Abigail's POV "This meeting is over," Asher declared, still holding my hands firmly as he led me away from the crowd to his room "Abi," He called, closing the door behind us."You can let go of my hand now," I said, pulling my hands out of his, even though I could feel the absence of the warmth of his hands."I pretended to be a gamma Abigail, I lied about my position because I wanted to protect you," He stared, while I stared wordlessly at him."And I... When I came here in search of a mate, you were already mated to Christopher—" He paused, swallowing hard."You had no excuse to not have told me about whatever it was, I became friends with you, I was closer to you than anyone in this pack, and I confided in you with every single thing," I said, my voice breaking with emotion.I clenched my fists, trying to keep myself together, but the pain of his betrayal clawed at me from the inside."Abi…" Asher took a step closer, his expression filled with regret. "I know I hurt you. I shou
Christopher's POV "Fuck!" I yelled, throwing my fist into the wall, my bones cracked with astounding pain that shot through it."How dare he!" I yelled, kicking the glass table in front of me to its ruin."Christopher," Amanda called from outside, her voice as feeble and weak as it always has."You don't have to get all flared up because of Abigail, because of that bitch..." She drawled, stepping closer to hold me."Shut the stupid fuck up and get away from me!" I cussed, throwing her hands off me.She plopped back to the floor, letting out a startled gasp as she scrambled away from me.Trembling with rage, I ran a hand through my hair, my chest heaving. Abigail. That traitorous bitch. After everything I had given her, after all the years she had spent by my side, she was throwing it all away for him.Asher.I clenched my fists again, my knuckles already bruised from punching the wall. That bastard had played the long game, hadn't he? Pretending to be nothing more than a Gamma while
Abigail's POV "Thank you for trusting me once again, Abigail," Asher exclaimed, heaving a relieved sigh before pulling me into his arms.I didn't know how much I had been needing the warmth of his body on mine before he pulled me into his arms.Soft, clean, warm."Abigail!" A frantic knock on the door made me shudder in Asher's arms.A small hiss tore through my lips as I moved away from his arms to get the door."You don't have to go, I'll check the door and see who it is," He offered but I held him back."It's Amanda, I recognize her voice," I said."Is that not even more reason why you shouldn't see her?" He asked."No, I just want to see what scheme she's up to now," I said and took strides to the door, opening it just in time for her to hit the door again."What do you want?" I asked, my gaze grazing past her bruised throat, red eyes, and bleeding elbows.She stilled before swallowing, her eyes raking the environment."What do you want Amanda?" I asked again, leaning by the door
Abigail's POV "I'll have the elders back in the pack house," Asher said, leaning in to kiss my face."Take your bath, take a nap and I'll handle the rest," He said again, moving to the door."Asher," I called."Do not go to Christopher, I'll handle it," I said, watching him clench his jaws."But—""No buts Asher, I need you to respect my choice, I'll handle him," I said again, walking back to him."I know you can clear this out, but if I am to be your mate, I need you to trust me with this, he needs to feel the same way I felt, disgracing me in front of the entire pack, choosing that liar over me, I need him to feel every single thing,"Asher studied me for a long moment, his golden eyes burning with quiet intensity. I could see the conflict warring inside him—the protective instinct that made him want to shield me from Christopher’s wrath, and the respect he held for my strength, my decision.Finally, with a slow exhale, he nodded. "Fine," he murmured. "But if he so much as looks at
Abigail's POVI watched as Amanda flinched in fear, trying to slip away through the crowd. Christopher stood there, jaw tight, his face unreadable."Shall we?" Asher asked, his warm hand wrapping around mine."Mm, yes," I murmured, intertwining my fingers with his.Daniel walked ahead of us, smiling slightly. The car was already waiting outside, and Asher opened the door for me. Just as I stepped forward, a furious yell tore through the air."Abigail!"Christopher's voice was raw with rage as he lunged toward me, shoving through the gathered wolves."What the hell do you think you did in that room, Abigail?" he bellowed. "You fucking disgraced me! In front of the entire pack! And you think you have the right?"Asher moved instantly, but I placed a hand on his chest, stopping him.I turned to face Christopher fully, tilting my head. "And what exactly were you expecting, Christopher? That I'd fall to my knees and beg to be yours? That I'd forget how you humiliated me and come crawling b
Christopher’s POV"FUCK!" I roared, my voice shaking the walls of my office. My entire body trembled with rage, my fists clenched so tight that I could feel my knuckles burn.Across the room, Amanda cowered in the corner, her entire body trembling as she tried to make herself smaller—invisible. Pathetic."You told me," I growled, my voice deadly quiet. "You fucking told me she was listening to you."Amanda flinched, curling into herself."You said she was going to leave Asher and come back to me!" I roared, grabbing the nearest object—a glass —and hurling it at her.She shrieked, ducking just in time, but the glass shattered against the wall behind her, splattering sharp fragments of its shattered pieces over her trembling form."I—I swear!" she gasped. "She was supposed to listen!"I stalked toward her, my blood boiling, and my vision turning red. "Supposed to?" I sneered. "You told me it was done. You let me walk into that room thinking I’d already won—and she fucking humiliated me!
