Shadows on her heart

Arabella's POV

This place is a damn time capsule. I stepped out of the car and inhaled the scent of pine and damp earth. It hit me like a punch to the gut, triggering memories I wasn't ready to face. Some were sweet, others bittersweet, and the rest... unbearable.

Gerrard stretched beside me, slamming the car door shut. His toned muscles rippled under his shirt as he yawned. "Let's see if the people here have gotten any less dramatic. I highly doubt it!" He winked, and I shot him a sideways glance.

The towering trees and rustic buildings of the pack's territory had not changed a bit. Everything looked just as it had when I left years ago. It was unsettling how familiar it all felt, like whispers from the woods were calling me back. Voices of people I had known in another life, trying to reveal secrets I wasn't ready to hear.

"Arabella? Is that you?"

The sound yanked me out of my thoughts. The whispers disappeared as I turned to see an elderly woman approaching.

It was my homeless bestie woman,Sarah.Though we shared a huge age gap.

Her face lit up beneath the map of wrinkles time had drawn on her skin. Before I could brace myself, she pulled me into a tight hug.

"You have been gone too long, girl," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "Nobody ever helped comb my hair like you did. No one perfumed my dress. It's good to see you back."

I hugged her back, guilt clawing at my chest. I had fled, chasing my own sanity and leaving people like Sarah behind. People who might have needed me."Good to be back, Sarah!" I lied, forcing a smile.

My eyes drifted to another figure walking toward me, arms wide open.

It was Veronica. My childhood friend. "Gosh! Babe, you are finally back. I thought I would never see you again. I missed you!"

We kissed each other's cheeks, the familiarity of the gesture soothing and strange all at once.

"I missed you too. How is life treating you?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Busy as always, trying to make ends meet, you know..." Her voice trailed off, but then she smiled brightly and rubbed my shoulder. "It is going to be better now that you are here. I heard you did great at university. The Pack is so excited to have you back."

I nodded, even though I was not sure how to feel about it. Of course, I did great at university. I had to. There was no room for weakness at Med School. It was me and my dream against the world.

Before I could respond, a hush fell over the small crowd that had gathered. My heart dropped as I turned to see him.

Asher Darkheart. The Alpha of the Blood Crescent Pack. The man I had loved for as long as I could remember. The man who had broken my heart.

His dark blue eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, time seemed to collapse. I felt stripped bare, exposed to the one person who had ruined me.

I forgot the strong, independent woman I had become. In that moment, I was the broken girl he had left behind.

My mind immediately went blank and I started having vivid flashbacks. Like I was sucked right into the past from which I had run away...

I was naive enough to confess my love openly, in front of everyone, while we played a game of truth or dare.

I had opened my heart to Asher, baring every ounce of emotion I had kept hidden, only to be met with icy disdain that pierced my soul and left me bleeding inside.

"You are not what I need, Bella," he said, his voice cold and cutting. "I need a mate who can stand by my side, not a girl with a schoolgirl crush. A woman with lineage...not an orphan by any chance."He left me standing there, surrounded by their laughter and giggles, my vulnerability on full display.

But I did not care.

My Ash had always been devoid of emotion, and maybe that was what drew me to him. His bitterness, his coldness...it fascinated me. Despite everything he was mine. Only my Ash!

He was everything I was not, and somehow, that contrast felt magnetic.

That night, I did not go back to my room. Instead, after hours of turmoil, I made a decision. I would confront him...privately.

But when I reached his room, I froze. From within, I heard muffled sounds. Moans.

Curiosity and dread clawed at me as I pushed the door slightly ajar, peering inside. My heart stopped at the sight before me.

Alpha Asher...my Ash...was entangled with Moana. Their bodies moved together in a rhythm that made the bile rise in my throat.

The sounds of their passion filled the room, each one like a knife twisting deeper into my chest.

"Ash?" I whispered, my voice trembling under the weight of my devastation. Tears streaked down my cheeks before I even realized I was crying.He barely flinched. His eyes flickered with something that wasn't guilt but irritation.

