The Dark Side Of Fate

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.

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.

the ground did

do?” Casper asked

talk with our people and know what we need to do. There is no way I am

making hasty decisions. I would not want us to make a mistake,” he said, and I frowned at

did not attack us when Devin and Max attacked his home. This might be the council abusing its power. Let us not be hasty. I think you should place a call to him directly this time instead of sending a letter. We can then decide what to do based on his response.” Casper said, and

for being hasty. Because I wasn’t over the fact that he was with my wife

make my

Golubev did not decide to attack me. It would have been gory. The man

find Amanda cleaning

I yelled at her. I was angry and rushed to the room, then entered the closet to be sure

the room, and she was in

air the space” She explained, and I did not

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

you are not allowed in

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

life to move on with,” I

they took Tamia away was mope about. You have been distant. It isn’t my fault that

I hurt my wife in ways I can never forgive myself,”

balcony. You should have shown her how much you loved her and rejected me. Instead, you held out. I had to force my way in because your lack of rejection gave me hope. It made me believe you wanted me, and

was here or not, the north would have taken her away. You stood no chance against those soldiers,” She pointed

the depth of truth she had spoken about me not having the courage to reject her. She was

Fate didn’t force me to accept Amanda; I

on us the moment she found out you

she left physically, and you know it, so don’t blame me for it. I did not ever plan to

I came from, on Kanes Island in the north. I had a job and a good life there. Everything went away the moment I

down on the couch and bowed my head in shame. I was ashamed

said was true. I was selfish and weak. I only thought of myself and

keep my wife and my fated. I thought I was smart. I broke

and my eyes welled up in

how hard I tried to be