Chapter 57

Nathan’s POV

The council hall felt cold and heavy with pressure. All the Alphas who had been mated last night were here, watching me closely, hoping to spot any weakness in the future Alpha King. I stood in the center, exactly where Marcus told me to stand.

Stella stood quietly at my side. Her hand rested on my arm, a gentle touch that somehow felt like a burning shackle against my skin.

“WRONG!” Asher, my wolf, snarled fiercely. He was pacing in the dark corners of my mind, his fur bristling with pure, unadulterated rage. “GET HER OFF US!”

I tried to ignore him, but my blood ran cold.

“Begin,” my father commanded from the high dais.

I tried to speak, but suddenly it felt impossible to breathe. My mind went blank. Stella’s fingers pressed hard into my skin, and a strange force pulled me upright, making me feel like I was being controlled.

“We will proceed with the ceremony,” I said.

My voice sounded smooth and formal, but it di