Chapter 41 Chapter 41

Chapter 41 Chapter 41
  Asher’s POV
  That bitch really called the council on me.
  My fingers curled tighter around the steering wheel, white-knuckled, rage burning hot in my chest. The silence in the car was thick—until Isabella’s hand gently covered mine. The contact cut through my fury just enough to loosen my grip.
  “Don’t let your emotions cloud you, Asher,” she said softly, her voice a balm against the chaos in my head. “We’re going to the council. You have to be firm, okay? Don’t lose control.”
  I sucked in a breath. Let it out slowly. Again.
  “I’ll be calm,” I muttered, though my eyes stayed fixed on the road, not on her. I couldn’t meet her gaze. Not yet.
  We pulled up to the council building—its cold, towering presence felt more like a threat than anything. I stepped out, took Isabella’s hand, holding onto her like a lifeline. She gave me a small, warm smile, and we walked in together.
  The room wasn’t packed like usual. No curious crowd, no murmurs. Just the council… and her.
  Betty stood off to the side, trying to look fragile—like some innocent little puppy. My blood boiled.
  “You both shouldn’t be holding hands,” one of the council members snapped.
  Isabella let go immediately.
  I didn’t.
  And I didn’t like it.
  “Why am I being called here?” I asked, forcing my voice into something calm. But the edge—tight, biting—was impossible to hide.
  “You know exactly why, Alpha,” came the clipped response from one of them. This one? Always had it out for me. I couldn’t care less.
  “If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking, dumbass,” I said flatly.
  His jaw tightened. Fist clenched. Teeth grinding.
  “You can’t disrespect a council member,” the Chief warned.
  I rolled my eyes.
  “It’s come to our attention,” he continued, “that you got a beta pregnant and are refusing to take responsibility.”
  My vision tunneled. The rage—the disbelief—it all surged up so fast I could barely see straight.
  What. The. Actual. Fuck.
  “What the fuck, Betty? You really stood here and told them I’m the father of the bastard you’re carrying?” My voice was sharp, acid-laced. I took a step toward her, fury igniting every movement.
  Isabella stepped in front of me, blocking the path, grounding me before I could lose it completely.
  Betty’s lips trembled. Her voice cracked as tears spilled from her eyes.
  “You are the father of my child,” she whispered. “I swear on my unborn baby, you are. I—I can’t raise this child alone.”
  I was already unraveling. Piece by piece. Holding it together felt impossible.
  “Did you, or did you not, have an intimate relationship with her?” the same council bastard who’s always had it out for me asked, his tone sharp and smug.
  For a second, I hesitated—awkwardness creeping in like an itch I couldn’t scratch. I felt the burn of embarrassment, something I wasn’t used to. He caught that silence and pounced.
  “I’ll take that as a yes. So don’t even think about denying it,” he added, irritation clear in every word.
  I opened my mouth to respond, but the Chief lifted his hand, signaling me to stay silent. And for some fucking reason, I obeyed. Why? Why was I even here, respecting these people like they held power over me?
  “You will have to take her in until she gives birth. Only then can a DNA test be conducted,” the Chief declared.
  I let out a low, unhinged laugh.
  “You’re joking. You’re fucking joking,” I said, the amusement in my voice quickly souring into rage. “You really think I’ll agree to that? You expect me to house her? That’s never going to happen.”
  “You will do this,” the Chief snapped. “You returned to this city with your people, and you will abide by our rules, Alpha. Maybe where you came from, you did whatever the fuck you pleased. But here? That won’t fly.”
  My jaw clenched. Every muscle in my body screamed to fight back. Leave. Burn this place down. Something.
  But I couldn’t just go. My people were here—settled, safe. My revenge? It had roots here. And Isabella…
  I found her here.
  If I stayed, I might lose her. But if I left, I might lose everything.
  “Then I guess it’s for the best that I leave,” I said, my voice sharp, my anger barely contained.
  “Asher, what are you saying?” Isabella’s voice cracked, panic rising in her tone.
