The Dark Side Of Fate

~Tamia~

Stephanie was into the Croquet game we were watching, and I wished Avery and Linda had followed us, but they wanted to remain in our official booth for reasons best known to them.

Dominic had stylishly joined us, but we did not need to guess why he was with us and not with his brother. Katya seemed utterly enthralled by him, and he wasn't different. It was so deep that Stephanie and I left the booth, and they did not notice.

"I want some sweet pop corn," Stephanie said, and my mouth began to salivate.

"That would be yummy,” I said, stopping at a cotton candy stall. I helped myself to the strawberry- flavoured variation, and the vendor refused to take my money.

He treated me with respect, and my heart fluttered.

"Have you heard about the new move by the sneaky council?" Stephanie asked me, taking a bit of my candy and grimacing at the level of sweetness.

"What move?" I asked her, feeling happy.

William had called me and told me he was rounding the people up and taking them to the warehouse. I was too eager because the meeting would be in two days.

"Some alphas raised a petition, and many people have signed it. They are trying to dissolve the lordship," she said, and I wondered why she would say it was the council members. Clearly, the alphas did it of their own volition.

"Why would you think the council is behind this?" I asked her, and she scrunched her nose.

She had gotten some candy on her nose, but her warm, slightly sweaty skin had melted it.

"The petition puts the council in charge of everything while each region would have a council of alphas led by a governor, similar to what you practice in the east,” she said.

We found a bench to sit on.

Stephanie called on to a child and handed him money to buy us popcorn and something for himself.

The moment the boy left, she leaned against the backrest and looked ahead with a frown folding her arms.

"The Volkovs were royalty before it became a lordship.

This council was formed because of the tyranny of Maurice's forefather, Eddard. It was an excellent way to keep the royal bloodline in check.

The council helped the lord remain on course and fought for people's rights.

They helped to question the lord and make sure he was fair to the people, but the lord was still like a king.

He owns and rules everything.

Devin Corrigan might have revolted, but Sylvester still rules all four regions.

His decree must be upheld in all regions, or it will be seen as treasonous. The leading alpha of each region is like a representative of the lord and must bow to the lord's command; that is why there is always competition for prominence in every region. One you are conversant with since you helped your ex-husband rise to power.

They are to rule the region and keep it in check according to the lord's will.

That is the order.

Sylvester is lenient, so they have this false notion of sovereignty, but they remain under him; that is something your ex-husband respects and keeps to it,” she said and sighed, then unfolded her hand and brushed something off her jeans.

"This petition obliterates the lordship and renders Sylvester powerless. It will place the council in charge and leave the lordship as an honorary position and nothing more, banning the royal families from interfering or making decisions that have to do with governance.” She said and looked at me. "Who is benefiting from that arrangement?” she asked, and I knew the answer.

"Not the stupid alphas, but the council. The council is the one benefitting from that arrangement, and to show you how eager they are, they shifted the hearing to the day after tomorrow instead of waiting until after the games,” she said, looking worried.

Wanting to tease her, I pretended I did not know and proffered a solution.

"In that case, Sylvester can take up the Balyaev seat," I said, and she looked at me, eyes widened. "Luis and Jenny Lawrence are dead. No one knows of the agreement I made with them. That could work," she said, but she wasn't happy because being head of the council wasn't the same as being a lord.

I placed my hand on her thigh and gestured that she calmed down.

"We are on it, Stephanie. Do not trouble your gentle heart," I said, and she frowned.

"The hearing would take place tomorrow, but they won't get what they want,” I said, and she relaxed a bit.

"Have you all figured out the person that caused the attack on Brighton and framed Dominic?" she asked eagerly.

"I believe it is the same person doing this," she said, and I shook my head.

"Not yet, but we want to take out Pamela Rivers and Joan Clayman. They have done enough,” I said, and her eyes darkened.

"Those bitches are nothing but whores. I wouldn't be surprised if Maurice fucked them. If he didn't, I am sure Gavin, Lucas, or maybe three of them might have. They are just sore that Sylvester, Theodore and Marcel rejected their daughters. After studying all they have done and how I heard they behaved during the few hearings against Sylvester and Dominic, I have concluded that they might be a part of it," she said, and I agreed

The women had acted too suspiciously for them to be exonerated.

"Sylvester plans to unseat them. I guess he will do it after the petition hearing,” I said, and she shook her head.

"He should do it now," she said, afraid we might not win the hearing, but I knew we would.

"There is no need to panic, Stephanie,” I said and just then, the boy she sent for the popcorns returned. He also seemed excited.

"What took you so long?" Stephanie said, and the boy gigged.

"Sir Orlov was beating a man that was disturbing his wife in front of the turkey sandwich stall,” the boy said, and Stephanie and I got up immediately.

I was so worried for Linda that I began to panic. I just hoped she did not accidentally come off as flirtatious to anyone.

Holding our popcorn, we headed to the place.

I was surprised to see Sylvester calming Theo down; it looked like something explosive had happened. I rushed to where they were.

"What happened here?" I asked them and was shocked to learn that Kyle had tried to talk to Linda. The nerve.

Linda was so excited telling me how Theo beat the crap out of Kyle, and I was amazed. I wondered why she came to the stall alone, but I kept the question to myself, seeing a bit of mayonnaise at the corner of her lips.

We returned to our primary booth, and I was surprised to see that Marcel had done the same thing to Max.