He disentangled himself from Moana, who lay back with a lazy, satisfied smirk, not even bothering to cover herself.

"Oh, look who decided to show up," Asher sneered, grabbing his pants and pulling them on with maddening ease. "What do you want, Arabella?"

He did not call me Bella anymore.

I could barely speak. The betrayal was suffocating. "I came to talk to you. To understand why you rejected me. But now I see... you are nothing but a lying, cheating bastard!"

His laughter was cold and sharp. "Careful with your words, girl. You are talking to your future Alpha. Cheating? I never promised you anything!"

He stepped closer, towering over me, his voice dripping with scorn. "Grow up, Arabella. Did you really think you were special? That I would choose you over someone like Moana?"

She, lounging on the bed, stretched lazily, her smirk deepening,playing with her lady part. "Sweetheart, did you really think you stood a chance? Pathetic." She glanced at Asher with a mock annoyance. " Asher, get rid of her already. I am not done with you yet."

My vision blurred with tears, my voice breaking as I looked at him, pleading for some semblance of the person I thought I knew. "I trusted you, Ash. I thought you cared."

His eyes turned colder, if that was even possible. His next words were like shards of glass. "You are pathetic. Get out of here, Arabella. You are not wanted."

And then he slammed the door in my face.

I ran. I did not know where I was going, but I could not stay. The memory of his words followed me like a shadow, haunting me for days, weeks, months, even after I left the pack and moved on to university.

"And don't come crying to me when you realize no one else wants you either."

( end of flashback)

I could swear I wanted to turn around, get back in the car and drive away.

But then, something unexpected happened. His eyes softened.

"Bella," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "Welcome back."

Before I could process his words, he leaned forward and hugged me. A formal hug, but his warmth engulfed me, his breath hot against my neck.

"Thanks, Alpha," I managed to say, my voice shaky.

I could not bring myself to call him Ash.

"I missed you," he whispered into my ear before stepping back.

My eyes widened. What was he doing? Why was he being so... affectionate?

Before I could make sense of it, he gently took my arm. "Come with me. I need to discuss some serious matters. Let's head to the packhouse."

I followed him like a zombie, unable to react. But we didn't make it to the packhouse.

After the first turn, Asher led me into a private cabin. The door clicked shut behind us, plunging the room into semi-darkness.

Fading sunlight streamed through the ventilators, casting a golden-orange glow over his hair. He looked... ethereal.

I froze as he closed the gap between us, pulling me into a tight, passionate hug.

"What the hell, Asher?" I finally pushed him away, my voice trembling with anger.

His eyes were intense, full of something I couldn't decipher.

"I know I hurt you, Bella. I hurt you badly. But things have changed," he said, his voice soft.

I scoffed, crossing my arms. "You dragged me here to tell me you have turned over a new leaf? I am not the naive girl you used to know, Alpha Asher."

"No," he admitted, stepping closer. "But I have my reasons. Reasons I want you to understand."

I could feel my defenses cracking. I hated it.

"And what reasons would those be?" I asked, my voice dripping with skepticism.

"It is not something I can explain right away. It will take time." His voice was raw, pleading.

I shook my head, anger bubbling up. "You want me to trust you after everything you have done to me? Forget it, Asher!"

"I was trying to protect you!" His voice rose, frustration evident.

"From what? Your own lies?"

He flinched but did not back down. "From the dangers of being with me. But I was wrong. Pushing you away only made things worse."

"Protecting me? You rejected me, Alpha Asher. Made it clear I was not welcome."

"I was an idiot!" His voice cracked, and for the first time, I saw something break in him. "I need you to forgive me, Bella. I need your help to protect our pack."

Before I could respond, a knock on the door interrupted us.

Gerrard's voice came through, urgent. "Everything okay in there?"

The next moment, he burst in. His usual sunny demeanor was replaced with a grim expression.

"We have disturbance at the border, Alpha."

His face darkened. "Damn it! It is worse than I thought."The tension in the air was palpable as I looked between them.

"What disturbance?What is going on? " I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.

Asher clenched his fists. "That is what we are about to find out."

