The Dark Side Of Fate by Karima Sa'ad Usman

25 BAck To Mountain (Book 2)

~Leo~

Max insisted on returning with me to Mountain because he did not want to be alone at the Estate. His past with Avery haunted him, and he did not want to have a constant reminder. I knew it would be torturous leaving him there, so I agreed.

We got to the airport on time and boarded our flight. While on the plane, Max got chatty, and I did not appreciate it at all.

"I doubt Kyle can afford that judgment you gave him. Maybe we can come up with some money to lend him. The last thing we want is Theodore fighting Brent," Max said, and I shrugged because it was none of my business. I trusted Theodore to isolate his problem to Brent alone.

"Kyle drew the line between us. I am not his friend anymore, so it isn't my business how he comes up with the money. Besides, I have helped him the best I could; it is now up to him to comply. If it weren't for his pride, all he had to do was beg Linda, and she might have gone easy on him, but he wanted to prove that he had rights. I do not want to discuss Kyle, Max," I warned Max, and he nodded.

"Do you think it is wise leaving Amelia at the estate?" He asked, and I frowned at him, wondering why he would even think of asking such a question.

"What is it?" I asked him.

"I mean, your relationship is too young for you two to be apart so soon," he said, and I disagreed.

"If I can handle the distance, I am sure she can. Besides, my duties to my people and my pack come first, Max. She should understand, and I am sure she does, so don't try to make an issue where there is none," I warned him, and he nodded.

"Your duty is to your pack, I agree but look at me, Leo. Had I been faithful to Avery, I am sure she would have remained with me. The pack members abandoned me when they could. They left with their children and spouses. I gave everything to keep them safe and provide for them, and they abandoned me at the smallest opportunity. What I am saying is that I admire your effort and duty but do not neglect companionship because it is a void your pack and duties would not be able to fill," he told me, and I got pissed off.

"Really?" I asked him, and he nodded.

"My pack was with me through thick and thin. Amanda betrayed me and almost ruined me. We were supposed to be fated, and she almost destroyed me. So do not tell me about companionship." I warned him, and he laughed.

"You betrayed Tamia first, Leo. Had you not betrayed Tamia, Amanda wouldn't have had the chance to harm you; that is on you," he told me, and I knew it was the truth. Although I was over Tamia, I was yet to forgive myself for ruining my life.

"That is why I am being careful this time," I told him, and he nodded.

"That girl loves you, Leo, and I know you know it. She is nothing like Amanda. She will never hurt you," he said, and I was silent because even though it seemed like it, I wasn't sure. I needed to be careful. I needed to be sure she was the one.

"If you doubt her this much, then cut her loose. She is a very gorgeous and decent-looking girl. I am sure she will find someone to love and trust completely. I am afraid you will damage her at the rate you are going because you have no excuse not to bring her along no matter how dire the situation is, but you rather keep her in the north where she is far from you. Had I not known better, I would have guessed you did not plan to go back for her," He said, and I almost punched him because that wasn't true.

"I suggest you keep your guesses to yourself because you are getting on my nerves right now," I warned him, and he smiled and looked away. I planned on flying first class the next time. Business class left room for the proximity I did not appreciate at the moment. Max was getting on my nerves.

We arrived at Mountain safely, and Casper was waiting for us at the airport when we landed. I was grateful to him for being there on time.

"Where is your luggage?" Casper asked me at the arrival exit of the airport, and I shook my head.

"Left it in the Estate. Amelia is still there," I told him, and he nodded. We got into his truck, and he drove us to the Mountain.

"Were you able to track the trackers?" I asked while he drove.

"Yes, we followed their trail with our trackers, and the last scent they left was in the woods close to Hayland," Casper said, and I wondered why Hayland was coming up more often now. I might have to reach out to the Alpha soon.

"Hayland, you said?" I asked, and Casper nodded.

"Yes," he said.

"Did you secure their campsite?" I asked, and he nodded.

" I marked it; it will be easy to find if you follow the caution tape trail into the woods. We left everything as we found it to keep the integrity of the place," He explained, and I was satisfied. I commended him for the work done.

"Alpha Alexei Kuznetsov asked to have an audience with you. I told him you went to the north.:" he said, and I wondered why the intruder would want to see me.

He better not be trying to challenge me. As a councilman, I had the right to refuse a challenge, which would also make me seem afraid of him. I decided to avoid him for as long as I could until I realised his true intention.

We arrived at the pack, and I went straight to my house. Max followed me quietly. He must have known his questions and insinuations while we were on the plane must have irritated me.

Entering my room, I went to shower so I could sleep and start my work the next day.

While sorting through my clothes to find my favourite shorts, I saw the boxes that contained Tamia's stuff, and I felt it was time for me to send them to her in the north. Not because I was moving on but because it was the healthy thing to do.

Honestly, left to me, I would be single for the rest of my life, but Amelia had somehow made that resolve hard and put me in a situation where I would have to open up again. I knew she would win in that regard, but I needed to buy more time and be sure because it would be for the rest of my life. If I commit myself, I plan to get it right.