I wondered when those two idiots would learn. How could they, in their twisted minds, think Avery and Linda will leave the life they have now and go back to the hell they gave them? It was delusional, and I began to fear for their mental health. There was no doubt that they were mentally unstable after learning all they had done to their wives, but they should learn from Leo and let go. We returned home early, and Sylvester was a bit nervous about the hearing that had suddenly moved up. I told him to relax, but he was nervous. It showed all over him

"I think I have been too damn lenient. They wouldn't have tried this with my father,” He said, and as sad as it was, he was telling the truth.

The people needed a firm hand. Everyone thought they could piss all over him.

First, it was the forged letters, then my poisoning, Dominic's set up, and now this. The earlier we started catching people, the better for us.

Gezel was yet to lead us anywhere, but Kappa Wilson was asked to stay on her. We hope to catch a break.

"I agree with you, Sylvester. This may seem a bit wrong. But when this petition thing is over, we should make some changes to the council after we remove those women from the seats they occupy. The council members are old, and Vino is young and seems not to want to cross anyone. You should put him in check. If he can't do the job, he should let us know so we can place someone else. It is time he starts taking responsibility for the actions and inactions of the council as their leader, or he should vacate the seat for a more capable person,” I said. Sylvester pulled me close and buried his nose in my neck.

He was distraught, and I could feel it. His love bite on my inner thigh tingled, and I could feel the tension he needed to dissipate.

"We can't work against the Lawrence now; they are our strongest ally on the council

Vino's need for my friendship has always made him side with us. Asking him to step down would mean I would not have an ally on the council,” he said, and I turned to look at him.

"As much as I know this isn't the time, I think it is time to get Dominic on Balyaev's seat," I said, and he broke away and shook his head.

"I know Dominic might have come around in your eyes, but I do not trust him to make good decisions. Especially with Glenda still in his life.

He has not been able to stand up to her and break away; how will he be able to handle the council? Vino is still doing a good job compared to him. See how Larry used him.

I would be empowering a tool my enemies can use against me,” He said, and I could see his point. He sat on the bed, and I kneeled behind him to massage his neck and shoulders. He needed to relieve his body from the tension he was feeling. I helped him take off his shirt, and he flexed his muscles, making me run my palms against his perfectly sculpted body on instincts. I went in front of him and straddled him. As much as I wanted to relieve him of his tension, I wanted to enjoy it too Sylvester woke me up gently. I passed out after the multiple orgasms.

I looked at the clock, and it was seven in the evening.

He kissed my neck, and I moaned, waking up fully.

"William called, darling. He said they have all their wives and some of their children. They are in a secured location.” he said, and I got off the bed immediately and wore my house robe.

"I will need to use the computer in your office; I hope it has a Virtual Private Network installed on it," I said, and he nodded.

"Is your subscription active?" I asked, and he smiled.

"Always," he replied.

"Good. Leave this to us," I said and Linked Avery and Linda to join me in the home office.

It was time to send our darling Alphas the instructions they needed to get their mates back unharmed.

Linda and Avery got to the office simultaneously, and they were excited. They had yet to tell me what happened with their exes, but this was important.

"You reek of Sylvester, Tamia," Linda complained, and I laughed.

I passed out after making love and did not shower before coming to the office; of course, I reeked of him, and 1 liked it.

"I thought it was only me that picked the strong scent,” Avery said, and Linda shook her head. "Let's get to work," I told them, and they were happy.

"We are to create temporary emails and send them letters instructing them on what to do, but we must not make it seem like it came from the Volkovs," I said, and Linda nodded.

"It should come from the west. Let us request ridiculous amounts of money. It can come from any part of the west except, Jake Brighton's territory,” I said, and Avery frowned.

"Don't you think Jake's people would need money the most?" She asked me, and I sighed.

I remembered my poisoning. I did not pursue the matter because I wanted peace and did not want the peace we had established with our visit to be destroyed.

"Remember how sick I was when we returned?” I said, and Avery nodded.

"There was poison in my system, and I think one of his children or his Nephew did it; how best to hurt the wolf lord by trying to kill his mate. I believe I was lucky I couldn't keep anything down and kept throwing up. It saved my life. Only a little of whatever they put in my food got into my bloodstream." I said, and she was stunned.

"Why didn't they poison me? We ate the same food,” She said, and I shook my head.

"We did not use the same plates. I am not sure, but I think the poison was on the utensils, not the food. Or maybe it was water or juice I was served in the bedroom. Either way, someone wanted to hurt Sylvester by hurting me." I said, and she was in shock.

To think she would have died if they had opted to feed her the same poison must have scared her. My pregnancy symptoms had saved my life.

Avery had no issues, so she would have kept everything down, and it would have gone into her bloodstream.

"What is Sylvester doing about it?" She asked, sounding a bit annoyed and feeling betrayed.

"I did not let him dwell on the matter. What happened in Brighton isn't a mystery, Ave; what is happening now is a mystery. We need to figure out the people working against our men. As for Jake's children, I know they did it because of what happened to their mother. They were trying to get even. We know them and their reasons. We can catch them anytime, but the person who authorised the attack on Brighton and framed Sylvester then, Dominic, is very dangerous. We need to catch that person, so they don't do much damage.” I said, and I could see motivation in their eyes.

We got to work contacting the alphas anonymously and instructing them on what to do if they wanted their mates back.