288 Vouchers
Chapter 59
Casey’s POV
“I ain’t looking for a brawl over support, Casey. It’s way better when we team up willingly,” he said, rising from his seat.
“I came here to have a civilized talk, man to man, as an honest Alpha. If you ain’t on board with my cause, I’ll respect your decision. You’ve probably heard rumors that I’m planning to storm the rest of the East. But let me assure you, I ain’t no Darius, and I ain’t gonna do that. However, I’ll keep you informed about our moves, just in case you wanna join. Remember, the offer’s still open,” he declared, getting to his feet.
His actions made it clear to me that he genuinely meant it when he said he wouldn’t fight me for the rest of the East.
“Then why the hell did you surround the place?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“You’ve seen how Sheperd and Cruz eye me, right? I had to take precautions,” he replied, and I couldn’t help but smile at him.
It’s unbelievable how those two used to speak so highly of
him.
288 Vouchers
“You know, they still haven’t forgiven me for losing their Lunas. But honestly, those women were better off without them. I mean, let’s be real. As much as I’d love to take the blame for that little incident, I didn’t do it. Sure, I raided the Hand Estate to rescue Zora, but I never sent any eastern soldiers to attack the western borders.
I don’t understand why Cruz keeps insisting it was me. He seriously needs to clean house and weed out the traitors in his ranks. The North has some sneaky ones, you know? They know how to infiltrate packs and sow discord among them.
If you look into what happened in the Western province near the north, you’ll see it was Collier’s tactics. I can’t vouch for Darius, but the apple usually doesn’t fall far from the tree. All I’m fighting for, Casey, is liberation. I want to live in a world where there’s no fear or injustice. A world where we don’t have a bully for a Lord and where we can truly be free. That’s what I’m fighting for. And you know what? I believe I’ll do a better job as the wolf lord than Darius ever could. I don’t care if he has blue blood; he bleeds just like the rest of us,” he said with a grin, and I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
We exchanged handshakes, and he excused himself courteously. A quarter of an hour later, Sheperd and Cruz walked in, brimming with curiosity, eager to discover what had occurred. I couldn’t disclose the details about Hardy and Zora, so I decided to share only what directly concerned them.
“He assured us that he won’t compel us to join his fight against the northern forces,” I relayed, and Cruz expressed skepticism, shaking his head.
Dividing into pages now
“That fellow is a cunning scoundrel. I don’t trust him in the least,” Cruz remarked, and Sheperd nodded in agreement.
“Most likely, he wants us to lower our guard, making us vulnerable when he eventually launches his attack. The man aspires to be the wolf lord,” Sheperd speculated, to which I nodded.
“He admitted that himself. He claimed he could do a better job than Darius Hand,” I disclosed, prompting Sheperd to burst into laughter.
“The Dark Lord Alpha hails from a noble lineage, which sets him apart. For Hardy to seize control of the northern region, he must eliminate both the Hand family and the council of elders. We all understand that this is an impossible feat. The Northern army is a force to be reckoned with, renowned for their formidable strength. Rumor has it they even train with silver, making them invincible. During our assault on the estate, we resorted to underhanded tactics. Unfortunately, none of our warriors returned alive,” Sheperd confessed, causing a frown to crease my brow.
“How did you manage to cheat?” I inquired, and Sheperd lowered his gaze.
“We employed chlorine and silver gas,” he revealed, prompting an exclamation from me. It finally explained the fury evident in Darius’s letter.
Dividing into pages now
“Consider yourself fortunate that he has a soft spot for Zora, or else we would all be dead by now,” I remarked. Sheperd regarded me with a perplexed expression, to which I nodded in agreement.
“He sent me a letter with the head of one of his warriors, informing me why he hasn’t attacked yet but promising to strike the next time we provoke him. He also made it clear that he won’t be taking any prisoners,” I divulged, prompting a weary sigh from Cruz.
“Watch your back,” Cruz cautioned, his voice laced with concern. I nodded in agreement, fully aware of the gravity of the situation. We were well aware that danger lurked around every corner, waiting to strike.
Turning my attention to the internal affairs of our group, I voiced my thoughts, “We must thoroughly examine our ranks and ensure that no traitors have infiltrated our midst.” The weight of my words hung in the air, causing a momentary silence to envelop the room. The importance of trust and loyalty resonated with everyone present.
Leaving Sheperd’s pack behind, I made my way back to the place I called home. As I walked through the door, I could see the worry etched on Lori’s face. Her eyes betrayed her fears, fearing that I might not return. It was a reminder of the perilous path I had chosen, knowing the risks that lay ahead.
Elbert, a figure revered by many, had gained the admiration of the people. They believed he was invincible, having slain
Dividing into pages now
288 Vouchers
the wolf lord and emerged victorious against Darius’s army. However, deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that luck had played a significant role in his triumphs. I lacked concrete evidence to support my suspicion, yet it remained a nagging thought in the recesses of my mind. Unfortunately, my opinion wasn’t a popular one, and I kept it to myself.
In that moment of vulnerability, Lori enveloped me in a tight embrace, her arms providing solace and reassurance. She pleaded with me to spend the night in her room, her voice filled with a mixture of fear and longing. Considering the toll our separation had taken on both of us, I decided to grant her request. It was time to release the self–imposed punishment and seek comfort in each other’s presence. However, I wasn’t prepared to move her into the room I shared with my wife, for it held memories that still pained my heart.
Dividing into pages now
