Chapter 80

JAX

As we stepped out of the pack council room, I could still feel the echoes of the debate bouncing around in my head. I’d come with Asher and Knox, prepared to back up my brother, but honestly, I had no idea what I was going to say. I figured I’d just follow Asher’s lead—he’s always been the one with the plan. But when he started talking about electing a king, suggesting that it shouldn’t automatically be him, it caught me off guard.

I mean, Asher’s always been the one destined for this role, right? The one who’s got the strength, the intelligence, the leadership qualities. It seemed natural to me that if anyone was going to be king, it would be him. But then he went and threw that curveball, talking about how the leader should be chosen based on merit, not just birthright. It made sense, sure, but it was still surprising coming from him.

Asher moved through the crowd of alphas like he was born to it, shaking hands, exchanging a few words here and there, maintaining that calm, collected demeanor of his. Knox and I hung back a bit, letting him handle the formalities. I could see Mark watching us from across the room, his eyes narrowed with that unmistakable shade of jealousy. The guy wasn’t just upset; he was seething with green rage. I guess he hadn’t expected Asher to play things so smoothly, or to rally so many alphas to his side.

When we finally left the council room and headed back to the car, the tension in the air was thick, but there was also this strange sense of accomplishment. Asher had done something big in there, and even though I wasn’t sure how it would all play out, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride.

The three of us piled into the car, the silence stretching between us as we drove away from the pack’s headquarters. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. "What just happened back there?" I asked, breaking the quiet.

Asher glanced over at me, then back at the road ahead. "We laid the groundwork," he said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Yeah, but the whole election thing? I thought you were gunning for the throne."

Asher gave a small, almost amused smile. "It’s not about gunning for the throne, Jax. It’s about doing what’s best for the packs. If I’m the best choice, then I’ll take the role. But if someone else can do it better, then they should have it."

Knox, sitting in the back seat, leaned forward. "You really believe that? You’d step aside if someone else was chosen?"

Asher’s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, meeting Knox’s gaze. "If it’s what’s best for all of us, yes. This isn’t about power for power’s sake. It’s about unity, about making sure we’re strong enough to face whatever comes our way."

I sat back in my seat, mulling over his words. Asher had always been the one with the big picture in mind, but this was something else. He wasn’t just thinking about himself, or even just about our pack—he was thinking about everyone, about the future of all werewolves.

Knox let out a low whistle. "You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But don’t think for a second that Mark’s going to let this go. He’s furious."

Asher nodded, his expression serious. "I know. But that’s why we have to be careful. We’ve got to play this right, or everything we’ve worked for could fall apart."

As we neared our mother’s house, the tension started to ease a little. The conversation shifted from strategy back to the here and now, and I could feel the weight of what had just happened settling in. This wasn’t just some meeting we’d walked out of; it was the start of something huge, something that could change everything.

"We’ll figure it out," Asher said as we pulled up to the house, his voice steady and reassuring. "Whatever happens next, we’ll face it together."

And somehow, even with everything swirling around us, I believed him. As long as we were together, we could handle whatever came our way.

MARK

I stormed into the house, slamming the door behind me harder than I intended. The sound echoed through the hall, and I could already feel the anger bubbling up inside me, threatening to boil over. Maya and Nicole were in the living room, both turning to look at me as I entered, their expressions immediately shifting in response to the fury I knew was plastered across my face.

Maya, always the calm one, raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything right away. She was sitting on the couch, legs crossed, a book in her lap. Nicole, on the other hand, was perched on the edge of the armchair, her posture tense, like she’d been waiting for something to happen. She was the first to speak.

"What happened?" she asked, her voice sharp with concern. I could see the fire in her eyes—Nicole never did well with uncertainty, and right now, that made two of us.

I paced across the room, trying to get a handle on my temper before I spoke, but it wasn’t working. "That son of a bitch," I spat, the words coming out before I could stop them. "Asher walked in there like he owned the place, acting like he’s already the damn king!"

Nicole’s eyes narrowed, her expression hardening. "What did he say?"

"He started talking about how the leader of the packs should be elected, not just handed the throne because of some birthright. Like he’s the voice of reason, like he’s better than the rest of us." I stopped pacing and looked directly at Nicole. "And the worst part? The others were listening to him. Nodding along like he’s the savior we’ve all been waiting for."

Maya remained quiet, but I noticed the subtle way her posture shifted. She was calm—too calm. I knew that look, and it pissed me off even more. She was thinking, weighing her options, and I could see it in her eyes that part of her agreed with Asher, that maybe she thought he had a point. But she didn’t say anything, didn’t voice whatever thoughts were swirling in her mind. That only made my anger flare up even hotter.

Nicole, on the other hand, was fuming. She stood up from the chair, her fists clenched at her sides. "You can’t let him get away with this, Mark. He’s trying to undermine you, make you look weak. We can’t let that happen."

I nodded, feeling the rage pulse through me like a second heartbeat. "He’s playing a dangerous game, and I’m not about to sit back and let him take what’s ours."

Nicole’s eyes were practically glowing with anger now. "You can count on me, whatever you want to do. We’ll show him who really runs things around here."

Maya finally spoke, her voice calm and measured, which only made me more irritated. "Mark, you need to be careful. Asher’s smart—he’s not going to make a move unless he’s sure he can win. Don’t underestimate him."

I glared at her, frustration seeping into my tone. "I know that, Maya. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let him walk all over us."

Maya met my gaze, her expression steady. "I’m not saying you should. Just be smart about it."

Nicole stepped closer to me, placing a hand on my arm. "We’ve got your back, Mark. Whatever it takes, we’ll make sure Asher doesn’t get away with this."

Her words were like fuel to the fire already burning inside me. I clenched my jaw, determination settling in. Asher might think he can waltz in and take the throne, but he has no idea who he’s up against.

"Good," I said, my voice low and hard. "Because we’re going to need every advantage we can get. This isn’t over—not by a long shot."