Six.

Asher's POV 

"Omega?" I scoffed in disbelief. Detecting an omega was easy peasy to me so I knew at once that she was telling a lie. 

With my back turned on her, I tilted my head to the side, my left foot tapping gently against the wooden floor. 

“Are you that desperate?" I asked, closing the little distance between us with just a stride. 

With my fingers drawing the outline of her jaw, I took in her features, counting her heartbeat which was erratic. 

"You're scared.” I mouthed. 

Veering backwards, she wiped the spot my fingers had made contact with.

Locking gaze with me she huffed, "Let me go already, okay. I have no business here, I belong to the slave institution and not the exalted position of a Queen” She said in a breath, her full gaze on me. 

"You claim to be an omega but you don't act like one.” I chuckled. 

Instantly, she broke eye contact and then began to fiddle with her fingers. 

“You're mine and I'm the only one who has the authority to determine where you will stay." Leaning in, I whispered, “You’ll stay by my side, I won't let you wander off." 

Taking a deep breath, she pushed her hand into her hair only to start chewing on her fingers. 

Parting my lips , I wanted to speak but she beat me to it. 

“You got it wrong." She spat at me. The fierceness in her eyes added to my conclusion on her identity as an Alpha female. 

“I make decisions for myself. Even though I’m an omega, I won't be looked down on." With a voice barely above a whisper, she added, "I refuse to be treated like I’m weak."

“Then stay." I exhaled, crossing my hands on my chest. 

She must be struggling with her decisions because she went mute for a while.

“On one condition." She finally said, her middle finger poked in my face. 

“Yes, my lady. Whatever your condition is, I will do my best to abide by it." My words were followed with a scoff and another lengthy silence but I was patient with her. 

“I will stay if only you teach me how to be strong." 

“Is that all?" 

“Yes." 

Amused, I couldn't help but laugh.

All the while I was thinking she was going to ask me to promise not to leave her side but she wanted to be strong. 

“Is it funny?" She huffed. “As an omega, I need to be fiercely strong so I can survive here…” 

"Stop lying to yourself. You aren't an omega, you know that.” I murmur, watching the way her face changed colors. 

Flashing a reassuring smile at her, I turned around and with Silva by my side, I headed straight for the door, the intensity of her gaze burning through my skin. 

"You didn't give your response.” She yelled after me but I didn't bother responding to her. 

With my hands folded behind me, I made my way towards my study only for Miller to appear before me, her face expressionless but I could see the anger boiling in her veins.

“Why?" She snarled. 

“Why have you decided to desecrate the seat of the Queen by having an omega sit on it?" She yelled, stomping angrily but I didn't flinch. 

“She is my mate." My tone was calm but it enraged her.

“I can't sit back and watch the seat of the Luna desecrated. An omega has no place in the palace of an Alpha, not to mention the Lycan King." 

With a determined voice, she said, "This is not going to happen, I’m going to see to that.” 

She sounded like a threat; my wolf wasn't going to accept that so it growled in anger. 

Folding my hands behind my back, I soothed it, while controlling myself at the same time not to flare up. 

After a long search, I had finally found my mate and right before me, Miller was declaring her intention to stop me.

“You should choose your words carefully," Silva said. 

He must have noticed the change in my demeanor. 

“Silva, don't tell me you support his decision."

“Miller, enough. Return to your quarters this instant." He snarled at her, steering her in the opposite direction but she was adamant.

“I'm not leaving yet." 

Shifting her focus to me, she said, "You know the elders will never allow this." 

"Why?” 

"A slave can't be the Queen of this pack. We will rather go on not having a Queen than to allow a slave brought in for auction to rule over us.” 

I clenched my jaw but said no words. 

"The elders don’t get to decide who the moon goddess mates to the King. Only the moon goddess do, and she had chosen the perfect mate for our King."

"The elders don't have the authority to choose a destined mate for the King but they do have a say when it comes to the strength of our clan.” Miller countered.

“Who knows if she is sent to the Kingdom to strip off everything we have worked for?" She huffed, stamping her foot against the wooden floor. 

My mate was right when she said she needed to be strong to be able to survive.

Without her knowing, she already got an opposition. 

I will make her strong. 

She has to survive; I'm going to see to that. 

Raising my head and locking eyes with Miller who was still fuming, I murmured, “You aren't acting this way because she came into the pack as a slave."

Placing my hand on her shoulder and giving it a soft squeeze which made her wince, I added, “Don't get ahead of yourself, so you won't get into trouble." 

With that said, I brushed past her. 

At the moment, Silva seemed to be communicating with someone via mindlink.

"Tell me, what did you hear?" I halted, shifting my gaze to him.

"The council is going to accept her.” He mouthed. 

"With no condition?” It was hard to believe, not after Miller’s demonstration a while ago.

"She has to pass the background check.”