It was a long journey, but by evening time, Miranda and Damian had reached the night shadow packhouse along with their small group of escorts. They were received by some servants that Walden had prepared.
According to the night shadow alpha’s instructions, Miranda and Damian were placed in separate rooms in the guests’ quarters to rest their heads for the night. Not that Miranda minded this, she didn’t know why, but after Leah’s execution, the greater distance she found between her and her mate, the more relaxed she felt.
As for Damian, he didn’t like it, but then he acted unsurprised, as if he was already expecting something like that from Walden. After they’d settled in, they were served dinner in their respective rooms. Miranda didn’t like to eat alone, but there was not much she could control around here.
After dinner, Miranda had settled into her night dress and was about to retire for the night until she heard a knock on her door. Who could it be? Damian…
She didn’t know why she bounced up from her bed at the thought of who it was that could be standing outside her door. Did she miss her husband that much even though she was a bit mad at him?
Her expectancy was met with disappointment as she opened the door to see that instead of Damian standing outside, it was Walden. His injured hand was bandaged, as he was still regulating the wound from the blue mountains.
“Good evening, Miranda.”
“Good evening, Walden.”
“Aren’t you going to let me in? Aren’t you happy to see me?”
She scoffed, “what do you want, Walden. Why did you come here so late at night?”
“I just wanted to come and see how you are doing. I’m sorry I didn’t come earlier; it’s been a hectic day in court…”
“Look Walden…”
“Miranda, I only made one mistake. Just one mistake that by the time I realized it, it was too late. But the way you’ve chosen to shut me out ever since then as if I’m a plague or something, it hurts so much….”
“Walden…”
“Miranda, please, just let me in. Just this once, I only want us to talk, nothing more.”
In her mind, she was so not interested in this “talk,” but with the way he was at this point, with the way he looked so hurt, with the way he’d come here so sincerely, she finally decided to let him in. Like he’d said, it was only just this once, she would do well to watch out for any tricks he might try to play in here with her. Apart from that, nothing could possibly go wrong, right?
“Come in.”
“Thank you.”
As she welcomed him inside her room, he took a seat on the leather couch while she sat on her bed in front of it.
“It’s been a hectic journey for me, Walden. I hope you’ll understand this. Whatever you have to say, please make it quick.”
He nodded, “thank you for at least giving me a chance this time. I honestly didn’t think you’d agree.”
After he didn’t get a response from her, he continued, “sorry um… yes, you said I should be quick with what I have to say. I’ll start talking now…”
“I know you might think that I no longer stand a chance with you, but my heart thinks otherwise.”
She raised a brow, “what do you mean?
“I know that you’re not happy with your husband, Miranda. Putting you both in separate rooms was just a small test I decided to try out. From the reports I received from my servants, none of you even objected when you found out that you wouldn’t be staying together.”
She let out an empty laugh… “so because Damian nor I complained about the decisions you chose to take as regards where we would be staying, you decided to draw your conclusion from that. You decided to assume that Damian and I were in an unhappy marriage?”
“I didn’t exactly say that Miranda…”
“So, what exactly where you saying, huh?”
“I am not ashamed to confess that I still believe that there’s a huge chance that both of us can still be together. You and Damian are an unlikely pair, and I know that his feelings for you are not sincere.”
“What makes you think that yours will be any different?”
“Not that I think, I know Miranda. I know this so much because I love you. I only made one mistake by not giving you all of my time, and I am sorry for that. I have begun to alienate Samara, she might be my friend, but she means nothing compared to the way I feel for you…”
She got up and proceeded to open the door. “I’m tired of this Walden, please I want to go and sleep now, can we continue this conversation later?”
“I love you Miranda, and even though it seems as if there’s no longer hope for me, I know that there is. I know that you and Damian aren’t the perfect couple you seem to be.”
“Walden, please leave.”
“I know that there’s a reason he married you, and I know that it’s not for love. It might be because of the elite wolves, it might be because he saw your pack as weak and vulnerable, but I know that its not because of love.”
Miranda had heard enough of this; she knew it was a bad idea coming here. She knew it was a terrible idea letting him into her room, but what if? What if it was true? Had she ever considered the possibility of Damian marrying her for something other than love? She couldn’t give an answer to this… Walden was confusing her so much with his words. Walden was still talking, his words kept sounding in her ears…
“I know you don’t love him, Miranda, and I know he doesn’t love you too…”
“Please, Walden… just leave me alone….”
He saw how uncomfortable his words were making her feel then, he decided to stop.
“I’m sorry, I only wanted to sincerely talk to you. I never wanted you to feel bad about anything. I’ll take my leave now, but before I go, can you do me a favor?”
“What?”
“Can you give me a hug…? It’s been so long I’ve been in your embrace Miranda, please. I wont leave until you agree to hug me.”
She doesn’t want to, but she’ll do anything, so long as it’ll make sure he disappears from here this instant. She’d forgotten that the door was still open as she wrapped her arms around Walden’s neck, and apart from the embrace, she didn’t know that Walden would want to take things further by planting a kiss on her forehead. As she tore from his hands, she met her furious mate, standing right there, in front of the door.