less wolves look forward to the blood moon night every year.”

“Has it happened this year?”

“No, it’s coming up. Everyone is talking about it.”

“Do you think you will find yours?”

“I don’t know,” he chuckled, “but I have hope. Finding your mate makes you feel complete, every wolf wants to find their mate, every being.” He glanced at her, “unlike you humans, we mate for life. There is nothing like divorce or stuff like that. If a mate doesn’t want to be with their fated, they will have to reject them on the first day they find them because letting it linger gives the bond time to grow and once you consummate it, you can’t reject them anymore and you are stuck together for life.”

“Has any wolf rejected their mate before?”

“Sure, some that found love before finding their fated.”

“Oh,” Naomi nodded and glanced at him, “do you think you can ever reject yours?”