The Dark Side Of Fate by Karima Sa'ad Usman novel Chapter 337

~Liam~

The flight to Mountain proved to be uneventful, with our family occupying a private aircraft for the journey. True to form, Uncle Leo awaited our arrival at the airport, ready with five vans and security personnel to transport us to our destination.

I eagerly anticipated reuniting with Noah and Sebastien. It had been months since we last saw each other, back when we gathered at Lord Alexei's residence in Gad. If there was anyone capable of helping us navigate through Mountain, it was those two, especially Noah, whom we affectionately referred to as the "accidental Alpha."

Noah's unexpected alpha wolf came as a surprise since his mother was a Stepanov pure breed, and we didn't anticipate him inheriting alpha genes because of it. But to our astonishment, Noah wasn’t only an Alpha but also embodied the full traits and abilities of the Stepanov lineage.

Sebastien also had the Stepanov abilities without their physical features. Their younger brother Ethan, on the other hand, stood as the sole delta among the brothers. Ethan looked mostly like their father, but he was a delta with Stepanov abilities.

To add to their family, they had an eccentric grand uncle who, in an unusual twist, also served as their grandfather by virtue of settling down with their mother's mother. It made for an intriguing blend of family dynamics.

Setting aside Sophia's ongoing predicament, being in the East felt invigorating, and I revelled in the experience.

Eager to avoid sitting with our parents, we hastily piled into one of the waiting vans. Beta Casper, already aware of our preference, had arranged a separate vehicle for our group. Marvin, Oliver, Miles, Lilly, Harper, the triplets, Justin, and I settled comfortably in the van, leaving our parents to find their own seating arrangements. Uncle Leo had arrived with an excess of vehicles, so it was expected that some would return empty.

As the van began its journey, Justin captured our attention with a noteworthy piece of information.

"Hey," he called out, directing his words towards Miles and Marvin.

"I heard that Alpha Devin and his children are currently staying at the mansion," It was clear he was addressing Miles and Marven, who had severe crushes on the Corrigan sisters, Layla and Sarah.

I had to give credit to my cousins; they certainly had an eye for beauty.

The Corrigan sisters were truly stunning, bearing a striking resemblance to our Aunt Amelia. It was difficult to articulate, but it seemed my cousins had a penchant for Stepanov women. I was well aware of Oliver's infatuation with Elaine Kuznetsov. Given the opportunity, I was certain he would jump at the chance to visit Gad, where Elaine resided.

However, Elaine had a spirited sister named Josephine Kuznetsov, and our interactions were far from pleasant.

We constantly clashed and couldn't stand each other's presence. In fact, there were times when I actively went out of my way to avoid her.

Josephine was headstrong, stubborn, and resolute in her own ways. It seemed we were perpetually at odds.

Despite being slightly younger than me by a year and a few months, I couldn't envision us ever becoming friends.

She was wild and unyielding, and I could continue listing her characteristics. Fortunately, the sisters would reach the age of eighteen next year, and with any luck, they would find their destined mates, allowing my cousin to move forward.

"Oh, will there be some sparks?" Jewels playfully teased Miles and Marvin, and I could swear I saw Marvin's cheeks flush with colour. It was evident that he had strong feelings for Layla Corrigan, even more so than I had realised. It was a shame that they would have to wait until the end of next year to determine if they were fated to be together. I genuinely hoped that fate would be on their side.

Observing the expressions on my cousins' faces as we made our way towards the Mountain settlement made me realise how self-centred I had been when I insisted on heading to Grizlo. I had unintentionally hindered their own desires by asking them to assist me in pursuing mine. I knew how much we had all been looking forward to visiting Mountain, and I felt a sense of guilt and remorse for my decision.

I had spent considerable time reflecting on Justin's words, and they resonated deeply with me. Although I hadn't personally experienced the challenges Uncle Leo and my mother faced, I could only imagine the turmoil they endured. They were fortunate to have been granted second chances in love. Yet, I couldn't help but ponder what might have happened if their stories hadn't unfolded so positively. The unsettling thought troubled me greatly and ultimately led me to a resolution.

I made the decision to persist in my search for Sophia. I wouldn't give up on finding her. However, I also realised the importance of preparing my mindset in the event that we encounter our fated mates along the way. I wasn't certain of the exact approach or how I would accomplish this mental preparation, but I remained hopeful that it wouldn't prove too arduous a task.

Upon our arrival at the mansion, it became evident that Uncle Leo had made significant modifications and expansions to the property over the years. The building now surpassed its original size, leading me to believe that it might continue to grow in the future.

The van came to a stop in front of the entrance, and we exited one by one. Aunty Amelia stood at the entrance, as she always did, ready to welcome us with open arms. Time seemed to have no effect on her, and her distinctive eyes remained unchanged.

"Liam," she greeted, pulling me into a warm embrace. Moments later, she extended the same affection to Harper, drawing us all into a big, heartfelt hug with the rest of the family.

As our parents received their own warm welcome from Aunty Amelia, we made our way inside. Familiar with the mansion, we each knew our designated rooms. Miles, Oliver, Marvin, and I typically shared one room, while Lily, Harper, and the triplets occupied another. Eleanor had expressed a desire to join us, but Uncle Marcel had enrolled her in Lucland Academy since her return to Grizlo wasn't imminent. She only had two more years to complete her studies, and my mother had taken the opportunity to drop her off at the academy along with my brothers.