Shadows of Destiny

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. 2

“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. 2

“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.

1

“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.

“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. 1

I had said my peace and decided to end

the discussion. 1

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.