Alpha Asher's Hidden Mate

　　HARPER'S POV

　　I wake up gasping, drenched in sweat. Again.

　　Same dream. Same nightmare.

　　Flames. Screams. My mother's eyes stared at me, lifeless. My father's roar echoes before it's cut short. Then silence. Just me. Alone. Every time I blink, I see it again. Like it is branded behind my eyelids.

　　I sit up and press my forehead to my knees. Try to breathe. My heartbeat won't slow down. I hate that,  I hate how real it still feels. Like I am still that scared girl hiding behind the cellar door.

　　I hear soft footsteps and I know who it is before she says anything.

　　"You okay?" Mira's voice is quiet. Careful.

　　"No."

　　She doesn't ask more. Just walks over and sits beside me on the edge of the cot. She hands me a warm mug. Probably that gross peppermint tea she makes every time one of us wakes up screaming.

　　"You were talking in your sleep again," she says. "Louder this time."

　　"I always do."

　　"No... this time it sounded like you were crying."

　　I don't answer. I sip the tea and let the heat burn my tongue.

　　It's just the two of us in this tent, but I can hear the others outside. Training already. Laughing. Arguing. There's always noise in the camp. I built it that way. I can't stand silence anymore. Silence means death.

　　Mira leans forward, elbows on her knees. "You thinking about it again?"

　　I don't have to ask what she means.

　　"Yeah," I say. "I'm ready."

　　She turns to me. "You sure?"

　　"No. But I'm doing it anyway."

　　She is quiet for a long time. "You really think it was Silver Moon?"

　　I look at her. "I know it was."

　　"But we don't have proof, Harper. Not real proof. What if-"

　　"They were the only ones with the power to wipe out a Pack like mine. No warning. No survivors. No scent trail. Only someone with money, warriors, and magic could pull that off."

　　I stare down at the cup. "And guess who just happened to expand their territory right after? Guess who doubled their land the same season Lunar Howlers vanished?"

　　Mira sighs. "Silver Moon."

　　"Exactly."

　　She rubs her face, tired. "So what now?"

　　"I join them."

　　She turns to me so fast her hair hits my face. "What?!"

　　"You heard me. If I am going to destroy them, I need to learn about them. Their weakness, their strengths, what I can exploit."

　　"Okay... okay. Then, how exactly do you plan on doing that?"

　　I take a deep breath. "They are recruiting. New guards. It's public. I saw the flyer yesterday when we hit that rogue market for supplies. I just have one problem."

　　Mira's eyes narrow. "Let me guess. Males only?"

　　"Yup."

　　"And your plan is... what? Cut your hair and act tough?"

　　I smirk. "Something like that."

　　She groans and stands up, pacing now. "You're insane."

　　"Maybe."

　　"You won't pass their checks. You are a female. Your scent alone will-"

　　I cut her off and stand. "I already found a way around that."

　　She stops pacing. "What?"

　　"I went to see the Crescent Witch."

　　Her jaw drops as she rushes to her feet. "You did what?! You went alone?"

　　"Yeah."

　　"Harper! You could've been cursed or—"

　　"I wasn't."

　　I walk over to my backpack and unzip the side pouch. Inside, wrapped in cloth and sealed tight, is the little glass bottle.

　　Dark purple liquid. Swirls like smoke. It hums in my hand.

　　Mira stares at it like it might bite her. "Is that what I think it is?"

　　"It masks scent. Shifts it. I picked male Alpha, early twenties, unclaimed. Strong but not too dominant."

　　"How much did it cost?"

　　"Everything," I say, voice flat.

　　Mira looks at me. "What do you mean?"

　　"She didn't want money. She asked what I'd give up. I said 'whatever it takes.' So she took my bond."

　　Mira's eyes go wide. "You gave up your Mate bond?"

　　I nod.

　　"Against my will," my wolf sneaks in my head but I ignore her.

　　"She took that away?" Mira whispers. "Forever?"

　　"Yeah. It was the price for the potion. I won't be able to sense him. Or feel the pull. Not even if he's standing right in front of me."

　　"Harper..."

　　"I don't care. He doesn't matter. My parents mattered. My Pack mattered."

　　She sits back down, hard, like her knees gave out. "That's... heavy."

　　"Yeah."

　　"And your wolf?" She asks. "Does she agree?"

　　"Of course not. But thankfully, I am the one in charge."

　　Silence.

　　Then Mira looks up at me, angry. "Why didn't you tell me before you went?"

　　"Because you'd try to stop me."

　　"I still would."

　　I sigh. "But you didn't. And I need this."

　　She stands up again and grabs the bottle from my hand. "You can't just drink this crap and walk into Silver Moon like it's a game."

　　"It's not a game. It's a mission."

　　"You could die."

　　"I've been dead since the fire, Mira."

　　She doesn't say anything after that.

　　Later, around the campfire, I gather the rest of the team. Jax, Levi, Rae, Noah.

　　They all sit in a circle, confused.

　　Jax leans forward. "Alright, Harper. You called a meeting. What's going on?"

　　I hold up the bottle. "This. This is what's going on."

　　Levi squints. "That looks cursed."

　　"It's not. It's the reason I'm getting into Silver Moon."

　　Rae tilts her head. "You found a way to shift your scent?"

　　I nod. "The Crescent Witch made it. It'll turn me into someone else. At least, smell-wise."

　　Jax leans back. "So you're doing it. You're actually infiltrating them."

　　"Yes."

　　"You're going in solo?" Rae asks.

　　"Yes."

　　"That's suicide."

　　"No. That's revenge."

　　They go quiet.

　　Then Noah says, "You won't be able to sense your Mate, you know. That is what happens when you take on another scent."

　　"I know."

　　"And? You are okay with that?"

　　"I have to be."

　　They all stare at me. Some with fear. Some with respect. All of them are worried that I will break. That I won't be able to handle it.

　　But I can and I won't break.

　　It's not an option.

　　I uncork the bottle.

　　It smells like iron and smoke. My nose wrinkles, but I don't flinch.

　　Mira looks away. She can't watch.

　　"You all are to act as one, if an issue arises, find a way to send me a message, okay?"

　　They nod and then I raise the bottle to my lips.

　　"Wait," Jax says. "What's your new name?"

　　I pause.

　　Then I say, "Hunter."

　　And I drink.

　　It burns. My throat closes. My head pounds. My eyes water. I double over and grip my stomach, but I don't scream.

　　And just like that... Harper is gone.

　　Now there's only Hunter.