Briar’s POV
After weeks of discussion, Asher and I had finally reached an agreent to return to his birth pack. The four-hour drive to the Starfall Pack felt longer than usual, with Asher’s grip tightening on the steering wheel the closer we got to his family ho.
The house that ca into view wasn’t as grand as my parents’ estate, but it commanded respect with its sturdy construction and well-maintained grounds. As we stepped out of the car, the front door swung open and a figure erged onto the wraparound porch.
Asher’s entire deanor shifted beside . "Son of a bitch. What’s he doing here?"
"Who?" I asked, studying the man who stood with arms crossed, blocking the entrance.
"My older brother. The one who abandoned us before our parents were murdered and couldn’t even be bothered to show up for their burial."
The bitterness in Asher’s voice was unmistakable as we climbed the porch steps. The man standing there had the sa dark hair and strong jawline as Asher, but his eyes held a coldness that made instinctively step closer to my mate.
"Rowan," Asher said, his voice clipped.
"Never thought I’d see your face around here again," Rowan replied, his tone equally frosty.
"Strange. I could say the exact sa thing about you."
The tension between them crackled like electricity. I moved slightly in front of Asher and extended my hand toward his brother.
"I’m Briar," I said, hoping to defuse so of the hostility.
Rowan’s gaze traveled over with obvious assessnt before he accepted my handshake. His grip was firm, testing.
"So you’re the famous hunter-turned-werewolf I’ve been hearing about."
"She was stolen by hunters as an infant. She’s found her true nature now and embraced it completely," Asher said, his protective instincts flaring as he positioned himself beside . "Now either move aside or I’ll move you myself."
For several long monts, the brothers stared each other down. Finally, Rowan’s mouth curved into a smirk and he stepped aside with exaggerated courtesy.
The interior of the house surprised . Instead of the neglected bachelor dwelling I’d expected, everything was ticulously maintained. The furniture was polished, the floors glead, and fresh flowers adorned the mantelpiece. Soone had been taking excellent care of this place.
Before I could comnt, a group of people approached us with considerably more warmth than Rowan had shown.
"Briar, et my sister Greta, her mate Julian, and their daughters Mila and Lila," Asher said, his voice softening as he made the introductions.
"We’re so glad to finally et you," Greta said, pulling into a genuine embrace.
"The pleasure’s mine," I replied, imdiately liking her welcoming energy.
"They’ve been the caretakers of the family ho since I left," Asher explained, but I noticed his eyes scanning the room with critical attention.
"You moved dad’s armchair?" he asked suddenly.
"It’s safe in the den. I promised I wouldn’t dispose of anything without your permission," Greta assured him quickly.
"You’re welco to take whatever you’d like. We weren’t sure if you were planning to stay permanently," Julian added diplomatically.
"We’re just visiting. We’ve built a good life in our current pack," Asher replied.
"Of course you have. Must be nice having Alpha Damien and Luna Elena as in-laws. They’ve got quite the reputation," Rowan interjected from across the room, beer in hand.
"What would you know about reputation? You’ve never even t them," Asher snapped.
"Hard to et people when you’re never invited to anything," Rowan shot back, settling at the kitchen table with deliberate casualness.
"Since when have you needed an invitation to go anywhere?" Asher’s voice rose, and I felt the anger radiating from him.
I squeezed his hand, hoping to prevent an imdiate confrontation. Whatever history existed between these brothers ran deep, but destroying each other wouldn’t solve anything.
"So why are you really here, Asher? Last ti we spoke, you swore you’d never set foot in this pack again after what happened to our parents," Rowan said, his tone becoming serious.
"That’s exactly why I’m here. I was too young then, didn’t have the knowledge or connections I have now. Briar’s going to help investigate their murders properly this ti."
The change in atmosphere was imdiate. Greta and Rowan exchanged a look that made my instincts prickle with unease. Asher’s body tensed beside as he caught the silent communication.
"What was that look about?" he demanded.
"Why do you want to drag all this ancient history back into the light?" Rowan asked, avoiding his brother’s eyes.
"Because the bastards who butchered our parents are still walking free. They deserved better than being forgotten. They deserved justice."
Rowan turned to stare out the window while Greta and Julian remained unnaturally quiet. The silence stretched uncomfortably.
"We’ll be back later," Asher said abruptly, grabbing my hand. "Co on."
We left the house with more questions than answers, the weight of unspoken secrets following us to the car.
Asher drove us across the pack territory to the hospital, parking behind the dical building. Inside, we found the dical examiner hunched over paperwork in the sterile morgue office.
"Can I help you folks?" he asked without looking up.
"I need to review the files on my parents’ deaths," Asher stated.
"Nas?"
"Adelaide and Thomas Reed."
The dical examiner’s deanor shifted, becoming cautious as he studied both of us. He moved to the filing cabinet, searching through multiple drawers with increasing agitation before finally closing them with a sharp bang.
"I’m afraid those files aren’t available," he said carefully.
"What do you an they’re not available?" Asher’s voice carried a dangerous edge.
"The Alpha requisitioned them weeks ago. Never returned them."
The fury that blazed in Asher’s eyes made step closer to him. Without another word, he stord from the building with hurrying to keep pace.
"Asher, talk to . What’s happening here?" I called after him.
He stopped suddenly, whirling to face . "Have you noticed how everyone acts like they’ve seen a ghost whenever I ntion my parents? Like they’re all hiding sothing they don’t want to discover?"
"I definitely picked up on that," I confird.
"So what are they all so desperate to keep buried?"
Asher’s gaze traveled up the hillside to where the packhouse sat like a fortress overlooking the territory. I knew without him saying it that our investigation was far from over.
Why would the Alpha be so interested in keeping those files? What secrets were buried with Adelaide and Thomas Reed that an entire pack seed determined to protect?
I had a sinking feeling we were about to uncover sothing much darker than a simple murder case. But Asher would never find peace until he knew the truth, no matter how painful it might be.
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