I nodded, still shaken, and he smiled—a soft, lopsided grin that made my heart skip a beat. "Stick closer to the pack borders next time. I don’t want to have to rescue you again."
That was the start of everything. Asher became my protector, my confidant. He had this way of making me feel safe, like nothing could touch me as long as he was around. I remembered the nights we’d spent under the stars, talking about dreams and pack life, his arm slung casually over my shoulder. The way he’d always pull me close during bonfires, his warmth chasing away the night’s chill.
I shook my head, snapping myself out of the memory. That Asher felt like a lifetime ago. The man who had protected me, who had laughed with me, wasn’t the same one who now believed every lie Celeste fed him.
Unable to sleep, I grabbed a large cardboard box and started packing. The mugs, the charms, the blanket we’d fought over on countless cold nights—it all went into the box. Every item felt heavier than it should, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.