207 Chapter 207 Buried Secrets Surface
Briar’s POV 1
After weeks of discussion, Asher and I had finally reached an agreement to return to his birth pack. The four–hour drive to the Starfall Pack felt longer than usual, with Asher’s grip tightening on the steering wheel the closer we got to his family home.
The house that came into view wasn’t as grand as my parents‘ estate, but it commanded respect with its sturdy construction and well–maintained grounds. As we stepped out of the car, the front door swung open and a figure emerged onto the wraparound porch.
Asher’s entire demeanor shifted beside me. “Son of a bitch. What’s he doing
here?”
“Who?” I asked, studying the man who stood with arms crossed, blocking the
entrance.
“My older brother. The one who abandoned us before our parents were murdered and couldn’t even be bothered to show up for their burial.”
The bitterness in Asher’s voice was unmistakable as we climbed the porch steps. The man standing there had the same dark hair and strong jawline as Asher, but his eyes held a coldness that made me instinctively step closer to
my mate.
“Rowan,” Asher said, his voice clipped.
“Never thought I’d see your face around here again,” Rowan replied, his tone equally frosty.
“Strange. I could say the exact same thing about you.”
The tension between them crackled like electricity. I moved slightly in front of Asher and extended my hand toward his brother.
“I’m Briar,” I said, hoping to defuse some of the hostility.
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Rowan’s gaze traveled over me with obvious assessment before he accepted my handshake. His grip was firm, testing.
“So you’re the famous hunter–turned–werewolf I’ve been hearing about.”
“She was stolen by hunters as an infant. She’s found her true nature now and embraced it completely,” Asher said, his protective instincts flaring as he positioned himself beside me. “Now either move aside or I’ll move you myself.”
For several long moments, the brothers stared each other down. Finally, Rowan’s mouth curved into a smirk and he stepped aside with exaggerated
courtesy.
The interior of the house surprised me. Instead of the neglected bachelor dwelling I’d expected, everything was meticulously maintained. The furniture was polished, the floors gleamed, and fresh flowers adorned the mantelpiece. Someone had been taking excellent care of this place.
Before I could comment, a group of people approached us with considerably more warmth than Rowan had shown.
“Briar, meet my sister Greta, her mate Julian, and their daughters Mila and Lila,” Asher said, his voice softening as he made the introductions.
“We’re so glad to finally meet you,” Greta said, pulling me into a genuine
embrace.
“The pleasure’s mine,” I replied, immediately liking her welcoming energy.
“They’ve been the caretakers of the family home since I left,” Asher explained, but I noticed his eyes scanning the room with critical attention.
“You moved dad’s armchair?” he asked suddenly.
“It’s safe in the den. I promised I wouldn’t dispose of anything without your permission,” Greta assured him quickly.
“You’re welcome to take whatever you’d like. We weren’t sure if you were planning to stay permanently,” Julian added diplomatically.
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“We’re just visiting. We’ve built a good life in our current pack,” Asher replied.
“Of course you have. Must be nice having Alpha Damien and Luna Elena as in–laws. They’ve got quite the reputation,” Rowan interjected from across the room, beer in hand.
“What would you know about reputation? You’ve never even met them,” Asher snapped.
“Hard to meet people when you’re never invited to anything” Rowan shot back, settling at the kitchen table with deliberate casualness.
“Since when have you needed an invitation to go anywhere?” Asher’s voice rose, and I felt the anger radiating from him.
I squeezed his hand, hoping to prevent an immediate confrontation. Whatever history existed between these brothers ran deep, but destroying each other wouldn’t solve anything.
“So why are you really here, Asher? Last time we spoke, you swore you’d never set foot in this pack again after what happened to our parents,” Rowan said, his tone becoming serious.
“That’s exactly why I’m here. I was too young then, didn’t have the knowledge or connections I have now. Briar’s going to help me investigate their murders properly this time.”
The change in atmosphere was immediate. Greta and Rowan exchanged a look that made my instincts prickle with unease. Asher’s body tensed beside me as he caught the silent communication.
“What was that look about?” he demanded.
“Why do you want to drag all this ancient history back into the light?” Rowan asked, avoiding his brother’s eyes.
“Because the bastards who butchered our parents are still walking free. They deserved better than being forgotten. They deserved justice.”
Rowan turned to stare out the window while Greta and Julian remained
207 Chapter 207 Buried Secrets Surface
unnaturally quiet. The silence stretched uncomfortably.
“We’ll be back later,” Asher said abruptly, grabbing my hand. “Come on.”
We left the house with more questions than answers, the weight of unspoken secrets following us to the car.
Asher drove us across the pack territory to the hospital, parking behind the medical building. Inside, we found the medical examiner hunched over paperwork in the sterile morgue office.
“Can I help you folks?” he asked without looking up.
“I need to review the files on my parents‘ deaths,” Asher stated.
“Names?”
“Adelaide and Thomas Reed.”
The medical examiner’s demeanor shifted, becoming cautious as he studied both of us. He moved to the filing cabinet, searching through multiple drawers with increasing agitation before finally closing them with a sharp bang.
“I’m afraid those files aren’t available,” he said carefully.
“What do you mean they’re not available?” Asher’s voice carried a dangerous edge.
“The Alpha requisitioned them weeks ago. Never returned them.”
The fury that blazed in Asher’s eyes made me step closer to him. Without another word, he stormed from the building with me hurrying to keep pace.
“Asher, talk to me. What’s happening here?” I called after him.
He stopped suddenly, whirling to face me. “Have you noticed how everyone acts like they’ve seen a ghost whenever I mention my parents? Like they’re all hiding something they don’t want me to discover?”
“I definitely picked up on that,” I confirmed.
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“So what are they all so desperate to keep buried?”
Asher’s gaze traveled up the hillside to where the packhouse sat like a fortress overlooking the territory. I knew without him saying it that our investigation was far from over.
Why would the Alpha be so interested in keeping those files? What secrets were buried with Adelaide and Thomas Reed that an entire pack seemed determined to protect?
I had a sinking feeling we were about to uncover something much darker than a simple murder case. But Asher would never find peace until he knew the truth, no matter how painful it might be.
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