I'M SO OVER IT
The journey continues for the Douglas family as Asher strikes out on his own, trying to forge his own path. As the only human of his siblings, he hasn’t always felt like he belonged despite his family reassuring him otherwise. In his journeys he meets a woman who has the ability to not only change his life in amazing ways but to also destroy it – but not only his life, but the entire shifter world as a whole.
*Book 3 of the Erie Waters Pack Tale series but can be read as a standalone.
ASHER, I’M SO OVER IT
I know this seemed like a good idea at some point, but I’ve long forgotten when. This sucks ass. There are people everywhere all of the time, restaurant food gets old really fast and it’s true that you can miss your own bed. Plus it is hotter than the goddamn sun.
Fuck. This.
Now if I factor in the flight I first took, anonymous hotel and endless restaurants… than the second flight and more restaurants and another hotels… repeat cycle until you actually do try to kick yourself in your own ass.
Turns out I’m not that flexible.
But I am miserable and surprisingly lonely for the first time in my life. As the only human of werewolf quadruplets, that’s saying something. I was bullied a lot growing up - not by my brothers and sister, but by other wolves in our pack. Killian is the oldest of us – only by minutes but in wolf hierarchy, every second counts. Being first-born, Killian will take over as Alpha someday when our Dad retires. Callum is the next oldest and is already training to be Killian’s Beta. The two of them look the most alike of the four of us and have a remarkably close relationship. They’re both strong wolves, and our pack will remain in good hands. Killian needs to find his mate though, and I think that is what Dad is waiting for… but that is in the hands of the Moon Goddess – or so they say. All I know is, when other wolves would start beating on me in school, my big brothers were always quick to come to my defense. Personally, I think they were simply looking for an excuse to beat someone up, but they saved my ass more than once.
I am the youngest of the boys, born third. The only human, just like my Mom. As a human, my contributions and role within the pack is limited – even with my Dad being Alpha. Some things you can’t change, and I get that. But some things you can and with time the packs have had more interactions with humans, mating, business dealings, legal issues and friendships. As human numbers grow, there becomes less space for the werewolf packs to hide. The packs still try to limit any interaction and when it must be done – they use someone like me. In theory I carry a lot of power because I can make deals on behalf of the pack, and yet I’m not recognized as anyone of rank within the pack. So fucking frustrating.
Which is why deciding to take this trip was an easy decision after our sister Everly married her mate Gabriel last summer. They met when she accompanied Dad on a pack trip, and after he and his wolf saved her – she was his, forever. She is the fourth of our quad – the baby. The other two call her ‘Runt’ which she fucking hates, so to make up for her tiny size she is one of the strongest people I know. I love her dearly and my heart broke a little when she didn’t come home, obviously staying behind with her new mate and pack. Everly was the one I went to for guidance or consolation, and I for her. With Killian and Callum as older brothers – we needed each other - those two can be real assholes sometimes. On the plus side though – with three siblings, I’ve never felt alone.
Until now, until this trip.
Mom cried when I left – I knew she would. I text once every day and call once a week, but she worries and won’t stop until I return home. I hate causing her grief, but if I stayed there… well - I needed this trip. I don’t have a wolf inside me for companionship on the nights when my loneliness really hurts. So either stagnate in one place or explore and try to live.
I was on a plane in three days.
But I miss my family. I had hoped this trip would be liberating - shows me what I know. Maybe I’m more of a ‘pack’ man then I thought?
Jesus Christ.
I’ve been to five different states so far and am enjoying the capital. The space from home has been good for me. I needed to step away from my family, or more importantly – my brothers. I love them dearly, of course I do - but when we’re together, I disappear.
Asher Douglas, invisible man.
All we ever do is deal with werewolves, visit with werewolves… meet werewolves… as long as I’m with them, I’m always going to be last choice. Is a she-wolf female going to pick me – a ‘weak’ human, or try for the future Alpha or Beta of the pack? Hmmmm… let’s try Obvious Answers for twenty!
It doesn’t matter that we look so much alike; Killian is bigger overall as future Alpha but we’re all around 6’ 4” and have Dad’s silver blonde hair. Killian wears his short, Callum has his long and I keep mine shoulder length which is popular in human culture. Everly has Mom’s green eyes but us boys got Dad’s blue. The other two are ‘bigger’ than me, thanks to their ‘supernatural’ werewolf DNA but that is where the differences end.
Some werewolves find their mates in humans, like our parents – but that is rare. It is possible a werewolf is out there looking for me as their mate but given how many I’ve already met over the years; I find that unlikely. No, I’m ready to find my partner for life. As a human, I don’t get to experience the whole ‘mate bond’ the rest of my family did or will, but I can still experience true love.
I just need to find her first.
