Chapter 40 Violet's POV Isaac showed up to the funeral on time, just like Asher had asked. He walked in with his head held high, but I could see the tension in his jaw. I felt sorry for him. Saying goodbye to the parents he didn't get to spend time with was hard enough, not he had to deal with everyone's hostility. It wasn't fair. "Are you not going to let me through?" he snorted, looking at the people in this way. "Your Alpha invited me." Deanla stand still and kent looking at him like he "apan Azer PARTY BLOą Pasta W mails for babe, but fara MII ww www || hear them. Isaac ignored them, his face a mask of ice, but I knew he was fighting his temper. Asher strode up to his brother and put a hand on Isaac's shoulder. He didn't hesitate, didn't care who was watching. The gesture was simple, but loud and clear. Asher was making it clear to everyone-Isaac was his brother, and he was welcome here. The ceremony began. Asher stood in front of the caskets, deadpan. He didn't let too much of his grief show, trying to be strong in front of his members, but I could see the pain in his eyes. The weight of losing our parents, the pressure of leading the W W ||| || 品 IMI || 'n www in w W || M III WII 00 M TW w || || W||| M ||||| TZE WII w in " ww мим 1"X W w" ull M m Xow u IIM www" w || "M M 00 .w www.wll' IDXX || WI 品 M || find a time to catch up, the King and the elders called Asher into the office. I could feel the tension spike. "I should follow him," Isaac hissed quietly. His whole body went rigid as he watched Asher follow them into the office. He was worried, and honestly, so was I. But I knew Asher could handle this. "It's okay. He'll be fine," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. Isaac looked down at me, his eyes still dark with concern. "You really think they're not going to give him hell because of me?" he asked, his tone sarcastic. "You saw how those people stared at me earlier. Like I'm a fucking plague." "They definitely will," I admitted. "But Asher's not going to back down. Not now, not ever." Isaac nodded with a sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. They were acting more and more like brothers. And I love it. "I'll see myself out. These people here give me the headache. You should go find Asher. He needs you now," Isaac said. The air was crackling with tension when I came into the office. Asher stood firm, facing the King and the elders. He looked Chapter 46 tense, his jaw clenched, but there was something in his eyes-a spark of determination that hadn't been there before. "I won't stay away from Isaac," Asher said, loud enough for everyone around to hear. His voice was steady, unwavering. "I don't care what you say. He's my brother." "Isaac is a goddamn rogue!" Asher's uncle snapped, his face twisted with frustration. "The council will never accept him back. They see him as a threat, and so does the royal family!" "Last time I check, I still have full autonomy within my own pack." Asher said coldly. He didn't even blink. He squared his shoulders, his eyes locked on his uncle. "The council's opinion isn't relevant here." My heart was pounding, but I knew I had to say something to support my mate. "Trying to separate them is wrong, and you know it," I said. "Family comes first. Will you abandon your family if someone else ask you to?" His uncle's eyes flicked to me, and I could see the anger there, the way his lips pressed into a thin line. Shit, was the King going to punish me for my disrespect? Yet before anything horrible happened, a voice rang out across the office. "Why has the royal family labeled an Alpha's brother a rogue anyway?" Alpha Daniel stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the King. "And why was he exiled' without a proper hearing? We were all wondering and want an answer now." My heart skipped a beat. Shit that was a good question, something that had been bugging us too. I didn't expect Alpha Daniel to speak up for us against the King, but guessed some people still had morals in their hearts. The murmurs started immediately, the gathered Alphas turning to each other, their whispers growing louder. The King's face darkened, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Daniel. The Queen quickly stepped forward, her face composed, though I could see the tension in her eyes. "This is a family issue," she said, trying to calm the crowd. "So we won't waste the time of the council with it." But her words did little to calm the crowd. Instead, it made things worse. "We have all the time in the world!" Alpha Daniel cried, "I don't W M Chapter 46 remember being in the meeting of expelling Isaac. So how's the decision made precisely?" "I said! It's a family-" 4 "It seems like your family issue is evolving into a problem between us and the rogues. So it's about time you let us know what happened," Jayden said loudly in the crowd. I gave him a grateful alance This wagong of the ||| M 2.W ww W WIL IC * wll W אII M W www WIW 1188 MII willia || MW - | || || || 88 00 || M W M M www дых мы ||| ||| MII 00 XX wwwxx 00 wm w W 8 ||| 888 w 10100 ||| * M וויי M W M IM ||||| Π ww w MI W III W x 8 || www.x W x W M W ww W AM W M M M M W M || M HII M 1 WW II || * M M I ||| M WOW || 00 X || M Xeex Ww M 11188 |||| M www. II M M w xx ||_|| FRIMERO 30 || 08 W ስነ 1100 88 M MII ስነ ||| I WI WI M I W UGIYA M 110 W M 双 # WWII » M M xm Chapter 46 reason to use this against you." He nodded, taking a deep breath. We were here to solve problems, not creating new ones. "Looks like we are in a stalemate." I looked around the crowd, "We stand firm on this Isaac issue. Nobody can change our mind." "There's something we can do." Suddenly one of the Alphas spoke up, his voice loud and clear. "If the royal council wants to overturn an Alpha's decision, they should issue a challenge. That's how it's always been done. Let's not forget our traditions." The words hung in the air, and for a moment, everything was silent. Then, from the edge of the crowd, I saw movement. Matthew stepped forward, his eyes locked on Asher defiantly. "Then let me issue the challenge," Matthew raised his voice and said, "Asher, I dare you to fight the prince!" Asher didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, his chin held high, his eyes blazing. "Challenge accepted." ||| 5 VAZZAPOV | THE WW W || || HELW.PTZ HLT wul 11 M Iglared at him How dared him to imply that my mate was || "We ow ww III W W ww M III 88 W M ww www www.w || || ||| апопе апупоге. W IIL וד W W ||| M 1 M W M MI WIL W JI Xxx MW M יוד W M MOO W MU || WII M88 9900 TIM " w " ||| COLL M was wwws JIWW W IIW WW | | ww.mmm... M WWWII III XW W || DOW W 908,,00 M W || 000 38 1100 ||| ww W I │ ww www ४४ IW wwwww M MX || W ||| ww ww WW M 閱 TH W W Mw wg 11 0011 || וווווו IW M ww IL M ww W || 00 00 WW 8 00 W W 88 m W www || W M00 WX IM IM 888 M W 99 WHS, ||||| 88 M M W ||