The Rose He Killed Chapter 04
The next few days, I didn’t seek Asher out. He didn’t come back to the pack house either.
The fake death pills arrived three days later.
Right then, Asher showed up at the door with Aria.
“Aria wants to check out the new training field. You’re coming.”
“No.”
Asher grabbed my wrist. “That’s an order! Aria begged me to bring you along. Don’t be ungrateful.”
He dragged me to the training ground.
It used to be our place.
He used to take me there to practice night shooting. That starry range had seen everything we had—every unspoken thing between us.
But now that sacred place had Aria in it.
From the moment we arrived, Aria’s eyes never left Asher.
He noticed her gaze. A rare softness touched his lips.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
My stomach turned.
I was about to shoot a round at them when a deafening explosion ripped through the distance!
The whole training ground shook. Smoke filled the air.
Asher’s first move was to throw himself over Aria, shielding her with his back from the flying debris.
“Damn it! They did’t clear all the training bombs from this area!”
I gritted through the pain and crawled toward the nearest blast shelter.
But just as my hand touched the door handle, Asher shoved me aside and pushed Aria inside.
“Asher!” My eyes split with rage.
“The shelter only fits one. Aria takes cover. She’ll send help once she’s safe.”
His voice was calm, like my life didn’t matter.
Aria suddenly grabbed his sleeve, signing frantically, shooting me a look of “concern.”
Asher hesitated, then looked at me. “Chloe, she doesn’t know how to send a distress signal. I’ll get her out first, then come back with help.”
“No!”
I lunged to stop him. He pushed me away.
“Follow orders!”
He opened the shelter, wrapped Aria in his arms, and ran out.
Right before disappearing, he looked back. “Chloe, you had professional training. Find a blind spot and hide. I’ll come back!”
Smoke swallowed them.
Almost instantly, a second explosion hit closer. The shockwave threw me.
I suddenly remembered the backup shelter on the east side.
The fire spread fast. The whole structure started collapsing.
I rolled into the side entrance just before a beam crushed me.
But on the way down, the steel frame above slammed onto me. Bones cracked loud and clear.
Blood poured from my mouth.
Lying in the rubble, I barely got out my communicator. I sent one last encrypted message to my brother. Then I pulled the fake death pill from my pocket and swallowed it.
Not long after, blood gushed from my lips.
Through the blown-open roof, I saw a fighter jet streak across the sky, leaving a long vapor trail.
I smiled softly.
Alive or dead, I didn’t care anymore.
Asher, we’re finally done. Completely.