4

Jonas POV

As soon as Asher said those words to me, I clenched my hands into fists, feeling a surge of anger and resentment toward him. How could he treat me like this, like a mere servant and not his own flesh and blood? He knew how much I despised humans and their very miserable existence.

He was aware of all these facts and more, yet he insisted on sending me there. I was always certain of his disdain for me. The only reason he has tolerated me until now is our shared bloodline.

 

Despite the depth of Asher’s hatred for me, my dislikes for him matches it, if not surpasses it. Asher, under the illusion that his position as Alpha—bestowed upon him by our father—makes him superior to everyone else, remains oblivious to my plans.

Plans that involve his downfall mirror the fate of his mate, Kiara. He doesn’t know that I was waiting for the right moment to strike, to claim what was rightfully mine.

He is also unaware that I have already set the wheels of destiny in motion and that it’s only a matter of time before my dream becomes a reality.

 

I bowed my head respectfully, concealing my true emotions. “As you wish, Asher. I will follow your command,” I said, feigning obedience. 

I  watched him nod curtly, then turn and leave the room. I stepped into the shower to wash away the scent of my omegas. Despite being lower in rank within the pack, they possessed the skills to please all my sexual needs, which was more than satisfactory for me.

 

After washing off, I dried my hair before putting on my official regalia: a black robe with a wolf crested in red. After that, I walked out the door, heading outside to meet the rest.

As I walked through the corridors of our home and towards the stables, I heard a familiar female voice behind me.

 

“Hey, handsome. Where are you off to so early?” It was Scarlet, the red-haired vixen, and Asher’s occasional whore. A sly smile played on her lips, and a twinkle danced in her eye.

I felt a pang of jealousy knowing she had spent the night with Asher, not because I had feelings for her but because it seemed Asher could have anyone he wanted, while I was left settling for less.

 

I turned to face her, giving her a cold look. "What are you doing here, Scarlet? Shouldn’t you be in Asher’s bed, warming it for him? Like always?" I asked sarcastically. 

She blushed, a deep red that matched her hair. "Oh, you know me. I like to get up early and explore. Besides, Asher had to attend to some urgent matters. He’s a busy man, you know. He has a lot of responsibilities as the pack’s Alpha."

 

I snorted, a surge of contempt washing over me. "Yeah, right. He’s so swamped that he can’t even manage his responsibilities. Can you believe he’s sending me to the human village? He claims it’s important, but I suspect he’s just trying to humiliate me and push me aside, as always."

She looked surprised, then curious. "Really? Why would he do that? What’s so important about the human village anyway?"

 

I shrugged, pretending not to care. “I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter to me. He’s the Alpha; he makes the rules. I’m just his loyal brother. I follow his orders. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go. I need to gather my men and get ready for the journey.” I turned away from her, leaving her behind. I made my way to the stables, where my guards were waiting for me.

 

I met up with my men, a group of loyal and fierce warriors, who greeted me with respect and admiration. “Sir, we’re ready to go,” one of them said, saluting me.

“Good,” I responded, nodding. “Let’s go, then. We have a long way to go and a short time to get there.” I then mounted my horse, a black stallion with a white star on its forehead, and signaled for them to follow me.

 

As the sun began to rise on the horizon, I felt a surge of anticipation, tinged with a hint of dread. We rode out of the gates, setting our course for the human village.

 The sooner we embarked on this journey, the sooner it would reach its conclusion. The sooner I could execute my plans, the less certain I was about what awaited me in the human village. However, I was certain that this was the first step towards my ultimate goal: eliminating Asher and assuming the role of the Alpha, a position I believe I deserve.

 

As we rode, the cool morning air brushed against my face, carrying with it the scent of the human village. My mind raced with thoughts of what lay ahead. The human village, a place I rarely visited and filled with beings I greatly despised, held significance today beyond my usual distaste.

 

I glanced back at my escort, their faces etched with determination in the dim light. They trusted me to lead them through the perilous journey ahead, just as Asher had. But did I harbor any affection for them? No. Their presence was nothing more than a distraction. I don’t take orders from anyone, not even Asher. Coming here was merely my way of exercising caution.

 

Over the years, I have learned not to openly defy him. Pretending to be scared of him and doing all his bidding came with many advantages. He won’t know what hits him until it does. 

As we approached the outskirts of the human village, I urged my horse forward, leading the way. The streets were still quiet, with the inhabitants likely still asleep in their homes or just hiding out of fear. But soon enough, they would awaken to my presence in their midst.

 

I dismounted in front of the village square, my men following suit. We stood in silence for a moment, taking in our surroundings. Then, with a nod from me, we began our task. We moved through the village with purpose, seeking out the one who called himself their leader. 

The humans we encountered along the way watched us warily, their fear palpable in the air. However, we paid them no mind and focused solely on our mission.

 

Finally, we found our target—a human with a connection to our pack, someone whom Asher deemed important enough to warrant our attention. I approached him, my expression neutral, as I came to a stop before him. 

He dropped to his knees, his face lowering to the floor. “Welcome, Your Majesty.”

 

I dismissed his greeting, forcing him back to his knees. “Gather the people. Make them come forth as quickly as possible. Death penalty for anyone who defies me or tries to do otherwise,” I roared. 

I watched his face turn completely pale before he nodded and scrambled off. But not before he showed us to a large hall where the taxation was about to take place.