Chapter 5 – ASHER
5
ASHER
" H ow do I look?"
I spin in front of the full-length mirror, scrutinizing my reflection. The black skinny jeans hug my legs in all the right places, and the sheer purple top drapes artfully over my lean torso. I've left it unbuttoned halfway down my chest, a teasing glimpse of skin and abs on display. My hair falls in perfect golden waves, courtesy of an hour with my stylist this morning.
It's probably overkill for a video call, but I can't help myself. Looking good is my armor, my way of feeling in control when everything else is spiraling into chaos.
The rest of the pack is scattered around the living room of our shared mansion, a sprawling estate that serves as our home base when we're not on tour. Knox is propped up on the oversized leather couch, his face still a patchwork of fading bruises. Guilt twists in my gut at the sight of him. He took the worst of it, protecting me.
Always protecting me.
"You look hot, babe," Dante calls from his perch on the arm of the couch. "As always."
Knox snorts, wincing slightly at the movement. "Yeah, you're a fuckin' dream. But why bother? This Echo creep isn't even gonna show his face, remember?"
I roll my eyes. "It's not about him seeing me. It's about me feeling confident."
"You could wear a potato sack and still ooze confidence," Silas chimes in, not looking up from his laptop where he's setting up the call. "You're basically a narcissist without the psycho traits."
"Maybe," I concede. “But I'd rather not test that theory."
The truth is, I'm more nervous than I want to let on. This call... it feels like our last hope. If Echo won't help us, I'm not sure we'll be able to continue the tour. The thought of canceling, of letting down our fans and giving those bastards who attacked us exactly what they want... it makes me sick to my stomach.
But more than that, I can't shake the feeling that this is bigger than just us. If we back down now, if we let fear win, what message does that send to other omegas? That we should hide, that we should be ashamed of who we are?
Fuck that.
"You're overthinking again," Damon says softly, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist. I lean back into his solid warmth, letting out a shaky breath.
"Can you blame me?" I murmur.
He presses a kiss to the top of my head. "No. But we've got this, Ash. Whatever happens."
I nod, drawing strength from his unwavering belief in me. In us.
"So," Damon drawls, a hint of mischief in his voice, "anyone else think it's kind of exciting that we're hiring some mysterious vigilante hacker?"
Dante grins. "Fuck yeah. It's like something out of a movie."
I can't help but laugh. "I have to admit, I'm intrigued. The whole anonymous crusader thing is pretty badass."
Silas looks up from his computer, eyebrow raised. "Should we be jealous?"
"Maybe," I tease, winking at him. "You know how I love a man of mystery."
The alphas exchange a look, a mix of amusement and possessiveness that sends a pleasant shiver down my spine. Even after all this time, it still amazes me how they can go from playful to intense in the blink of an eye.
Before things can escalate, Silas clears his throat. "Alright, lover boys. Show time. We're getting the call."
Just like that, the atmosphere in the room shifts. The playful banter evaporates, replaced by a tension I can tell we all feel. We gather around the massive flat-screen TV mounted on the wall, Silas tapping away at his laptop to cast the call to the larger screen.
The screen flickers to life, but instead of a face, we're greeted by a glowing logo. It's an 'E' made entirely of binary code, pulsing softly against a black background. I have to admit, it's pretty fucking cool.
"Good evening," a distorted voice crackles through the speakers. "I'm Echo."
Silas snorts. "Nice voice changer. Very theatrical."
I shoot him a glare, but Echo doesn't seem fazed.
"A necessary precaution in my line of work," he says smoothly. "Now, I believe introductions are in order?"
I step forward, slipping into the role of spokesperson as easily as breathing. "I'm Asher Wilde, lead singer of Wild Honey. Thank you so much for agreeing to meet with us. This is my pack, from left to right," I say, gesturing behind me. "Silas Kane, our lead guitarist. Dante Saito, rhythm guitar. Damon Cole, drums. And Knox Hartley, bass."
