The Dark Side Of Fate by Karima Sa'ad Usman

43 The Concil and Somemore

~Sylvester~

What Tamia did blew me away. She fearlessly came to my defence and put the council in their place. I was blessed.

I looked at Dominic's box and was grateful that he did not come. The hearing would have been difficult if he had shown up. Of everyone, he was the only one that could disrespect me without consequence. It wasn't that I could not deal with him, but I had to respect my mother and not hurt her by hurting him.

Larry seemed disappointed, and I figured he must have planned something with Dominic. I needed to investigate that man. Even though we all knew Dominic did not have the smarts to pull off something of that magnitude, I could not say the same for Larry.

Tamia was right when she asked them if they traced the documents. As much as they wanted to end the conversation after emphasising attacking Bane and Leo, I had to decline their request to end the meeting.

Pamela clamoured on Leo's issue deliberately. She said many things about the eastern alpha while watching Tamia's reaction. I knew what she was trying to prove, but I knew Tamia belonged to me and her heart beat only for me.

"Have you all finished?" I finally spoke, and there was silence. Then Vino stood to speak.

"Yes, we have, your lordship, and we ask to close the meeting," he said, and I shook my head.

"Today isn't a silent day for me," I said, and Vino sat back in his chair.

I looked at Pamela.

"What did you say were alpha Leonardo Albert's crimes?" I asked her.

"Word has it that he has teamed up with Bane to help build his army, of which they plan on marching up north to overthrow you and take over," she said with conviction, and I smiled.

"And where did you hear this?" I asked, and she did not look so confident again.

"We must keep our ears to the ground and listen for harmful news that can bring the downfall of our structure." She explained, and I smiled.

" In other words, it is a rumour," I said, and she was silent.

"And you ask me to launch an attack against this alpha based on a rumour that has no origin or facts," I said so she could understand the stupidity of her request.

"I also did not miss that you kept looking at my mate while you made that request," I said and smiled.

"Let this be the last time this council will try to use Tamia's ex-husband as bait. It is low and disrespectful. It is stupid and baseless, and I am highly disappointed in all of you." I said.

"You all called me here for a question and answer session based on baseless allegations. I would have been impressed if you had done your work, but you didn't." I said.

"While you are all trying to create an issue out of nothing, there is a serious matter pending that we are yet to discuss," I said, and they were attentive.

"Who sent Enforcer Bryce Golubev yesterday morning to the east to demand development taxes from Alpha Leonardo? This was done after I told Vino I did not pass that order. Why wasn't he called back? Why did he threaten the alpha?" I asked, and they were silent.

Tamia was in shock.

I should have told her when she returned to our room yesterday evening, but I was too angry about what the council was doing and worried about how far they were willing to go to say anything to her.

It is a shame that Leo and I can never be friends because I took away his price possession, but I respected the alpha for reaching out instead of reacting.

"I need an answer," I said, and Councilwoman Joan Clayman stood to speak.

"With all due respect, your Lordship, how did you come about this?" she asked, and I smiled.

"Alpha Leo had the heart to reach out to us and enquire about the so-called development tax. I am glad he did not revolt." I said and refused to change the topic.

"I asked a question," I reminded them, and no one spoke, so I looked at Marcel, and he nodded.

Kappa William ushered in the enforcer, and the council members were silent.

"Bryce," Marcel said, and the man knelt and kept his head bowed. He wasn't allowed to look into our eyes, and he knew his place.

" Who gave you the order to go to the east yesterday morning? Who paid for your flight and commissioned the mission?" Marcel asked, and he did not speak.

"If you choose to hold your tongue, you and your family will be tried for treason. Delivering false news in the name of the Wolf lord is treasonous," Marcel warned him, and the man bowed his head.

"I honestly thought the order was genuine. Lord Dominic gave it to me," he said, and people began to murmur.

"When did he give this to you?" I asked him.

"Three nights ago. It had your seal on. I believed it was from your office," he said, and people began to murmur.

I could hear outrage and disappointment in the room.

I was wondering if that was why Dominic did not show up. Did he know we would find out the truth? Was he somehow on the run?

