Chapter 58

ASHER

As soon as Knox finished telling me about his exchange with Mark, a knot of frustration tightened in my chest. I didn’t understand what had changed. Mark had always been a strong supporter, even backing our claim to the throne when others hesitated. But now, Knox was telling me about the coldness in Mark’s voice, the suspicion in his eyes when he’d seen us with Isabella.

I couldn’t let this slide. Mark’s support was crucial, and if something had shifted, I needed to know why. Without wasting any more time, I grabbed my phone and called him. The line rang longer than usual before Mark finally picked up.

“Asher,” he answered, his voice clipped.

“Mark, we need to talk,” I began, cutting straight to the point. “Knox told me about your conversation earlier. What’s going on? I thought we were on the same page here.”

There was a heavy pause on the other end, and when Mark spoke again, his voice was laced with something dark—resentment, maybe. “Things change, Asher. People change. Maybe you should have thought about that before.”

I frowned, my frustration deepening. “Before what? We’ve been working toward this for months, and you’ve supported us every step of the way. Why the sudden shift?”

Mark’s voice grew colder, a sharp edge creeping in. “You really don’t get it, do you? This isn’t just about the throne, Asher. It’s about trust, about the way you treat the people around you—people who matter.”

A sinking feeling settled in my gut. I knew where this was heading, but I pushed forward anyway. “What are you talking about? If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”

“Nicole,” he said flatly. The name hit like a slap in the face, but I forced myself to stay calm. “You knew she was my sister from the start, and yet you still played with her feelings. You warned her that it wasn’t serious, but did you think that would make it any easier when you abandoned her for Isabella?”

I closed my eyes, the memories rushing back. I’d known who Nicole was, and from the beginning, I’d been upfront with her about my intentions. Our relationship had always been casual, at least on my end. I’d told her I wasn’t looking for anything serious, that I was waiting to meet my true mate. But none of that made this conversation any easier.

“Mark,” I began, my voice steady but strained, “I was honest with Nicole from the start. I never promised her anything more than what we had. When I met Isabella, everything changed, but I never intended to hurt Nicole.”

Mark’s laugh was harsh, full of bitterness. “Honest? You think that excuses what you did? You think that makes it okay that you tossed her aside the moment you found your mate... a human.”

“It wasn’t like that,” I insisted, but even to my own ears, the words sounded weak. “Nicole and I had an understanding. She knew I was waiting for my mate. I didn’t want to hurt her, but when I met Isabella, I couldn’t ignore that connection.”

Mark’s voice turned icy. “You might have thought you were doing the right thing, but you broke her heart, Asher. She was my sister, and you treated her like she was disposable. And now you expect me to support you? To trust you with the future of the pack?”

Guilt twisted in my chest, but I fought to keep my focus. “Mark, I get why you’re angry, but this isn’t just about Nicole or me. It’s about the packs, about what’s best for everyone.”

“What’s best for everyone?” Mark echoed, his tone dripping with contempt. “Or what’s best for you? You might have found your true mate, Asher, but that doesn’t erase the damage you’ve done.”

I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my frustration in check. “Mark, I can’t change the past, but I’m trying to do what’s right now. The pack needs strong leadership, and we’re the best chance it has.”

Mark didn’t respond immediately, and when he finally spoke, his words were like a slap. “You think you’re the best chance? Right now, I’m not so sure. Don’t expect my support until you’ve proven that you’re not just in this for yourself.”

Before I could respond, the line went dead. I stared at the phone in my hand, the weight of the conversation pressing down on me like a stone. Mark’s change of heart wasn’t just about politics; it was personal, rooted in my past with Nicole. And it was clear that unless I found a way to make amends, I could lose more than just his support—I could lose the chance to reclaim the throne altogether.

Setting the phone down, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts. I needed to talk to my brothers, to Isabella. They needed to know what we were up against, and I needed to figure out how to fix this before it spiraled out of control. But as I headed out of the office, the guilt gnawed at me, a constant reminder of the mistake I couldn’t undo.

Without wasting time, I pulled out my phone again and typed a message to Knox:

Knox, things with Mark are worse than I thought. It might be best if you and Isabella head back to the penthouse tonight. I need to figure this out, and I don’t want her getting caught in the middle of this mess. I’ll explain more later.

I hit send and exhaled slowly, hoping Knox would understand the urgency. The last thing I wanted was for Isabella to be in the crossfire of this conflict, especially with Mark’s temper flaring. She was already dealing with enough, and if anything happened to her because of my past with Nicole, I’d never forgive myself.

As I pocketed my phone, my thoughts turned to Nicole. This wasn’t just about her brother’s disapproval anymore—it was about her. Nicole had always been strong-willed, someone who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it. But I never expected her to turn that determination against me.

She’d threatened Isabella before, a warning that still sent a shiver down my spine whenever I thought about it. But now, she was threatening my entire future, my place in the pack, and my claim to the throne. All because of the way things ended between us.

I leaned against the edge of my desk, staring out the window at the distant treeline, my thoughts tangled. How could I make things right with her? Could I even fix this? Nicole wasn’t the type to forgive easily, and after everything that had happened, I wasn’t sure an apology would be enough.

But I had to try. I couldn’t afford to have her as an enemy, not when the stakes were this high. The question was, how? How could I approach her in a way that wouldn’t make things worse? How could I show her that I never meant to hurt her, that I valued what we had, even if it wasn’t meant to last?

A part of me wondered if there was even a way to salvage this. Nicole wasn’t just angry—she felt betrayed, and that kind of wound didn’t heal easily. But if I could find a way to reach her, to make her see that my intentions had never been malicious, maybe there was a chance to rebuild some semblance of trust.

The pack needed stability, and that couldn’t happen if we were divided from within. I needed to talk to Nicole, to face her head-on and take responsibility for the pain I’d caused. But I also needed to protect Isabella, to ensure she wasn’t dragged into this any further.

I would reach out to Nicole, try to mend what I’d broken, and in the meantime, keep Isabella safe. But as I stood there, the enormity of the task ahead weighed heavily on me. It wouldn’t be easy, and it might not even be possible, but I had to try. For the pack, for my brothers, and for the future we were all fighting for.