Christopher's POV Her words were ice, slicing into me, deep and unforgiving. I turned away, running a hand through my hair exasperatedly.“She—”“She is not bonded to Asher yet.”My shoulders stiffened. I turned back, meeting my mother’s sharp gaze.“There’s still time,” she said, stepping forward, her voice low and venomous. “You know what happens once they complete their bond. If Asher marks her, she will be his—permanently. But if you act now—”Her lips curled into a wicked smirk.“You can take back what’s yours, disgrace him the way he did to you,"A dark thrill shot through my veins. I took a slow breath, my fingers twitching with anticipation.“She will never forgive me,” I muttered, though my voice lacked conviction.“She doesn’t need to forgive you,” my mother sneered. “She needs to know her place, and you can do that very easily because she still loves you,"I swallowed, my blood burning with the promise of revenge.I“She will fight me,” I said, though deep down, the though
Asher's POV I stared down at Abigail's sleeping figure, her face was void of all the chaos that surrounded her, relaxed with more peace than I'd ever seen her.I laid beside her, waiting and hoping on the moon goddess that she would forgive me, for lying, for keeping her in the dark, and much as I'd kept her safe, my lies turned out to be just another betrayal in her eyes.I reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake, her lips parting with a soft sigh.She was mine. Or at least, she was supposed to be.But the bond between us was still incomplete.And Christopher—that bastard—was still lurking in the shadows, waiting for a moment of weakness to strike.My jaw clenched. He wouldn’t take her from me. Not now. Not ever.But I knew Abigail. If she ever found out the full truth, if she ever uncovered the secrets I had buried deep beneath my carefully controlled exterior…She might never forgive me.I exhaled, running a hand over my fac
Asher's POV'We won... we were outnumbered, outmatched, but we won.' I smiled faintly, blood drying on my skin, the battlefield littered with the groans of the wounded. Though it pained me that Christopher had gotten away, I knew deep down... the war was over.I took a step forward, facing the remnants of Christopher's pack. Their faces were torn between fear and confusion, the pain of betrayal by their Alpha heavy in their eyes."Your Alpha, the one you placed your faith in, has run away. He left you to die on the battlefield," I said, voice loud and firm, echoing across the clearing. "There's no honour in dying for a coward. If you wish to live, if you wish to belong to a future, lay down your weapons and stand with me. I will protect you. I will lead you. From now on, I will be your Alpha."A tense silence followed... then a voice rose from the crowd."He abandoned us!" a tall, muscular wolf with a scar across his cheek shouted, stepping forward. "Christopher promised us victory, p
Daniel's POVI could see the smile beaming from Asher's face... he was so happy. I had never seen him smile like that, not since I've known him, and that's been a long time. He was truly happy with Abigail.His plan had worked.I had never imagined it could. Fighting a war against the wolf hunters head-on had always seemed like a death sentence. But Asher, he had crafted a brilliant plan, something no one dared to consider possible.When he first brought it up, even I had doubted it. The sorcerers were powerful, too powerful, and they didn't concern themselves with our wars. They did their own bidding. But for the first time, they were fighting beside us.Wolves and witches... united. It still sounded impossible even now, watching it unfold. Asher had planted the seed, but it took more than just hope to make it happen.When I first met with the Sorcerer Supreme, he refused. Cold and without empathy. He wanted no part of our affairs.I was persistent, but that wasn't enough either.It
Abigail's POV "Abi..." Her final whisper faded as her eyes closed. Before I could even react, Daniel had already struck the killing blow to our attacker.I stood frozen, unable to believe what I was seeing. Blood spattered across my clothes, warm and sticky against my skin. 'What have I done? Why did it have to be her?' Thoughts raced through my mind as I dropped to my knees beside Amanda. Her breathing was slow but she was alive. The gunshot wound was deep but had miraculously missed her vital organs. I needed to get her to medical help immediately."Why would she do this?" I whispered, cradling her head. "We weren't even friends. Why risk her life for mine?"I had hated Amanda for the cruel things she and Christopher had done to me. I'd wanted revenge; to make her suffer tenfold for the pain she caused, but I never wanted her dead. Never this.Christopher's ambush party was being killed off around us. Dawn was approaching, and I needed to return before Asher discovered I was gone.