"We need to hunt Dominic down and arrest him. He has a lot of explaining to do." I Linked Marcel and Theodore, and they told me they were already on it.

"Dominic should be arrested," Pamela said, and I noticed Vino was shocked and silent.

"I looked at Larry, who was equally shocked, but I could not believe his reaction. They could have planned it. He could have as well been the mastermind and planned it with my brother to be the fall guy. I

I looked at him and let my eyes linger on his.

"I have no hand in this, Lord Volkov," he said, and I smiled. Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

"That is not for you to decide." I said, and he widened his eyes.

Kappa William and his men moved to arrest Larry.

" You are guilty until proven innocent. Whatever Dominic does reflects on you." I said, and most of the council members disagreed with me, but I did not care; I was lord after all, it was time to let them know who was truly in charge.

"With that out of the way, I want to use this opportunity to state that the east is a sovereign region, and we will not tax their alpha. I might be the Wolf lord, but the alpha of the east rules the east,

likewise that of the south. As long as they do not declare war, I will not move to attack them. I do not have lives to waste or homes and families to ruin. War might give my seat and this council money and power, expand our lands and strengthen our reach and hold, but it also ruins lives, destroys homes and brings pain and sorrow to people. My father did much of that in his time, creating enemies for the north and my family's name. His actions led to his death and birthed grudges from all over. I am not here to continue in his footsteps. My time is for healing, peace and prosperity. None of you should try to force my hand against anyone, secretly or openly, or I will see that action as treason," I said, and they were silent.

I had said my peace and decided to end the discussion.

Vino ended the discussion, and we left.

Tamia sat in the passenger's seat of the Jeep, a bit silent. It was clear that she was baffled about something. I decided to wait until we got home so we could discuss it.

I also wanted to reward her for her bravery and for coming to my aid.

She was the best.

Every day that passes, I fight with myself and Knight not to go against tradition and claim her. We had two more months to go, but it felt like forever. I wanted to be one with her now.

I touched her lap, and she smiled at me.

"I am glad that went well, " she said, and I nodded.

"Thanks to you, darling; you deserve a reward for it," I said and ran my palm up her thigh. She opened her legs to grant me access, and I could smell her arousal. Knight growled in my head, and I swayed.

"Focus," she teased, and I looked at the car in front of us, contemplating if I should park and take her. I decided against it last minute and overtook Theodore and Marcel's Jeep. I needed to get home in a hurry.

I parked at the estate's entrance and made Tamia alight the Jeep so we could rush in.

I did not speak to anyone, and it made her giggle.

I entered our bedroom and crashed my lips against hers.

I was about to get into it when someone began to bang on my door.

"Sylvester, how could you!" I heard my mother's voice, and I knew why.

I grumbled, let Tamia down and zipped up my fly.

She giggled, and I was slightly annoyed that my mother would bang on my door the way she did.

I opened the door, and she walked into my bedroom and slapped me.

There was silence in the room.

I could tolerate her doing that, but I had warned her against hitting me. She tried to send another one, and I held her hand and roared at her. Tamia held me from behind to calm down. Tears were streaming down my mother's face.

" Why did you arrest your brother? I did as Tamia instructed and stopped him from attending the hearing; why lock him up?" she said, and I turned to look at Tamia.

I was surprised that she arranged it without telling me. She knew, and her eyes pleaded with me.

"Did you instruct my mother to keep Dominic?" I asked Tamia, and she nodded.

"I did. I did it for you. You were worried about him and Larry working against you. He was the only one that could challenge you, so I asked her to stop him from attending.." She said, and I knew she meant well. However wrong her actions were, I knew she meant well; it showed in her eyes.

Even though I was mad about the implications of her actions, I could not scold her in the presence of anyone. I turned back to my mother.

"You threatened to deal with my son, Tamia, so I held him back. Why then this? The soldiers dragged him out of his room in silver chains like a criminal," she said in tears, and I did not know what to say. I looked at Tamia, and she could not speak, which meant that conversation had taken place.

" Dominic forged my signature and seal and sent Bryce to threaten Alpha Leonardo," I said, but my mother shook her head. She refused to listen to me. She was too hurt to understand what I had just said. Instead, she wept.