201 Chapter 201 Facing the Blame
Asher’s Mate’s POV
I decided to take a long shower in the enormous bathroom, letting the hot water wash away days of tension. Afterward, I slipped into some casual clothes from the wardrobe, and the soft fabric felt incredible against my skin. I had forgotten how much I missed normal clothes after being stuck in those rough army uniforms for so long.
Asher and I headed downstairs together, where breakfast was already prepared and waiting. We joined Miller, his mate Seraph, Caleb, and Wyatt in the spacious dining room. The conversation flowed easily between them, though I noticed Miller and Seraph kept glancing toward the door.
Miller mentioned they had deliberately sent their children away during breakfast, explaining with a sheepish grin that the kids had absolutely no filter when it came to asking personal questions. They would have bombarded me with invasive inquiries about my past, my relationship with Asher, and probably everything else they could think of.
Caleb nodded in agreement, saying my brothers and sister were exactly the same way. He thought it would be better for me to get settled in gradually before facing that particular chaos. I appreciated their thoughtfulness, though part of me was genuinely curious to meet these family members I had never known existed.
After we finished eating, Asher suggested we take a walk around the territory so he could show me more of my new home. We left the packhouse together, and he pointed out various landmarks and important buildings as we strolled through the grounds. But then I spotted something that made my stomach clench with guilt.
In a massive clearing ahead of us, dozens of tents were set up in organized rows, with people moving between them and small cooking fires scattered throughout the area.
201 Chapter 201 Facing the Blame
Asher noticed my stare and followed my gaze. “Those are the families who had to evacuate. We’re working on finding them permanent housing, but it takes time.”
My throat tightened as I watched the scene unfold. “They lost their homes because of us, didn’t they? Because of what I did?”
Asher placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “You had no idea what you were getting into. None of this is your fault, and nobody here is going to blame you for it.”
But I couldn’t shake the overwhelming guilt as I stared at those makeshift shelters. Here I was, living in luxury with servants and gourmet meals, while dozens of innocent families were sleeping in tents and cooking over open flames because of actions I had unknowingly participated in. The injustice of it made my chest ache.
“Asher!” A sharp voice cut through my brooding thoughts.
A woman was marching toward us with obvious anger radiating from every step she took. Asher muttered something under his breath that sounded distinctly like a curse.
She came to a stop directly in front of us, her hands planted firmly on her hips. “How thoughtful of you to let me know you were back in town.”
Asher’s jaw tightened visibly. “I already told you, Bianca. Whatever we had is
over.”
“Over because of her?” Bianca’s voice rose as she gestured aggressively in my direction. “She’s the reason all these innocent people are living in tents right now. And you just throw away everything we had for someone who helped destroy our community?”
The accusation hit me like a physical blow, but Asher stepped protectively closer to me. “She’s my mate, and you damn well know it. She was raised by hunters without knowing what she really was. She’s here now, and she’s not going to hurt anyone.”
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< 201 Chapter 201 Facing the Blame
Bianca’s laugh was bitter and cruel. “How can you be so naive? She could be playing you, gathering information for another attack against us.”
Asher’s control finally snapped. “Go to hell, Bianca.”
That was apparently the last straw for her. She raised her hand as if to slap Asher across the face, but my reflexes kicked in before I could think about it. I caught her wrist in mid–swing, stopping the blow before it could connect.
“I really wouldn’t try that if I were you,” I said quietly, my voice carrying a dangerous edge as I twisted her wrist backward and released it, causing her to stumble slightly.
The confrontation had drawn the attention of several nearby families, and I could feel their eyes on us, probably wondering if I was about to prove Bianca’s point about being dangerous. But when I glanced at Asher, he looked genuinely impressed rather than concerned.
Bianca straightened her clothes with as much dignity as she could muster. “Fine. You two deserve each other.”
She stalked away, leaving an uncomfortable silence in her wake. I was still processing the encounter when another woman approached us, this one with a much warmer demeanor.
“It’s wonderful to finally meet you,” she said with a genuine smile.
Asher relaxed immediately at the sight of her. “This is Maya. She’s Elena’s closest friend and also serves as our pack doctor.”
I managed to return her smile despite the lingering tension. “Nice to meet
you too.”
Maya’s expression grew more animated. “I’m so relieved that Elena and Damien were able to find you. Speaking of which, where are they? I expected to see them with you.”
I looked to Asher, unsure how much information I should share about their whereabouts.
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201 Chapter 201 Facing the Blame
Asher’s expression grew more serious. “They haven’t returned yet. They had some personal business to handle first.”
The warmth in Maya’s eyes immediately shifted to concern. “I don’t like the sound of that at all.”
“None of us do,” Asher admitted. “But we’re all hoping they know what they’re doing.”
Maya pressed for more details. “Where exactly did they go?”
Asher hesitated for a moment before answering. “Atlanta.”
The moment he said the city name, all the color drained from Maya’s face.
She obviously understood the implications of that location immediately, and whatever she was thinking clearly terrified her.
“Please tell me they took some warriors with them for backup,” she said urgently.
Asher shook his head grimly. “They went alone. But Caleb has more detailed information if you want to head back to the packhouse and talk to him about
it.”
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