Asher’s heart pounded in his chest as the guard’s suspicious gaze swept over the back seat of the SUV, seeing nothing but emptiness. His grip tightened on the steering wheel as the seconds ticked by, each one stretching out in agonizing tension. The guard hesitated, his eyes narrowing as though sensing something was off, but he saw no reason to escalate the situation further. With a reluctant nod, he signaled for the massive gates to be opened.
The metal groaned as they swung apart, revealing the open road beyond, and Asher nodded in thanks before slowly pulling forward, maintaining his calm exterior. Only once he was past the pack’s private road did he start to accelerate, pushing the car faster but with the caution necessary to keep Bella safe in the trunk.
Asher’s thoughts raced as he
