The Vampire's Second Chance

Asher smith

Sometimes all I feel is pain. Not the physical kind but the emotional kind. The gut wrenching, soul destroying kind.

Has you chest ever hurt that you thought it might explode?

It was like a hole in your chest, a void that can never be filled. A void so deep that you don't know if it can ever be filled.

Happiness was nothing but a distant memory for me. Half my soul was missing and I will never be able to fill the space again.

It has been a year since I watched my one true love get murdered right in front of me. There was nothing I could do to stop it from happening, yet I blame myself everyday.

I still have nightmares of that day. Half my soul was gone. The heartache was unbearable. Being the vampire king doesn't make things easier either, it just makes things worse.

I know I have been hard on my coven since she passed away but what do they expect? My life was gone and she was never coming back.

Nothing could make me okay again and that was one thing I was sure of.

"Asher," my best friend addressed me as he walks in my office.

I looked up at him through my dark hooded eyes. "What do you want?" I growled at him.

My attention is focused else where, lost in my thoughts. There is nothing more I hate than being bothered.

"I was wondering if you wanted to go to lunch? It's been a long time since-" I cut him off before he has the time to finish.

I balled my hands into first under my desk, squeezing the arm of the chair so hard my knuckles turned white. "Conner, would you just leave my office now. I have no intention if joining you for dinner. Not now, not ever."

Conner's face turned sympathetic. "I know you miss her Asher, but I miss her too. I think you should start going out and having lunches with me. I want to be there for you and if-"

I cut him off holding my hand up to him as my eyes burned with fury. "Don't finish that sentence."

"But Ash-" he starts again.

I let a growl leave my lips at him inability to listen. "Enough! You have no idea how I'm feeling Conner! You have no right to come In here and tell me what I should be doing!" My voice booms around the room making Conner flinch.

Rising to my feet in anger, chest heaving. The chair came out from underneath me.

"I didn't mean to upset you Asher." Conner says fumbling quickly to open the door and abruptly exits.

I punch the closest wall to me, letting my fist go through the wall with such force the wall crumbles to the floor. A scream leaves my lips, letting all my emotions out. All the emotions that are crawling through me like trapped poison constantly making me think like a psychopath.

The ones that paralyzed me every day.

Anger.

Sadness.

Hate.

Regret.

Guilt.

Before I could even think about my actions I'm storming out the door. Flying down the stairs, not bothering to look or say anything to anyone.

"Asher!" I hear my sister Leigh call out to me.

I ignore her because I wasn't going to lose my shit around her. She's taken the hit far too many times and I hated myself for it but the pain in my chest never ever goes away. Grieving never gets easier, who ever says it does is a liar.

Opening my front door and slamming it behind me. The cool air whips around my skin, not even bothered by the cold night.

Once I reach my car I sit inside for a few minutes, tears gathered in my eyes but I don't let them fall. My hands reach up to grab the wheel I tightened my hands.

My jaw clenched as my vision blurred and my ears ringed with distress. A roar erupted from my chest as I punched the wheel. I aggressively punched the wheel over and over and over.

I fumble with the keys and I raced out of the drive way as quickly as I could. I wish I could just race into the woods and spend the evening with nature. But I couldn't.

When my Lauren died. Half my soul died too.

Somewhere inside of me wants to go after the people who killed her. I feel so broken and my anger is getting harder and harder to control. The people who did this will pay.

What's the point in living without your mate? The only thing that could ever make you feel complete.

I wasn't sure exactly where I was going, my mind needed a distraction and change of scenery. Turning on to and empty road, the night was dark, the sky full of clouds and not a single star in the sky.

The road became narrow and the tree's getting taller and taller around me. My hand raked through my hair as I tried to think of anything but Lauren.

Why was life never easy?

Them I smelled a soft scent, my senses became sensitive and my arms had goosebumps. Sitting straight in my seat, my eyes scanned the dimly lit road ahead of me.

The smell was faint, very faint but it was the most delicious smell. A subtle scent of jasmine and cherries.

I kept wondering where the smell was coming from as the smell became stronger. My knuckles were turning white from me grabbing the steering wheel to hard. I took one hand off the steering wheel stretching it.

