The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 183: Too Hard ()

"Well...he does seem nice." Kaileen said casually, making a half hearted attempt to break the silence.

The awkward silence dragged on for a moment longer, everyone in the hall still reeling from what Zariah had just said and done.

"I do not know, he looks kind of fake to me... something about him is just... disturbing." Nile responded, clearly opposed to how things had turned out.

Zariah passed Nile a subtle look, taking note of his displeased expression.

The Spirit Guide had always been the most sensitive amongst them.

Perhaps because of his ties to the Creator and spirituality, or perhaps he was just sensitive by nature but Nile had always been the first to find Caedmon suspicious.

Back in the previous lifetime and even now once again, his words were astonishingly similar.

’There is just something about him that was disturbing.’

Zariah recalled Nile had said these exact words to her on that very day Caedmon mysteriously got past the Crimson barrier.

Nile could always tell immediately when someone was not being their true self, Zariah had been the only gullible one.

"That was... painful to witness." Kristen admitted.

"If even I feel like this, I cannot imagine how Askel feels at the moment." Lord Kodin agreed.

Zariah winced visibly at that, she did not dare imagine what was going through Askel’s mind at the moment she had said those words and even now, Zariah did not dare imagine it at all.

"Zariah, are you certain about this? I cannot help but feel you were a little too hard on King Askel... breaking things to him so... directly." Darren said in concern.

"It sounded like one step below a blatant rejection." Allen deadpanned.

"I agree. You did not need to be so harsh on Askel, Zariah. The lad has every right to be unsettled by this situation as it was just as unexpected to him as it is to everyone else." Lord Kodin agreed.

"Unless of course...a rejection was infact your intention." Lord Kodin added as an after thought.

All eyes settled on Zariah again, as though trying to pry into her head and read through her thoughts so they understood just exactly was going through her mind.

Zariah bit down on her lip, she had been so focused on carrying out her plot, she had forgotten she had just shown a strange side of herself to her confidants.

A side of Zariah they were not yet acquainted with and Zariah was not at all surprised at their disapproval.

How could they know that Zariah was not the same as they knew her to be? After facing a death as gruesome as she had and such a cruel fate, how could anyone still be the same?

Zariah was now one who was willing to give up on anything and anyone if it meant she could protect the Crimson Moon...even if that person was King Askel.

"If I was not so hard, Askel would never agree to it. Left to him alone, he will behead Caedmon and face the wrath of the Ethereal Alphas even if it ruins him in the process." Zariah said quietly.

"While I understand his position, the both of us bear titles and responsibilities of great consequence, we are not in any position to place our personal affairs in the way of unifying the realms."

"And we surely cannot let our feelings become a reason for discord here in the Ethereal domain..." Zariah paused for a moment.

"The Royal Lycan Pack has long been the chosen leader of the realms. This is where the unification begins, and this is a critical time when the war between two domains have just been prevented, we cannot afford to make any mistakes."

"We cannot afford to provide any justification for strife at this moment, especially not here in the Ethereal domain."

"I have my purpose for leaving the Crimson barrier at the forefront of my mind and if it means I have to...go against my heart at times, I will do it...as cruelly as I have to." Zariah clarified.

Zariah did not try to conceal the fact that the words she had said to hurt Askel had been just as painful for her to say as they had been for Askel to hear.

Even if she had tried to hide it, everyone in this hall knew her well enough to be able to see through her facade.

"You truly are your father’s daughter... shouldering such great responsibility at a young age but still so objective when everyone else would easily lose control, you are everything a leader should be." Lord Kodin commended with a quiet sigh of understanding.

Zariah was not certain if Lord Kodin’s words were meant in a good way or in a bad way, but she did not dwell on it.

"So it is settled then? You will keep a distance from Askel for the next month and only focus on Alpha Caedmon?" Allen asked to be certain.

"I need the Ethereal Council and the Ethereal Alphas to see and understand that this was made as fair to all parties as was possible." Zariah replied with a nod.

"If this is your decision Zari, you have my complete support. I am fully aware of just how deeply you care for King Askel, you would not make such a decision that hurts you both if it was not for a good reason." Lord Melven asserted.

Zariah passed Lord Melven a grateful look and Lord Melven smiled reassuringly.

"Whatever it is you intend to do, if there is anything I can do to help you, you need only say the word. Every resource at my disposal is yours." Lord Melven continued.

"King Treyton and Princess Shariah also send their greetings. They were delighted to hear you have regained consciousness and have asked me to assure you of their complete support in all regards." Lord Melven added.

"I will certainly keep this in mind." Zariah said with a nod.