Chapter 3

I entered my father’s office, the familiar scent of leather and old books filling the air. My heart raced as I rehearsed what I wanted to say. This wasn’t going to be easy, but I had no choice. Asher wasn’t the person my father thought he was. He was dangerous, manipulative—and worst of all, he was the man who would destroy my family if I didn’t stop him. I needed to cancel the wedding.

But before I could open my mouth, my father looked up from his desk, his face lighting up as he saw me. The sight of his frail body leaning back in the chair, his graying hair, and the dark circles under his eyes hit me like a punch to the gut. He was so much worse than I remembered. Weakened, sickly—his health was deteriorating fast.

“Cassie, sweetheart,” he began, smiling warmly. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you. I can’t tell you how happy and proud I am that you’re marrying Asher. He’s a strong alpha. I know he’ll take care of you. And when my time comes…” He paused, a rattling breath escaping his lips. “I’ll die in peace knowing you’re in good hands.”

My stomach twisted violently. Die in peace? No. That wasn’t how it happened at all. In my past life, Asher killed him. Murdered him in cold blood to take over the pack, using the pretense of war as an excuse. My father hadn’t died peacefully. He’d died fighting for his life, for my life, and Asher had ripped it all away.

I stared at him, my throat dry, every word I had planned to say vanishing into thin air. How could I tell him now? How could I break his heart when he looked at me with so much pride, so much hope?

“Dad…” I started, but the words wouldn’t come. My eyes traveled over his gaunt face, the lines deeper than I remembered. How much time did he have left? Could his health even take it if I told him the truth about Asher?

“Cassie?” My father’s voice pulled me from my thoughts, his brow furrowed with concern. “You look troubled. What’s on your mind?”

I hesitated, my hands fidgeting with the hem of my shirt. “I was just wondering…” I began tentatively, choosing my words carefully, “what would happen if…if Asher and I didn’t get married?”

The silence that followed was deafening. My father’s expression shifted, confusion flickering in his eyes before his face hardened. His frail hand gripped the arm of his chair tightly.

“What are you talking about?” he asked, his voice shaking slightly.

“I just…what if we canceled the wedding?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “What would happen?”

Before he could answer, a violent coughing fit wracked his body, and I rushed forward, panic seizing me as I kneeled beside him, patting his back. “Dad! Dad, breathe!”

After what felt like forever, he finally caught his breath, leaning back in his chair, pale and exhausted. My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. He was so weak.

“I’m fine,” he rasped, waving me off as if nothing had happened. But I could see the toll it took on him.

He cleared his throat and looked me straight in the eye. “Cassie, during your engagement with Asher, our packs merged. That’s tradition. It’s how it’s always been done. If you try to end things with him now, without a legitimate reason, one of two things will happen: you’ll either have to give Asher control of our pack or…I’ll have to fight him in a war for dominance.”

My blood ran cold. “What?” I asked, unable to process his words.

My father’s face was grim. “Asher is an alpha, and we’ve already merged the packs. If you dump him without a just cause, the only way to separate the packs is through battle. And, as tradition states, it’s the ruler’s responsibility to fight for the pack’s survival.”

“But you’re sick, Dad!” I protested, my voice shaking. “You can’t fight Asher! He’ll kill you!”

His eyes softened, but his words were firm. “Only the pack leader can fight for the pack. And I’m the leader, Cassie. You know that as a woman, you can’t lead the pack in a battle.”

I gritted my teeth, anger and frustration building up inside me. “Why not? I could fight Asher! I could—”

“No, you can’t,” he interrupted gently. “You’re not the alpha, Cassie. Only men can lead packs in battle. It’s the law. If you end things with Asher, I’ll have no choice but to fight him. And Asher is young, strong…and I’m not. It would be a death sentence.”

His words crushed me. I realized then that if I canceled the wedding, Asher would kill him. Just like in my past life. My entire purpose had been to protect my father from Asher and Linda, but canceling the wedding now would only seal his fate. I was trapped.

I needed help. Someone else had to stop Asher, someone strong enough to stand against him. But who? I couldn’t do it alone.

My father seemed to notice my silence and worry crossed his face. “Cassie, you don’t want to end things with Asher, do you?” His voice trembled slightly.

I bit my lip, panic clawing at me. If I told him the truth, it would crush him. His health couldn’t take the weight of it. “No, Dad,” I lied, forcing a smile that I didn’t feel. “Everything’s fine. I was just…thinking too much.”

He relaxed a little, but his eyes were still filled with concern. “Good. Because Asher is a good man. He’ll keep you safe.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, feeling sick at the lie. I had to protect my father. But how?

Suddenly, Linda’s words from earlier came rushing back to me. “Alpha Damien…he’s the only person powerful enough to stop Asher.”

My heart skipped a beat. Damien. Of course. It was the reason Asher hated him so much. Damien was the only alpha strong enough to challenge Asher’s power. He could help me expose Asher’s betrayal and protect my father.

I needed to speak with Damien. And soon. The annual festival for all the alphas in the region was coming up, and Damien would be there. I could attend, talk to him in person, and figure out a plan to stop Asher before it was too late.

I nodded to myself, my decision made. I would go to the festival and seek out Alpha Damien. He was my best chance.

Later that night, I was in my room, my mind racing with plans when I heard a knock on the door. Asher stepped inside, looking unusually solemn. I straightened, my heart pounding. What did he want now?

“Cassie,” he started, his tone soft, almost apologetic. “I’m sorry…for earlier. Bringing Linda like that, in front of everyone…I disrespected you. It wasn’t right.”

I stared at him, not trusting a word that came out of his mouth. “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he continued, stepping closer. “I swear, once she’s healed, I’ll reject her, just like we planned. She’ll leave, and we can move on.”

A lie. I knew it was a lie. In my past life, Linda never left. Asher never rejected her. But I forced myself to smile, pretending to accept his words. “I understand,” I said quietly.

Relief washed over his face, and he reached out to touch my arm, his hand warm against my skin. “Thank you, Cassie. You mean everything to me.”

I fought the urge to pull away. “I’m just…tired,” I said, giving him a weak excuse. “It’s been a long day. Can we talk later?”

He hesitated, then nodded, backing off. “Of course. Rest well.”

He left the room, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. My mind was spinning with one thought: how to turn Alpha Damien into an ally. He was the only one who could help me now.

And I had to act fast before Asher’s lies destroyed us forever.