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Lucas gave a respectful nod. “My King, if there is anything you
need, I will stand behind you.”
I shook my head. “No. You stand WITH me.” I stepped forward,
making sure my words were clear. “Every battle we fight, we
do it side by side. We protect our pack, our families, together.
Not as leader and soldier, but as brothers.”
The warriors nodded, and I could feel the shift in their energy.
They weren’t just acknowledging my words–they were
believing them.
“Don’t bow to me,” I continued. “You are the ones keeping this
pack safe. You are the reason others fear attacking us. The
reason our families sleep soundly at night. You are not beneath
- me. You are warriors, and you deserve to be honored as such.”
Lucas met my gaze, something like pride flickering in his eyes. “I
think I speak for everyone when I say we appreciate that, my
King”
For the first time in a long while, I felt something settle within
- me. Connection. Understanding. I wasn’t just their leader–I was
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becoming part of them.
And despite everything, I couldn’t walk away from that.
Not now. Not ever.
Asher’s POV
I had just left the Seer’s chamber and ran into Matthew in the hallway. I thought he was just passing by. But then he blocked
my path.
“We need to talk.”
I turned to face him, already dreading this conversation. I hadn’t spoken to him since I got back, and honestly, I wasn’t sure how to. He had been through hell, especially after learning that Kylie was supposed to be his mate. I could see the weight of that revelation in the dark circles under his eyes, the stiffness in
his shoulders.
“Yeah. I guess we do.” I exhaled. “Should have done it sooner.”
I was lying. I had put this off on purpose. It wasn’t that I held
anything against him. I just couldn’t look at him without
remembering everything that had happened.
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I killed his parent. He had every right to hate me, or even plot a revenge. If I were in his place, I would definitely do something. But he hadn’t. I didn’t understand why though. The weight of everything in the past sat heavy between us.
“I get it. You’ve had a lot going.on,” Matthew said, voice calm. “But we don’t have time to dance around this anymore.”
That sent a prickle of unease down my spine. “Alright. My office.”
As we walked, I stole glances at him. He wasn’t the same person I’d left behind. The Matthew I grew up with had been carefree, always chasing the next thrill. The guy walking beside me now moved with purpose, his posture rigid, his wolf’s presence
darker, more controlled.
He had changed–physically, mentally, in ways I wasn’t sure I fully understood yet.
We stepped inside my office, and I leaned against my desk. “This isn’t more bad news, is it?”
He didn’t smile. “Depends on how you look at it. But I can tell
you right now, you’re not going to like it.”
My hands clenched. “Just spit it out.”
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“The council and Alpha Xavier have been rallying the other
alphas against you,” he said, watching my reaction. “They have enough backing to launch a coup.”
A muscle in my jaw twitched. I knew the council was up to something. I just didn’t expect them to have the audacity to go
against me. Those old bastards had a death with.
“How long has this been happening?” my voice cold.
“Long enough. They want me to take your place.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. He just spilled the secret out like
that? So he wasn’t on their side. “Of course, they do. Because
tradition says only a direct descendant of the first Alpha King
can lead, right?”
Matthew nodded. “They think you’re a liability. Reckless. You
fought hard with them on the Celestine flower and that pissed
them off. Now They are getting rid of you and replace you with
someone they can control.”
I exhaled through my nose. “And why are you telling me this? If
they’re offering you the crown, wouldn’t it be easier for you to let them have their way?”
His stare didn’t waver. “Because, at the end of the day, you’re
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my family. And no matter what’s happened between us, I know where I stand. I don’t want the throne, Asher. I never did. My father wanted it for me. I let him make all my choices. I thought following the council’s path was the only way to keep myself afloat, but I was wrong.”
I studied him, searching for any sign of hesitation, but there was none. Whatever resentment he might have felt toward me, it wasn’t enough to turn him against me.
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Chapter144
