The Dark Side Of Fate

138 Meet The Stepanovs

~Sylvester~

I arrived in the small conference room in the mansion, and true to Marcel’s words, the visitors did not look like Stepanovs. They had extremely fair skin, but their dark hair and brown eyes made them look ordinary.

Alexei and Clay were there. They stood up when I entered the room, acknowledging my presence. They all bowed their heads, and the room was utterly silent.

“Please be at ease and sit down. Thank you for coming,” I thanked them and went to sit at the head of the table.

Marcel and Theodore were there. I linked Leo and Devin to join us. I also linked Gezel to come. She was very much a part of this meeting.

Hearing that Erik had already seen them, I didn’t bother to link him to join us.

“To what do I owe this visit?:” I said, and one of them sitting closest to me on my left cleared his throat to speak.

“I am Peter Zelenski,” He said, introducing the nine people he was with. It was surprising that none of them used Stepanov as their last name. I had to ask.

“Why are you not using your last name? I know you all are pure Stepanov family members, direct descendants of Adrian Stepanov, not just part of the clan,” I asked, and Peter sighed.

“With your pronouncement at the King’s hall, we can now publicly bear our names and stop disguising ourselves in public,” he said, and some of them smiled with relief.

“It is good to hear that. I am genuinely sorry for what my great-grandfather and grandfather did,” I said, and he shook his head.

“It is not your cross to bear, your majesty. We are just happy we could find common grounds,” He said, and it seemed he was the leader because no one else was speaking except for him.

“You have done right by Adrik and given him what he fought for,” He said, looking at Alexei and Clay.

“His grandchildren have been given the honour that was rightfully theirs. We are grateful for this.” He said, and I nodded.

showing your gratitude,” I

up to greet Leo. I could easily tell it

are all here, I would like to ask you what you all think of Yuri’s behaviour,” I said, pointing at

the Corrigans wrong the Stepanovs, too?” I asked, and Peter shook his head with a very

to the Corrigans?” I asked,

and that is why we are here.” He said and looked at the others. They

bone to pick with Yuri. His ways are extreme. We have let him continue pursuing his madness as long as it does affect one of our own. Still, recently, we found out he had been behind significant Stepanov deaths. We even learned that he is after Erik. His own cousin. This has made us conclude that Yuri is mad, and we must stop him before he ruins everything. Installing himself as King of the South is outrageous, and we want you to know that we do not share the same views with him. We are content with what has been given to us and hope to serve

deal with Yuri?” Leo asked, seeming impatient. I couldn’t blame him,

help. We have brought Twenty-five able-bodied pure Stepanov warriors each for you to command as you wish, after which we will leave them to serve Alex in the West,” Peter said. Based on my calculations, the total number of warriors was Two hundred and fifty. That was a lot of silver-immune fast fighters to have on our team. Even the AgK32 wouldn’t have given us this much

gesture. This is indeed great news, but unfortunately, we do not know where Yuri is, and because of that, we do not know how to mobilise your group,” I

I was willing to involve them, I did not want to leave room for Yuri to figure out our

you suggest, your majesty?” Peter asked, and

and placing your people in charge. Even though Stepanovs do not have Alpha, Beta and Gamma breeds, a Delta Stepanov can rule just as well. We

and want the development

pack members are innocent people,” Peter

measures, there will be casualties,” Devin said,

make me seem like a heartless bastard, and it might make them change their minds about

what Yuri did to him and want to pay

what Devin said

with evil,” he started, and his peers

nothing. We would prefer a safer way to end this. Although we are willing to fight if necessary, we will feel better if our men fight stubborn, heartless Stepanovs who refuse to embrace forgiveness and peace. I would not send my family warriors to kill innocent pack members,”

bigger man in this. If you avenge what happened in Pridewood, when

and Peter stood up. He raised his hands to plead with him to calm down. One fact remained certain: Stepanovs were still mainly Deltas, and Devin

nothing. You have been very considerate, but I will plead with you to have mercy. What happened in Pridewood is unforgivable. Wiping out an entire settlement just to gain grounds was cruel. What the others did in the West to the pack’s sharing borders with the South, too, was wrong. Those alphas did not deserve to die like that.

been wronged mostly by Yuri. He sent Mikhail, his cousin, to murder Luis, his first cousin, so he could be the heir. He robbed

It was weird that she would walk in when he

said, and Gezel wiped away her tears.

a low tone, and he left his seat and

indeed alive,” he