3

Asher's POV

The first rays of dawn had barely begun to peek through the curtains when I found myself stirring from sleep. I groaned, the weight of another day pressing down on me as I shrugged off the comforting warmth of my bed. 

My feet hit the cold floor, sending a shiver up my spine as I trudged toward the bathroom.

The sound of water hitting the tiles filled the room as I stepped into the shower. The warm droplets washed away the remnants of sleep from my eyes. Once I was done, I dressed in my usual attire, my fingers deftly buttoning up my black shirt, which was paired with equally black pants.

My gaze fell upon a drawer, and I pulled it open to reveal a portrait. It was a beautiful rendition of Kiara, my beloved mate. Her eyes, as vibrant as emeralds, seemed to sparkle in the soft morning light.

The portrait, a masterpiece crafted by the region's finest artist, was a gift I had intended for our first anniversary. But fate had other plans, and she disappeared before I could present it to her.

Now, it serves as a bittersweet reminder of our love. Each morning, I find myself staring at it, allowing her image to fill me with a sense of peace and determination to face the day ahead. 

After a few moments, I press my lips against the frame in a tender kiss and whisper a silent promise to her, "I will wait for you, my love." I then carefully place it back in the drawer and exit my room.

The hallway was bustling with servants who bowed their heads in respect as I passed. Their greetings echoed around me, but I barely registered them, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of my half-brother, Jonas.

The thought of our annual visit to the human village surfaced in my mind. This was a tradition, an exchange where they would pay their levy in return for our protection.

But today, I felt a sense of reluctance creeping in. The journey ahead was long, and I decided to delegate this task to Jonas. Filled with a newfound determination, I quickened my pace. The sound of my boots echoed in the grand hallway as I made my way towards Jonas’ chambers.

I walked faster, heading towards Jonas’s chambers. I knocked on his door, then opened it without waiting for an answer. Upon entering, I saw him in bed with a group of naked women, whom I assumed to be Omegas, surrounding him, as usual. 

I scoffed, walked over, and stood beside him, my eyes cold, glaring down at his sleeping form. “Get up!” I commanded, my voice booming, waking him up.

His eyes grazed over before settling on me. He quickly straightened up, disentangling himself from them. “What do you want?” he asked. 

I was about to respond when I paused, my gaze sweeping over the sleeping bodies of the omegas beside him. “Get rid of them quickly.”

He groaned under his breath before waking the others up. All three of them quickly hurried around, scrambling for their clothes while murmuring apologies.

I ignored their apologies, turning my back on them. When I was sure it was just the two of us, I turned to face him.

“I have a task for you,” I said.

“What do you mean?” he snapped, his voice gruff and tired. I ignored his tone, walking towards him with a stern expression. I leaned into his space, my eyes piercing his blue ones. 

“I want you to get ready. You’re riding to the human village today,” I said, my voice firm and authoritative.

He blinked, his mouth dropping open in disbelief. “What? You can’t be serious. That’s your duty, not mine. Why should I go?” He protested, his voice rising in anger.

I straightened up, crossing my arms over my chest. “Because I said so. You need to learn some responsibility. You can’t just lie here, enjoying the comforts of our palace, while I shoulder all the hard work. As my half-brother, you have a role in this pack. The humans are our allies, deserving of our respect. You will collect their levy, doing so with grace and dignity. Do you understand?” I said, my voice cold and commanding.

He glared at me, his eyes ablaze with defiance. "I understand that you’re a tyrant. You’ve never cared about me. Your only concern is for yourself and your cherished mate, Kiara." He paused and then arched a brow at me. “Where is she, by the way? Did she finally get tired of you and run away?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm and bitterness.

I felt a surge of anger and pain at his words, but I managed to keep my composure. I clenched my jaw, my eyes hardening. “Don’t you dare speak of her in that manner. You know nothing about her or the bond we share. She was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I will never cease my search for her. She is my mate, and my love for her surpasses everything else. You, on the other hand, are a disgrace to our family. You lack respect and honor and show no loyalty. You’re nothing more than a selfish, spoiled brat who needs to grow the fuck up.” I paused, taking a deep breath to calm my frayed nerves.

“Now, enough of this nonsense,” I said, my voice low and menacing. “You will do as I command and proceed to the human village. This is not a request, but an order. Disobedience will not be tolerated and will result in severe consequences. Have I made myself clear?”

He flinched, his face turning pale. He understood the gravity of my seriousness and knew that I held the power to punish him, irrespective of our familial ties. 

Swallowing hard, his eyes darted nervously around the room. “Fine, I’ll go. But don’t expect me to be happy about it, and don’t expect me to thank you for this. You’re not doing me any favors; you’re just trying to get rid of me,” he said, his voice sullen and resentful.

I nodded, satisfied that he had agreed. I turned around, heading towards the door. "Good. Then get ready. The horses and some men are waiting outside," I said, pausing mid way before adding, "And Jonas, one more thing. Don’t make me regret this. Avoid any foolish actions. Stay out of trouble. And don’t embarrass me. If you fail, you’ll wish you never left this room." 

My voice was stern—a clear warning. I opened the door and walked out, leaving him behind. I hoped he would heed my words and behave himself. But I had a bad feeling about this. I felt that this was a mistake. A mistake that could cost me dearly.