Chapter Forty Three

CHRIS

I stood at the edge of the cliff, the words of the mage echoing constantly in my mind. His words had taken root in my mind, a haunting reminder of the fate that awaited me.

"Your death is near," the mage's voice echoed in my head. "You need to find a way to avert it from happening." the solution seemed simple in theory but the path to changing my fate was shrouded with uncertainty.

My mother, Maeve was always my pillar of support during these times, she was always by my side to comfort and encourage me. She reassured me that she would find a way to avert the fate that awaited me. But most times, I caught her in her chambers crying her eyes out as she cried out to the moon goddess for help.

"Chris," her voice broke through my reverie. "You've been lost in thought for days now, how are you holding up?" she said, her eyes holding a mix of concern and motherly warmth.

"I'm fine, Mother, I'm just trying to figure out a way to avert this ill fate that is about to befall me," I said, faking a faint smile. I was grateful to my mother for her unwavering support so far, I knew the heartbreak she felt even though she tried to hide it.

She placed a comforting hand on my arms. "You're strong, Chris. Remember that. And you have the pack's support, including mine," she said.

My gaze was fixed on the woods in the distance, a sense of determination flickering in my eyes. "I'm going to be fine, Mother. I'm not going to allow fear to dictate my destiny."

"Of course, you shouldn't let it dictate your future. You are the Alpha of this great pack and no harm will come to you, not under my watch," she said, her smile filled with pride.

That was all I needed, a support system to help me through the trying times. I knew that it was only a matter of time before everything would eventually fall into place, I knew this was a driving force to lead to who my father's true killer was.

As days turned into weeks, my will remained unshaken. I trained tirelessly, sharpening my skills in preparation for whatever challenges that lay ahead. I also prepared for the Alpha summit that drew closer and also for the rogue pack's next invasion. I still hadn't told anyone about the invasion and this was so because I didn't want to create an uproar among members of the pack and I knew it would also draw the attention of whoever the insider was that was leaking information to the rogues.

I was taking a walk in the pack when I was approached by Lothar. He had become my most trusted councilman and I didn't hesitate to reach out to him for any advice, besides he had been my father's right-hand man before his death.

"My lord," he said, bowing his head. "Your mother told me that you've been going through a rough phase for a while now. What is going on?"

I hesitated, the memory of the mage's words echoing in my mind again. "Don't trust anyone."

I trusted Lothar and valued his guidance but the mage's warning weighed heavily on me.

"My young Alpha, you don't have to face this alone," he said, his voice softening. "We are like a family and I'm here to support you."

My jaw tightened, I was torn between my instincts to trust Lothar and my commitment to the mage's advice. "I appreciate your help, Lothar but this is something I can handle on my own."

He stared at me, his gaze piercing through my defenses. "Very well then, just remember that secrets can be burdensome. Sometimes it is best to share your secrets, it gives you clarity," he said.

I watched as he turned to leave, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The choice between trust and secrecy weighed heavily on me, but I chose to believe that I made the right choice.

My intense training continued in the following weeks, my determination unwavering. I sought solace in the arms of my mate and most times in the woods, allowing the serenity of nature to calm my mind. The mage's words, the memory of my dreams, the forthcoming summit, and the attack that was soon to happen in the pack flooded my mind. I was choked up with so many responsibilities as the Alpha.

I still hadn't told anyone about the invasion that was soon to happen in the future because I knew it would cause an uproar among the pack members and I also knew that whoever was secretly helping the rogues in my pack would be aware of my knowledge and that would ruin the plan I and Lucy had made.

One evening, as I sat in the garden to enjoy the serenity of the atmosphere, the rustling sound of leaves, the chirping of birds, and the soft hoot of an owl caught my attention. I didn't notice when Lothar walked into the garden, his presence was unexpected but not unwelcome.

"I see that you've been training hard lately," he said, his voice gentle as always.

"Of course, I have to be ready for anything. My duty as the Alpha is to make sure my people are safe and I have to be ready to protect them," I responded.

"You have been avoiding me, Chris," Lothar said again.

I met his gaze and felt guilty, he was right. "I haven't meant to, Lothar. It's just......I can't talk about it right now."

"You now keep secrets from me. A heavy burden that weighs on your shoulder," he said approaching me. "You can always share that burden with me, I promised your father that I would be by your side to protect you."

I nodded, heaving a long sigh. "I know, but I can't discuss this with you. I will when the time of right, trust me," I said, hoping to keep his mind at bay.

I walked away from him with my heart filled with guilt. I had no other choice than to keep this secret away from him, no that I didn't trust Lothar enough but I had to obey the voice of the mage if I wanted to stay alive.