Chapter 122

122 Closing Conflicts

Aesop.

We arrived at Neev within an hour. Mike was good with the helicopter, and I figured he

might have been the one flying Luke and Caleb about the place. I was not looking forward

to revisiting Neev. That was where I lost my Chloe. That was where my life took a turn for

the worst. I have had sweet memories there, but it also took those memories from me. I

met my late wife and current wife there, and the memories were still fresh.

The helicopter touched down at the hotel we would stay at, and I hesitated. What will the

people think when they see me? I had almost erased the place out of anger. I knew I had

some fences to mend and apologies to tender in Neev, especially to the former Alpha,

whom I almost destroyed thinking he had a hand in Chloe's murder. I owed the man an

apology, and I knew my apologies would not change the past or fix the damage, but he

needed to know I was sorry.

Knowing who the culprit was, I felt like a bully. I had really wronged the territory.

"Father, let's go inside," Luke said, and I smiled at him. He was only two-years-old years

old when the atrocity happened. He was oblivious of the loss that had befallen him, and I

wished I was him in those moments. I wished I was naive and did not have to feel the pain

of loss. Although he had her eyes, his soul wasn't haunted by her demise because he

never knew her, so he never knew what it was like. He was more likely to feel Stacy's

death than his mother's. However toxic the relationship between the two was, I knew he

cared for her. That was why he kept her secret when she told him she was being

blackmailed, and that was why he did not kill Monica. He did it more for Stacy than for his

brother. If he did not care for Stacy, he would not love Caleb.

Thinking of Stacy, I knew I was unfair to her. I expected so much from her. I felt she was a

step down from Chloe; no matter how hard she tried, she was never good enough. I was

always quick to point out her flaws and her mistakes. I never took the time to know her well

enough to appreciate what I had. I knew she loved me completely, and I took it for granted.

Had I known about her past, I would have put aside my pain and devoted myself wholly to

her. I remembered how I would scold and embarrass her in public. It was easy for me to

throw her out, and I hated myself for it. I did all that because I knew she would always

come back. Somehow I was too confident to believe that she could leave me. How could I

expect her to love my son when I showed her little love. I watched Tia with Paul in the few

days he was with us; she genuinely loved him. It was easy for the girl because Luke

showed her complete devotion. I put Stacy in competition with Chloe's ghost and damaged

her. I felt she was weak and unwise. I saw her as a trophy wife, a pretty face with nothing

to offer. Yet she was a strong woman.

Deep down. She endured so much pain, abuse and humiliation from a young age and still

had the strength to open her heart and love me. She lived afraid all her life because of

Regan, yet she hid it from me and was there to comfort, please, and love me. Whenever I

needed her, she was there.

When I became insecure about her activities, she stopped going out, and I know she lost

her friends. The truth was I did not deserve Stacy. Yes, she lashed out and did some

horrible things, but her life would have been easier if she had listened to Regan and killed

Luke and me. Yet she endured the blackmail and fear and refused to kill us. What I do to

Regan will be my gift to her. Once all this is over, I will mend our relationship and love her

with all my heart. I will no longer put her in Chloe's shadow or make her feel less. I will

copy Luke and Caleb and love my mate the way they love theirs, especially Luke. No

matter how hot his temper gets, he remained cool with Tia. He was a complete fool for her,

and his reward was bliss. Stacy and I deserved that kind of life, too, and I was ready to

give it to her. Now that I was in Neev, I was ending everything that had to do with Chloe

and focusing on a future with Stacy. To do this, I will have to visit Ummul. I needed to tell

her that I never cheated on her niece and That things she believed were wrong. Amirah

needs to know that I would give the company to Luke regardless. I just wanted that gold

digging Elisabeth out of his life before I did it. They needed to understand my actions, and

Since Luke knew the truth, I wanted him with me when I visited them.

We walked into the hotel, and just, as usual, it was flooded with pretty women from Dome.

Looking at them, all I could think of was Regan. There was a possibility they were his girls.

I would not be surprised. The bastard was sick; the fact that he would pimp his wife, whom

he loved and was jealous about, to people for personal gains was sick. When I saw his

broadcast, I knew he was mad about Stacy leaving him. He did not expect that she would

switch sides so quickly, but how could he expect someone he drove so much fear into to

love him? He loved her in his own way and wanted her back but too bad for him, I wasn't

letting go. I love her too, and my love is dangerous.

"Let us check into our room, and Luke and I will visit his cousin and grandaunt," I said, and Luke looked

at me, surprised at my words.

"Yes, Luke. I need to fix that relationship. Amirah should be in your life. Chloe would have wanted that."

I said to him, and he nodded. He did not argue with me, which meant he was looking forward to it.

The receptionist told me that the former Alpha and current Alpha were coming to pay their respects. I

told her to send them to our Suite once they arrive.

We took a suite. I wanted to be in the same space with my boys. I did not trust Regan, and I suspected

the girls in the hotel might be working for him. The Suite was decent, and I noticed Caleb was excited.

"Why are you giddy, son?" I asked him, and he beamed at me. He was still the naughty little boy that

used to run around the hallway pretending to be a superhero. I was glad he turned out well.

