Chapter 30

'I came here for your advice," I admitted truthfully, already tired of the consequences of my actions. 'Seraphina unexpectedly came back to the pack, making everything complicated as my heart…my heart belongs to someone else, and it's Liora. I don't have the slightest idea of what to do." Elder Marcus kept mute, sitting comfortably on his chair; he focused his sharp eyes on me, watching my every move keenly as I talked. 'From all I can remember, you are still very much engaged to Seraphina, or have you broken the engagement?" I simply nodded in affirmation, feeling that he was mocking my indecisiveness. 'I am, but yes and no. I am engaged to her lawfully, but I am not engaged to her with my heart. I came to you because it doesn't feel right or make sense anymore. Seraphina seemed to have changed; she came back remorseful, or maybe that's what she chose to show me, maybe to deceive me. But Liora, it has always been Liora, but I rejected her, but she still came back to rescue our pack when we were in trouble. She never considered all we subjected her to, but Seraphina's only here for what she would gain. My heart seems to be divided right now." Marcus let out a frustrated sigh, his fingers meticulously tracing the edge of the cup in his hand, in an attempt to control his temper. 'Your problem is your indecisive nature, Jaxon, it's one of the things that weakens you. That's the only reason I left without responding to you. A good leader has a stable heart; you cannot lead a pack with a confused and divided heart, and you, our Alpha, do not represent a good leader. You are easily manipulated by the pack you are leading, and even your feelings." His words hit me hard, hard to accept, but I knew even before he told me that they were true. I had been wrong all this while, paralyzed by my unstable emotions, and to crown it all, it disabled my ability to make a clear decision, and now, all I have worked for, everything that belongs to the pack, all were disappearing without control. 'But what are your suggestions, what should I do?" I asked in desperation, ready to do whatever would give me the peace I needed. 'How do I make the right choice?" Elder Marcus chuckled, his old eyes still fixed on me. He tried to talk softly but at the same time firmly. 'Even before you asked me, you already knew the right thing to do. You know the answer to your question, Jaxon. You've always known how to handle this, but you chose to ignore it. You allowed yourself, your responsibility to your pack, and your indecisiveness to bind you to Seraphina. And that's the only problem you have. It has succeeded in keeping you away from the Truth, from acknowledging your undying love for Liora." In frustration, I clenched my fists. 'So, all you are trying to say is that I'm supposed to break off my engagement to Seraphina? Not considering the consequences that would come with it?" Marcus in amusement, raised an eyebrow, shocked at my reply. 'Do you still go about confusing yourself and believing you are still lawfully engaged to Seraphina in your heart and not by duty? Or are you choosing to play along, an easy way to escape your reality, and live in darkness rather than confronting the bitter truth?" His question remained unanswered, as I knew he was right in all aspects. My engagement to Seraphina, right from that day on, e was never taken seriously. It was more of an obligation than a matter of the heart. Whatever connection we might have displayed in front of the pack members was all fake. But still, I clung to it as my life depended on it. I was afraid we might lose the ally, but as it stands now, we are not only going to lose the ally but there might be an outbreak of another battle. 'Liora is adamant about not having anything to do with me," I said in a low tone. 'She could decide to return to Night Howlers, where she was treated better and accepted. And in all, I don't blame her, it was all my fault." Marcus, after some minutes of silence, continued. 'Your mistakes started right on the night of the moon ceremony, Jaxon. But it's still not too late to right your wrongs and do right by the two women. If you desire to get Liora back, then do the right thing. But do go to her when you are not ready. She has suffered a lot and shouldn't be put through another. She deserves the best considering all she has done for the pack." 'How will you then handle Seraphina?" I asked in confusion. 'She came back to me, even after knowing that Liora was back. She's different now, Marcus; the Seraphina I knew before would have backed out; she believes in getting all she wants at all costs, not minding if she hurts anyone in the process. Marcus was already tired. 