Gemini''s POV


    I almost had a heart attack. Why does he want to see me? What is he going to do with me? 1 took a deep breat before cing west on the door of the boardroom.


    "Enter" King Asher''s deep voicemanded.


    I pushed open the door, my heart racing. The room fell silent as 1 greeted everyone on board, my voice trembling


    "Sint" King Asher ordered, tapping the chair next to him.


    I shifted the chair further away from him before sitting, trying to create distance. But I was shocked when my chat began to move on jes on, sliding closer to King Asher.


    1 gasped, my heart pounding in my chest.


    "Kx, Gemini. King Asher said, his voice low and menacing,


    But how could I rx when his piercing blue eyes seemed to bore into my sonit?


    The board members exchanged uneasy nces, their faces pale,


    "Your Majesty, perhaps we should begin the meeting?" Elder Drake suggested,


    his voiceced with fear.


    King, Asher nodded curtly.


    "Very well. Gemini, I''ve summoned you here for a reason?


    My palms grew sweaty as I sped my hands together.


    "What reason?" I asked, trying to sound brave.


    King Asher leaned back in his chair, his eyes glinting with calction,


    So your Alpha and I were just talking about how much you''re worth


    I nced at Pierre, who avoided my eyes, and back at King Asher.


    "I''m sorry, I don''t understand," I stammered


    He leaned forward, his face inches from mine,


    "I want to own you. What does it take for me to own you?" King Asher finished, his


    eyes burning with interity.


    My heart stopped for a bit.


    "Own the?" I repeated, my voice barely audible.


    King Asher''s gaze never wavered.


    "Yes, Gemini, State your price, and I''ll make the arrangements"


    My heart clenched as I tried to process his words.


    "You can''t put a price on a person," I protested.


    King Asher''s smile grew wider, his eyes cold.


    "Well said, bast 1 feet the need to


    Has normal cold and expressionless face had disappeared, reced by the look of a stomater calcting its moves.


    "After all, I condo have done anything to you that night. Mark you, make you mine, and no one would dare question me. But here I am, trying t negotiate


    I shok my head knowingly. "This is not a negotiation, f''m well aware of that


    Because whether or not I agree in go with you, you would still sakr me either way"


    7:59 PM & d.


    King Asher''s expression turned cial. "You''re not wrong, though...


    My mom shifted ufortably. "Your Majesty, please, isn''t there anything else


    you are interested in?"


    "Unfortunately, no?"


    His gaze intensified, his voice dripping with malice. "I''ll give you a choice, Gemini.”


    My heart pounded. "What choice?" I whispered.


    Asher leaned back in his chair. "Either you ept my offer and be mine."


    He paused, his eyes glinting. "Or your pack suffers the consequences."


    The room fell silent.


    Pierre''s eyes snapped to mine, filled with rm.


    "What consequences?" I whispered.


    Asher''s expression turned cold. "War. Destruction. Annihtion."


    My breath caught.


    He couldn''t have meant it. Could he?


    I trembled, my mind racing.


    "What makes you think I''m worth this?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.


    King Asher''s expression turned cial. "I decide who is worth my money and who is not."


    Pierre''s face darkened. "Your Majesty, there are other beautiful girls in our pack, why Gemini?"


    King Asher''s gaze snapped to Pierre. "Why does it worry you, do you both have something we don''t know about?"


    The board members exchanged fearful nces.


    Mom''s voice trembled. "Your Majesty, please reconsider-


    "No." Asher interrupted.


    His eyes locked onto mine. "You have 48 hours to decide."


    The room seemed to shrink, suffocating me. "Choose wisely, Gemini," Asher warned.


    "Refuse, and your pack burns."


    No emotion, no empathy.


    Just cold, hard steel.


    I felt trapped, and helpless.


    "What guarantee do I have?" I whispered.


    Asher''s smile twisted. "My word. And that''s all you''ll get."


    The silence was oppressive.


    Pierre''s eyes pleaded with me.


    Mom''s face was etched with worry.


    I knew what I had to do.


    But fuck it! I wasn''t ready for that sh?t.


    I''d leave you all to ponder how much you are willing to let her go for. I know


    you''re in a lot of debt, so consider this a prayer answering moment."


    7:59 PM dd.


    He stood, fixed his suit and exited the room, followed closed by his subordinates. Everyone''s eyes fell on me, filled with a mix of concern, fear, and expectation. "Fuck this shit!"


    I dashed out of the room, running after King Asher.


    "Why are you doing this?" I yelled as soon as I got close enough.


    He didn''t even bother to spare me a nce and this made me even more anxious.


    "I asked to make it up to you, but you refused. So why are you doing this now?


    One of his guards stepped forward as if to stop me from further approaching him, but King Asher stopped him in his tracks.


    King Asher stepped forward, closing the space between us. As a girl of five foot five. I had to lift my face to see him properly. This kind of made the moment seem intimate.


    My heart was beating faster than it


    usually


    ould. I looked away, unable


    to continue the stare-down. Ite


    almost felt like I was having another


    episode of my sex dream.


    If I were you, I''d be saying my goodbyes and not trying to negotiate a fate that has


    already been decided." He said finally before continuing his walk.


    I was left filled with a sense of longing and desperation.


    I stood frozen, watching King Asher disappear into the distance.


    His words echoed in my mind.


    "A fate that has already been decided."


    Was I truly destined to be his?