Chapter 226
Even before Asher reached the warehouse, the dogs had sensed him from afar and began to bark. So when he came closer, the noise became more frantic.
With a simple push, Asher undid the flimsy chain holding the gate shut and strode inside, the dogs now in full alarm mode.
The dogs growled, low and guttural, displaying their sharp teeth, their bodies tensed as if about to attack.
And yet they didn’t move.
Not when their instincts screamed that the real predator had arrived.
Asher casually walked over, his glowing slitted eyes settling on the snarling beasts. In a commanding tone, he said, “Quiet.”
His authority as an Alpha washed over them and at once, both dogs went docile, ears drooping in submission, releasing whimpers like scolded puppies.
Asher knelt and scratched one behind the ear, the big beast pressing against him like a domesticated pet. The second dog, not to be left out, nudged his hand with its snout, demanding attention.
Asher chuckled. “Good boys. But I’m afraid you’ve just made my entrance very, very obvious.” he murmured, hearing footsteps approaching from behind.
Nonetheless, everything was right on time.
A man with a firearm stepped into view, frowning deeply at the sight of some stranger petting the vicious guard dogs. “Who’s there?”
Asher rose slowly, arms raised in a mock gesture of surrender. “I come in peace,” he said.Except not even he believed those words.
Then the armed man—Philip, apparently—locked eyes with him, and that was all the West Alpha needed. His pupils dilated, his stance wavering as his mind became snared in Asher’s compulsion.
“Lead the way, would you?”
Philip nodded as if in a trance, promptly escorting Asher toward the warehouse entrance. Along the way, a few other Red Dragon lookouts saw them and one of them called out, “Who’s that?”
Philip answered swiftly , “Samuel’s important guest.”
Nobody thought to question further. They certainly didn’t recognize the cardinal alpha, after all, none of them had ever seen him in person. Even if they somehow recognize him from watching the news, none of them would ever expect a werewolf of his rank to set foot here in District One, let alone on Red Dragon turf.
Wolves had no business here.
Asher’s gaze took in the warehouse floor as he passed through and the place was a hive of illicit activity as expected. Men, women, children even, were busy filling small packets with white powder. Asher’s nose wrinkled at the sight of kids forced into the drug trade.
But he kept moving, letting the men patrolling with guns glance over him briefly. They seemed more curious than aggressive, it was Philip leading him around, after all, hence there was no cause for panic.
He moved past them, arriving at the main door, the one guarded by two armed men.
Before they could even utter a question, Asher’s eyes flashed, and compulsion overtook them instantly. They parted, stepping aside like puppets with cut strings. Asher paused in the threshold, turning back.
“Should any commotion arise inside…” he said in a voice dripping with power, “shoot anyone who tries to come inside. Then set the men, women, and children free and forget they existed. Like ever.”
He pumped extra force into the final command, watching them shiver as their eyes dilated in robotic compliance.
“Yes…” they droned in unison.
Satisfied, Asher faced the room of waiting prey with anticipation. Dramatically, he pushed the doors open and all heads turned towards him.
Samuel’s face twisted with irritation. “Who the fuck is this?” he snapped, shooting a glare at Umal. “Is he one of yours?”
Umal whirled to face Asher, and froze. He instantly recognized him, fear spreading across his features. He hissed in a low tone to his nearest guard, “Don’t look him in the eyes.”
The guard stiffened, catching the urgency in Umal’s voice. This was trouble on a scale they hadn’t anticipated. It was time to abort this mission.
Before Umal could answer, Asher spoke as he strode forward. “I see you’re in the middle of something important.Apologies for the interruption, but my business is important too.”
Samuel’s expression darkened. In his line of work, he had seen daring men, but none as stupid as this one. Perhaps the young man was suicidal, he thought. Fine, he’d grant him the small mercy.
“Get rid of him.” He ordered one of his men.
The guard raised his gun only to freeze mid-motion. His face contorted in confusion, muscles locked in place, and unable to move no matter how hard he tried.
Unknown to him, Asher had compelled and using his body against him.
There was confusion and other Red Dragon guards swiftly aimed their guns at Asher, but he chuckled darkly. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he warned, scanning the room with eerie calm.
But his wolf senses picked up one among them who was bold—or stupid—enough to subtly pull a trigger.
His smile widened.
Perfect. A demonstration, then.
As the man fired, Asher ducked, the bullet whizzing past him. Then there was a bang as the first guard he had compelled shot the idiot who fired. The guard collapsed, blood splattering against the floor.
And just like that, the puppet master started some macabre dance of bullets.
Another guard shot the first guy who had fired, his own nerves getting the best of him.
But before the new shooter knew it, Asher’s gaze snapped to him and now he was compelled.
Bang! Another body hit the ground.
More gunfire erupted, but it was no longer directed at Asher. Like a twisted game of chess, Asher moved the pieces, compelling one man to shoot another, forcing another to turn on his comrade.
They fell one by one, their faces wracked with confusion as their own bodies rebelled against them.
Asher merely stood in a safe corner, watching as members of the Red Dragon inside the room tore each other apart like it was some entertainment.
He could have easily compelled them all to kneel, but then, where was the fun in that?