Chapter 189 189

Chapter 189 189
Alyna stood silently for a moment after Ryan left the room.
The weight inside her chest kept growing heavier with every passing second. Asher was already preparing for what was coming, but she knew something he still did not fully understand.
This war would not stay within Xander’s borders.
It would eventually consume everyone.
She looked at Asher carefully while he arranged maps across the table, his attention fully focused on possible strategies and defenses. The seriousness on his face made him look older somehow, burdened by responsibilities no one else could carry for him.
Alyna tightened her hold around Leo before finally speaking.
“Can you help Xander?”
The question made Asher pause immediately.
Slowly, he lifted his gaze toward her.
For a brief second, neither of them spoke.
Because both knew how impossible that question would have sounded only weeks ago.
Asher helping Xander?
The very man he had prepared himself to fight for years?
Even Alyna herself could barely believe she was asking this now.
But things had changed.
Everything had changed.
“He can’t handle this alone,” she added softly.
Asher leaned back slightly against the table, his expression unreadable.
A part of him disliked hearing concern for Xander in her voice.
Another part understood exactly why she felt this way.
If this had happened before, he would have gladly watched Xander struggle. Perhaps he would have even considered it an opportunity to eliminate a long-standing rival forever.
That was the truth.
But now…
Now things were different.
Painfully different.
Alyna had unknowingly changed the relationship between both packs simply by existing between them.
Because of her, Xander had stepped back from war.
Because of her, Asher had started seeing beyond hatred.
And because of her, both sides were now hesitating to destroy each other.
Asher exhaled slowly.
“Xander listened to you,” Alyna continued carefully. “He changed his decision because of you… because of us.”
Her voice softened further.
“He could’ve started the war long ago.”
Asher remained silent.
He remembered that too well.
Xander had every opportunity to attack first.
Instead, he stopped.
And now he was facing a far greater threat.
Alyna stepped closer.
“He’s not a bad person, Asher.”
Those words lingered quietly between them.
Strangely, Asher no longer disagreed.
Over the past few weeks, he had slowly begun realizing that Xander was not the monster he imagined him to be. Reckless sometimes. Possessive. Obsessed with Alyna. Prideful.
But not evil.
Even his pack members, despite their history, had shown discipline and loyalty rather than cruelty.
Asher rubbed his forehead tiredly before finally answering.
“I’ll help him only if he asks.”
Alyna stared at him for a moment before nodding slowly.
That was fair.
She could not force him into this.
Neither emotionally nor politically.
Especially after years of hostility between their bloodlines.
Still, relief quietly spread through her chest.
Because she knew Asher saying those words already meant far more than he realized.
“This war is going to favor you in the end,” she said quietly.
Asher frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
Alyna lowered her eyes briefly before looking at him again.
“Your participation is inevitable.”
For a moment, something unreadable crossed his face.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
Almost acceptance.
As though somewhere deep down, he already knew she was right.
Without replying, Asher picked up his coat and headed toward the meeting hall.
Night had fully settled across the pack by the time the emergency gathering began.
The large hall was filled with warriors, betas, omegas, elders, and trusted members of the pack. The atmosphere remained tense after hearing about the attack on Xander’s territory.
Alyna stood quietly near the back while holding Leo asleep against her shoulder.
She watched Asher step forward before the crowd.
The entire hall immediately fell silent.
In moments like this, his presence naturally dominated the room.
Strong.
Composed.
Unshaken.
Asher looked across his people carefully before speaking.
“A danger greater than our personal conflicts has arrived.”
His deep voice echoed throughout the hall clearly.
He explained everything they currently knew about Sarmon and the Shadow Hunters. The Western attacks. The destroyed homes. The brutality of rogue wolves who left nothing behind.
Asher did not exaggerate the threat.
He spoke honestly.
Directly.
And Alyna noticed how attentively everyone listened to him.
No fear existed in their eyes.
Only trust.
That alone reminded her why he had become such a respected Alpha.
“We need to prepare ourselves,” Asher continued. “Strengthen patrols. Train harder. Protect our people at all costs.”
The warriors nodded immediately.
Then came the question Alyna had been waiting for.
Asher’s expression shifted slightly before he asked,
“And there’s one more thing.”
The room quieted again.
“If Xander’s pack requests our help… should we fight beside them?”
The question clearly surprised many.
Years of rivalry could not disappear overnight.
Alyna’s heart quietly tightened while waiting for their answer.
For a brief moment, whispers spread across the hall.
Then one of the older warriors stood up first.
“This isn’t about pride anymore,” he said firmly. “If those rogues destroy Xander’s pack, they’ll come for ours next.”
Others immediately agreed.
“We should help.”
“Our enemy isn’t Xander anymore.”
“We can’t divide ourselves now.”
Soon, almost the entire hall collectively supported helping Xander if necessary.
Alyna stared at them in surprise.
Not because they agreed.
But because they chose peace over hatred so naturally.
Asher looked around the hall slowly, and for the first time that night, a faint expression of pride appeared on his face.
He was proud of them.
Proud that his people could see beyond old grudges.
Proud that they were choosing wisdom instead of blind revenge.
And Alyna smiled quietly to herself.
Because once again, everything was leading toward the same truth.
Asher was becoming the better Alpha.
Not because he was stronger.
But because he was learning when not to fight.