Chapter 302: The Real Culprit


    “Wait really?” Caleb asked. “Who”?


    Ashton looked at Caleb, his face was pale. “I did this,” he mumbled.


    “What?!” Caleb couldn’t help but scoff. “Yeah, right. You don’t have to joke at this moment.”


    “I am not joking.” Ashton dered.


    “Okay...” Caleb still couldn’t believe in the nonsense Ashton was spouting. “Why do you think you did this”?


    “I forgot to mention something.” Ashton started. “When Alvaro asked me to kill, he gave me twenty four hours to make a decision. I forgot.”


    “And now you think Alvaro did this?” Caleb asked.


    .....


    “I can feel it.” Ashton sighed. “This is Valestine. Whoever this is, the dead man... or wolf or whatever.” he sighed.


    “And how do you know that”?


    “Instincts?” Ashton shrugged. “My instincts are screaming at me that this is a Valestine.”


    “You gotta start making sense.” Caleb sighed. “Your instincts are telling you? So you believe it.”?


    “I don’t know how to exin it. It’s not exactly instinct, but it’s simr.” Ashton tried. “Remember how you can track other wolves by their scent. Not only that, you can distinguish between them”? Caleb nodded at him, which allowed him to continue. “It’s something simr. Like an essence or something. Alvaro used the word ‘essence’ and I think I am starting to get that.”


    “So... let’s assume you’re right, what does that mean? I mean it’s not like you did it. Alvaro is the one who did it!” Caleb tried to argue.


    “Alvaro is me”! Ashton insisted.


    “No it’s not! For any other werewolf here, whatever there form maybe, it’s only one mind. But not in your case. Your wolf has his own mind, has his own existence.” Caleb insisted. “Just because you two share a body doesn’t mean you two are the same!” he huffed.


    “You’re making me sound like I have split personality disorder or something.” Ashton scoffed.


    “Frankly speaking, your situation is quite simr to that.” Caleb sighed. “Look, let’s assume whatever you are saying is true, that doesn’t make you guilty. I know what Alvaro had told you, that he had to kill because he is just trying to protect us, our kids. I don’t see how that’s a crime.” Caleb sighed. “I mean yes, I would prefer an alternative but-”


    “My wolf is out of my control, and who knows what wille next if you don’t act upon it.” Ashton sighed.


    “So, what do you wanna do? Want me to restrain you?” Caleb asked.


    “If that’s what it takes, why not.” Ashton shrugged simply.


    “You are insane.” Caleb sighed. “Look, even if what you are saying is right, I need to talk to vro.”


    “Why?” Ashton asked.


    “Because just like any used he deserves a fair chance to exin himself.” Caleb dered. “If he mentioned that he was gonna kill, he might not lie to me,” he added.


    “Fine, what do you want me to”? Ashton shrugged. “I can try to bring him out, but I can’t promise anything.”


    “That works.” Caleb nodded.


    Ashton took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He didn’t exactly know if this was gonna work, but he kept focussing on letting Alvaro loose, hoping it would work. When after trying a lot he failed, he opened his eyes. “Well that was a bust.”


    “Are you kidding? I got to talk with Alvaro.” Caleb shrugged.


    “Wait what?” Ashton was amazed. “Did I ck out?”


    “You must have.”


    “So, what did Alvaro say”? Ashton asked.


    “Well...” Caleb trailed off. He recalled the events from a while ago...


    Caleb was waiting for something to happen, but nothing significant happened. Soon, Ashton opened his eyes and stared at Caleb with a nk expression. “So”? Caleb asked.


    “You wanted to talk to me?” Ashton, only in a much deeper voice asked. It took Caleb a second to realize that this was not Ashton, but Alvaro speaking through Ashton.


    “Oh.. Um...” Caleb looked around. “Did you do this”? He asked.


    “Yes, I did.” Alvaro, without skipping a beat dered.


    “Why”? Caleb asked.


    “I had to. Or else he would have killed all of us.” Alvaro dered. Alvaro’s eyes glowed red and soon Caleb found his entire surroundings spiraling until everything around him became dark. He could see certain features that reflected the moonlight, but things were pretty dark.


    “What’s going on”? Caleb couldn’t help but ask.


    “Let me show you what happenedst night.” Alvaro dered. He noticed a te giant wolf, probably even bigger than Ashton’s wolf form, approaching from the southern end of their perimeters. Before it could go much further, there was a rustling noise in the bushes that rmed both Caleb and that gigantic wolf that screamed nothing but trouble.


    Soon, a ck wolf (Ashton’s wolf form) attacked the gigantic wolf and managed to scratch the te wolf a little bit. Ashton/Alvaro had managed to change its course and piss off the gigantic wolf. It seemed like there was a conversation going on between them, something Caleb didn’t quiteprehend.


    Sensing the confusion in Caleb’s mind, Alvaro allowed some form of trantion so that Caleb could understand. It went something like this.


    The wolf: what are you doing? You don’t belong here! You are not the human, you are a powerful wolf


    Alvaro: This is my home, leave everyone alone.


    The wolf: don’t worry, I’ll make sure this ce doesn’t stay your home for long.


    That was enough to anger Alvaro and he jumped on the other one. Being the smaller and weaker one, Alvaro took many hits. But he made sure he attacked the other wolf as much as he could. After what seemed like a long battle, Alvaro finally managed to tackle the other wolf and bit down on his neck, tearing a huge part.


    To reduce the blood loss, the other wolf shifted into a human form, which resembled someone as young as Ashton looked. However, that was a bad idea as it allowed Alvaro to attack him even further to the point of incapacitation.


    After that even Alvaro shifted back and tore him apart (which did manage to gross out Caleb as he looked away from the gruesome scene) and soon he buried him.


    “I wish he wasn’t found. I didn’t want you to cause trouble.” Alvaro dered.


    “How many are there”? Caleb asked in a whisper.


    “What”?


    “Wolves like this? Those areing for our family?” Caleb rified.


    Alvaro stared at Caleb in shock before blurting, “Plenty. They will keeping, in an increasing number if we don’t do something...” Alvaro dered.


    “And what can we do?” Caleb asked.


    “You decide. I won’t leave this pack.” Alvaro dered. “I am not putting you through the pain I did for the past eight years.” he dered.


    Caleb turned around in shock and mumbled, “I am surprised you care about that at all.”


    “As Ashton’s mate you are my second most priority.” Alvaro dered. “First being Ashton himself. I will not let anyone hurt you or anyone Ashton cares about.” he dered. “I must go, I already drained Ashton enough of his strengthst night, which is why I must stay back so that he can regain his energy.” and with that everything turned much brighter.


    Caleb noticed they were back at the murder scene, with Ashton’s eyes closed shut, which he opened soon only to mumble. “Well that was a bust.”


    “...” Ashton blinked as he witnessed everything y out in Caleb’s consciousness.


    “You still despise the choice your wolf made for you”? Caleb asked, to which Ashton had no answers at the moment.