Alpha Asher

Tyler emerged from the brush of the forest, looking exactly how I had remembered him.

His sandy blonde hair was slightly longer now, and his torso was a little more swollen with muscle. His blue eyes held the same arrogance they had held his entire life.

His blue eyes were full of caution and some strange emotion as he slowly approached me.

"I'm alerting the others." Maya snapped.

"Wait." I demanded, "I want to hear what he has to say."

"If he gets too close, I'm ripping his head off." Maya growled.

"Agreed." I replied.

"Lola." Tyler breathed, "It's been a long time."

I blinked at him stupidly. Out of everything he's done and put this pack through, that's all he has to say?

"No kidding." I snapped, "You better come up with something better unless you want the others to find out you're here."

Tyler shook his head, "You wouldn't call them on me, would you Lola?"

"Like you said, it's been a long time." I kept my voice indifferent, staring at him with hard eyes.

Seeing Tyler in person was proof that things had indeed changed. The butterflies that once scattered in my stomach under his blue-eyed gaze were now nonexistent. Looking into the depths of his ocean eyes invoked none of the feelings they had used to. All I felt for him now was hate, a dangerous emotion for any creature to hold.

"Lola." Tyler's voice turned soft as he took another step towards me, "You know I'd never hurt you."

My heart squeezed at the sincerity in his words, but my mind knew better. Tyler only held interest in himself, he cared for only himself. The girl who had been raised along side him was the one hurting. The new Lola felt nothing for him.

Tyler took another tentative step, "I made a mistake, Lola. I never should've left you."

"Don't listen to him." Maya growled, her eyes locked on Tyler.

I shook my head, "I'll never listen to him again."

My heart squeezed again as Lola from the past finally heard the words she had been dreaming of.

"Just a few more steps." Maya murmured, and I was in silent agreement with her.

"What's done is done, Tyler." I snapped, "You found your mate, now get lost."

Tyler shook his head, "She means nothing to me. It's always been you, Lola. I've loved you since the beginning, and even now I can't get you out of my head."

"What kind of game does he think he's playing." Maya snarled, desperate to sink her teeth into flesh.

I had lost the ironclad hold I had on Maya for just a split second. A ferocious growl filled with fury ripped from my mouth. Maya was giving Tyler a warning, stop where you are and you won't die.

Tyler immediately halted in his steps, caution filling his blue eyes.

"I came back for you, Lola." Tyler's voice was soft and dripping honesty.

His honesty changed nothing. Even if I wanted to forgive him, Maya would never allow it. He had abandoned his entire pack, left them all for dead. My Mom died for a pathetic Alpha who swore to protect her.

"I had no choice, Lola." Tyler's blue eyes darted around frantically, "I had to leave. You'd understand if you just came with me."

"Come with you?" Maya snarled, "Never in a million years."

"My Mom's dead, y'know." I pointed out, reading the emotion in his eyes.

Surprise and then guilt flashed in his eyes.

"Color me surprised, he actually feels bad." Maya scoffed incredulously.

I shook my head, "I don't know what to think. All I know is there's no way in hell we're going with him.”

"I didn't know that, Lola." Tyler shook his head, "I swear."

"What the f**k happened, Tyler?" I snapped, "You left everyone to die."

Tyler shook his head furiously, "That wasn't my intention, I swear. Asher said he'd let me live if I abandoned the pack."

"Alpha Asher would've let another Alpha escape." Maya hissed, "No Alpha would."

I gritted my teeth together. His eyes were brimming with sincerity, but something was off.

Why would Alpha Asher make a deal like that? The rumors about Asher paint him as a merciless Alpha, one who is swift when dealing death sentences. Why would he allow another Alpha to escape? "I don't believe him." Maya growled.

"I don't either, but you have to admit he is convincing." I frowned.

Maya shook her head, "Anyone can lie."

"Why should I believe you, Tyler?" I glared at him, "You've done nothing to earn my trust."

"I had your trust once before. I can earn it again." Tyler frowned, but I wasn't hearing it.

"Leave Tyler." I snapped, my eyes hardening as I glared at him. "Flee, before I call the others."

"Shouldn't be too hard for him. He's better at running away than running a pack." Maya snickered.

The sincerity and honesty that had once been flooding his ocean eyes faded, and was quickly replaced by a hard and almost taunting expression.

"I just wanted to give you a fighting chance, Lola." Tyler's voice was hard and cold.

I could feel my body stiffen at his words, and a small smile twitched onto his face.

"What do you mean?" I snapped. Something about the look on his face had my hair standing on end.

Tyler's small smile widened, taking on a full-blown smirk. It wasn't one filled with playful intentions, it was one full of secrets.

"You didn't think I would just let Asher steal my pack, did you?" Tyler scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

I rolled my eyes at him, "Every pack within five hundred mile radius hates you, Tyler. You can't take back a pack the size of Asher's on your own."

Tyler's smirk turned into a grin, and he flashed me a set of white teeth. "Oh, I'm not alone. I have some new friends. The last thing your new little Alpha would ever expect.”

"New friends?" Maya sounded confused, "No pack would dare fight against Alpha Asher."

Something about his words had my teeth on edge, and everything inside of me wanted to run straight to Asher.

"Go. Tell your Alpha what little you know. It won't change a thing." Tyler taunted, taking a few steps back until he began to merge with the forest.

"Good luck, Tyler." I snapped, turning around. "You'll need it."

I refused to let Tyler see my worry, or my fear. A year away from him had suited me well.

"Did you enjoy the notes, Lola?" Tyler's words had me hesitating, my back turned on my first love. "A friend of mine has been dying to meet you. He simply couldn't help himself."

My hesitation only lasted a split second before I walked calmly into the forest, Tyler's laugh echoing in my mind.