"I wanted you to have choices I didn't," he says. "I wanted you to figure out who you are without the Ashford expectations dictating every decision. Turns out, you're someone who builds an unconventional pack and stands up to your mother in front of half the campus." Pride colors his tone. "I'd say that's pretty well-rounded leadership."
"Mother doesn't see it that way." I grin.
"Your mother sees deviation from her plan as personal failure." Marcus's fingers drum once against his coffee cup. "She arranged your entire future, Victoria, the Winters merger, grandchildren who'd inherit both family empires, and yourejected it. Publicly. That's not just disappointing to her. It's terrifying."
"Terrifying?"
"She's losing control. Losing you." He meets my eyes. "That's what this is really about. Not Victoria or tradition or the Ashford name. She's afraid that choosing your own pack means you won't need her anymore."
"I didn't mean to hurt her," I say quietly.
"I know. But hurt and fear look the same from the outside." Marcus leans forward. "Your father called me too, you know. Separately. Before your mother called. You know what he said?"
I shake my head.
"He said: 'Marcus, is my son happy?'." Marcus's smile is small but genuine. "I told him yes. I told him I've never seen you this settled. This sure. So, then he said, 'I suppose Margaret will have to adjust.'"
Something in my chest loosens. "Dad's on our side?"
"Your father loves your mother. But he also remembers what happened with Sarah. What we lost by trying to force what couldn't be forced." Marcus's expression goes distant. "He won't make that mistake with you. He'll talk your mother down. Eventually."
"I didn't tell them about the money," I say abruptly. "My pack. I never mentioned the estate or the investments or any of it. They knew I had an apartment. They didn't know about... everything else."
"Why not?"
"Because here at Elderwood I'm just Calder. I was afraid if they knew, they'd see me differently. See the legacy instead of the person."
"And today they found out." Marcus is quiet for a long moment. Then: "Did they ask about the money? In all the months you've been together, did any of them ever inquire about your family's wealth?"
"No."
"Did they treat you differently after seeing your apartment?"
"No." The realization settles slowly. "They never asked because it didn’t matter I guess."
"And when your mother showed up today, did Elowen walk away?"
"No." Of course she didn’t. None of them did.
"She chose you before she knew about the money, and she's choosing you now that she does know." Marcus's voice is firm. "That's real, Calder. Don't let your mother's disapproval make you doubt it."
I want to believe that. God, I want to believe it.
"What if I'm asking too much of them?" The fear spills out before I can stop it. "Mother won't give up. She'll keep pushing. What if I'm trapping them into something they didn't sign up for?"
"You think your omega can't handle Margaret Ashford?" Marcus raises an eyebrow. "Did she bow down to your mother today?"
"That'sdifferent?—"
"It's not." He cuts me off. "That was your mother at her most intimidating. And what did Elowen do?"
I remember her voice, calm, clear, unwavering:My name is Elowen. Not 'the omega’. And this isn't an arrangement. We chose each other.
"She held her ground," I say quietly.
"More than that. I think she claimed her place. Claimed you." Marcus's expression softens. "She's stronger than you think. The question isn't whether she can handle your family's pressure. The question is: do you trust her to make that choice? Do you trust all of them to stay knowing what it costs?"
He’s right. "I have to tell them everything," I realize aloud. "The full extent of the wealth. The expectations. The pressure that won't stop. All of it."
