The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 207: Gratitude ()

A knock sounded on the door to Allen’s office and he glanced up from the file he had been working on.

"Come in." Allen permitted.

"Allen." Dionne greeted from the door as she stepped in.

"I was of the knowledge you had left for Dwarven territory again to handle some instructions from Lord Kodin." Allen asked with a raised brow.

"I returned a day ago. Can you at least pretend to be happy to see me and not eager to send me on my way already?" Dionne asked with a frown.

"You know that is not how I meant it, Dee. I adore you, surely you are aware of that...but these are critical times and the accord is still a fragile situation, we must be extra cautious." Allen reminded.

"I will leave soon, I only came to leave this, the dwarves presented some hefty terms they hope to achieve from the accords and benefits they want access to from the other domains. I have passed a copy on to Lord Kodin, this is for Alpha’s review." Dionne explained,

She placed a file down on Allen’s desk, beside an ever growing heap of files that were all meant for Zariah.

Allen stared at the heap, breathing a sigh as he adjusted the file Dionne had left so it was neatly arranged.

"How much longer till a month is up? I grow weary of this tension and all these files...far beyond my duties, I did not sign up to be Alpha." Allen grumbled beneath his breath.

"And I grow weary of being unable to guard by Alpha’s side, as is my duty." Dionne also expressed her discontent.

"Dionne, you know well enough that you have only been recently mated with Kaileen and already having to come with us out of the barrier, Zariah worries..." Allen comforted Dionne with a sigh.

"I just feel she keeps growing distant from us, from me... like she fears something would surely happen to me if I stick too closely by her side. She keeps us all at arms length, but especially me."

"I fear she intends to force me into other duties so I do not stay by her side at all times, I am the only one amongst us whose sole duty is guarding at her side and she has intently kept me otherwise occupied all these months. It has never been this way before, I do not know how to cope with it." Dionne admitted. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Zariah has her own worries, all we can do is trust in her. Darren knows to stick close, I know you feel responsible that Zariah was hurt and you were not by her side, but this is her own wish."

"I will review the files and take any actionable steps for the time. The rest will be decided by Zariah on her return. Pay her a visit before you leave, you both need that." Allen said to Dionne.

Dionne breathed a quiet sigh but she nodded her head.

"Also, The Alpha King wishes to see you and Nile both. He is out in the courtyard and asked me to inform you." Dionne relayed.

"King Askel? Whatever for?" Allen asked with a raised brow.

Dionne shrugged casually to indicate she also had no idea.

"I do not like him by any means but at the least, if Alpha had chosen to remain with him, she would be here with us and not out with humans." Dionne grumbled.

Allen chuckled quietly at Dionne’s words, shaking his head slightly.

"Convey the information to Nile and go about your duties. Everything will naturally fall into place in time." Allen assured Dionne.

"I sure do hope so. Fighting is the only thing I am good at, I am not cut out for being an envoy to those greedy, half length creatures..." Dionne grumbled.

"Dwarves, Dee...do not be so harsh. If this is how unfriendly you are to them, I can see why they would be opposed to the accord." Allen chided halfheartedly.

"I have to bend over almost halfway to go through their halls and the ceiling of the guest quarters stares me right in the face. I am doing my very best to be nice already. I cannot do any better than this." Dionne deadpanned.

Allen stared after her incredulously, chuckling beneath his breath.

Allen returned his attention to the file on his desk for a moment longer before Nile arrived.

"I heard from Dionne, what is it that he could want?" Nile asked Allen.

"Surely something to do with Zariah." Allen replied.

"I should think so. We knew he would come to us one day or the next... took him long enough, deciding to perform a disappearing act at such a time." Nile murmured, still dissatisfied by Askel’s recent disappearance.

Allen hummed in agreement, setting aside the file he was working on, he got up to his feet and followed Nile out to the courtyard.

It did not take too long before they met King Askel who stood, leaning against a tree with his eyes shut.

Askel’s eyes came open just as they were within range and Nile and Allen lowered their heads slightly to a bow of respect.

Askel inclined his head too, returning the gesture of respect.

"Your Grace wanted to see us, I presume it is related to our Alpha." Allen spoke first.

Askel nodded slightly as he stood up straight.

"But first, I would like to express my gratitude. Lucas has informed me of your timely assistance." Askel said to the crimson wolves.

"There will be no cause for that, we would prefer to be seen as uninvolved, we are not here to interfere in matters of governance and internal conflicts, as such, our assistance can be said to not have happened. It would be unsightly to have our sources traced for the information we have shared." Allen replied in a serious tone.

"I understand the position of the crimson Moon very well, and that it shows no favours or ties to the governing power but to the people instead."

"Even so, I am thankful...as Alpha King, it is difficult to admit but I will not hide the fact that my people would be in a bind otherwise, as would I." Askel said.

Nile and Allen exchanged a look before they lowered their heads.

"Your gratitude is well received. Seeing as Your Grace has made no moves on your end, we can assume you have a plan for the rest of it?" Allen asked.

Allen had not heard the information they had provided to Lucas being used to clear Askel’s name and so he had assumed there was more.

"I will take care of it on my end." Askel assured.