Shadows of Destiny

Enforcer Bryce Golubev ~Leo~ I was sitting in my office when Casper came to me in a hurry.

He seemed like he had rushed there from home.

I had asked him to take the week off because his mate had given birth, so I knew whatever might have brought him to my office was important.

‘Envoys have been sent from the north and have just passed Hill Valley; they are heading here, Alpha.

They say the Lord sent them,” Casper said, sounding nervous, and I knew why.

We had waited for the Wolf Lord to bring his people since he conquered us and took most of our women as trophies.

I thought he had changed his mind when time passed, and nothing happened, but I was wrong.

“Are they officers?” I asked Casper, and he nodded.

“Marlo said they were battle ready.

It seems they believe we might revolt to whatever news they bring, and they are willing to use force if necessary.” Casper said, sounding worried, and I wondered what more Volkov wanted from me.

He had taken everything from me.

What more did he want? I sat in my office and told Casper to go home, just in case it turned into a fight, so he would not be caught up in it.

“I won’t leave you to face those barbarians alone.

What Kyle did to us is unforgivable because he was the one that made that man pick interest in the east,” he said, complaining bitterly.

We sat worried about what might befall us.

Finally, the men arrived, and I offered them seats in my office.

They did not seem like they wanted to stay, so I did not bother to ask questions; I just let them get straight to the point.

“Alpha Albert, My name is Bryce Golubev, a lead enforcer for the northern council, appointed and sanctioned by lord Volkov himself,” He said with pride.

I nodded at him and greeted him.

I wondered why a head enforcer would be sent to me, and it bothered me.

“We are here, under the order of the council by lord Volkov, to collect on the eastern developmental tax,” He said.

I frowned at him, not knowing what the hell he was talking about.

“What taxes?” I asked the man, and he brought out a document with the Wolf Lord’s seal.

“Why are we to pay these taxes?” I asked him.

“This tax is for the regions under the Wolf Lord.

This region has been conquered by the north,” he said and stood up.

“I am not here to chit-chat, alpha Albert.

I will be back in a week to collect.

Please make what is necessarily available.” He said, and they excused themselves.

1 I felt insulted.

Sylvester was testing my patience.

I might be passive and dislike war, but this is too much.

First, he takes my wife from me and now this.

There was just so much a man could take.

I wasn’t over losing my Luna; now he was doing this.

How far to the ground did he want to beat me? Devin was right about this man being a bully.

“What should we do?” Casper asked me, and I sighed.

“Call a meeting.

time to have a serious talk with our people and know what we

am paying development taxes to the north.” I said, and

contact the Wolf Lord, Alpha, before making

want us to make a mistake,” he said, and I frowned at my beta, “He did not attack us when

the council

not be

think you should place a call to him

what to do based on his response.” Casper said, and I

my head for being

he was with my wife troubled me and made me quick

me his

enquiries directly from him or anyone in charge,” I told Casper, and he

was that Enforcer

have

looked like he ate silver for

wondered what they gave

find Amanda cleaning

I was livid.

doing in there?” I

was angry and rushed to the room, then entered the closet to be sure Tamia’s

room, and she was in

air

warn you not to go in there? Why did you do it?” I said, closing the

not allowed

coming back,

with her life, so why can’t we move on with ours?” She yelled back at

wouldn’t have a life to move on with,” I said and sat on

you, Leo! All you have done since they took Tamia away was mope

You have been distant.

It isn’t my fault

father so he could force you

in ways I can never forgive myself,” I said, and she

not blame me for hurting Tamia,

me instead of making out with me on

how much you

Instead, you held out.

force my way in because your

wanted me, and she was the reason you were

it what you

hope to fight for what

don’t blame me for her sadness or what

That was you, Leo.

I refuse to pay for your crimes.” She

or not, the north would have taken

chance against

shook my head, tears streaming down my face at the depth of truth

She was right.

I caused it all.

reluctance gave her hope and ruined

accept Amanda; I did it of my own

fought beside me, but she gave up on us the moment she found out you were pregnant,” I said; she began to laugh, tears still streaming down her

climb on top of myself to

You did.

out to

her, which you did not believe,

before she left physically, and you know it, so

in another woman’s shadow, but

of the misery fate brought

wasn’t supposed to stay

my father and return to where I came

and a good

on you, Leo, so stop making it seem like I was the one that did something bad here,” She said in tears and took the mop stick

down on the couch and bowed my head in

was ashamed

that Amanda

selfish