Runaway Omega
Chapter 188 - – 167 - How Do We Proceed?

Chapter 188: Chapter – 167 - How Do We Proceed?

Tristan’s Point Of View

I was a raging ball of emotions. I couldn’t calm down no matter how much I tried. I felt so guilty about the part I had played in all of this. Even though they said it wasn’t my fault, I knew deep down that it was.

I was the one who had run away from that facility all those years ago. I was the one who mated with my Alphas, even though I knew that a peaceful life was but a dream. And I was also the one who had suggested creating the facilities in the first place... That decision would probably haunt me into perpetuity...

"There’s no point in stressing or worrying about the past, Big Brother... All we can do now is move forward, and try our best to do the right thing... Right?" I heard Kaleb say calmly.

I looked up at the monitor, and my eyes widened in surprise. I hadn’t expected to see him during this meeting– and to top it all off– he was currently using my own words against me.

I couldn’t help but crack a smile at his serious demeanor. He had matured so much in the years he had spent living apart from the rest of us. It was quite the uncanny sight, to be honest.

’To think I’d live to see the day when Kaleb was giving me sound advice... To make things even more unbelievable, he was currently quoting me!...’

"Yeah... You’re absolutely correct." I said, smiling softly.

"So then, Zach... How should we proceed?" Ferdinand asked.

After we had all witnessed the live broadcast of the new Edicts, the guys had all gone quiet. At first, I had chucked it up to the initial shock of it all... But after a few days, their emotions became too much for me to handle.

We had then called a family meeting, and discussed the situation at hand and how we could handle the inevitable problems that were heading our way.

Due to the government’s abrupt actions and their obvious plans to retrieve me, Ferdinand had advised that this was probably a ploy to get the Kings under their absolute control.

And judging by Lyukhe and Zachariah’s words, it seemed that Ferdinand’s suggestion wasn’t completely unfounded. There was something that nagged at me however...

"What we know for certain is that the federal government is not acting for the good of the nation. They have twisted the rules of our agreement, and it seems entirely personal. Not only that, but it doesn’t seem like they are going to play fair. Their reach and influence is stronger in the Duhtchies that are not ruled by a Mafia King. However, they have no shortage of pawns..." Zachariah said, clearly becoming weary from it all already.

"Yeah, which also means that they definitely have spies in place, in all of our Duhtchies..." Xander said, nodding in agreement.

"Of that I have no doubt. In fact, I can guarantee that they have been in place for a few years now... Slowly slipping in unawares, as we tried to deal with the rise in violent crimes and armed robberies..." Lyukhe said, drawing everyone’s attention immediately.

"What have you heard, Lyukhe?" Zachariah asked.

"Well, as most of you know, my men are well versed in espionage, intelligence gathering, and cloak-and-dagger work. For the past few years, my men have reported a strange influx of new citizens moving into my Duhtchy. However, after sneaking around in the shadows for about a month, they leave my Duhtchy." He replied, looking truly vexed that he hadn’t put the pieces together sooner.

"Yes. In the last year specifically, there has been an unusual increase in the population count for all of our Duhtchies..." Zachariah sighed.

I could tell that the Mafia Kings were surprised to learn that the same things that were happening in their own Duhtchies, were also happening in everyone else’s Duhtchies as well.

I suddenly had an epiphany. Ferdinand had become oddly busy with his Mafia duties in the last 3 years. Subsequently, Sylvester had frequently flown to his own Duhtchy abruptly a lot as well. They hadn’t been doing anything in secret, or acting surreptitiously.

However, whenever I attempted to inquire about their work, they would always find a way to distract me– most of the time they’d use Arellany and his latest antics as said distractions– it all made sense to me now.

They had been dealing with the unusual problems that had begun to pop up all around their Duhtchies. I couldn’t really be upset that they had been suffering in silence this whole time. Because if I was being honest, I doubted that I would have any useful ideas for them anyway.

"Listen to me... The last thing we want to do is act rashly, and risk falling into their traps. I have no doubt in my mind that they will try to divide us.... In many different ways." Zachariah said, pulling everyone’s attention back to him.

"In what ways?" Bennhayzin asked.

He had been eerily quiet this entire time. He had properly greeted Zachariah at the start of the meeting, but ever since then he had remained stoic, and unmoving.

"Well in manpower for one. As you have no doubt experienced by now, if we handled all of the crimes in our Duhtchies personally, that would leave us open and vulnerable. Also, it’s too risky to try to gather more muscle this late into the game. There is no way to guarantee that they are not spies working for the Federal Branch of the Government." Zachariah explained.

"Another way they could divide us, would be to attack any of the Mafia Kings. We would be honor bound to lend the attacked King our aid. However, even if we show up in person, or lend our men... Doing either one of those things would make us vulnerable to an attack on our own Duhtchies... Am I right, My King?" Waihlynn asked, thoughtfully.

"Indeed. It would cripple us if we assist with extra men, or go ourselves. They know that we have power in numbers, and they risk breaking the contract we have with them if they attack us head-on... However... Their ultimate goal is one they cannot easily aquire. And so they twist our arms, as a means to keep us from helping all together." Zachariah explained.

’Their ultimate goal... Is me, isn’t it?’

Which meant that a war between us, and the government was coming. And if the other Kings helped us, they’d risked the Feds coming in and shutting down their facilities, or having their own Duhtchies usurped from them under false pretenses.

It was aggravating that they had gone to such extreme lengths to get to me, and it was unnerving that they still wanted me captured after all this time. It was bordering on the maniacal side of reasoning.

"Well, I for one won’t let their bullshit slide. I have been preparing for an event like this ever since I began to rule over Maihzdin... If anything happens and you need any assistance Tristan, call me. I have more than enough men, and firepower. You’re family now, and I will never forsake my family." Sîvret declared, his face filled with determination and resolve.

I smiled up at him softly. Hearing him say that was both heart-warming and heartbreaking. I didn’t want the Mafia Kings to readily walk into their own demise. The guilt would eat me alive.

But at the same time, I wanted to protect my family... By any means necessary.

’Is it selfish to accept his offer?’