There's a beat of silence before Echo speaks again. "I've heard of your band. What exactly do you think I can help you with?"
He's just… heard of the band?
If my ego were a stone wall, that would put a few cracks in it.
Right to the point, though. I can respect that.
"We were attacked at our last concert," I begin, but Echo cuts me off.
"I've seen the headlines. What do you want me to do about it?"
Knox bristles beside me. "Ace said you're some hotshot who takes on anti-omega groups. We want you to find the bastards who did this, obviously."
I lay a hand on Knox's arm, trying to keep things diplomatic. "What my alpha means is, we're hoping you can help us identify the group behind the attack. The police aren't making any progress, and we have reason to believe this wasn't an isolated incident. But all they want is for us to stop making waves."
There's a long pause, and for a moment I worry we've lost the connection. But then Echo sighs, the sound distorted through the voice changer.
"What you're asking isn't just difficult, it's dangerous. Mostly for you, Asher. The police's advice to lie low isn't entirely wrong."
Something inside me snaps. All the fear, all the anger I've been holding back since the attack comes rushing to the surface.
"That's not an option," I snarl, surprising even myself with the vehemence in my voice. "I've spent my entire life being told what I can and can't do because I'm an omega. I'm sick of it. I have more privilege than most, and I intend to use it to fight for those who can't fight for themselves. If I back down now, it will only encourage more attacks. Even worse, it'll send a message to every omega out there that we should hide, that we should be ashamed of who we are. I won't do that. I can't."
The words pour out of me, raw and honest. By the time I finish, I'm breathing hard, my body tense enough to snap. The room is dead silent, my packmates staring at me with a mixture of pride and concern.
Echo doesn't respond for what feels like an eternity. When he finally speaks, there's a new note in his voice. Respect, maybe?
"That's what I was hoping to hear."
I blink, caught off guard. "What?"
"I needed to know if you were serious about this," Echo explains. "If you were willing to face the risks head-on."
Silas mutters something that sounds suspiciously like "asshole," but I ignore him.
"Does that mean you'll help us?" I ask, not bothering to hide the hope in my voice.
"I'll take the case," Echo confirms, "but I have conditions. Most importantly, I won't be helping in person."
Damon frowns. "How the hell are you supposed to help if you're not with us?"
"I don't take in-person jobs," Echo says firmly. "Non-negotiable."
"What if we paid more?" Dante suggests. "Whatever your going rate is, we'll triple it. Quadruple it. Money's no object."
I nod eagerly. "Absolutely. Name your price."
"I don't give a shit about the money," Echo says, and I swear I can hear a hint of amusement in his distorted voice. "As a matter of fact, I only want you to cover my expenses for the case. Take it or leave it."
We exchange bewildered looks. This is... not what I was expecting.
"I guess we don't have a choice," I mutter. "Thank you, Echo. We appreciate your help."
"What do we need to do?" Knox asks, leaning forward.
"I'm sending you a link to a secure drop box," Echo replies. "Put everything you have in there—police reports, venue contacts, security footage, anything related to the case. I'll be in touch."
Silas frowns. "That's it?"
"If I'm involved, I'm calling the shots," Echo says, an edge of steel in his voice. "Period."
And with that, the call disconnects, leaving us staring at a blank screen.
For a long moment, no one speaks. We're all trying to process the enigma that is Echo. Finally, I break the silence.
"I like him," I declare, grinning.
Damon, Knox, and Silas turn to me with identical expressions of bewilderment.
"You're joking, right?" Knox sputters. "The guy's a complete asshole!"
I shrug. "Maybe. But he's an asshole who's on our side. And I have a feeling he's exactly what we need."
Dante laughs, coming over to sling an arm around my shoulders. "Only you could charm a faceless hacker, babe."
I lean into him, some of the tension finally leaving my body. "What can I say?" I ask dryly. "It's a gift."