Six years later*
The boardroom was filled with the murmur of voices. Asher leant back in his chair, his gaze distant as the discussion swirled around him. For the past five years, he had thrown himself into work, chOlivialling his energy into building his pack's treasury, securing alliances, and expanding their power. It was a distraction, one that kept him from dwelling too much on the past and the girl that still haunted his dreams.
"The numbers look solid," one of the executives was saying, pointing to a series of charts displayed on the screen. "We expect the mine to start yielding profits within the next quarter."
Asher nodded. He had built a reputation as a shrewd and calculating leader, someone who could make hard decisions without flinching. His father had stepped back from his
