The multitude of Werewolves waited in silence to hear Asher’s declaration. He had just mentioned his mate, and now they were curious about what next would come out of his mouth.
For those in the Rockwood Pack who already knew of Roxanne, they were more eager to hear their Alpha declare her as his queen. The short while she spent with them was exceptional, and even now they were concerned about her whereabouts. However, for Asher to make this sort of meeting, it could only mean he had settled with her.
But, one question remained on their minds.
‘ Where is Roxanne?’
The only woman they could see at the summit was Camilla, and while many recognized her, since she was Alpha Benson’s daughter and Rita’s friend, they didn’t expect her to be standing amongst the most powerful people in Oregon Woods. Unless…
“But first, I have a confession to make.” Asher revealed.
“A few weeks ago, an incident occurred. It was an error on my part, but it happened.”
At this point, the other Alphas looked at each other in confusion. They weren’t expecting Asher to take this route. What was he trying to pull off? Alpha Benson looked at Camilla, who made an equally worried expression.
“U-Uh, Asher… what are you-?” She voiced out in a low tone.
“Silence.” He snapped back at her.
Instantly, the girl shrunk back. In the first place, she didn’t belong on the summit amid Alphas and the Wolf King, both present and former. The only reason she was there was due to Asher’s choice, and her father’s beckoning.
“No matter how much he likes that girl, Asher won’t abandon the Pack for anyone. He has no choice… he’ll choose you!” Benson had told her.
And so, there she was, regally clad in an exquisite attire, though Asher didn’t even notice.
“During Christmas night, I was drunk on our special ale, and found myself in bed with a woman, a werewolf amongst us.” Asher continued his revelation.
The people were surprised that their responsible leader would do such a thing. They were even more confused that he would reveal it to them.
“What is he doing?” Larry whispered to himself as he watched Asher suspiciously.
He hadn’t expected this part, but it wasn’t as though the plans were derailing just because of a confession. Larry decided to keep observing.
“Her name is Camilla, and she’s the daughter of Alpha Benson, from the Bloodmoon Pack.” Asher revealed.
There was a gasp from the audience. They certainly weren’t expecting this. Asher looked behind him and beckoned that Camilla draw closer to him. The other Alphas, especially Benson, now had worried looks. No one thought Asher would intentionally shame himself in such a way, displaying his weakness, even though he was revered as a strong leader.
‘Shit, what are you up to, Asher?!’ Benson’s mind rang.
Somehow, what Asher was doing would weaken Camilla’s hold on the Pack, even if she did marry Asher. Everyone would think of their union as a product of a mere accident, and not due to a mate’s bond.
‘Is that what you’re after, Asher?’ He gritted his teeth, eyeing him from where he stood.
Asher presented Camilla to everyone, causing them to be in awe as she was much closer to their view. Her dress was exquisite, and her skin fair. She was a beauty in her own right, and being presented like this before the whole werewolves could only mean that Asher had chosen her.
Camilla blushed a little as Asher was beside her. From her proximity, she could smell his manly scent, feeling drawn to him as before. Was it perhaps her natural inclination? She had no idea. However, ever since she spent that night with him, even though they did nothing together, she had started to have him in her thoughts.
She used to dread marrying him in the past, but now… Camilla wouldn’t mind in the slightest.
“And so, after the incident, I was made to take responsibility by the Alpha Council of our great community. They declared that since I had spent the night with a wan, a Werewolf kin, she was meant to be my mate, and I , in turn… should be mated with her.”
The audience fell into silence, and then murmurs slowly rose. A lot of them considered the scandal to actually be a blessing in disguise, since they all wished their Wolf King got a queen. If the Wolf Queen ended up being Camilla, they had no qualms.
However, these thoughts were only shared by those who weren’t in the know. The members of Asher’s pack all had a different mindset concerning the matter. After all, they all knew who their Luna was!
“I was given two choices by the Council. To take responsibility for the night I spent with this woman, I either had to-”
“Hey, Asher that’s enough, don’t you think? You should stop now, and-” Klaus quickly objected.
He had a glare which indicated that he wasn’t pleased with the way things were going. If Asher revealed the conditions given, it would make them appear like the bad guys. Not only that, but if Asher ended up swaying the crowd, even if he stepped down, they wouldn’t accept anyone else as their leader!
“Did you just tell me what to do?” Asher turned back and gave Klaus a menacing look.
Instantly spreading his suppressive aura throughout the mount, everyone on the hill felt the pressure Asher emanated. He focused his attention on Klaus, forcing the man to kneel in submission as he struggled to breathe.
“You should watch your tone… Know your place, Klaus. You’re not Wolf King, not yet.”
Klaus gritted his teeth as he endured the humiliation and weight of Asher’s power on him. He couldn’t act in retaliation, as doing so would make him an enemy at that instant. He just had to be patient. In due time… he would get what he wanted!
‘Asher, just you wait…’
“I apologize for the interruption. Now, where was I? Oh yes, I was given two conditions. First was to make Camilla my mate and bond with her. And the second… if I didn’t take the first choice, was to leave my position as Alpha King!”
Everyone’s eyes bulged in surprise. They couldn’t believe their leader was given such absurd conditions. The stakes were too high, compared to the mistake he made for a single night.
“And so, I have called you all here to let you know of the choice I made.” Asher said in a firm, resolute voice.
Benson, same with everyone on the summit, were extremely enraged at Asher for going so far, however, the worst was over. Since he had declared from the start that he would be making his Luna known to everyone, and he had also mentioned the two choices given to him, Asher was bound to choose Camilla and declare her as his Luna.
It was checkmate!
“Asher was… going through something like this…?” Dax whispered to himself, shocked by everything he was hearing from his distance.
He was seated on the roof of one of the Many houses in the Pack, using his heightened sight and hearing to pick up everything Asher said. His face fell and he felt guilty concerning everything he was experiencing.
‘I have failed… as his friend, and his Beta.’ Dax thought.
To think he was very upset at Asher for being so reckless and flippant with his duties, yet Asher was under even greater pressure. He was crushed by the weight of responsibility he could not tell anyone.
“Asher, I’m so sorry…”