A few hours after Sandy left his cell, Conor received another visitor. The door to his cell opened again, making him wonder who it was this time, until Samara walked in, giving a signal to the guard who followed her in, the guard then bowed and left, leaving the both of them alone.
As she entered, Conor glared at her spitefully, she simply responded to his body language with a playful smirk and a shrug of her shoulder.
“How are you, dear Conor?” She asked, feigning concern. Of course, he wasn’t fooled by her pretense, ignoring her question and heading straight to the point.
“I’ve kept to my part of the agreement; I didn’t say a word Samara.”
“Of course, of course you didn’t, else you’d be dead by now.”
“I hope you kept to your part of the deal too Samara, if I find out that you’ve laid a hand on my mother…”
“And what will you do about it when you’re locked up in here?” She asked, widening her grin. Her question sent pangs of fear into his heart, he then wondered what would be the point of trying to keep things hidden if his mother still died at the end of all this.
“Don’t worry,” she assured him. “Mommy is safe, and she will remain so. “So long as you keep your mouth shut and do as you’re told.”
“Where is she? I can never believe a word you say Samara.”
“She’s safe, believe it or not, that’s all you need to know. Don’t worry, I keep to my words, and she’ll be released after your execution. But before then, I want you to do one last thing for me.”
“No way! I’ve done enough for you, and you’ve ruined my life already as it is. I’m no longer agreeing to anything you say!”
She giggled, “you act as if you have a choice Conor, you forget that your mother’s life is still at stake here. Either you do as I say, or she’ll join you in the afterlife. It’s your choice Conor.”
Samara waited patiently for his response, but then he folded his arms, feeling reluctant to agree to any more of her terms.
“Fine then, suit yourself, at least you won’t die alone….” She then turned; she was about leaving the cell when Conor called her back.
“Wait!”
She turned, “yes dear?”
Sighs, “what… what is it? what is it you want me to do?”
“That’s the spirt!” she began. “Back at the court, you denied ever having anything to do with the murder. It was a good act, at least you didn’t expose the truth, but now, I want you to confess to the crime. You will confess that you are a spy for the silver pack’s alpha, and that you were the one who killed the messenger, you will also tell Walden that you witnessed when I was attacked, make him believe it, because as of now he doesn’t seem to.”
Conor was shocked by her words, now he knew that all his life, he’d never known the pure definition of evil until he met Samara.
“How could you be so heartless Samara? How do you expect me to confess to a crime I didn’t commit? You know that if I say those things, alpha Walden won’t spare me for a second.”
She shrugged, “whatever, I don’t care, either you do it or you and your mother both dies. Besides, I don’t even know what you are so worried about since he was going to kill you anyway.”
“I know nothing of these crimes you speak of Samara, why are you doing this? I’ve done all you’ve asked, why won’t you leave my mother alone?”
“You were the one foolish enough to leave her all alone at home to sneak into the princess’s quarters, imagine if Walden finds out that one too, the princess spreading her legs for a lowly omega such as yourself. Ha! He’ll kill you for sure then.”
“Please Samara, I’ve done nothing wrong. Love is not a crime.”
Her eyes lit up, “but sneaking into the packhouse at ungodly hours is a very big one, not to mention sneaking into the princess’s chambers. Or, wait… Imagine if I tell the alpha that I saw you trying to enter her quarters, he might even think you tried to kill his sister.”
“Samara…”
“Enough! No negotiations. You’ll do as I say or your mother will pay with her life! After you confess, she will be released from my men’s captivity. Its your choice whether your mother gets to live after this or not, choose wisely dear, there’s not much time for either of you.”
**********
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Alpha Walden was in his chambers, preparing for another session in the court when Sandy barged in, her eyes were reddened and her face fully washed with tears. Walden wondered what was going in with her.
“Sandy? What’s the matter with you?? Why are you crying? Did something happen?”
“You have to release Conor! You have to release him!!! He did nothing wrong! It’s my fault… I’m the one to blame… I’m the reason he came here! He was arrested because of me! Please big brother… you can’t kill him, punish me instead!!!”
Walden quickly walked over to her, placing his two hands on her shoulders, his face etched with worry, “Sandy, calm down so I can understand you better… what are you talking about? What do you mean that you were the one Conor came to see? Were you also involved with what happened with the assassinated prisoner?”
“NO!!! I wasn’t! And neither was Conor! He was framed, Walden! He didn’t do it! You have to hear him out! He’ll speak the truth if you do!!!”
“I gave him the chance to speak Sandy, and all he did was deny the accusations against him, even with glaring evidence, he didn’t tell me the real reason he snuck into this packhouse, but I’m guessing you know why.”
“I do! And I’ll let you know about it! Conor and I…um… we’ll both let you know, he’s ready to confess. He’ll tell you everything! I was his alibi on the night the prisoner got killed.”
He raised a confused brow, “you were with him?”
“Yes, I was with him! I know Conor, you know him too Walden, he’s a devoted night shadow wolf, he loves this pack with all his heart! He’d never betray you; he’d never even hurt a fly, talk less of kill anyone. Why then do you suddenly think he’s a murderer all because you found a bloody knife in his bag? Something that anyone could have planted there???”
Walden removed his hand from Sandy’s shoulders, shaking his head, “why do you care about this guy so much Sandy? So much… that you are willing to lie to my face for him, even with all the evidence found?”
“I am not lying for him Walden! Conor… he… he…”
“He what?”
Sighs, “I think it’s better if the both of us tell you ourselves. I want to be beside him when you find out.”
“Sandy…? I hope it’s not what I think it is…”
“Please brother… all I’m asking for is that you give him another chance to tell you what he knows, he’ll speak the truth this time. I’m sure he will.”
Walden pondered for a bit, deciding what to do. He loved Sandy so much, but he also couldn’t risk the safety of the pack for any reason whatsoever… but still…
“Please Walden… please… I know you have a good heart. Please just hear what we have to say.”
Sighs, “very well… because of you. I’ll summon him to court again and hear whatever you both have to say.”
“Thank you, brother.”