Abigail's POVAmanda had always been known for her deceptive skill, so it was quite hard for me to trust her when Daniel came to me. Looking at her from the window, I could see it in her eyes, this time, she wasn't lying. She was desperate. My heart skipped a beat at the thought that she might have changed. 'She possibly couldn't have changed in just a few days,' I thought, narrowing my eyes. 'Maybe she's just a great actress…' I shrugged the thoughts away. I didn't have time to second guess my instincts.Her voice rang out again, loud and broken. She screamed my name like her life depended on it, and maybe it did. 'Maybe I should hear her out… give her the benefit of the doubt,' I muttered to my wolf, letting out a breath. 'She wouldn't be able to harm us after all.'"Let her speak," I commanded, my voice echoed with authority. Daniel hesitated for only a second before releasing her. Amanda fell to her knees instantly, her shoulders slumped in exhaustion or surrender, I couldn't
Amanda's POV"I must leave... before he comes back to kill me."I whispered the words aloud, barely recognizing my own voice. My hands trembled as they cradled my bruised stomach. The pain in my body was nothing compared to the agony twisting in my heart."Christopher is a monster... how could he hit me? How could he strike me knowing I'm carrying his child?" I whispered, a tear slipping down my cheek."No...."A bitter laugh almost escaped my lips, but it died just as quickly. I pressed my back to the cold wall, closing my eyes for a moment."He doesn't love me. I know that. I've always known that. But he could've at least shown some compassion. Not for me... but for our unborn children. But no, his pride, his obsession with Abigail, it means more to him than life, than family."I opened my eyes and stared around the room, the lavish prison I'd been trapped in for months. It was beautiful on the outside, but it held no warmth. No safety. No love. Just lies. Just fear."I can't stay h
Christopher's POV "Asher thinks it's over. But it's not. I'll show him what I'm made of. I'll make sure he loses Abigail."I muttered bitterly as I stormed into my room, the rage in my chest barely contained. The moment the door slammed behind me, I halted in surprise.My mother was already there, sitting gracefully on the edge of my bed, like she'd been waiting for me."Mother?" I blinked. What could she possibly want?She turned to me with that signature calculating smile of hers. That smile meant only one thing: she had a plan. And if there was one thing I could always count on, it was that Mother never planned to fail. "You're back early," she said softly, folding her hands on her lap."I couldn't stand watching Asher parade around like he owns the world. Like Abigail belongs to him. He's stolen everything from me. My respect, he has humiliated me." I started pacing the room. I tried to place my hand on my chin, but the sting I got reminded me of the beating I had received from
Ashers POV That silenced them again. The weight of their judgment still hung in the air, but none of them had more to say. Not yet.I turned on my heel, heading for the door. I paused, hand on the handle.'Oh—and prepare the warriors. Tonight. We train, we strengthen, we guard what’s ours. Let the hunters come. We’ll be ready.""And with that, I stepped out of the room—ready to fight for everything I had, even if I had to do it alone."Abigail..." I muttered at the sight of Abigail at the door.Abigail stood in the doorway, chin high, though I could see the tremble in her fingers as she clenched them at her sides."What are you doing here?" I asked and she let out a tense smile, pushing her way into the room."Talk of the devil," one elder muttered under his breath.The others shifted uncomfortably, eyes darting between her and me."I know this isn’t the best time," she began, her voice steady despite the storm in her eyes, "but I love Asher."The words hung in the air like thunder.
Asher's POV "Alpha Asher," Daniel called, walking towards me."The elders are waiting for you," He relayed and I nodded, turning to Abigail."Daniel will take you back to your room and I'll come immediately I'm done here," I said but she stared at me, worry filling her eyes."I—i can go with you, if you need to face them and talk to them, I can stand with you," She offered.I reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear, my gaze holding hers. She was brave—braver than anyone gave her credit for. But I couldn’t let her walk into that room, not yet."I know you would," I said softly. "But this is something I need to handle alone—for now.""Her lips parted like she wanted to argue, but she stopped herself, nodding reluctantly."I just don’t want you to fight for me alone," she whispered, her voice barely audible.I cupped her cheek. "You’re not alone, Abigail. You never will be again. But let me face them this time. Let me show them where I stand.""She gave a small nod,
Abigail's POV I darted my eyes to Asher, filled with worry, fear, and something else I couldn't put a name to. "What are you going to do, we cannot...""She will stay, Daniel, whatever it takes, Abigail will stay, no one is going to take her away from me," Asher said, cutting Daniel's words short. "They're already in the pack house Alpha Asher," Daniel said again. "Have them seated in the pack house, I'll meet with them," Asher confirmed. Daniel nodded and took another look at me before walking out of the room. "I—I think I should leave now Asher, I don't want to cause any problems for you," "When I say you stay Abigail, you stay," I swallowed hard, my insides tightening at the finality in his voice."Asher, you don't understand—""I understand perfectly," he cut me off, his golden eyes burning with intensity. "You think running will fix this? That letting them take you will make things easier?"I clenched my fists, my breathing uneven. "If I stay, your pack could turn against