Chapter 1 The Ultimatum

Asher's POV

Life isn't so good but I can't complain. That will make me seem ungrateful. What more do I want that I don't have? Others would be so quick to ask me that.

I have a father who loves me, a mother who dotes on me as if she can't live without me and even though I have a sister who is annoying and enjoys teasing me, I know she loves me.

To cap it all, I am the heir to the throne and being the next alpha of the Ulier pack isn't something to be taken lightly. It comes with a lot of benefits.

I have wealth that many in the clan pray for and a social standing that can never get crippled.

Life is indeed good. I swing my leg on the porch at the balcony of my bedroom, enjoying the feel of the wind against my skin. I feel like jumping down but only the thought of scaring the maids working down there gives me pause.

They would scream as if they forget that I'm a werewolf and can't die by jumping off from a porch on the fourth floor of my father's mansion.

I hear the door to my bedroom open and I swing my neck so fast I almost pop it out of the joints. I am not expecting anyone and I told the maids not to disturb me.

I walk to the room, scaring the maid who is walking towards me.

"Oh, my lord." She gasps, holding a hand to her chest as her eyes widen at me. "You scared me."

"What are you doing in my bedroom?" I question, moving back to the balcony. "I gave instructions not to be disturbed."

She sighs. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't have to."

I nudge my head in her direction, giving her a side look. "Is there a problem?"

"The alpha wants to see you."

"What is the time?"

She gives me a confused look, wondering what I was talking about but she indulges me. "It's five minutes past one."

"I'm not hungry. You can leave."

She stares at me for a few minutes before clarity shines in her eyes. She nods and smiles. "Oh! He is in the throne room not the dinner hall."

I frown. Father isn't calling me to have lunch? I wonder what else he wants to see me for. I had woken up late and had a heavy brunch which is why I can't join them for lunch, even though I know how much father loves a complete family.

Having brunch today isn't the problem but having a lot of it recently is the problem. I have been waking up late these days and eating alone in my bedroom. That means missing out on lunch and getting father annoyed. I had been waiting for when father would call me out on the attitude which is why I assumed that was what the maid is here for.

"Do you know what he wants to see me for?"

She gives me a look that respectfully wonders if I'm stupid.

"Oh!" I blush. "I'm sorry."

It's not like the alpha would have a heart to heart with a maid about why he wants to see his son before sending her on an errand. I shouldn't have asked a stupid question.

"I have to leave now." She reminds me that she has other tasks to do and can't wait for me to make up my mind.

"You can go." I wave my hand at her.

She bows slightly to me in the customary way and leaves the room.

I sigh, wondering what my father needs me for as I change the attire I have on. We live in a modern world with businesses booming all around us and technology making everything beautiful but we still have traditions we hold on to.

One: Never visit the alpha like a homeless fellow. You have to show your respect for him with the way you are dressed when you show your presence to him.

It doesn't matter if I'm his son. Being in the throne room means that he is in his official space and may have guests with him. I can't go there in a t-shirt and a pair of shorts that I have on at the moment.

"Father," I breathe as I walk into the throne room minutes later, thankful that he doesn't have guests with him.

I may be the next alpha but I still get freaked out by the council of elders, especially Santhos.

"My heir, welcome." Father turn to me with his teeth pulling back into a wide smile.

He looks welcoming and loving but the hairs at the back of my neck stand up in alarm. I narrow my eyes at him in suspicion as I move closer to him.

First, it was asking that I meet him in the throne room and second, it was calling me his heir which wouldn't have sounded weird because that is what I am but he hardly calls me his heir whenever we are alone.

"Is there a problem, father?" I ask as I sit.

He throws his head back and barks out a laughter. "You are as intuitive as an alpha should be."

Okay, can we stop with the reminder that I'm next in line for the throne? He has freaked me out enough.

"Thank you, father." I reply at a loss of what else to say.

"I have something important to discuss with you."

As if I wasn't expecting that. I keep my expression calm even though I'm raging inside with curiosity and can barely sit still. I force myself to grind my behind on the chair, hoping not to disappoint my grooming teacher.

The lessons those days were as tedious as they were important.

One: Don't lose your calm.

Two: Choose your mate wisely.

Three: Don't be controlled by your appetites.

Four: Don't disrespect the elders even if you don't agree with them.

"Won't you ask me what it is?" Father asks, breaking into my mental reminder of the alpha classes I took years ago.

I swallow, forcing the fear down my throat. "What is it, father?"

He smiles, almost moving off his throne with the excitement to tell me what it is that has his heart thumping. I don't know how I know but I don't feel like what he wants to tell me will make me smile as much as he is.

Maybe it's intuition or lessons from the past, I can't tell. Father was like this months ago when he told me to get more friendly with Lucas, a move I regret every minute of my existence.

"You have my permission to get mated." He grins.

I stare at him, blinking like a deer caught in headlights because that is exactly how I feel. His permission to get mated? I never told him I wanted to get mated.

He notices my lack of expression and scowls. "You aren't happy?"

I force my tongue to work. "I'm eighteen, father. I don't think about getting mated."

He scoffs. "I got mated to your mother when I was your age."