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Chapter 74
Casey’s POV
“No matter what I did, the North would have taken her away,” she said, her voice filled with a mix of resignation and accusation. Her words struck me deeply, and tears welled up in my eyes as I realized the truth in what she was saying. I had lacked the courage to stand up for our love, and it had cost us dearly. I had brought this upon myself.
Her observation hit me like a wave of regret, washing over me with its undeniable truth. I couldn’t deny that I was the one responsible for all the pain and heartache we had endured. It wasn’t fate that forced me to accept Lori into my life; it was my own choice, my own weakness that led me down this path.
Desperation seeped into my voice as I tried to defend myself, “If only she had fought alongside me, we might have had a fighting chance. But the moment she discovered your pregnancy, she gave up on us.”
To my surprise, she burst into laughter, her tears still streaming down her cheeks.
With a mix of amusement and frustration, she responded, “I didn’t impregnate myself, you know. That was your doing. So, stop painting me as the villain here. Besides the lie I told about her, which you didn’t even believe, I haven’t done
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anything wrong. Zora had already left you emotionally before she physically left, and deep down, you know it.
So don’t put the blame solely on me. I never planned to live in another woman’s shadow, but fate had other plans for me. I’m sorry for trying to find some semblance of happiness amidst the misery fate has thrown at us she concluded, wiping away her tears with a sense of finality.
“I wasn’t supposed to stay in the east. My plan was to visit my father and then return to my original home on Kanes Island in the north. You see, I had a job and a fulfilling life there. But everything changed in an instant, Casey. Don’t twist it and make it seem like I’m the one at fault here,” she sobbed, grabbing the mop stick from my hands.
Overwhelmed with guilt, I sank into the couch and hung my head in shame. I couldn’t deny the truth in Lori’s words. I had been selfish and weak. My actions were driven solely by my own desires, as I foolishly believed I could have the best of both worlds.
I had wanted to keep my wife and pursue my true mate, thinking I could outsmart the situation. But I had broken my promises to Zora and foolishly expected her to accept it without any repercussions. Lori was right, and it hit me like a punch in the gut.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized the gravity of the situation. It was all a cruel joke. No matter how hard I tried to find happiness, it eluded me. Lori had been a good Luna,
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dutifully fulfilling her role, but deep down, I knew it would never be enough. Even with the mate bond between us, my heart belonged to Zora, and Zora alone.
Zora had been going through something, and it troubled me deeply. She was not the type to fit into the traditional role of a harem, and I couldn’t help but worry if Darius Hand, the one in charge, would recognize her true worth and give her the respect she deserved. Thoughts of Zora consumed my mind, and all I could do was let my tears flow freely.
In an attempt to give both of us some much–needed space, I made the decision to sleep on the couch in the living room that night. Surprisingly, Lori, my usual source of disturbance, didn’t come to bother me. It was a relief, as we both required some time apart to sort out our own emotions and thoughts.
The next morning arrived, and without checking on Lori, I headed straight to the office. Deep down, I knew it was a mistake and vowed to make it up to her later. However, I had an urgent matter to attend to regarding our taxes. I couldn’t afford to delay it any further, fearing that Enforcer Bryce might change his mind and demand the collection sooner than his initial announcement.
Once I reached my office, I dialed the number that Dustin had sent me. The phone rang, and after a moment, a deep voice answered on the other end. My heart skipped a beat, and a lump formed in my throat.
“Who is this?” the man inquired, his voice carrying an air of
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authority. My nerves got the better of me, and I swallowed hard before mustering the courage to respond.
In the Eastern region, I, Alpha Casey Grady, made a polite request to speak with either The Lord or the beta, as there was an important matter I needed to discuss. The man on the other end of the line kept me waiting for a moment before responding. He informed me that they had attended a dinner party the previous night and had yet to return. Nevertheless, he assured me that he would attempt to connect me with the beta. I let out a sigh of relief, grateful for the opportunity to converse with someone in a position of power.
I patiently waited. Nearly two minutes passed before another voice, deeper in tone, resonated through the phone. It was the beta himself. His jovial demeanor gave me a boost of confidence, emboldening me to address the issue at hand. Summoning my courage, I began to speak.
“An Enforcer named Bryce Golubev arrived, armed with a council order signed by The Lord, demanding payment for development taxes. He made it clear that he would return in a week to collect. I must admit, his approach lacked
friendliness,” I explained, the concern evident in my voice. Little did I know that my words would stir up a storm.
In the background, I could hear the man curse angrily, a sign that my revelation had caused quite a commotion. Sensing my impact, I worried momentarily if I had unknowingly provoked a volatile situation. However, the beta’s response alleviated my fears.
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“Apologies for the confusion, Alpha Casey. The Lord did not authorize any such tax. I will personally address this matter and ensure it is resolved,” he assured me. I let out a relieved breath, grateful that I had refrained from taking impulsive action and instead trusted in the wisdom of my beta.
Before we concluded our conversation, the beta mentioned that he was attending a breakfast party and ideally shouldn’t have been accepting calls. Grateful for his time and attention, I expressed my gratitude.
“That will be all, sir. I sincerely appreciate your valuable time,” I conveyed, as the sounds of a heated argument permeated through the background noise.
I couldn’t help but ponder why people would engage in a breakfast brawl. As I was about to end the call, I caught a faint voice resembling Zora’s, though it seemed too surreal to believe it was truly her.
I settled onto my couch, allowing my mind to unwind. There was absolutely no need for alarm or frenzy.
Curiosity sparked within me as I contemplated the true events unfolding in the Northern region.
Recollections of the village Hardy had mentioned also flooded my thoughts.
Was it possible that a powerful figure up there was
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ntentionally inciting trouble against the Dark Lord Alpha? I became acutely aware of the need to exercise caution from :his point onward. Things were certainly not as they
appeared
