Chapter 60: Reputation

Asher

Waking up on the couch of a cold house feels extra bitter, knowing that hours ago, I was holding the love of my life, basking in the afterglow of passionate sex.

I used to fear sex. Worried when Gen would demand it. Insecure about my performance because of what she’d say and how she’d react.

With Rose, I feel… Empowered. Secure, safe, and desired. I feel how badly she wants me, how much pleasure I bring her. And, Goddess, do I love pleasuring her. If I were to choose only one thing to do for the rest of my life, it would be pleasuring her, even if it means she never touched my cock again. I don’t care. Watching her body tighten then release over and over again would be enough for me.

“He’s the cause of it all,” I hear her words drifting down the stairs. “Yes, yes. He is your enemy. That statement is his act of war.”

“What the fuck?” I mutter, rising from the couch, roused from my thoughts.

I tiptoe up the stairs, quietly making my way to the bedroom, the door slightly ajar.

I peek through it; Genevive sits on the floor with her knees to her chest, clutching them tightly as she rocks back and forth, facing the wall. There are scratch marks on the wall, pictures of wolves, and flames etched into it.

What the hell?

“Evander will perish,” she mutters, nodding her head. “Yes, yes. They will all suffer. Everyone. He promises this. He promises your power and the demise of all those conspiring against you.”

My eyes widen as I step back, my heart racing.

This is… This is insanity. What is wrong with her? She’s genuinely lost it. Something must’ve snapped in her psyche. But who is she referring to when she said, “he promises you power”? Who is ‘he’?

“Evander is against you,” she mutters. “He will destroy your pack if you do not destroy him first. Show your power, and make sure nobody else challenges your rule again. They will fear you again. They will respect you. You will regain control.”

The more I watch, the more I realize this isn’t the crazed ramblings of a lunatic but the self-soothing behaviors of a child. A young kid who has been yelled at by her parents, telling herself how she’ll run away. That’ll teach them.

It’s as if she’s regressing. Her anger was her teen years, marked by a time when people are highly impulsive and emotional. This is especially true for wolves since that is when we are learning to tame them, which might be why her wolf had so much control over her.

Now? She’s a pre-teen. Sulky, scared. She knows she’s backed into a corner after Evander’s statement.

But what will she do? What has she doodled on the wall?

“Fire, fire,” she whispers. “Fire, fire.”

I back away, worrying that she may smell me at some point, and it’s best she doesn’t know I’ve been watching her.

I walk back down the hall, careful with each step so I don’t make any noise. I make my way down the stairs, holding my breath until I’m back on the couch, and I let it go.

The rock in my stomach stays, though.

What is she muttering about? What does she see?

Who is ‘he’?

Rose

“So,” I say, plopping on Victor’s couch. “Give it to me. This is our first time speaking since the meeting, so I’m sure you have thoughts to share.”

“I mean,” he begins, slowly sitting a cushion length away from me. “I have thoughts, yes.”

“Oh boy,” I reply, propping my head on my elbow as I lean on the back of the couch, my legs curled. “That sounds promising.”

“Listen, I get what you’re trying to do. If you’re challenging Gen, you need a way to make sure both factions will be okay with you mating with Asher. This is a good solution.”

“But…?”

“But,” he says, clenching his teeth. “Black Opal will have quite the reputation when all is said and done. Even when you eliminate Gen, people will still have opinions and bad juju around it.”

“Bad juju?”

“You know what I mean.”

“People will come around; it may take a few months, but they will once they learn the truth,” I assure him.

“I just hope it doesn’t sully our good name.”

“It’ll only bolster it,” I reply. “As I said, history makers, we will be.”

“Okay, Yoda,” he teases. “And, my other worry is that there are a lot of logistical issues. What if Asher’s pack isn’t on board? What if we have a bunch of people leave?”

“I’m sure that’ll be offset by people flocking to join us because of this new arrangement,” I explain. “It may take time for people to get on board, but the results will speak for themselves. Wolves and vampires alike will flock to us.”

“You’re very confident in this idea.”

“Of course, it’s mine,” I answer with a broad smile. “And, you’re right, there are a lot of details to iron out. Asher and I will deal with that once Gen is gone because all this depends on her being out of power. I assume we’ll also include close advisors from either side in that discussion. That way, our peoples’ voices are included.”

“I just doubt this’ll work out as seamlessly as you envision.”

“I expect there will be bumps in the road. We’re trying something that’s never been attempted before, so we have no blueprint to work off of. I think that because it is revolutionary, people will be more forgiving. And it’s not as if two leaders with little loyalty to one another are trying this out. Asher and I are a mated pair, so we have each other’s people’s best interests at heart.”

“Perhaps that connection blinds you, though,” he cautions. “You so badly want this to work out so you can rule together rather than separately that you’ll try to make it work even if it’s doomed.”

“I think you’re being a little cynical,” I reply. “Asher and I won’t keep beating a dead horse if the horse dies. We’re exceptional leaders and smart enough to know when to walk away from an idea. But it’s worth a shot. Plus, I don’t think it will be such a huge diversion from the status quo. The average citizen probably won’t even notice a difference.”

“Listen,” he says, raising his hands in surrender. “I trust your judgment; that’s why I backed you up in your meeting. I’m just trying to reign in your hopes so you’re not disappointed if it fails since there’s a good chance it might.”

“Not with that attitude,” I joke, punching his shoulder playfully. “But I get where you’re coming from, and I appreciate it. Trust me, I know what I’m doing. I’m not hinging my sense of self-worth and sanity on this panning out. Asher and I will be fine even if we have to keep our Clan and Pack separate. Finding time for each other will be hard if we can’t combine responsibilities, but I know we’d make it work. But it is my dream for this to work, so we’ll try it. That’s all I ask, Vic. We all give it the old college try. Can you do that?”

He raises his fist for me to fist-bump, which I gladly do.

“Old college try,” he confirms. “Haven’t done that since the first time I had sex.”

“Victor!” I cry as he laughs at me, snickering, so proud of his joke. “I’m out of here!”

“That’s what she said, too.”

I throw my head back, laughing as I reach the door. “This is why you’re single, Victor.”

“Nah, it’s ’cause everyone thinks I’m hopelessly in love with you. Which, I mean, I am, but whatever.”

I roll my eyes, knowing he’s being sarcastic as he cackles at his own humor.

“Bye, Vic,” I say, hanging on the door. “I’ll catch you later.”

“That’s what I said when I found out she had syphilis.”

I slam the door in his face.