Chapter 21

Asher stood rooted to the spot, his mind reeling from Olivia’s rejection.

"You can’t reject me, Olivia," Asher finally said, his voice low but filled with determination. His eyes bore into hers, trying to convey the depth of his conviction. "We’re mates. We’re bound together. I’mI’m the Alpha prince, and you—" He paused, his voice softening, almost pleading. "You belong to me."

Olivia’s heart clenched at his words, the pull of their bond strong enough to make her want to believe him. But she knew better. She had spent the last Six years coming to terms with the harsh reality. And it wasn’t the fairy tale she had once dreamed of.

With a heavy sigh, she met his gaze, her eyes filled with sorrow. "Can you really accept me, Asher?" she asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "Do you really have the power to take a half-breed mate? Your position, your duties—they won’t let that happen."

Asher opened his mouth to argue, but Olivia cut him off, her tone more resolute now. "I was a fool to think I had found my mate. But in these Six years, I’ve realised that whatever happened—it happened for the best. Maybe it was fate’s way of showing me that I don’t belong in your world, that we don’t belong together."

Her words struck Asher like a blow, each one eroding the confidence he had tried so hard to hold onto. "Olivia, no..." he began, but she shook her head, silencing him with a look that was both sad and resolute.

"I will make you weak, Asher," she continued, her voice soft but firm. "I’ll be a liability, someone your pack will never fully accept. And you—" She swallowed hard, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You deserve someone strong, someone who can stand by your side without bringing you down. A powerful, suitable mate. That’s what you need."

Asher’s heart ached with every word she spoke. The thought of losing her and letting her walk away was unbearable. But the doubt she had planted in his mind took root, reminding him of the truth he had tried to ignore. His pack, his responsibilities, and his parents —they would never allow him to take a mate who didn’t fit their expectations.

"I don’t care about their expectations, Olivia," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "I care about you. We can find a way to make this work—"

But Olivia was already shaking her head; her decision was made.

"Listen to me carefully. We are not mates. It doesn’t matter if you think we are. We cannot be together. I am not the one for you." She stared into his eyes and lifted her left hand to his cheek.

"Go away, Asher," she said over her shoulder, her voice breaking. "Find yourself the mate you need, the one who can stand besides you as an Alpha should. I’m not that person."

With those final words, Olivia walked away.

Asher watched her go, his chest tight with the agony of losing her all over again.

"Get her; our mate is going away." His wolf growled inside him. But Asher convinced him that he would meet her again.

***

Asher walked heavily into his hotel room. The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn to block out the last rays of the setting sun. He barely registered the clink of glass as he poured himself a drink, the amber liquid swirling in the tumbler like the thoughts that refused to settle.

He slumped into the nearest chair, staring blankly at the drink in his hand. The alcohol burned as it slid down his throat, but it did little to numb the pain or silence the voices in his head. Olivia’s words replayed over and over. For the first time in his life, Asher felt powerless, unable to change the course of events that had spiralled out of control.

He had no idea how long he sat there, lost in his thoughts, as the past and present collided in a chaotic mess. Had he been wrong all this time? Had he let others’ lies and manipulations drive a wedge between him and the one person who truly mattered?

The sound of the door slamming open jolted him from his reverie. Carlisle stormed in, his expression a mix of anger and exasperation. "Finally," Carlisle growled, his voice rough with frustration. "I’ve been trying to track you down for hours. Where the hell have you been?"

Asher barely looked up. He took another sip of his drink, the burn doing little to ease the ache in his chest.

Carlisle frowned, clearly not in the mood for Asher’s silence. "Do you have any idea what I’ve been dealing with while you were off doing God knows what? Lawyers, town representatives, legal matters—I’ve been buried in it all. And where were you? Disappearing without a word?"

Asher’s gaze remained fixed on his drink, the liquid reflecting the dim light of the room.

"I found her," Asher said suddenly, his voice flat, almost devoid of emotion.

Carlisle stopped mid-rant, his eyes narrowing in confusion. "What are you talking about? Found who?"

Asher finally looked up, his eyes meeting Carlisle’s.

"I found my mate," Asher said quietly, the words hanging in the air like a confession.

Carlisle stared at him, stunned into silence. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came. Instead, he just stood there, trying to process what Asher had just revealed. "Your mate?" he finally managed to say, disbelief colouring his tone. "You mean... Olivia?"

Asher nodded slowly, his grip tightening around the glass. "Yes. Olivia."

Carlisle sank into the chair across from him, shock and concern warring on his face. "You actually found her? After all these years?"

"Yes," Asher repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. He took another sip of his drink, the liquid sliding down his throat like a bitter reminder of everything he had lost. "I found her... and I lost her all over again.”