'You should have known by now that Seraphina is a master when it comes to manipulation. You are aware of this. She wasn't the type to give up without a fight, not give up easily; it's now left for you to make your choice, and the earlier you do that, the earlier, the better, Jaxon." I swallowed an invisible lump forming in my throat. 'So, what is the fair thing to do now?" Elder Marcus got up from his seat, walked slowly to the window, and stared in a lost manner at the forest beyond. 'The path to getting everything right all points at you, Jaxon. You are the one responsible for everything and should take the first step. But never forget this: you cannot lead by manipulating two hearts; your loyalties must be channeled appropriately to the right places. This pack won't condone having their leader indecisive in attending to matters. Choose, make your choice, but it must be the one who holds your heart. Do not consider the one who seeks nothing else but to only possess your heart, that's very dangerous." 'Thank you so much, Elder Marcus," I said in gratitude. The nodding of his head was enough to inform me that was the end of our conversations, as he continued facing the window. 'One last warning, Jaxon. Be very careful of Seraphina. She may be pretending for all I know. I don't think she's as helpless as she shows you, her type is very dangerous." With that in mind, I left Elder Marcus' cabin, but all he said was still fresh in my memory. I kept reflecting on them all, and I decided to make amends. I needed to meet Liora, to try winning her over, but I needed to do that after clearing my desk. Seraphina had been caging me in her mysterious web without my knowledge. I won't allow her to succeed in her mission. It was high time I stood up as the Alpha of this pack and made my choice. >>>>>>>>>>>>> Dragging both Seraphina and Liora into my web of indecisiveness won't end well for me and the pack as well. Elder Marcus was right, I have been the problem all along. My hesitation in making a decision has been the cause of everything and may lead to something disastrous if care is not taken. I have to trust that my heart is making the right decision for me and not allow the pack members, and mostly the members of the council, to dictate what I do. I can only take advice from Elder Marcus, and that's because he has proven to be different over the years, right from the time of my father. Liora, yes Liora. She was the chosen one. Even the Moon goddess made it so, but I was too blind, too ignorant to see it. She was the only one who challenged me, who brought out nothing but the best in me, the one who pushed me beyond my limit, to see and think beyond my weaknesses, and I see my future with her. Seraphina, when weighed on the same scale, had brought nothing but pain to me since she came into my life. Right from the engagement day, her presence made me not choose Liora. I forsake the one my heart longs for just to have Seraphina by my side, not for love but because of what her presence would do in our pack. Pretending to enjoy everything would only make me a coward; I have to face my demons and do right by my wrongs. With a heavy heart, I sent an urgent word to Seraphina, requesting that we meet privately for a meeting to have a discussion. I knew meeting her wasn't going to end well, but that's the best thing to do now. I can't leave her in the dark anymore. On her arrival, she never failed to command everyone around like a queen. It seems she has been taking Luna to be of the Silver Moon Pack too seriously lately. I watched in awe as she made the servants lie down for her to match her seat. It didn't end there, she ensured to place her legs on the back of one of the maids. Without a doubt, her beauty was radiating as always. If there was anything I chose Seraphina for, it was her beauty, but not her character. Seraphina was sure one of the most beautiful women I did cross paths with, but not until I beheld Liora; Seraphina was no match for her beauty; she's a goddess. When Seraphina settled on her seat, I watched as she curled her lips seductively; even in front of the servants, she was humiliating. I was speechless at her inhumane nature, so I decided to act. If I must learn to stand up as the Alpha and lead my pack well, I must as well stand from correcting the ill-treatment she was giving the servants. I commanded her to release the servants and never attempt such an act again. It took her by surprise at my outburst, as I never cared to interrupt her business before. And to crown it all, I demanded that she apologize to the servants before they leave. By this time, the servants were already shaking, maybe wondering what would become of them on their next encounter with her. 'Alpha Jaxon," she began in a sweet tone, hiding her anger in sugary words. She was trying to manipulate me with her sugary tone, 'What's that disrespect all about?"