Arabella's POV

I followed Ash and Ger without a word, my breath catching in my throat as we approached the border.

Ash's fists were clenched,jaws tight, and his stride was purposeful. Ger walked beside him, calm yet alert. I had to pick up my pace to keep up with their determined march.

When we reached the border, a group of rogues stood waiting, their expressions dripping with hostility. The tallest of them, his face marred by scars and burns, stepped forward with a sneer. "We are here to settle a score," he growled, his gaze locking onto Asher.

"This is our territory. State your business or leave."

Ash's voice was cold, authoritative, and unyielding. "This is Blood Crescent land. Say your piece and get out."

The rogue's grin twisted into something sinister. "Our business is with you, Darkheart. You took something that belongs to us, and we are here to take it back." His predatory gaze flickered over to me, sending a chill down my spine.

Ash stepped in front of me, blocking the rogue's view. "You will regret those words," he said, his voice dripping with menace.

The rogue ignored him, addressing his pack with a jeering tone. "Boys, it's been a while since we tasted women. Shall we have some fun before we kill them?"

Sickening laughter erupted from the rogues, their leers making my stomach churn.

Ash's fury as if burst at that instant. "I will pluck your eyes out and feed them to the ravens," he snarled, lunging at the scarred man.

Chaos erupted.

The warriors of the pack charged forward to meet the rogues head-on, the air filled with snarls, growls, and the clash of metal.

Ger stayed close to me, his silver sword flashing in the moonlight matching his silver hair as he took down rogue after rogue with brutal efficiency.

I tried to stay calm, but the chaos around me stirred something deep within. A prickling sensation crawled up my arms, a familiar and unwelcome force I had not felt in years. Panic bubbled in my chest as I fought to suppress it.

Then, a soft, mocking voice whispered in my mind. "You are not ready for this. They will kill you, just like they killed the others."

I whipped my head around, but no one was there. The voice was coming from within me.

Ash's roar snapped me back to reality. He was locked in a vicious fight with the scarred rogue leader, their strength evenly matched. But the rogue suddenly broke away and lunged straight for me.

I froze as he closed the distance. My instincts screamed at me to move, but my feet were rooted in place.

Then, as if on autopilot, I dodged to the side. Energy surged through me, too powerful to contain. My hand shot out, and a bolt of force slammed into the rogue's chest, sending him flying.

Everything stopped. The rogues and my pack alike turned to stare at me.

The rogue leader recovered quickly, rising to his feet with a snarl. Another rogue charged at me, but before I could react, Ger stepped in, his sword slicing cleanly through the attacker's neck.

"Are you alright?" Ger called out, his eyes scanning me.

I nodded quickly, though my knees were trembling. The voice in my head laughed cruelly. "You should have stayed hidden. Let us take over, or you will get yourself killed."

I staggered, the world spinning around me. The energy inside me was too much to handle, threatening to consume me.

Ash's hand suddenly gripped my shoulder, grounding me. His strength was overwhelming as he drove his knee into one rogue's stomach and slashed another's throat with a swift, brutal motion.

"Stay with me," he murmured, his eyes locking onto mine. For a brief moment, I saw something in his gaze that was not disdain or indifference, neither was it love.

The rogue leader charged again, but this time, Ash and I moved as one. I placed my hand on his arm, letting the energy within me flow into him. His strength surged, and a wild grin spread across his face.

"Let's finish this," he said, his voice low but resolute.

The rogue's eyes widened in fear. "No..." he started, but it was too late. I unleashed the energy, channeling it through Ash. It hit the rogue leader , tearing through him with devastating force. His screams echoed in the night, then fell silent.

The remaining rogues hesitated, their morale shattered. Ash stood over their leader's lifeless body, his voice a deadly growl. "Run, or you will join him."

The rogues fled, disappearing into the woods.

As the dust settled, the energy within me began to fade. My body felt heavy, my limbs weakened. The voices in my head were silent, but an eerie emptiness replaced them.

Ash turned to me, his expression unreadable. But before he could say a word, darkness crept in, and I collapsed into the void.

