A day and some hours have passed since he was held captive and thankfully, he was slowly gaining back his strength.

Though they still refused to feed him with human blood - animal blood would even go a long way in restoring him to his prime - but his mother Helen insistently fed him her blood.

Human food did nothing to sustain him yet they brought it over but Asher didn't dare to eat it, they laced it with vervain - he wasn't born this morning.

Ezekiel could have shoved it down his throat but he was being careful not to upset his mate.

Right now, it was late and they finally brought him outside to look around - in restraints. There was no thought of escaping since men encompassed him about but he still didn't lose hope

-there was no harm in knowing the interior and exterior of the mansion for escape's sake.

Asher looked up at the sky, it was a full moon tonight and it made him think of his mate. Right now, she should be having her training with Daniel.

He blinked away the tears that touched his eyes, he missed her like crazy. But Asher was most sorry he wouldn't be able to protect her.

His mind wandered, he wondered if Lia felt something wrong through the bond? They should be leaving tomorrow and while the other students would go home to their loved ones unharmed, she would be in danger from him - from the man using his body.

Sabrina, this was all her fault. Asher hoped to God he never sets his eyes on her else he'd tear her limb to limb. She betrayed him for power, what're the chances she wouldn't betray Lia too when push comes to shove?

Dan would be upset but the girl had to be punished.

Asher sighed, if Monique was still alive she wouldn't have done such a thing, unlike Sabrina who wasn't his true mate.

A true mate wouldn't do anything that would distress his mate. Since Dan was under him, Monique would know that hurting Asher was equal to hurting Dan and wouldn't think of betrayal.

"Who are you yearning for?"

A voice came from behind, startling Asher who turned around at once to meet his new favorite person.

"Mother" he smiled at her.

Helen walked over to him, "How are you doing?" she asked with her gentle tone, noticing the shackles on him.

"I'm doing better," He answered.

"Do you need me to break those?"

Asher glanced down at the binds,

"No, I'm good. Besides, it would just make things difficult for you"

He knew her mother taking sides with him was causing a toll on her relationship with Ezekiel. Even without hearing their conversation, the worried look on his mother's face told him she fought with her husband.

Helen sat down on the bench beside him leaving Asher with no choice but to sit down too.

"I don't think your father is forgiving you anytime soon, son" she disclosed to him.

Asher snorted inwardly, anytime soon? What a joke, probably till eternity!

He would have told his mother about the truth but this was not the right time - at least, not today.

Helen has still not come to terms with the fact he almost took his brother's mate and Raphael's reputation had not helped either.

His mother knew he hated Asher's guts, so if he went ahead to confess to her he was Asher who was forced into his half-brother's body, she wouldn't believe a thing - she would only believe he has totally lost it.

So he had to reveal the truth little by little, through subtle differences in character and mannerism. Since Raphael wanted to play this game, he should be ready to finish it.

"No problem, I expected it. I did wrong so it's right I took responsibility for my actions" came Asher's answer which made her surprised.

Raphael disliked Asher so in a situation like this, Helen was anticipating he would have protested against the unfair judgment - as he would call it - placed on him.

But Asher did the opposite, he accepted his punishment in good faith - a huge contrast to Raphael's stubborn and unyielding character.

"You're not angry?" She asked, just to be sure.

"Why should I?"

"I don't know, the usual 'you' wouldn't be contented with that kind of verdict especially involving Asher?"

He laughed, "Maybe, another soul is possessing my body" Asher dropped hints but his mother laughed it off.

"You can't be serious," she slapped him playfully on the shoulder

See, Asher thought. What would have happened if he told her, "I'm Asher in Raphael's body" how funny that would look.

"Tell me about my father"

"Huh?"

Asher corrected himself, "I mean, tell me about you and Antonio. How did both of you meet?"

The smile on Helen's face froze, that question came out of nowhere neither did she expect that.

