The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 216: Fate’s Direction ()
"Zari." Caedmon called Zariah, a small smile on his lips as he handed her a small purple flower.
Zariah raised a brow, accepting the flower, she lifted it to her nose slightly, and then she hummed quietly. Though she was not necessarily into flowers, but when it came to Caedmon, this was just how he expressed his definition of affection.
"It does smell good." Zariah said, nodding her head in approval.
Caedmon’s smile converted into a wide grin as he flopped down to a seat beside Zariah on a swing.
The wooden swing creaked slightly from the added weight but it held and resumed swaying steadily in a moment.
"What do you think of this place?" Caedmon asked Zariah, gesturing around to the flower meadow.
Caedmon had taken Zariah out to a meadow on the outskirts of the Ethereal domain, it was quite further than they would usually go but Zariah knew with the month rounding up, Caedmon was putting in his best efforts.
"It is beautiful." Zariah said with a nod,
She glanced around for a brief moment for Caedmon’s benefit before she returned her attention to the book in her hand.
Zariah truly was not in the mood to be out. It had already been a few days since what happened with Askel and Zariah just could not get back to being herself.
Try as she might to act as though everything was alright and she was unaffected, Zariah just could not do it.
These days, her mind was ridden with unease and Zariah was not even certain as to why.
It was not that Zariah expected to have no worries, she did have a lot of that. It was only that Zariah prided herself in her ability to manage her worries and at this moment, she could not tell which burdened her so.
Was it about the strange item and its unknown relation to Askel? Or was it about Askel himself and his well being after the exchange they had?
The Crimson wolves had been by the inn more frequently and Zariah heard no word of Askel. Askel had also made no attempts to contact her since it had happened.
It seemed Askel had finally come to terms with Zariah’s decision by her words on that day and the mere thought of the words she had even said left Zariah feeling devastated and deeply guilty.
Zariah was not certain what she could do at this point but keep her focus on what was most important at this point...her goals.
"You seem lost in thoughts." Caedmon’s words drew Zariah out of her thoughts.
"Hmm?" Zariah asked absentmindedly.
"You have been on the same page since we got here, Zari. You read much faster than that, clearly you have barely read a single line with all the staring you have been doing." Caedmon called Zariah out.
Zariah chuckled quietly, nodding her head to admit he was right. She closed the book up and placed it aside.
"Care to share your thoughts with me?" Caedmon asked Zariah.
"It is nothing I wish to burden you with." Zariah replied with a dismissive shake of her head.
"Have you considered the fact that I am willing to be burdened?" Caedmon asked Zariah quietly
"With the peace accords threatened by the current state of unrest, things may become more tasking than we have expected... I have been thinking of ways, but I cannot come up with anything seeing as Crimson Moon is not at liberty to get involved." Zariah said to Caedmon quietly.
"I understand... how difficult this might be for you. And the Alpha King has yet to make any relevant moves to quell the situation before it aggravates further. Even on our end, the Ethereal Alphas are in a state of unrest." Caedmon said in agreement.
"Perhaps he has his own difficulties. How much can one truly do when accusations are directed at you so suddenly? Rogues keep turning up dead and somehow Askel is the culprit." Zariah murmured.
"Do you still believe they are just accusations?" Caedmon asked Zariah.
Zariah glanced over at Caedmon, her brows furrowed slightly.
"I know you wish to trust him because of what he is to you. I would also want you to do the same for me...but if truly he is not guilty, why is he yet to even summon the Ethereal Alphas and discuss measures? Why has he chosen to be completely silent and even out of sight?" Caedmon asked.
"Some even speculate the Alpha King is no longer on Royal Lycan territory, that he fled once the truth about him was exposed. Should he not come forward at this time to dispute it?" Caedmon continued.
Zariah frowned slightly, while Caedmon’s words sounded reasonable, she knew better than to believe they were said out of concern for the domain.
Even without her heightened senses, Zariah could smell Caedmon’s ulterior motives from miles away, and his subtle attempts to try and turn her against King Askel.
’Could the ultimate goal have changed?’ Zariah wondered.
Perhaps Caedmon was no longer to begin with her and the Crimson Moon, but with the Royal Lycan pack instead.
"I do not say this because I doubt him... I just worry about the predicament you will be faced with if this continues as it is. I worry because I love you..." Caedmon said and then he trailed off.
Zariah paused at those words, staring at Caedmon with a raised brow.
Caedmon lifted a hesitant gaze to Zariah, a nervous look in his eyes.
"There, I said it. It has been on my mind for the longest time and I did not think I would end up saying it like this, but now that I have... I will not be taking it back. I love you, Zariah and I mean it." Caedmon said to Zariah earnestly, his eyes searching hers.
Zariah was about to speak but Caedmon shook his head quickly.
"Do not give me an answer now, give me an answer when it is time to make your decision. The month will be up in a few days and I know you will need time alone to decide...as agreed, I will leave for a short time and return to my pack to see to the urgent duties."
"But when I return, I hope to hear your decision..." Caedmon said quietly.
’He was leaving? Even with just a few days left to convince her?’ Zariah thought.
She was not silly enough to believe Caedmon was actually returning to his pack for urgent business like he claimed. So what was it exactly?
’In what direction is fate headed this time?’ Zariah wondered.