Author's POV

Arabella's head spun, her vision blurring as she stumbled forward. She tried to steady herself, but her body gave way. Darkness closed in, and the last thing she felt was a pair of strong arms catching her before she fell.

When she came to, the first thing she noticed was the sound of hurried footsteps and a low, tense voice. She cracked her eyes open slightly, her vision still hazy, and recognized Ash's face hovering above her.

"Stay with me, Bella. Don't you dare give up now," he muttered, his tone sharp but filled with an undertone of worry.

Arabella wanted to respond, to tell him she was fine, but her lips would not move. Her body felt like lead.

The jostling stopped, and she heard the familiar creak of a wooden door. A new voice joined Ash's, the tone brisk and professional.

"What happened? Lay her down here. Quickly."

Arabella felt herself being placed gently onto a soft surface. The sudden stillness made her realize how heavy her limbs felt. Her head lolled to the side as she tried to focus on the voices around her.

"She fainted," Ger's voice rang out again, frustration lacing his words. "She has been pushing herself too hard I think. Tell us what's wrong with her."

There was a pause. "I will need to examine her first, Alpha, unless you think I am a wizard. Step back and let me work."

Arabella wanted to laugh at the subtle jab at Ash's overbearing nature but settled for a faint groan.

"Arabella, can you hear me?" The healer's voice was softer now, coaxing. She felt the touch of cool fingers on her wrist, then her forehead.

She managed a weak nod. "...Yes," she rasped, her throat dry.

"Good. That is good," the healer murmured. He continued his examination, checking her pulse and lifting her eyelids to peer into her eyes. "You are severely dehydrated, and your body is overworked. When was the last time you ate properly?"

Arabella blinked, her thoughts sluggish. She could not remember. Everything felt like a blur.

"I knew it," Asher muttered. "She has been pushing herself too hard over the years. Always stubborn.No one had to die to become a doctor."

The healer gave a soft hum of agreement. "She needs rest and proper care. I will keep her here under observation for tonight."

"No. She is coming back with me," Asher argued immediately.

Arabella felt a twinge of amusement at his tone, but it was quickly overshadowed by the healer's calm response.

"Alpha, she is not moving from this bed until I say so. If you want her to recover, you will let her stay. Now, if you are done barking orders, please step aside."

Arabella's lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smile as Asher huffed in reluctant agreement.

"Fine. But if anything happens to her..."

"Yes, yes, annihilate my bloodline, blah blah," the healer interrupted dismissively. "Now, will you let me do my job?"

Arabella wanted to chuckle, but the effort was too much. She drifted off again, the voices around her fading as exhaustion claimed her once more.

Asher could not help himself as snippets from their past came floating by -

( start of flash back)

"And don't come crying to me when you realize no one else wants you either."

Asher knew exactly what he was doing.

" Come on! Dress up and leave! "

He growled at Moana as soon as Arabella left.

" But, Asher, we were having so much fun... let's continue a little longer... "

" Grab your dress and get out of here! "

Moana literally ran for her life grabbing her clothes as Asher smashed the entire cupboard with lines of bottles, wrecking his fist and the room.

( end of flashback)

Rejecting Arabella was not easy. She was a pure soul. And he loved her way too much to do that. He loved her more than he loved his throne. He would have run away if he could with her and lived a life on a deserted island, away from all the pack responsibility and politics.

But he could not.

Not with his father terminally ill and him being the only child.

It was not about his happiness, it was about a lot of innocent lives.

He could not risk dragging her down along with him.

When he hurt her , a part of him wished she would find someone to heal her from what he did. But another part , the selfish part, wanted her to return.

He wanted to hold her in his arms again.

He did not expect that he would have to summon her so soon and under such terrible circumstances.

He was happy.

He felt like his soul was back. He was finally breathing. But with her return, came another dread. The dread of losing her forever.

Asher tossed in his chair back at his room, the bottle of liquor half empty in his hand.

He chugged it down hoping to catch some sleep before the big event the next day.

Leaving her with the healer as soon as she returned to the pack was the worst that he could think off... It was as if it was setting off that trigger.