Asher sat in the living room, his head full of thoughts. His mother Helen was still in hibernation, a problem Sabrina would take care of tomorrow - Devon had stressed herself too much.

Truth be told, Asher knew his mother would hate him for this. No matter how evil Ezekiel had been or what he did to her, he was her mate and husband. Sadly, not only did he put an end to Ezekiel but killed his brother too.

Even if Helen managed to forgive him for killing Ezekiel because of what he did to her- putting her in a state of inactivity - she would probably never forgive him for Raphael.

Raphael was her son just as he was too and judging from the time he spent with his mother during his imprisonment, she wanted the best for them. Helen wanted both sons to coexist and communicate as brothers, not tear each other apart.

Unfortunately, her fears came true, and now one of them is dead. Honestly speaking, Asher had never intended killing Raphael no matter how toxic he was to him. That was why when he gained back his body, he ignored his evil brother, checking up on his mate instead.

Asher had planned to capture him and after judging him fairly, have Ben take away his powers - yep, that idiot was stronger than he thinks he is. Else, why would his kind be hunted like chickens in the past?

But now, his overambitious brother did not only die but caused their mother an irreversible pain and to him, a pang of guilt that would last for eternity till someone decided to end his pathetic life.

Asher wouldn't blame his mother if she hated him after all, he would have done the same if the circumstances were reversed and she happened to end Lia - which wasn't possible, the girl wouldn't die through such means.

He hadn't told Lia any of this because he didn't want her to worry, his mate had enough problems at hand and he refused to add to that.

Asher's head jerked up towards the entrance, he smelt her before she went through that door and met him halfway.

But he was bewildered when he saw tears running down her face, what the hell happened? Anger made its way to his vein, who dared make her cry?

Suddenly, his mind drifted to that conversation she had with Sabrina where she disclosed her plans of revealing the truth to her mother. From the look on her face, he surmised it did not go well.

As much as he wanted to give Jenny a piece of his mind for bringing Lia to tears, the urge to comfort his mate was greater and he brought her into his arms.

"I-I told her everything about me and things went fine until she found out about us," she sobbed, mumbling the words into his chest.

"She wanted to take me away from you both…" Lia pulled away, lifting her tears stained face to explain better.

At the mention of "take away", Asher clenched his fist, and a muscle in his jaw pulsed with anger. Nobody was taking Lia away from him. Even if Daniel does nothing, he would not stay still.

Lia was the drug he was addicted to and if the need arises, he would track her down to the end of the earth.

"I tried to explain but she wouldn't let me. She doesn't understand how these things work….."

"I know" Asher brought her into his arms once more, rubbing her back as she cried further.

Lia pushed away from his chest, shaking her head, "No, you don't know what happened. I hurt her,"

The corners of Asher's mouth twitched, exactly what degree of "hurt" was she talking about here? He glanced down at her legs and saw no blood prints nor was there any on her hands.

Phew, thank the heavens! For a moment there, Asher thought she had ripped her mother to pieces out of anger. Werewolves were not the best creature to hang around when furious.

"She wouldn't give me a chance to speak and I was just so irritated. I wanted to make things clear and then I was so angry…" her hands went around her throat, " And I just yelled out of anger and hurt them. I lost my temper and nearly killed them, Asher… What kind of monster am I? "

"You're not a monster," He hugged her once again and this time, Lia didn't resist him, "You just made a mistake, just like everyone else,"

Close to an hour, Lia wept her heart out on his body till she exhausted herself to sleep. The vampire carried her bridal style to his bedroom where he placed her on his bed, lying alongside her.

Lounging on the bed, Asher took in her features, noticing how her chest rose and fell with each breath she took. This made him wonder what breathing felt like, he was born a vampire and unlike converted ones, wasn't opportune to experience the sensation of taking air into their body.

He somehow envied her, she got to be a vampire and werewolf, as well as retaining some of her human properties. Asher just wondered how that was possible? Because he still couldn't come to terms with how those dark witches made her the way she was.

The vampire knew he was missing a vital puzzle piece and once he found that, everything would be brought to exposé: how Lia came to be this way and what the dark witches wanted her for.

But at the moment, the council was a greater concern for him. The battle had not only cost him his men but exposed his mate as well; it wouldn't surprise him if any of the council dogs - Hunters - had found out the truth already.

Well, Asher guessed he would find out about that once they summon him or interrogate him in his home- that's up to them.

"I won't let anything happen to you," Asher lowered his head and kissed her on the top of her head.

But then, his countenance changed when he sensed another presence downstairs. Well, he had been expecting him, anyway.

Asher left the room and went downstairs to meet Daniel, the fuming werewolf. Dan was also there, watching the werewolf with eyes narrowed. He had not made his presence earlier when Lia arrived because he knew the girl wouldn't harm Asher but the same couldn't be said for Daniel. If Asher's brother, Raphael could hurt and betray him, what more a love loyal?

"You arrogant bastard!" Daniel punched him right in the face which he saw coming yet didn't block.

"If you had not been too cocky, all this wouldn't have happened!" he moved to hit Asher once again when Dan teleported him back to his village.

"Why did you send him away?" Asher asked Dan, wiping the blood at the corner of his lips just as it healed up.

"Was I supposed to let him keep on hurting me?" he threw at him.

"Bring him back," Was his order.

Dan's jaw almost dropped, "Seriously?" he threw his hands up in the air, "Are you a sucker for pain or what?"

"Do what I said,"

"But-"

"Now," He said sternly.

Dan murmured some incomprehensible words that were likely sworn words and vanished, returning almost immediately with the still angry werewolf beside him.

"Here's your werewolf," Dan announced with a mocking tone and left to give them so privacy.

Daniel took a step forward when he said, "You can keep fuming about the past or we move forward,"

Daniel snorted, "That's what you have to say after I almost lost my life? After my men were slaughtered like animals all because your brother took your body and conspired against me," he spat with emotions.

Asher hissed at him, "You're not the only one who suffered damages here, Daniel. I too did. You're not the one who gets to be cheated out of your bodies and forced to live as someone else; suppressed so your voice couldn't be heard. You talk about death, what about me then? Do you know how many times I nearly escaped death duty during my imprisonment?!" He added,

"And I lost men too! "

Daniel countered, " All this wouldn't have happened in the first place if you had listened?! But no, you were too or proud to keep men with you, why? You're Asher the GREAT?" He criticized him harshly.

"Fine, I made a mistake. I let my pride get in my way," Asher admitted, "So now you heard it, what next? Would you continue to rub it on my face or think of a way to make our mate comfortable,"

Daniel's expression shifted, "What happened?"

Asher snorted, "Aren't you Daniel the KnowAll?"

Daniel rolled his eyes.

"Take the girl and leave," Asher suddenly announced.

"Huh?"

"Are you now dumb as well?"

"isn't she here to stay with you, why would you give it up?" Daniel was surprised at his strange generosity.

"Things might get messy starting from tomorrow and she being here might complicate things. Just take our mate and go, Dan would offer you both an exclusive flight,"