  “You heard them,” I growled. “I can’t stay here. I don’t follow rules. I make them. And if that’s a problem? Then they’d better not try to change me, because I swear—it’ll get ugly.”
  I turned to face the council, eyes burning. “Listen, all of you old fuckers—I won’t do what you tell me. You have no right to order me around.”
  Their faces twisted with rage, but I didn’t give a damn.
  “You will not insult the council!” the Chief growled, voice thunderous.
  “Asher, stop!” Isabella rushed forward, her voice filled with fear. “You can’t insult them. Please, he’s been gone a long time,” she said, turning to the council, desperation in her voice. “He doesn’t know how things work anymore. He’s not thinking clearly. He’s… he’s ignorant of your ways.”
  She stepped in front of me, shielding me like I needed protecting.
  And that—that made something inside me snap.
  I stepped forward, standing between her and them, my body tense, eyes locked on theirs.
  No one would protect me. I didn’t need saving. Especially not from them.
  “I said what I said,” I repeated, voice laced with defiance.
  The Chief stormed toward me, fury in his eyes, ready to strike. I smirked, stepping forward and blocking his blow with ease.
  “Are you serious right now?” I said with a cocky tilt of my head—before I hurled him across the room like he weighed nothing.
  More council members rushed me, one after another, but I met them head-on, fists flying, anger guiding every move. They didn’t stand a chance.
  “Come on, really?” I scoffed mid-fight, dodging a hit and slamming someone into the wall. “You think you can take me? I called you all old fuckers—wasn’t that clue enough that none of you are on my level?”
  Laughter escaped my lips—cold, mocking—until my gaze shifted to Betty. She flinched and took a step back, fear flashing in her eyes.
  “Asher, stay away,” she stammered, voice trembling.
  But I didn’t stop.
  I moved in, fast, and before she could run, I yanked her to me, my hand wrapping tight around her neck. She clawed at my grip, struggling for air.
  “You really want to die, huh?” I snarled, fangs bared. “You tried to kill Isabella. You killed her baby. And now you come here… to make the council force me to take care of you and that bastard?”
  Her eyes widened, but before she could respond—
  “She did what?” Isabella’s growl cracked through the air like a whip.
  I froze, dropping Betty immediately as I turned.
  I’d never seen her like this.
  Her eyes burned. Her body trembled. And then she snapped.
  She blurred past me, shoved me aside like I was nothing, and grabbed Betty by the throat.
  “You killed my child?!” she screamed, voice breaking, rage twisting her features. “You killed my child!”
  “Please—please… let me go…” Betty choked, her voice raspy as she gasped for breath, her body limp in Isabella’s grip.
  Council members sprang forward, dragging Isabella away before she could finish it. I didn’t stop them—because if they didn’t step in, Betty would’ve left this room in a body bag. And my mate didn’t need that blood on her hands.
  “Let me go!” Isabella thrashed as they restrained her, raw grief flooding her voice. “She killed my child!”
  I rushed over, pulled her away, wrapping my arms around her trembling body.
  “Asher,” she sobbed against my chest, “she’s the one who did it. She took my happiness, she took my baby… Why aren’t you doing anything? Why aren’t you stopping her?”
  Tears streamed down her cheeks as she cried, her body shuddering with pain.
  “That’s a lie, Isabella!” Betty croaked from the floor, coughing violently. “I didn’t kill your child, I swear—it’s all a misunderstanding!”
  I didn’t look at her. I was done listening to her voice.
  “I’m leaving this city,” I said coldly, tightening my hold on Isabella. “And I’m taking her with me.”
  A slow clap echoed from the back of the room.
  “Well, that’s great,” a voice drawled.
  Every head turned. Zachary stood there, a smirk tugging at his lips, his eyes dark and dangerous.
  “You’ll be leaving the city,” he said, stepping forward. “But one thing, Alpha. You’re not taking my wife with you.”
  He stopped just inches away, his presence loud, his threat even louder.