The shadows on the trees were reflecting down on the ground, blowing in the wind softly. I stopped the car because something didn't feel right.

My eyes snapped to the side of the road as something began to move in the bushes. The scent was even stronger now, I could almost taste it.

A young girl emerged from the bushes, running across the road with a slight limp.

As she crosses the road she spots my car. I started the car again backing up but there was no where to go on this narrow road. She slams her hands down on the hood of my car and looks through the windshield in fear.

Her whole body was shaking, her tiny frame was covered in cuts and bruises. My slow heart beat began to race inside my chest.

My eyes locked with her green ones.

Mate.

The words left my lips. I felt a warm sensation down my body.

Holy Fuck.

Asher Smith

Her eyes wide and terrified and alert. I watched as she took her hands off the hood and darted into the woods.

I opened my car door and stepped out. "Wait!" I yelled after her.

Her legs carried her away fast, I can see and smell the fear practically dripping off her with every step. She was shaking violently, her head whipping around to see how close I was to her.

Taking big steps trying to catch up, she turns around and looks at me panic in her eyes. Her chest heaving as she attempts to run quicker. Her feet dogging the tree roots on the ground.

Managing to get level with her, she looked up at me in shock and stops right in her tracks. Her clothes are dirty and torn like she had been neglected.

I stopped in from of her and she took a shaky step back. Her foot treads down on a stick and it creaked under her. She loses balance and falls down onto her back, a quiet hiss left her lips.

Instantly rushing to help her she scurries away from me, stopping when her back hits a tree. Her eyes glistened with tears which fell down her cheeks, against her pale broken skin.

"P-please don't hurt me," her quiet voice begs.

I bend down to her level she flinches at how close we were, she shields her face behind her knees. "I'm not going to hurt you little one," I tell her softly, my tone trying to sound sincere.

Her breathing becomes harsher, as she continues to try and push herself away from me. Her green eyes wondering over my face and watched my moves very carefully.

"Please, please just let me go," she begs as I feel her body shake with fear.

Noticing her tears falling endlessly down her face from her terrified eyes. Afraid that I would do unspeakable things to her.

"Your clearly in danger and hurt. Please let me help you. I'm not going to hurt you," I pleaded with her, but I understand how hard it must be for her to trust someone with the state she was in.

There wasn't anyway I was going to just let her go, not knowing if she is safe or if people are after her.

She shakes her head. "I'm not going anywhere with you." She cries out and tries to shake the grip I have on her.

Leigh, I need your help right now. I demanded from the mindlink.

Yes, vampires can mindlink with the whoever we share blood with.

Looking back down at my mate, her big green eyes staring back at me. Her chest was heaving and her breathing loud. "I'm not going to hurt you." I said to her in a quiet voice. "I could never hurt you."

She slightly raised her eyebrows at my words and pulled back from me. "I don't trust you." Her voice quivers.

What's wrong? Where are you? Leigh's mindlinked me back.

Taking in my surroundings I tell her where I am, telling her that she will see my car on the side of the road.

Okay, be there soon. She rushes.

"That's okay, you don't need to trust me right now." I said gently, trying not to sound patronizing. "But one day you will trust me."

"Why are you saying this? You don't know me!" She said sounding confused.

Her words screamed distressed and I didn't want to think about the things she had gone through. "I know you don't know me, and I don't know you, but it will all make sense soon you will be safe now." I told her.

"Please, I just want to get away, please." She begs again, her voice raking with sobs.

Asher, we are here, is it safe?

Yes.

Leigh and Zack emerged from the woods.

"What's going on? Who is this?" Leigh asked as she rushes to my side and eyed the girl that I have a grip on.

"I'll tell you everything later." I mumbled to her. Turning back to my mate, she was eyes Leigh and Zach with uncertainty. "This is my sister and her boyfriend." I said to her.

"We want to help you, please let us help you." I told her, my fingers moving slightly up her arms.

"Get off of me!" She screams before realizing what she said and quickly shields herself from me.

My heart shatters as I think about how she expected me to hit her. "Hey, I'm not going to hurt you." I said.

