Chapter 164


    Chapter 164 His chance at redemption


    ASHER


    Darkness fell as we reached the military base near the bordends.


    Our journey to search for Ector Feliz was so ssified that apart from myself and Ss Moses, only


    one guard of the Beta’s apanied us.


    Normally, a mission of this caliber would have required a vehicle, but we opted not to use one to avoid


    attracting attention. So, instead, my brother-inw, the guard, and I shifted into our wolf forms and


    ventured out of Anemond, toward the border.


    It took a whole day of traveling to reach the edge of Wega. We were so eager to carry out our


    mission that we didn’t pause to rest for even a moment during the journey. Each of us was well-trained


    and physically in shape enough to meet the demands of that kind of travel, so our wolf forms were


    easily able to handle an endless run.


    ording to Ss’ intel, the military base was miles away from Ector’s ce of residence. Although we


    were all capable wolves and could have continued running the rest of the way, we needed something in


    our bellies.


    The lieutenantmander of the base had received news of our visit


    beforehand and had prepared a nice feast for the King and his Bera. Goddess knew how he managed


    it considering how deserted the bordends were..


    While I appreciated the effort and lengths they had gone to to ensure that we were taken care of,


    neither Ss nor I seemed to have much of an appetite. I picked at my food politely and ate just enough


    to satisfy the people who’d taken the time to prepare it for us. Their time and effort were important, but I


    was too worried about finding Ector Felix and what it would mean for Cas sandra if it was him.


    I had no idea how she would react to his reappearance, but I knew this was too important of a situation


    to not follow through. I knew the sight of her long-lost


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    brother might be too much to bear, but I cared about her more than anyone else. I owed it to Cas


    sandra to investigate.


    After we ate, we were escorted to one of the empty guest buildings on base by the lieutenant. His


    mood was far more chipper than mine and Ss’ and for a moment, I was a little agitated as he spoke,


    but I forced myself to breathe. He was merely doing his job, and I couldn’t fault him for treating us with


    loyalty and kindness.


    The n was for us to take an hour or two to rest and then head back out. If we were fast enough, we


    would arrive at Ector’s ce in a few hours.


    But as we lingered in the guest building, the lieutenant cleared his throat.


    “Perhaps, Your Majesty, you should get a good night’s sleep here and then continue on your journey


    tomorrow,” he suggested cautiously.


    Ss nced at me.


    I simply shook my head. I hadn’t nned to waste time here, and even if we did stay on the base, I


    knew I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep. I needed to ensure that Ector was alright, and more importantly, I


    needed to confirm it was really Ector after


    all.


    I had been casting this doubt aside since Ss mentioned the possibility of finding him, but what if the


    man wasn’t him at all?


    What if he was simply in possession of the Felix family badge? What then?


    But I couldn’t think that way. I needed to think positively.


    This was my chance at rédemption.


    We made the decision to leave an hourter. We bid the lieutenant farewell and thanked him for his


    generous hospitality before shifting and getting back on the road, so to speak.


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    Ss took the lead, and we ran for a few hours until finally, we reached the far reaches of the


    bordends.


    The area around us was deste and terrible. The few trees around us were dead and I couldn’t spy a


    water source anywhere. Thisnd was even more awful than I’d expected and it was a miracle anyone


    had survived living out here.


    We shifted back into our human forms, and then I stood outside the ragged wooden house while Ss


    checked with the guard stationed there.


    “How is he?” the Beta wondered, and the guard’s face grew solemn.


    “His condition has deteriorated greatly, Lord Beta,” he replied, his tone somber. “He’s less aggressive


    than thest time you were here, but physically, he is much worse off. He can’t remove himself from


    bed.”


    Ss’ gold eyes darted over to me, and it took all of my effort to remain calm. That certainly wasn’t what


    I wanted to hear, but I couldn’t let it outwardly affect me. I needed to keep my wits about me and


    conduct myself like the king I was.


    “What would you like us to do, Your Majesty?” the Beta asked me as he smoothed his dark wavy hair


    from his forehead.


    “We should speak with him,” I decided. “I don’t want to disturb him in his weakened state, but we came


    all of this way. I suppose we should enter quietly as a group and evaluate what he needs. If medical


    intervention is necessary, we’ll need to act quickly.”


    “Yes, Your Majesty,” the guard replied dutifully and he offered me a bow of


    respect.


    Ss nodded. “Shall we?”


    I nodded back, and after I took a deep breath, I opened the door.


    When we entered the crude house, a rotten odor streamed forth and nearly sent me to my knees. My


    hand flew over my nose instinctively and my stomach turned at the scent. It was the stench of medical


    decay along with dirtiness and


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    something else. I could only assume the man had soiled himself or something,


    especially knowing that he couldn’t leave his bed. My heart ached. Ector or not, no one deserved that


    kind of fate.


    Ss and the guards immediately frowned and studied each other with


    concern.


    As I moved on from the odor and limated to our surroundings, my gaze shifted over to the bed


    along the back wall, and I caught sight of the man within it.


    His dirty face was partially obscured by locks of long, golden blond hair. Even though the tresses were


    sticky and greasy, the color was unmistakable.


    Shock traveled through me.


    The man appeared to be sleeping, yet his snores were interrupted by soft groans of pain.


    “He won’t allow anyone to clean his face or body,” the guard spoke up quietly as he fell back. “Every


    time someone has tried, he acts as if he’s ready to attack. My men want to help, but it’s a safety issue.


    We don’t know what he’s capable of.”


    Ss nodded. “Of course.


    Though there was so much I could have said, I remained silent as my brain swam with a million


    thoughts. Despite their warnings, I decided to approach the bed anyway. I took quiet steps so as not to


    wake the man up, and once I was at his bedside, I leaned in just enough to get a better look at the


    man.


    His skin was tanned from the sun exposure, but his cheeks were hollow and sunken. His body was


    bony and emaciated and his face was different than it had been in the old days, but when I caught sight


    of the birthmark on his neck, my eyes. widened and I was certain.


    This had to be Ector Felix.