The Dark Side Of Fate novel Chapter 177

~Leo~

I haven't woken up feeling giddy in a long time. I did this morning, and I liked it.

Amelia was still asleep, and she looked peaceful.

I touched her hair gently, careful not to disturb her sleep.

I noticed the roots of her hair were platinum blonde, so I planned on talking to her about it later.

It looked like she dyed her hair brown. I wouldn't put it past her. It was cute, and it made me chuckle.

I snuck out of bed and out of her room.

Stepping out, I saw Max on my couch, drinking coffee.

He looked at me and smiled, but the smile did not touch his eyes. He was still processing his loss, and I knew it would take a while before he could recover from the pain.

"Good morning, Alpha. Glad to see you are finally letting up," he said, and I smiled at him.

"Did you sleep well?" I asked him, and he rolled his eyes.

"Between my heartache and the sounds of your activity in that room, you could just imagine how well I slept," He said and chuckled.

I knew Amelia and I were a bit loud, but it was my house, so he had to manage.

"Goddess Leo, you did not spare that woman," He said, and I told him to mind his business.

"I got the mail," he told me, and I frowned at him.

"Sylvester approved the hearing of my case for this week. Thank you, Leo. I know you had to pull some strings," he said, sounding very grateful, and I nodded.

"Besides, we are going to the eastern alpha meeting this morning. I have called everyone," I told him, and he did not look too enthusiastic.

"Those Alphas are wimps. The guy will scare them into agreeing with his conduct. They wouldn't want him to come for their packs. As things are now, he can go for any pack, and there is no law stopping him from doing it," Max said, and I knew he was right.

It was also one of the reasons why I wanted to meet with Alexie. I needed to read him and decipher his intentions in the east.

It isn't every time a northern Alpha comes to the east, marries a woman, and takes over her family's pack by force.

He must have a goal, and I need to know what it was so we do not have issues in the future.

The alphas might think it is Max's problem now, but I could see ahead, and it did not look good for us.

I went into my room to prepare for the day, so I could head to the meeting.

I opened my closet, and Tamia's clothes were still in them. I hadn't been able to give them away. I had paced them in boxes and would have sent them to her, but I couldn't.

The room still felt like it belonged to her, and I doubted the feeling would change anytime soon.

I showered and got dressed. By the time I came out, Max was already dressed.

" Shall we?" he asked, and I shook my head.

"No way will I go to that meeting on an empty stomach," I said, moving towards the kitchen.

I wanted to make a sandwich for Amelia and myself.

"What are you doing," Max asked me, and I shrugged.

"Making one of the sandwiches Amelia showed me," I said, and he smiled.

"So she is your mate now?" Max asked, and I froze while cutting the bread. I wished he didn't use that word.

"We aren't there yet, Max. We are still getting to know each other. I want to be sure before I give what we have a label. Let's use the word girlfriend for now," I said and sliced the bread. Max was silent, and I looked at him.

"Do not make the same mistake twice trying to be careful," He said, and I wondered what he meant by it.

I placed some sliced pieces in the toaster and looked at him.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked him, and he moved towards the kitchen to be closer to me.

"I mean, she is nothing like Amanda. At this rate, you might end up hurting her, Leo. Do not put her in competition with your past.

Tamia is happy now. You deserve to be happy too. If you just want her as a girlfriend, then let her go before both of you get burnt," he said, and I was a bit annoyed that he would spoil my mood.

I wasn't longing for Tamia anymore. I had let her go. I felt bad for breaking my promises and being weak when I should have been strong. I was trying not to allow my emotions to control me this time.

"I am not going to rush things with Amelia. I will take my time and make sure she is right for her and for me before I jump. I am sure she understands and can wait," I said, and he stared at me a bit sad, then nodded.

"Well, I have no right to advise you. I messed up more than you did, and my life has remained fucked. I would lie if I told you I did not think of Avery and how lucky Marcel is, but she deserves it. After all that I put her through, she deserved it, Leo.

I was a fool. Michelle said things and connived with my men. I believed every word. I should have trusted my wife. We had been through so much together, so I should have trusted her, but I believed a total stranger over her.

The same men that made me believe Michelle ended up betraying me, and Michelle died eventually, leaving me with nothing but painful memories.

There are times when I do not feel like pushing anymore," he said and then looked at me.

"Honestly, Leo, what Alexie did might be for the best. I do not deserve to run a pack. However this hearing goes, I will be fine if you absorb me into your pack along with my people too. I do not mind answering to you, Leo.

Honestly, I do not mind it.

I am only doing this so they would know I cared, and I tried," he confessed, and I was in shock.

"I had access to my wolf, and I fought him partially shifted," He confessed and sighed.

"I know Alpha Max hates me. He has proven that from the onset, and he would make it seem as if I was after his pack all along. He has insinuated it. He said I am a member of an Unknown cult. He also claimed I married Alia to earn the right to challenge him. Now that I have explained my heritage, you would know that I did not need to marry Alia to challenge him.

As for his pack members, whom he claimed I bought and stole, I would like to state that they have been complaining about his conduct for a while.

He has been negligent towards his alpha duties for personal reasons, perhaps.

I did not challenge Alpha Max because I wanted his pack; I challenged him because he had vowed not to let me settle in his pack with my wife. Alia did not want to leave Hill Valley, so I had no choice but to challenge him so we could both remain in hill Valley," He explained, and after all, he said, it seemed plausible.

I looked at Max, and he had nothing to say.

I knew he had given up already, but that did not mean he shouldn't defend himself. There were limits to what I could do under such circumstances, and he knew it.

"Very well, we will talk about the challenge," I said, and Alexie nodded.

"Max told me he could not access his wolf while fighting you. He said he got the silver effect whenever he was near you," I said, and people murmured.

Alexie did not say anything; he just stared.

"Did you have silver on you when you fought him?" I asked him, and he shook his head.

"But you were partially shifted?" I asked, and he nodded.

People looked at me as if what I was saying was completely stupid, but I had seen someone hold on to her wolf while wearing silver, so I knew it was possible.

Amelia's ability was a secret I intended to keep, but it forced me to see this case differently than I would have had I not seen Amelia's abilities.

I knew some people could overcome the silver effect.

"If you were partially shifted, then it was only logical that Max would partially shift or fully shift. This brings us to the fact that he had no access to his wolf," I said, and I could see people were torn.

"This is ridiculous, alpha. How can I access my wolf if I had silver on?" He asked me, and I smiled at him.

"Will you agree to a rematch in full wolf form with both of you fully shifted before it begins?" I asked him, and one of the alphas there objected nicely.

"Councilman, we know Alpha Max is dear to you, but a loss is a loss. I do not think we should drag this issue. If alpha Max wants a rematch, he should return in six months, per the law. For now, the pack belongs to Alexei Kuznetsov," He said, and I kept my eyes trained on Alexie.

Even though what Alpha Timothy had said was true, I could not shake the feeling that Alexie would not want a rematch because Max was telling the truth.

I could not shake it off.

There was something in his eyes that screamed he cheated. I had gotten what I wanted.

How I would handle the matter was completely up to me.