Alpha's Regret: Marked By The Lycan King

Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Ungrateful

Estelle’s POV

Ashley’s eyes flashed with irritation at my calm response. She stepped forward, clutching the files tighter against her chest.

“You abandoned us,” she said, her voice rising. “You left when we needed you most. And now you waltz back in here acting like you’re doing us some kind of favor.”

I tilted my head slightly. “I’m here because Asher requested a meeting. If my presence bothers you so much, I can leave.”

“See?” Ashley gestured wildly at me. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. You don’t care about anyone but yourself.”

River shifted beside me, but I held up a subtle hand to keep him quiet.

“I fail to see how prioritizing my own well-being makes me selfish,” I replied evenly. “But please, enlighten me.”

Ashley’s face flushed red. “Asher is already planning to name you as Luna, and you’re still acting ungrateful. Do you have any idea what that means? What kind of honor that is?”

I almost laughed. Luna? After everything they’d put me through? Being the Luna of the Moonveil Pack was not an honor. It was just extra responsibilities with a pat on the back as the only reward.

“Ashley, that’s enough,” Nigel said, finally stepping in. He moved toward his wife, reaching for her arm. “We didn’t come here to argue.”

But Ashley jerked away from him. “No, she needs to hear this. You’re willing to let people suffer just to get what you want. You’re evil, Estelle. Pure evil.”

The accusation hung in the air like a toxic cloud. River’s jaw clenched, and I could see him fighting the urge to defend me.

I looked at Ashley for a long moment, then did something she clearly wasn’t expecting.

I laughed.

It wasn’t a bitter laugh or a sarcastic one. It was genuine amusement at the sheer audacity of her words.

“Evil?” I repeated, still chuckling. “That’s interesting, coming from someone who’s never lifted a finger to help anyone in this pack.”

Ashley’s mouth opened and closed like a fish.

I turned to River, my voice taking on a business-like tone. “I think we’ve wasted enough time here. We should head back and arrange a meeting with your family in neutral territory instead.”

River nodded immediately. “Agreed. This isn’t worth the headache.”

“Wait,” Asher said, panic creeping into his voice as he saw us actually preparing to leave. He stepped forward, blocking our path to the door. “Ashley doesn’t mean it. She’s just stressed with the twins and everything.”

I stopped and looked at him with raised eyebrows. “Doesn’t she?”

“No, of course not. We’re family. We can work through this.”

“Family?” The word tasted bitter on my tongue. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about your trip to the mall already, Asher?”

The color drained from his face instantly. His mouth opened, but no words came out.

Ashley looked between us, confusion replacing her anger. “What trip to the mall? What is she talking about?”

I didn’t answer. I simply watched as Asher’s panic grew, his eyes darting between his sister and me.

“Estelle,” he said weakly. “Please, let’s just focus on why we’re here.”

I moved toward the door again, but he stepped directly in front of me.

“You can’t leave,” he said desperately. “We need you.”

“No,” I said firmly. “I cannot work with a team that doesn’t trust me. And on that topic, I cannot trust people who will stab me in the back the first chance they get.” I looked pointedly at Ashley, who glowered in return.

“No one is plotting against you,” Asher insisted. “I swear, no one will plot against you.”

I let out a cold laugh. “Won’t they?”

The room fell silent except for the sound of Ashley’s confused breathing and Nigel’s uncomfortable shuffling.

Asher looked frantically at his sister. “Ashley, apologize. Now.”

Ashley’s eyes widened. “What? I’m not apologizing for telling the truth.”

“Apologize,” Asher repeated, his voice taking on the Alpha command tone.

Ashley crossed her arms defiantly. “No.”

What happened next shocked everyone in the room, including me.

Asher moved behind Ashley and knocked the back of her knees with his shin.

Ashley cried out as she collapsed to the floor, the files scattering around her. She caught herself on her hands, her face a mask of shock and humiliation.

“Apologize,” Asher commanded.

“I’m sorry,” she gritted out through clenched teeth, not looking at me. “I’m sorry for what I said.”

The forced apology hung in the air like a bad smell. Nigel looked mortified but didn’t dare help his wife up while the Alpha was still asserting dominance.

River’s eyebrows had shot up to his hairline.

Asher straightened, smoothing down his shirt as if nothing had happened. “There. Now can we proceed with our meeting?”

I stared down at Ashley, still on her hands and knees gathering papers, then back at Asher. His desperation was showing more clearly than ever.

“Fine,” I said slowly. “We can proceed.”

Relief flooded Asher’s features. “Great. So about the arrangement we discussed—”

“When will you be passing the authority to me?” I interrupted.

Asher blinked. “Authority? What authority?”

I smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

“Half the authority of the Alpha, of course.”