The Alpha's Blind Fate
Chapter 52: Goodbyes

Chapter 52: Goodbyes

ZINA

Early morning of the awaited day began with much bustling activity about Zina. The retinue for her journey to the GreenLands began to assemble even before the sun had peeked out.

Seraph was running about, ensuring that they didn’t forget anything they might need. Although Zina found it to be time wasting... they couldn’t possibly need much would they?

Twenty people were accompanying her against her wishes. Zina had tried to ensure that the numbers were far smaller, but Eldric had insisted that the ’Theta needed more protection’. A sentiment that Zina rolled her eyes at.

So Zina had ended up with two Temple Knights, Ablanch, Seraph, four men from the Special Werewolf Army that Eldric commanded including Xalea Borne, four Epsilons that Zina discovered secretly worked for Lykom Lupus, Alpha Prince Falcon and six of his pack members.

As they were readying to leave, Falcon approached her and said in a whisper. "I thought you said it would be just me, Warrior Ablanch, and the Temple knights?"

Zina too was surprised with the development... although not too surprised. She never pegged Eldric as one who would bother to lend her people from his much coveted Special Werewolf Army, but she supposed he was only trying to keep up with the appearance of a magnanimous Alpha King. Except his magnanimity was interfering with Zina’s desires to travel light and fast.

Of course, in Xalea Borne’s case, it would seem as though Eldric’s intent was clear. But Zina was in doubt of the so-called assassination plan.

Why did she feel like there was a whole story she was missing out on?

"Your brother worries for my safety," Zina answered, trying hard to keep the sarcasm bubbling within her from her voice. "This development too is surprising for me. However rest assured that no matter what, I am still determined to see we reach the GreenLands within seven days. You say it is possible, no?"

When Zina had first journeyed from the east to the Arctic North, the journey had taken not less than two weeks. But that was different, this time around she was determined to ride night and day without much rest. She could handle a lot of things, but the suspense that came from being on the road for too long a time was one thing she couldn’t stomach.

"It is possible." Falcon answered grimly. "Even if our company tries to slow us down, I shall be determined to make sure you reach there on time and unscathed."

Zina smiled perfunctorily. "Thank you, Alpha Falcon. I am truly grateful for your help."

"You do not have to thank me, Zina." He said in a voice low enough that only both of them could hear. "I shall protect you well. I will not allow the banished prince to lay his hands on you."

Only if Falcon knew that Daemon was far from the reason why she had enlisted his help. Either way, Zina shot him a smile of gratitude before Seraph came up to her side, leaning to whisper in her ears.

"Theta," she spoke in a slightly panicked voice. "The North Heralder sent us a message."

Zina excused herself from Falcon’s presence as she and Seraph walked to a secluded corner.

"North?" Zina repeated. As far as she knew, North was the spy sent to investigate the mysterious person who had spied on Seraph’s conversation with the tales man. However, since that time they hadn’t heard back from him.

Zina had been slightly worried, but given the nature of North’s job, it was normal for him to go silent for a long time. But that didn’t keep her from worrying as the two weeks to their departure rolled by.

"What does the message say?" She inquired in the face of Seraph’s silence.

In a whisper, the maidservant explained. "The letter was bloodied. I think he sent it in a hurry. There were only two words engraved on it. ’WolfKnight. Matriarchy."

Zina stood stunned. Of all vague messages she had received, that one had to be the winner.

Her pack surname, and the name of the notorious women only pack being in the same letter made absolutely no sense.

The WolfKnights were in the East, while the Matriarchy Pack was stationed in the Mountains.

"The letter was bloodied? Do you think North is dead?" Zina inquired.

"I would not know." Seraph answered in a voice laden with worry. "but he must not have had the chance to convey a proper message."

The same worry took over Zina as her hand crept up to caress the mark nestled between her shoulders and neck. Unlike Central, the guild’s assassin, North wasn’t much of a fighter instead he was their best at information gathering.

Knowing that her mind would only wander deeper into dark places, Zina shook off her worry. For now, getting to the GreenLands was the most important thing.

"Central still wasn’t able to find an opening, right?" Zina changed the topic, asking a question that had been the center and fore of her worries for two weeks.

Central was the heralder who had been tasked with taking down Lykom Lupus. A former war veteran from the war against the Rogues, Central’s mind was no longer as it used to be. Even though he was a Lycan Shifter, he usually forgot himself most times as the cruelty he saw at the war front split his personality into two.

Sometimes, he was a thirty year old man, waiting for his wife to come back home before the war against the Arising Rogues ravaged. The other times, he was a thirty-three year old man who had lost his wife and was fighting the war against the Arising Rogues to assuage the hate and rage he felt against them for taking away his wife.

Zina honestly didn’t like using the man. But eliminating Lykom Lupus was a decision all the five heralders had arrived at as necessary. And Central, true to an enforcer’s fashion, pressed more for it.

For eliminating Lykom Lupus could easily equate to eliminating the people he must have commanded to do the job.

"Central still wasn’t able to get an opening last night." Seraph said as Zina had expected. Word had it that Lupus was in the palace, with the Alpha King throughout the night.

In fact, Lupus hardly left the palace the last two weeks hence why Central had been unable to engage, talk more of succeeding in the attempt of taking the man’s life as was their plan. At some point, Central had grown antsy, wanting to burst into the palace and commit the deed... but Zina had been vehemently against it.

While it was true that most assassination attempts against her happened in the palace, that was in part due to the negligence of the Epsilons guarding the palace and insider foul play. It wouldn’t be the same for Lupus, as such invading the palace to take Lupus’ life would only result in Central’s demise no matter how powerful his wolf is.

"There’s no need anymore," Zina said in a distant voice, glad that she had at least acquired the help of the Temple and Alpha Falcon in the journey to the GreenLands. "The die has been cast. Central is to stand down permanently... soon, we will see where this road leads."

To the underworld? Definitely. It was only a matter of just how hot it would be. Would it burn like a candlelight? Or would it burn like an inferno?

"Theta, Beta Moorim approaches." Seraph whispered with a sense of urgency.

Zina whipped her head to the sound of distinguishable footsteps walking towards her. She actually thought the man had been away, when ever did he come back?

"Theta Zina." Moorim greeted, and Zina replied with a small bow.

"Beta Moorim." She greeted back as she sensed Seraph backing away to give them some privacy.

Privacy that Zina certainly didn’t need.

"I’ve come to bid you farewell and wish you a safe journey." Moorim said with a suspicious air of melancholy.

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