Chapter 59 Is Cater Back?

Nathan's POV

I lay on my bed, trying to get my emotions under control. After a few minutes, I rose and headed to the living area where Tyler was waiting, ready to discuss the current war situation.

"Not only are the cities on the west coast under attack," Tyler reported, his voice thick with exhaustion, "but the eastern and northern borders are requesting reinforcements as well."

"What's the scale?" I asked, my eyes gleaming dangerously in the dim light.

"Scattered. It doesn't appear to be an organized military operation—more like guerrilla warfare," Tyler answered, fatigue evident in his voice.

"Any information about which pack is orchestrating this?" My voice was low and filled with authority.

"None, Alpha. It could be multiple packs working together. These guerrilla fighters know most of our warriors are currently on the west coast countering Alpha Raymond's invasion. They wouldn't miss this opportunity."

"Fine. Give me the maps and reports. I'll review them tonight." My command left no room for argument. "You can notify King Jason first thing tomorrow morning. You're dismissed."

Tyler stood his ground, his eyes betraying his concern.

"Is there something else?" I asked, my strong fingers leafing through frontline reports and photos of recently attacked villages, my brow furrowed.

"Alpha, it's already two in the morning. We have another meeting with King Jason at six, and—"

"Good night, then I'll see you in the morning." I dismissed Tyler's night shift, impatience creeping into my voice as I closed the door.

"Nathan, it's not me!" Tyler said urgently. "It's you! You've barely slept! Since Rachel... since that incident, you haven't properly rested."

I got up and walked toward the bedroom. "I'm good." I opened the door and shut it again before Tyler could protest further.

Over the past few days, I'd managed to focus my attention on war and pack matters.

There was plenty to do, especially with escalating border conflicts. War was something familiar, something I understood. It was a good distraction from letting other emotions surface.

I had just lain down when someone knocked on my door.

I considered ignoring it, but the door opened and my sister Gina walked in, her hair disheveled and her eyes flashing with anger.

Suppressing a sigh, I asked, "Gina? It's two in the morning. What do you want?"

She stared at me for a moment before announcing, "I'm leaving."

I put down the documents, my eyes fixed on her. "Where are you going? Why?"

Tyler followed her into my room, his brow creased with worry and regret.

"Gina," he said softly but urgently, "you need to calm down." He grabbed Gina's hand.

I didn't understand why this was affecting Tyler so deeply. Gina was my sister, and I knew Tyler cared for her, but his reaction to her leaving was more emotional than I'd expected.

Interesting!

"I don't need to calm down." Gina stepped away from Tyler and turned to me. "I can't stand being here another minute!"

I stated, "Gina, considering everything that's happened, we're all on edge. But the situation outside the capital is uncertain right now. If you're here, I know you're safe."

"I'll be perfectly safe in our pack," she said, hands on her hips. "I can't stay here another minute, Nathan! Every time I see that woman's face... at dinner, in the hallways. I want to slap that smug smile off her face! That arrogant bitch..."

"Enough," I said, my voice low and dangerous. I didn't have time for this right now.

"Enough?" my sister screeched. "Trust me, Nathan, I've had enough! When Rachel first... when this first happened, I should have gone back to Ironjaw territory days ago!"

She'd said Rachel's name, and I felt a sharp pain in my chest.

I'd forbidden almost everyone from saying that name out loud, but Gina wouldn't heed my commands anyway.

She always did what she wanted.

Maybe her leaving was for the best.

"Gina, come with me," Tyler said, his arm threading through hers and guiding her.

Gina tried to yank herself free from him but couldn't break his grip. He guided her out of the room.

I absently wondered if I would see my sister again later, or if she would leave during the night without a word.

I didn't want to think about that right now either.

I had a few hours before I needed to return to the war room. War declarations were inevitable. From then on, my time would be consumed with planning attacks.

I was glad for it. Anything to keep me from thinking about Rachel and our child.

But for now, it wasn't working as well as I'd hoped. "Why did Gina have to mention her name?" I muttered to myself, my voice echoing in the empty room.

Every time I heard that name, fresh emotions surfaced, and images from that night flashed before my eyes. It was like watching her fall all over again.

All the emotions came crashing like waves—shock, anger, denial... and one emotion I didn't want to acknowledge.

Grief...

But not just grief. It was a heaviness that had sunk deep into my soul, pressing down on me, tugging at my heart, threatening to drag me under.

Yet I couldn't acknowledge it, had to keep ignoring it all. Not her and my child... just my heir and a breeder. I tried to convince myself.

I rubbed my strong hand over my face, turning my thoughts back to the war.

I stayed up all night without a wink of sleep. As dawn broke, close to six o'clock, I made my way to the war room—exhausted yet determined.

The war room in Emerald Castle was bustling with activity. Alphas and warriors were discussing the border attacks, and no one dared to ask how I was feeling.

I was grateful for that; I didn't want to talk about Rachel's "death."

Tyler explained the next agenda ite. "We have a witness," he said, "someone caught near the scene of the northern border village attack."

Tyler motioned for the guards to bring in the witness. He was a skinny, somewhat dirty middle-aged man who looked like he might be some kind of merchant.

When he raised his eyes to see my face, he stepped back, his face turning pale.

"You..!" he cried out in terror.

The guards grabbed his shoulders as he whimpered in fear, his eyes wide, emitting the scent of terror.

"Calm down! This is Alpha Nathan! Show respect. Or your head will leave your shoulders instantly!" the guard growled.

I observed the man's strange reaction, an unpleasant thought forming in my mind. My eyes turned gold as I looked at Tyler, who immediately understood my concern.

"It's all right." Tyler motioned for the guards not to harm the struggling man. "We're frightening him."

Tyler gave the man a cup of water, then spoke in a reassuring tone, "I give you my Beta's honor that you're safe here. Tell us what you saw."

Some of the man's fear seemed to dissipate, though he still edged closer to the door.

Tyler looked around the room and suggested, "We may be too many for the witness to be comfortable. Allow me to speak with him privately. I'll provide a detailed report via mind link within two hours."

I nodded my agreement.

Once Tyler had led the witness to a comfortable private room, he communicated with me through our mind link.

Tyler asked the witness, "You can speak freely now. By the Moon Goddess above, no one will harm you."

"Y-yes, sir," the man's voice trembled.

Tyler asked carefully, word by word, "During the border village attack, did you see the man who was just standing in the war room—Alpha Nathan?"

The cup in the witness's hand dropped to the floor, water splashing.

"Don't be afraid. You can tell the truth. Alpha Nathan won't harm you," Tyler reassured him.

"Y-yes. I saw him... no, not him, but... someone who looked exactly like him... his eyes... his eyes were gold when he was killing..." the witness stammered.

I felt these words through the mind link, and my heart sank.

No one else looked like me except "him."

After all these years, could the long-lost brother still be alive?

"Carter, have you returned?" I murmured.