Kayla

"Now, you may kiss the bride," the officiant announced

There was a triggering shift in the air. It seemed like the air had chosen to surrender to a pleasant scent. I pushed my eyes open, exhausting every ounce of control I had not to gape at him. I bit my lips at the sight of his well-defined muscles. I didn't know why I found every damned thing about this man attractive. I had to admit he was handsome in his white embroidered shirt and his tunic pants. I drank in his features, trying to commit every detail to my memory. He had a fit, strong build that showed his bulging muscles beneath the shirt he wore and his towering height made me shudder a little. I forced my eyes from his rippled chest to his face. I could see worry on his face along with the slight tension that mirrored my own. I saw a thin coat of sweat glistening on his forehead.

Asher's eyes held fear and pain, his eyes were fixated on me unmoving almost as if he was contemplating and conflicted. Was he contemplating if kissing me was worth it? Was he disgusted to kiss me? Could it be the thought of kissing someone else after his mate died horrified him so much?

But then those emotions were replaced by a cold stare sent my way. I held his stare briefly, the intensity burning me up, causing me to look away, and my heart fell to the pits of my stomach.

" Look at me, Kayla Wright," His voice was husky, leaving a cold trail down my spine

My entire body went still at his request, I gently lifted my eyes and stared into his magnetic amber eyes. He took slow and cautious steps toward me. Leaning closer to me, as his warm palm fell on my cheek. I inhaled his scents and a small whimper loosely escaped my lips without warning. Asher's eyes darkened a shade, and I could barely keep a staunch gaze as his hold steered in a foreign electrifying tingle. My heart rate skyrocketed as I carelessly parted my lips.

Instantly, he gripped my waist possessively and crashed his lips to mine.

My entire body felt like it had been struck by lightning, and my senses were heated. I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. With Asher's lips on mine.

His scent and touch consumed my body, making me weak and needy inside. I got lost in the sensation. He held my waist firmly while his lips kept exploring my mouth. It was magic. Being kissed by Alpha Asher made everything around me disappear and seem irrelevant. A sweet sensation spread through my body. I felt the rapid beating of his heart thud against my chest while I inhaled more of his scent. My heart was roaring in my chest and my heartbeat sounded like a mad bull, deafening every other sound around me.

Oh, goddess! What was this man doing to me? Was it safe to feel this way around a man that I barely know? But I can't help the way my body and soul yearn for him.

He moaned into my lips and I gripped his shirt to steady myself from the rush of emotions that jammed my heart and bombarded my body at once. To my dismay, he pulled away from me so quickly, like I was a plague, and the bubble of my excitement quickly popped.

I stared into his eyes and was surprised to see fear, pain, and fury. They were all clouded in his depths. I could see the torrent of emotions raging in those amber orbs of her.

What was wrong with him?

The strong, mighty, and powerful beast of a werewolf king. Alpha Asher, whom everybody fears and respects, the Alpha who was undefeatable, someone who can easily kill without blinking an eye but why were his eyes filled with so much anguish?

Could it be that the ruthless, fearless, and powerful Alpha Asher has a weakness? My gut feeling had never wronged me.

Maybe I'd read him wrong, rumor had it that he was made of thorns and was also infamously arrogant. Before I could think about the raw emotion I had seen in his eyes, Asher grabbed my hand forcefully and started to storm out of the hall. I watched as a collective gasp ran through the crowd as they all watched us in stunned silence. The eyes staring at us were wide and some few mouths fell open.

What is happening? Where was he taking me to? My eyes kept dancing from my right to the left and my pulse was jumping frantically. My heart was racing and my mind swirled with a mix of awe, confusion, and doubt.

He stopped in front of the council elder wolves "I already have what I came here for, the wedding ritual has been completed, and she belongs to me. She is fully mine now." Asher pounced on his words like a predator waiting for its prey to make a mistake.

The council wolves all nodded their heads together and one of the elder wolves, Philip stood up, scratched his head, and began " Just like we promised, to offer to you an unmated she-wolf as an alliance promise between the two packs. With the wedding ritual completed, she's now yours."

Asher narrowed his eyes and his gaze flitted to me and back at the elder wolves " I'm done here." with that he held my hand firmly and stormed out of the hall.

" Please, wait!" I said and pulled out my hand from his strong grip," Where are you taking me to?" I asked, staring into those mesmerizing amber orbs of his.

Releasing an exhausting sigh, Asher's gaze met mine again. His eyes softened but his expression was stoic. He folded his hands to his chest and his eyes ran over my body, for the briefest seconds before he spoke " I'm taking you home."

" Home?"

I couldn't help the elation that swelled up in my chest, knowing that his home was now also mine.