"I can't wait to see you give it to that bastard!

Once we are done with him, we can move on with our lives. I would not have to fret for Kimberly and

Emma's safety anymore. My mother will have peace, and so will Luke and Tia. The entire Woodclaw

Island will have peace. That bastard is a menace, and he picked the wrong Alpha to mess with." He

said to me, and my heart was lifted. My son held me in such high regard. He was confident that

Regan's death was a given. Luke was satisfied, too, and their confidence boosted mine.

We settled in, and five Dome girls brought dessert and sweets from the hotel. From how they were

dressed, they were not here to deliver the sweets; they were auditioning. Somehow they reminded me

of the first time I met Stacy. She had come to my room to ask me if I needed anything. She knew she

was beautiful, and she was using it. I felt shitty that I went to stay in a separate hotel without Chloe, but

Ummul and Chloe were killing me slowly. I needed the space. She was cute and wanted me to sleep

with her for money. She looked desperate, so I did not kick her out like the others. I was glad I asked

her what the matter was. My heart broke when I learned about her problem, and I decided to help her

with no strings attached. I wished she had told me what Regan was doing to her then. I wish I knew. I

would have killed that bastard.

"Do the Alphas need anything special?" The prettiest of the girls asked. She wore a suit with a short

skirt and pantyhose with suspenders and heels.

"We are all married," I replied, irrespective of Kirk's position, and their faces dropped.

"Whatever happens in Neev stays in Neev," She said with a seductive voice, eyes focused on me.

"It will be in your best interest to leave. Tell your pimp there is no business here." I told her and linked

Luke to give them some money for their trouble. He obliged and gave them money. It was just as much

as they would have gotten if they had done what their pimp sent them to do. Their faces lit up

immediately, except for two of them who had their eyes on my sons. My sons had that effect on young

women. It reminded me of when I was their age, and every woman I met was smitten by me. It was still

the same now, but I was claimed, and I wasn't the mistress type.

"Thank you, you may leave now," Mike said to the girl trying to grab him. They reluctantly left the room.

A few minutes later, the Alpha of Neev arrived with his father. The boy did not look like the man, so I

figured he looked like his mother. Initially, I felt uncomfortable, but the man was happy to see me. I

introduced my sons, Mike and Kirk, to them. He was pleased that we could finally end an old mystery.

He was angry at Regan for creating such an atrocious crime on his soil. He assured me his son would

provide whatever I needed. The current Alpha, his son, complained that we had not funded their

Military in three months, and Luke refused to send them weapons to defend themselves. Luke

promised to rectify the problem once the Regan issue was solved. Alpha Ahmed seemed genuinely

glad to see me, but his son was still uncomfortable about the fight. Luke promised him that no civilian

will be harmed. They spent some time with us and then left.

Luke and I freshened up and decided to pay Ummul a visit. Caleb wanted to come, so I decided we

could all go. Mike was there when Ummul said her truth, and Kirk could not be left alone in the hotel,

especially with how he looked at the girls; it was only fair we do this together.

The cottage was till as I remembered it. Ummul and Amirah had taken care of the place. The vines on

the walls made it beautiful and more homely. I had bought the cottage for Ummul to show my gratitude.

I never knew it would end up being her home. Until she came to stay with us on our last vacation in

Neev, I did not know she and her husband had split up. I could understand why he would leave her for

another woman. The woman was impossible. Yet his behaviour was inexcusable.

Amirah came to the door, and she was shocked to see us. She looked at Luke and then at me. I could

see the anger and resentment in her eyes. It was really unnecessary.

"Sis Amirah, please let us in," Luke said to her, and she nodded and stepped aside for us

to enter. We were made to sit in the sitting room. It was small and modest.

"What brings you here, Alpha Aesop?" Amirah asked coldly, and I excused her manners

and smiled.

"I am here to see your mother," I said, and she shook her head.

" I do not think..." She said, but Luke interrupted her.

"Sis Amirah, please. We should not be here right now. We should be preparing for the

fight. Please let us get this over with." Luke told her, and I noticed she was fighting herself,

but she later succumbed and wheeled her mother into the sitting area.

Ummul began to cry when she saw me. She made some sign language, and Amirah was

shocked. It took a bit before she could interpret it.

"Mother wants you to know that she is sorry and misjudged you. She said she knows the

truth now, " and I was in shock. Ummul made some signs with her hands again.

"We saw the broadcast, and we hope you give our Chloe the justice she deserves,"

Amirah said, interpreting her mother's sign language.

"I am happy you found out the truth," I said to Ummul and went to hold her hand.

"I never cheated on your niece. She meant the world to me." I said, and Ummul nodded

with tears streaming down her face. This was the first time she would believe me, and I

was grateful for it. Stacy's confession had helped resolve an issue that had lingered for a

long time.

There was no need to explain anything to Ummul. I was glad our differences had been

settled. We talked about the fight and hopefully a future after it. Luke insisted that Amirah

and Ummul move to the mansion so Ummul could get the care she needed and Amirah

could have a life. They did not argue with him and wished us the best of luck. Ummul

wanted Regan to have a slow, painful death, and I was more than willing to grant that

wish.