I was yet to figure out what to wear when someone banged on my door. I wore the first Khaki shorts I saw and went to see who it was.

I got to the living room and saw Max at the door talking to someone.

I moved closer to see who it was. I was surprised to see the oldest Alpha in our region, Alpha Timothy, with his granddaughter.

It was a very odd thing.

The man was too old to make late-night calls unless his pack had an issue.

"What is the matter," I linked Max.

" He demands he wants to see you. He is distressed," Max said, and I told him to allow the man in with his granddaughter.

The moment The Alpha entered, he went on his knees immediately.

"Thank goddess you returned today, Alpha," he said on the verge of tears.

"I need your help," he said, motioning his granddaughter close.

"You know I have no sons, and my oldest grandchild was taken away as tribute when the north attacked. Please, this is Mirabel, the youngest of my grandchildren. She is twenty-one years old, and she will make a good Luna for your Leo," He said, and I was shocked by his words.

"What is the meaning of this?" I asked him, and he got up.

" Alpha Alexie has challenged me for my pack. He claims Hill Valley needs to spread, and Alia is the one that got it into his head that he can take Brentworth to expand their lands.

I rather lose my pack to you than lose it to that leech. Please Alpha. Take the pack and deny him the challenge. Please. Take Mirabel for my sake," He said, and I did not know what to do.

I understood Alpha Timothy's disposition on the matter, and I understood the law clearly. I was the only one that had the right to decline a challenge and get away with it, and that was because of my recent noble status, but I could only exercise that authority over a pack I owned. I may be the head alpha of the east, but I was only the Alpha Of Mountain. To protect Brentworth, I had to be its Alpha, either by taking it over or by virtue of marriage. None was a possibility.

"You need to calm down, Alpha Timothy," I said, and he nodded and looked at me eagerly.

"I can't mate with your daughter to protect your pack. I can't. I am seeing someone, and that would be wrong of me. Besides, I am sure Mirabel has plans for her future and being mated to me isn't

one of them," I said, and the stupid girl; shook her head.

I wondered what was special about me that made most of these women crazy. Whatever it was wasn't enough to make Amanda faithful or tell Tamia to leave Sylvester for me.

"I need your help, and that is the only way I can get it," Alpha Timothy said, and I decided I would speak to Alexie. I was trying to put off talking to him, but I decided I would do it for Timothy's sake. Mating with his daughter was extreme, and I knew the old man would not survive a challenge.

"I will speak to him," I told the old man, and the hope in his eyes drained away.

"That man has an insidious agenda in the east. He will be hard to reason with." He said, and I wondered why he would say something like that.

"Why are you saying that?" I asked the old man.

"He took over Hill Valley recently, but Alpha Blanch kept his money, right?" Alpha Timothy said, and I looked at Max, who nodded.

"Some of it. I lost what I had in the pack accounts," Max clarified, and Timothy nodded.

"Great, but still, the money isn't much because I remembered you having financial problems, hence why some building projects were halted," Timothy reminded Max, and he nodded. It was a general problem in the east.

"Four days ago, Alexie revived the building projects, mainly military-related projects. When I saw this, I asked him, and he said Hill Valley's Military structures were weak, and he was trying to upgrade them," He said, and Max nodded.

"Yes, That is true; the military funding for my pack had been low," Max agreed.

"I think he is trying to acquire my pack and resources for expansion bases. I also believe he is getting external funding because it is weird that he can come up with the capital on short notice. If he had all that money, he could have bought a massive land, registered his new pack, and started one independently instead of taking over Hill Valley.

I know I am blabbering right now, but I believe that man is up to something," the old man said and looked at me. Text © owned by NôvelDrama.Org.

"I do not know what is happening, but I need you to help me secure my land. Since Alpha Max said the man cheated, I cannot ask you to fight him because that would cost you your position as head alpha and your pack if you lose. All I am asking is that, at the least, you claim you are mated to Mirabel and own the pack so he can keep off. You do not have to mate with her. I am sure you can create a room for that Alpha. It is your duty as head alpha to protect us. Please. She will be with you for a month, and you can send her back. By then, it will be like it didn't work out, but you still own the pack. At least do this to buy me time while I investigate the bastard." The old man said, and I did not want what he was offering because I did not want the news to get to Amelia about anything.

She would think I deliberately left her in the north for this. I wasn't going to hurt her the way I hurt Tamia.

"No," I told Alpha Timothy. "I am seeing someone, and I do not want her to feel hurt or betrayed," I said, and he nodded.

"I will tell her of the plan. You can tell her of the plan. I am sure she would understand, Alpha. I am desperate. He will come to my pack in the morning." The old man said, and I shook my head.

"What if I wasn't around? I was supposed to be in the north today; I just returned for personal reasons," I explained, and he bowed his head.

"Please, Leo. I need your help." He said, and I knew he was tired of everything and just wanted to save his pack at all costs. I linked Casper to get Alexie's phone number so I could speak to him.