For some reason, Raphael was getting increasingly strange. There was just something off about him - not in a creepy way but in a warm, different way.

Had this traumatic experience changed the obnoxious Raphael overnight? It was hard to believe but it was happening right in front of her.

Helen blinked in surprise, then frowned "Why do you want to know about that? So you could have a reason to seek further revenge against your brother Asher?"

"No, that's not it " he was quick to clarify the situation, it seems his mom gave misunderstood his intention, "I just want to understand"

"Understand what?"

"Understand what was so special between the both of you?"

Helen was speechless, she was supposed to feel revolted that her son was asking about her past relationship with her late ex-lover turned Asher's father but the reverse was the case.

She wanted to open up, tell him everything which was strange on its part. What the hell was going on tonight?

"Please, mother " Asher persuaded her upon discovering her reluctance to open up which he couldn't blame her for.

If he was with his real appearance, she wouldn't hesitate to tell him everything since it was about his father but Raphael? Super awkward.

"Your father and Antonio had not always been enemies" she started which surprised him.

He had expected her to hightail it out of here exasperatedly. Seems his power of persuasion was innate - ability or no ability.

Helen went on, "We were best friends, all trio of us - me, your father Ezekiel and Asher's father Antonio - were inseparable.

"As you know, your father and I were of the same clan save Antonio who was from the Nicoli clan. Our relationship was a surprising one since most vampire clans chose to avoid us thanks to our dishonest reputation.

"Antonio was a known troublemaker, perhaps that was why he fitted along with us - the cunning vampires.

"But that day, he got into a fight he couldn't win and I happened to be the one who saved him from meeting death that night.

"He was severely injured and poisoned which left me with no choice than to bring him into our clan and had him treated.

"Your father and I had been friends from childhood so it was expected he found out about it. It was a tough battle but he helped secure his life, so Antonio survived.

"Ezekiel and Antonio clicked instantly it was so surprising to me, perhaps due to the fact Antonio always had this darkness inside of him but your father was not far behind either.

"Antonio didn't leave the instant he was back to his best form since Ezekiel wanted him to spend more time with him. It was during that period that things changed between us and we started seeing each other.

"Both of us knew we weren't each other's mate but the attraction between us was so intense we had no doubt we would turn out as mates indeed." She let out a wry smile, "who knew the moon had much more than we thought in-store for us"

"It just came suddenly; a sweet whiff one can't ignore, the electrifying touch that send electricity coursing through veins, coupled with a stare that seemed to last forever, Ezekiel and I knew instantly we were true mates.

"Antonio had gone back to his clan during that period and so didn't have an idea. Even as friends, your father and I didn't feel anything for each other but that changed that day.

"I did everything to fight the attraction between us but it's not exactly easy to get rid of the bond save through rejection. But I couldn't make that decision yet, I had to seek Antonio's opinion as well since I had finally summoned courage to tell him the truth.

"Unfortunately that night, the attraction between us couldn't be denied anymore. The feelings spiked leaving me no alternative but to give in. One thing led to the other, we mated and he marked me.

"Antonio found out and of course he was so furious, the sight of me disgusted him so greatly he left without turning back. Your father and I got married and we gave birth to you.

"But few days after your birth, Antonio returned claiming he has forgiven Ezekiel and me. Both of us were so joyous without knowing he had an ulterior motive till he took me away. And that was how everything played out " his mom finished her narration.

Asher was stunned, this was so much information to digest. So in one word, his father had been the one who was wronged?

But then he couldn't blame his mother nor Ezekiel either, he knew how hard it was to resist the mate pull and he had his mate to prove that.

There were so many times he had the urge to toss that deal with the werewolf to the back of his mind and have his way with his mate but he had to suppress himself to the point of causing his body pain to clear his mind - he didn't want a war on his hand.

Asher refused to turn out like his father and he would live by that standard.

"That time you spent with Antonio when he took you away, do you regret it ?"