Chapter 186: Episode 186.
The room felt smaller than it should have.
Alpha Rowanfall sat across from Alpha Ashmere, staring at him like he had suddenly begun speaking another language.
They had stayed here as guests for two days now, and when he demanded they leave. Ashmere wasn’t buying the idea.
The conversation had started politely but now, it no longer was.
"If I could have managed this without you, I would have done so."
Ashmere’s tone remained level, practical, and reasonable, as though they were discussing grain shipments rather than someone’s daughter.
Rowanfall stared at him. "And what of your personal animus against my daughter?" he asked. His voice sharpened. "Why inconvenience her with this political farce of yours?"
Ashmere ignored the accusation entirely.
His attention remained on the documents spread across the desk.
That somehow made it worse.
"Oh, damn it, you insufferable fool." Rowanfall cursed, and pushed to his feet. "What do you want from her?"
Ashmere finally looked up. He chucked softly, and spoke lightly, like he didn’t just drop a bomb.
"She’ll marry the king." He declared, with a tune of clarity.
Silence filled the hall. Absolute silence.
For a moment Rowanfall genuinely thought he had misheard. Yet, the words sat there, refusing to change.
A short and disbelieving laugh escaped his lips before he could stop it.
"No." He murmured, gathering all of his anger to stay fixed, else he does something.
Ashmere remained calm.
Rowanfall’s smile disappeared. "No." He repeated, this time, more like a warning.
Ashmere folded his hands together. "Rowanfall—"
"No." This time the word came out louder. And harder. "You are speaking about Mabel. My daughter."
"I am aware."
"You have lost your mind." Alpha Rowanfall snarled, his temperature increasing as his claws waited to appear. "I could kill you for saying those words."
Ashmere sighed. His sigh sounded the way one sighed at an unreasonable child who has decided to have just one point of view in life.
"On the contrary."
Rowanfall could barely believe what he was hearing. His heart pounded harder with every passing second.
"You would hand her over?"
"It is not handing her over." Alpha Ashmere clarified with little interest in the conversation.
Alpha Rowanfall growled this time. He slammed his fist hard on the table before them, almost destroying the existence of the wood. "It is exactly handing her over."
Ashmere’s jaw tightened. "You’re allowing your emotions to interfere with logic." His silver eyes sharpened.
"My emotions?"
"Yes."
Alpha Rowanfall’s breath ragged. "My daughter is being discussed."
"Exactly." Ashmere shrugged, and gestured toward him. "As her father, you cannot see the larger picture."
Rowanfall looked physically ill.
"The larger picture." Alpha Ashmere pressed. "The human king requires stability, and a perfect and eternal linkage with the wolves."
"Then marry him yourself."
Ashmere ignored the remark. "He needs a queen."
"He needs a grave."
"Rowanfall."
"No." His hands slammed against the desk again. "I said, no."
Ashmere finally straightened.
His patience was visibly thinning. He clenched, and unclenched his fist. "Your daughter is uniquely suited for this."
Rowanfall stared at him like he had lost his mind. He searched Alpha Rowanfall’s eyes, then asked. "What about Violet?"
The room froze instantly.
Ashmere’s expression changed instantly. Offense flashed across his face. Pure offense.
"Watch your tongue." He wanted, pointing his index finger at Aloha Rowanfall.
Rowanfall blinked, slightly taken aback that the man couldn’t even hide his hatred to such words leaving the lips of someone else, but would willingly sacrifice someone else just because she’s someone else.
Ashmere looked genuinely angry now. "Do not ever think such a thing."
The realization struck Rowanfall immediately. Slowly, Rowanfall nodded. "Your daughter." He began.
Ashmere frowned. "Yes?"
"Your daughter is too valuable."
"She is my heir."
Rowanfall laughed bitterly. "And mine isn’t?"
Ashmere’s expression darkened. "You misunderstand me."
"No." Rowanfall pointed at him with accusations. "No, I finally understand perfectly."
Ashmere remained silent.
Rowanfall’s voice dropped dangerously. "You would throw my daughter into a den of humans, eh?"
"That is not what this is."
"You would sacrifice her."
Ashmere’s eyes hardened. "I would save this realm."
"With my child?"
Ashmere first took in a deep breath, and spoke the words that made Rowanfall want to tear the room apart.
"She would do it." He finalised.
The words landed heavily between them.
"You bastard."
Ashmere’s face remained calm. "She would understand." He insisted, like that was supposed to make this any better.
"Ashmere." Rowanfall shook his head. "You’ve known her since she was a little girl. Don’t do this."
Something flickered in Ashmere’s eyes, but it wasn’t guilt. If anything, Rowanfall could see that the fool genuinely believed he was helping.
"You think you’re doing me a favor." Alpha Rowanfall spilled, with a disbelieved chuckle.
"I am."
Rowanfall stared at him.
Ashmere actually believed it.
"You think handing my daughter to a king is kindness?"
"It protects your family." Ashmere stood. "It gives Mabel purpose."
That was enough.
Rowanfall moved fast. Years of Alpha instincts exploded outward, and the desk overturned, with the wood now splintered.
A growl ripped from his throat.
He lunged forward.
Ashmere barely reacted. He simply moved once, and nothing more. His hand flashed into view, and a metallic glint appeared.
Rowanfall froze.
The syringe rested inches from his throat.
Ashmere sighed, disappointed, and almost tired. "Aren’t you wiser than that, Rowanfall?" He taunts.
Rowanfall’s eyes dropped to what was at his throat. The liquid inside the syringe was clear with the human suppressant.
His stomach turned.
Ashmere noticed, and a faint dangerous smile touched his face.
"This is the human dosage." He clarified, just in case Rowanfall wants to doubt it.
The needle tapped lightly against Rowanfall’s skin. "A stab." Ashmere moves the syringe closer, with his voice exclusively calm. "That is all I need."
Rowanfall’s wolf snarled violently beneath his skin.
Ashmere’s gaze never wavered. "You become worthless before reaching the door."
Silence passed between them.
"Aren’t we a little old to be testing theories?" Alpha Ashmere broke the silence.
The room remained frozen.
Neither Alpha moved and then Ashmere slowly lowered the syringe. His expression softened slightly out of certainty.
"Sit down."
Rowanfall stared at him.
Hatred burned through every inch of him.
Ashmere sighed again. "We both want what’s best for our daughters."
The words were so absurd that Rowanfall nearly choked. However, Ashmere truly believed them.
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