I turned to my sister "sleep," I whispered not loud enough for my mate to here and Leigh nods her head.

Wait, wait wait!" My mate screams as Leigh stands in front of her. Leigh closed her eyes and waves a hand over my mate's face.

Leigh has the power to heal, in which she could put someone to sleep with a spell almost like telepathic sleeping gas, it has come in handy many of times.

I watched my mate's eyes fall droopy and I quickly caughted her limp body before she hit the ground. She was tiny tiny compared to me and she looked like she needed a decent meal and sleep. She felt like a bag of bones and it was the worst thing to see.

"Will you tell me what the hell is going on here?" Leigh yells at me. I looked at Zach who is also looking at me confused.

"Just get in the car, we'll talk at home." I grumbled as I carry my mate to my car.

Once we were back at the coven. I carried my mate up to the guest bedroom. Putting her gently down on the bed, she was so fragile and I was scared of what she had been through.

"Asher?" Leigh gets my attention, she tried to be quietly but her voice came out loud. "Are you going to tell us what the heck is going on?"

"She's still sleeping." I whispered, pressing a finger to my lip.

I watched as my sisters eyebrows raised at me with a hand on her hip.

She's my second chance Leigh.

Leigh's eyes went wide at my words. "Excuse me?" She said out loud, not even caring that my mate was sleeping.

"Shhh." I shused harshly.

She's your mate?

Yes.

How?

I don't know but she is, I know she is.

Leigh's eyes wondered down to my mate.

"Do you know her name?" She asked, and I shook my head no.

"I'm not sure, we really didn't get to that point." I sighed as I watched my mate sleep, her breathing became more ridged and harsh. "But I do know what ever she had been through, it was hell."

My fist began to tense and I grinned my teeth in anger at the way that she had been mistreated.

I looked back at Leigh "when she wakes up, can you be here? She's scared and maybe seeing another girl will calm her down." I said, my voice full of hope because that's exactly what I needed.

Leigh nods her head, "of course." She wanders over to the bed and gently sits down.

She reaches and hand up towards mine and gently squeezed it. "I can't believe this, this is just insane." She said looking at my mate.

"I know, me either." I whispered.

I watched my mate as she stirs from her sleep and I slowly move closer, attempting not to wake her or let her feel startled. When she sees me standing by the bed she sits up in fear and pushes herself into the headboard.

Hey, hey, it's okay." I say quietly.

She shakes her head at me, her whole body shaking.

She's awake. I mindlinked Leigh.

On my way.

"I'm not going to hurt you." My eyes pleaded with hers but I knew my words were no use, she wasn't going to trust me right now.

A million different scenarios played through my head with the things that she had been through. How could they make someone so terrified and broken.

As Leigh approaches the room quietly my mate still jumps as she entered, her eyed flickered between the both of us.

"Hey," Leigh said gently, as she smiles down at my mate. "What's your name?" Leigh asked as she approached the bed.

Her eyes clouded with fear and I watched as she bit her lip, hard enough to drawl blood.

"I'm Leigh, and this is Asher." She introduced us as she pressed her hand to her chest and turns to me.

I don't take my eyes off her, the fear on her face is making me sick.

'What's your name?" Leigh asked as she moves closer to her.

She holds a hand up to defend herself and let's out a shaky breath. "It's Willow, just p-please don't hurt me." Her voice quivered.

"We would never hurt you willow." Leigh said her tone dropping.

Willow's eyes soften at Leigh's voice, the presence of a woman is probably calming her down.

"We just want to help you Willow." Leigh said.

I shuffle closer to Willow and Leigh slightly. Her head whips to me and she backs up into the headboard even more. "It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you." I say and stupidly reached for her.

Her green eyes widened and she jumps over the bed straight into the bedside table, knocking the lamp off onto the floor. Everything happend so fast that I could barley register any of it.

"Jeez Asher!" Leigh yells at me as she rushes to Willow's side.

I followed her steps quickly and my eyes went to my mate as she lays on the floor, she's crying again and I feel like the shittiest person in the world. She didn't trust me, I shouldn't have made any move to try and touch her.

"Please don't try to run Willow, it will only make things worse." Leigh said desperately.

