The figure came out of the shadow. Asher expected an enemy, but it was one of the twins.

Asher combed his hair.

“Asher.” He muttered.

Asher looked at him emotionlessly because he wanted to demand answers from him. And he wanted to start with, 'Why couldn’t Asher scent him?'

Yes, he could scent the place and people. He was supposed to know who was coming before he saw them.

That was how he saved his brother from his father many times when they were kids. He could scent people even before he could see them. But when the twin came, he couldn’t scent him.

How was that possible? Asher narrowed his eyes. What was this place? And what was going on?

‘Asher. I came to pick you up.” He took a step forward.

“I can’t come now. My pet is missing.”

“He is in the pac…um… village. Along with your things.” His face softened.

“Why?”

Asher kept his questions short because if he was not careful, he might give them more than he should.

“I already told you, Asher. You saved our lives. Our kids live. I am very much grateful to you, and so does my family. It's really not safe to travel in this forest now, especially at night. Hell, even kids were getting killed. They wouldn’t know you are not the villager. Please let us do our duty.”

“I don’t want to disturb you.” Asher wiped his face.

He couldn’t decide what he wanted to do. His heart was already pulling him towards this side.

“Please.” The twin looked genuine.

He nodded his head.

He wanted to ask, 'What happened to those assholes?'

Instead, he settled with, "How did you manage to touch Chris? Did he let you carry him? Show me how many fingers he swallowed.”

The twin laughed, but his eyes held sadness.

They started walking. The car couldn’t travel deep into their village. So they walked. He turned to search for his wolf. He couldn’t find him.

“What is your name?” It had been so long since they met, and he knew Asher’s name.

“Frank.” Frank's eyes held heavy emotion that he couldn’t understand.

They walked silently. Once they reached the place, Asher was welcomed by the people, who were treating themselves. The kids screamed in pain.

“Where are those assholes?” He muttered.

They showed him a cage built with bamboo sticks tied to a tree in mid-air.

It was swinging but wouldn’t fall. The cage didn’t look like it was made just for those assholes. He made a mental note of it.

“Where is my phone?” They showed him a house made of wood.

He walked into the house and saw Chris locked in the same bamboo cage but smaller. He felt relieved to see his brother. He went to check him properly.

Chris was content, lying on a soft cotton cloth with water in a bowl. He slowly opened his eyes and narrowed them on Asher. When he learned that Chris was safe, he couldn't stop teasing him.

“Served you right.” He muttered only for his ear and earned himself a loud hiss. And Chris started to bang the cage with his tail.

“Oh. Shhh.” Asher smiled.

He picked up his wallet and phone from the table. From the walk itself, his dress got dried. So he didn’t bother about it. But he couldn’t keep those bastards dangling in the tree. He called the police and placed it in his ear.

No sound.

He saw the display, and there was no range. He lifted his phone above his head and walked around the house.

No avail.

His phone was now a waste. He tried to check the house to see if he could do anything.

There was a chair next to Chris's table. It was beautifully carved out of wood. It looked like a throne. He went to it and touched it.

Even though he never visited or knew about this place, he felt familiar with it. It was very strange that he felt like that. Yesterday, this place never existed in his world.

His cute wolf allured him into this world, which he didn’t know about. That was not going to kill him now. But what would kill him now was his father learning about this adventure.

His father couldn’t contact him. He would be in a rage. His leg gave away, and he sat in the chair.

“Fuck. What have I done Chris?” He turned to look at Chris, who looked like it was his turn to say, ‘Served you right’.

There were only a few pieces of furniture, but everything was carved like hell. A king's palace had to beg these people for elegant yet royal pieces of furniture.

He stood slowly and walked towards the window. He could see the entire village.

The people were sitting or standing in different places, but they all looked in his direction. The moment they saw him, they started to do their things.

He would have demanded an answer for that creepiness if he didn’t see the pain in their eyes. They were happy that they could see him. They were sad for him. Angry for him. Their emotions were everywhere.

Asher scented the woman before she knocked on the door. But he couldn't scent the twins. He shook that thought away.

“Yes,” His voice echoed that small house.

The woman came in with a plate of food.

“Alph… Sir, Food.” She blushed so hard.

“It’s Asher. And I am not hungry. Feed the kids first."

She looked so sad when she looked up at his face. He didn't want to hurt her. He tried to smile so that he looked less threatened.

"I fed my Chris. I knew it was a long drive from Flora Ridge to Redlight Briar. He would kill me if I didn't feed him. So I ate in the meantime before I started to drive.” He pointed his finger towards Chris.

The blush wiped away from her face, and it suddenly turned pale.

“Flora Ridge to Roselight Briar.” Her voice was barely audible.

“Yes.” Asher looked concerned at her.

“But…” She looked at the door.

She managed to smile, but he knew something was up. When she tried to go out, he held her hand.

“What happened?” He demanded.

She looked torn. She didn’t want to tell him. At the same time, she couldn’t keep it from him. He realized that she couldn't lie to him. So he pushed her more.

“Tell me.” He ordered her.

She looked down on the floor before muttering.

“We are in Red Mountain. It's Sable Pines.”

Asher let her go. His mind was running like shit. Sable Pines? It was entirely a different state. How the hell did he end up in a different state?

He turned from her. He refused to show her that she shocked him. And he hid his face from the window. Then he saw it. His next shock. It destroyed another piece of his peaceful life.

It was hanging on the wall of a woodhouse in the Sable Pines.