Chapter 49
Casey’s POV
“Alpha Casey, the Council of the North has sent us,” the envoy’s leader announced as he entered my humble abode. I offered a curt nod, beckoning him to take a seat as I settled onto the couch in my living room.
My gaze swept across the room, discontent rising within me at the sight of Lori’s renovations. Zora had an exquisite touch when it came to decorating, but alas, this was now Lori’s domain, and she had the liberty to do as she pleased. My eyes fell upon the refreshments she had prepared for our guests, tiny delectable bites and drinks neatly arranged on a tray.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Lori had acted foolishly, slipping something into their drinks. The mere thought sent shivers down my spine. The last thing I desired was to find myself caught in a vicious crossfire between Elbert and the nefarious Dark Lord Alpha.
Lori’s smile lit up her face as she made her way towards me, her eyes filled with anticipation. With a polite smile in return, I watched as she retreated to her room. I had yet to grant her access to the master bedroom, a decision I had not yet been inclined to make.
Zora’s attire still hung delicately on the racks, and her captivating images adorned the walls of our shared space. Over time, Lori had
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grown accustomed to their presence, and they no longer stirred any unsettling emotions within her.
Curiosity piqued, I questioned the man before me, the one who seemed to hold some authority in this situation. “May I know what brings you to my doorstep?” I inquired, maintaining a polite yet. inquisitive tone.
With an air of significance, he introduced himself as Jacob Mikhailov, the spokesperson for the esteemed Northern Council. Though his appearance struck me more as that of a formidable warrior, I chose not to dwell on it and allowed the conversation to proceed.
No formal introduction was necessary; he was well aware of my identity and the role I played in this complex landscape. This knowledge on his part only deepened my curiosity about the purpose of his visit.
“The North wishes to ascertain your interest in joining forces with us,” he declared, his words carrying a weighty resonance. “Alpha Hardy Corrigan has laid claim to a portion of the East and now poses a grave threat, seeking to subjugate the remaining regions under his tyrannical rule. We stand ready to aid in liberating your people and putting an end to his reign of terror.”
His proposal lingered in the air, and I found myself shaking my head in quiet dissent.
“At what cost, Mr. Jacob? The group that joined forces with Hardy did so willingly; I have no desire to reclaim them. He has promised
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them things that are beyond my ability to provide. I am a firm believer in nonviolence. The northern faction is the source of the hardships my people face, as they launched an unprovoked attack, seizing our wives, daughters, and sisters. It is the North that has done us wrong. They struck the first blow. Had they truly desired peace, they would have engaged in peaceful negotiations. regarding the alleged aggression initiated by Blue Howler before wreaking havoc upon our lives. The majority of us will never fully recover from the losses we suffered as a result of that attack. Hardy has gained allies as a consequence. While some of us are prepared to let go of our loved ones, no matter how agonizing it may be, others have sworn to exact vengeance. I apologize, but I cannot align myself with those who destroyed my home and shattered my life,” I stated emphatically, causing Jacob and his men to rise from their seats.
“Alpha, I understand that you are still mourning the loss of your Luna. Please know that she is being well cared for in the North. The Lord himself has personally ensured her safety. Should you ever have a change of heart, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us,” he said, to which I responded with a nod, signaling the end of our discussion.
They departed in silence, and a wave of relief washed over me, allowing me to finally relax.
A few hours had passed when Cruz reached out to me, conveying the message that Hardy was now prepared to meet.
I had anticipated the meeting to take place the following day, but Hardy displayed a strong eagerness to proceed without delay.
Chapter 49
Informed of my.impending departure, I apprised Lori of my destination, which invoked a sense of fear within her.
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Lately, she had been investing considerable effort, even engaging in training while carrying our unborn child. I was aware of her aspirations to step into Zora’s shoes, and in an attempt to assuage her concerns, I reassured her that this encounter would be peaceful and that I would return unharmed. Gradually, she released her apprehensions, permitting me to depart for the Hill Valley pack.
Upon my arrival at Sheperd’s pack house, I was taken aback to find Hardy already present. His willingness to come alone to this location signified a measure of trust in my intentions.
Sheperd, in a low growl, informed me, “He has surrounded the place,” before excusing himself momentarily. Evidently, Hardy’s trust in us was not yet fully established.
“Hey there, Casey,” Hardy greeted, beaming at me, but my smile was nowhere to be found.
As we sat alone in Sheperd’s office, I had hoped for a peaceful chat with him, but I couldn’t shake off the anger I felt about everything he had done and hadn’t done.
“I see you’re doing just fine without Zora,” he remarked, and I stayed silent.
Perched on the office couch, I gazed at him, wondering why he
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was pushing for us to team up and attack the north. Why did he want to target a man who was simply minding his own business? “What’s your deal, Hardy?” I inquired calmly, and he let out a sigh.
“That man, Casey, he completely shattered my life,” he confessed.
“He wrecked my life just as he did yours,” he uttered, his voice filled with resentment.
Shifting the topic abruptly, he inquired about my well–being, although unrelated to our current discussion. Despite this, I decided to respond, understanding that since I had called for the meeting, it was my responsibility to maintain politeness.
Curiosity getting the best of me, I asked him about the specific actions that had provoked such intense hatred. He let out a sigh, indicating that his words might not be entirely trustworthy, yet I remained willing to listen.
Back when I was only fifteen, Collier Hand launched an attack in the southern region, attempting to extort taxes from us. In defiance, my father led a rebellion, resulting in the capture of my mother. Eventually, Collier emerged victorious, and we were coerced into paying those taxes. However, we foolishly believed that once we complied, they would release my mother. Alas, we soon discovered that the northern forces never returned what they took. My father fell into a deep depression, losing his sanity along the way. While others were eagerly anticipating the day they would come of age to find their destined partner, I was forced to mature prematurely and assume the role of Alpha. Collier robbed me of the life I should have had. When I finally managed to kill him, I saw
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it as an opportunity to free our world from the malevolence of the North. Naturally, I should have become the Wolf Lord, but his son seized power instead. My plea for a fair competition against that wretched scoundrel to determine who would claim the seat was callously rejected,” he explained, his voice heavy with disappointment.
“I released my grip on the situation in the south and turned my attention to Zora,” he shared, locking eyes with me.
“I noticed the mark on her neck, a powerful deterrent for me. However, I realized that you had discovered your destined partner, which meant the union was bound to end eventually. That’s when I saw my chance to approach her. I devised a plan to court the captivating green–eyed beauty,” he explained as I fought to keep my composure, resisting the urge to punch him.
“But then I learned that the North attacked and abducted her, just like they did with my mother. That was the moment I decided to stop being kind,” he declared, his eyes transforming into a fierce golden yellow, signifying his wolf nature.
“So, you’re going through all of this for a woman you only met once?” I questioned, highlighting the absurdity of the situation. He chuckled in response.
“You see, unlike us Alphas, who can sense our destined mates whether they are claimed or not, it doesn’t work the same way for other wolves. It doesn’t matter how much time I spent with her or how many encounters we had, Casey. The only thing that matters is that Zora is my destined partner,” he revealed, leaving me utterly
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stunned and speechless.
Now, everything he had done suddenly made perfect sense.
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