"I don't believe you!" She yells at my sister, fear is written all over her. She puts her hand out and tries to stand up but I grab her and restrain her.

"Get off of me!" She cries out and my heart breaks at the sight of her discomfort.

"I can't." I say over her cries as she tries to fight me off. "You're going to hurt yourself."

She twist and turns trying to get away from me, her whole face turning red as she struggles. I look into her emerald green eyes and seen that the tears slipped down her face, they never stopped.

She pressed her arms into me trying to get away again but her strength wasn't a match from mine. "Leigh please put her to sleep. She is going to hurt herself again." I desperately said, not knowing what else to do.

Leigh nods at me, I wish I knew what to do in this situation but I had no choice. She closes her eyes and I watched Willow relax onto the floor.

I scooped her up into my arms and placed her back onto the bed. A deep sigh left my chest as I stared down at her, I glanced at Leigh and she offers me a small smile.

"You probably should restrain her like that. She obviously has a problem being touched Asher." She tells me.

I wanted to scream, yell, curse at her, but I stopped myself. "What do expect me to do Leigh? If I didn't restrain her she could have seriously hurt herself or she'll run out into the woods and I'll never be able to find her again!" I snarled at her.

"By restraining her you will never gain her trust, you need to set limits and boundaries. Get her to start feeling comfortable around you." She said folding her arms against her chest, she's so much better in situations like this. She's the logical thinker and I just panic.

"I know," I said.

Leigh closes her eyes just for a second and sighs. "You almost need to remember that she's not Lauren and she never will be."

I gave my sister a death glare. "Don't you think I know that?" I say through clenched teeth.

"I just don't want you or her to get hurt. She isn't stable. And your still grieving over Lauren." She says sternly.

"You really think that I would hurt my own mate?" I say, shaking my head in disbelief.

"No, I'm not talking about physicaly I'm talking about emotionaly. You might not be ready for a new relationship, you and Lauren really loved each other and she was snatched from you. I know you still love her but Willow nee-" I cut her off before she finished.

"Stop!" I growled at her making my sister flinch slightly.

"This is my second chance Leigh! How many vampiers do you know get second chances? I'm not going to take it for granted, I'm going to find out what happened to her and I'm going to show her that I can give her a good life, whether it kills me or not." I state.

I could hear Leigh's thoughts from here, questioning why I was willing to be nice to this girl when I haven't even had a proper conversation with her. But when you feel the mate bond between you, there isn't any point in trying to explain it because the feelings is to hard to describe.

I've always believed everything happens for a reason. And no matter how horrible the event or outcome turns out, I still live by this.

"How are you going to do that exactly? You see how she shakes at the sight of you." She shakes her head at me. "It's going to take her weeks if not months to open up to you!"

"I need your help." I tell her.

Leigh raised her eyebrows. "Huh?"

"Show me what's she's been through."

"No, uh-huh no way. I'm not going to go in her head and show you. Your are on you're own." She says as she walks out the door.

Along with Leigh's healing powers she can see what people have been through in the past. Her powers are beyond amazing and I'm jealous that she inherited something so powerful. Out mother has similar powers, except the only this I inherited was mind reading.

"Leigh, please." I begged.

"Don't you know how wrong that is Asher? The things she had been through isn't any of our business, when she gets ready she will tell us."

"You're right, it might take weeks but what is she is in danger? What if someone is out there looking for her? We are putting our whole coven, ourselves, and her at risk. I'm not asking to know everything I just want to know where she came from and if she is in danger." I said as I let my tone drop.

She runs a hand through her hair and sighs, I can sense she is debating her options.

"Please." I begged again.

"You know I can't always control the things I see Asher, what if I see something that I shouldn't have? It's not right." Her worried eyes flickered to me.

"I know, but you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to, okay? I want to respect her and her privacy. I just want to know who the hell made her like this. We'll gain her trust after." I say to my sister.

Leigh nibbles on her lips. "Okay." She says eventually and my lips turn into a smile of appreciation. "I'm not going to explain how you know all of this stuff about her, that's on you." She says with narrowed eyes.

"That's fine."

She sat down on the bed and holds Willow hands and closed her eyes.