“Absolutely not!”
“Valledor, I can’t believe that you’re not jumping right at this opportunity. Do you not want revenge against Miranda? Do you not desire the Lotus throne anymore?”
“Not if it means me risking my life! Alpha Jireh knows me and my ranking in the lotus well enough. He has strong ties with alpha Luther. What if he doesn’t agree to our terms?” He shook his head. “I’m sorry Samara, but no…. I cannot risk getting reported if alpha Jireh does not agree to follow along with our motives. I cannot risk my life for this at all.”
Samara knew that she might encounter some difficultly trying to convince him to go, that’s why she came prepared, ready to give all it took to sway him into agreeing. She wouldn’t leave until he does.
“Valledor…”
“Yes, partner?”
“I understand you very much, and of course I can relate to what you are saying, because a few days ago, I was also in this very same position.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about how it was for me before I went to see King Rakur. My heart sped much faster than my wolf legs, and fear resided within every inch of me, but that did not stop me because I knew that this mission was way more important than even my own life, and if I were to see this succeed, I would give up as much as I can.”
“That was different, Samara. The rogue king was different, he was already an enemy. Trying to turn two good friends against each other is going to be impossible; this quest you ask of me is bound to fail. I know it already!”
“It won’t fail, Valledor, not if you don’t give all you’ve got into it. You have to be positive; you have to be strong. You might think that the rogue king was already an enemy, you might think that the rogue king was easy for me to convince like that, but do not forget that King Rakur is a very powerful and dangerous bandit, but I took that risk of going there on my own, all because I didn’t want my fears to hinder me from getting the job done.”
“If you’re so positive, if you’re sure this will work, why don’t you go to king Jireh by yourself? I’m sure you’ll have an easier time convincing him than I will. After all, you did a pretty fine job with the rogue king, you shouldn’t have even come here to ask me.”
“I came here because I do not want to leave you out on any part of this mission! I want you to be actively involved, I do not want you to…”
He cut her short, “there’s nothing you can say to me that will make me go there, Samara. I’m sorry to tell you this, but you’ve only wasted your time by coming here. I will not be going to Jireh to reveal to him where my true loyalties lie. If you can’t go there on your own, then it’s better to leave him out of it and continue our plans with Rakur, you don’t have to worry about me getting left out.”
After he was done talking, he was about walk out on her, about to shift into his wolf. Samara thought fast then, knowing the right buttons to push.
“What about Tobias?”
He turned to face her with a frown, “leave my son out of this, Samara!”
She continued, not minding his words… “If you had a chance to avenge your son’s death, if you had a chance to watch his enemies suffer, if you had a chance to give him eternal rest, would you walk out on him all because of your fears? Your uncertainties? When you do not even know if success lies ahead for you???”
“Samara…”
“You’re the one who mentioned that Miranda would soon become an alpha, wouldn’t it be an easier job for you if you had someone who is equally as powerful, fighting by your side? Wouldn’t you like to know that Tobias would be smiling in the grave when you’ve killed his murderer and taken over her inheritance?”
Valledor halted, finding difficulty to speak. Samara grinned inwardly, knowing she’d gotten him right where she wanted. Now it was time to go.
Before shifting to her wolf, she left him a question to answer for himself, “the choice is yours Valledor, would you rather live the rest of your life as a coward, or die trying?”
**********
Renard had mixed feelings of nervousness and anxiousness as he knocked on the door, waiting for her to answer. Had she moved out yet? Didn’t seem likely, he hadn’t seen her in the packhouse, and it doesn’t look like she left town… his thoughts were confirmed when he heard the sound of the door open, and Katrina welcoming him in. Thank the goddess she hadn’t left.
“Hello Renard, you’re welcome,” she said with a blank expression.
“Thank you. It’s good to see you again.”
She didn’t respond, only took her seat across from him in the living room, acting unbothered by his presence. What exactly was going on in her mind? He wondered as he entered the house. The both of them kept staring at each other from across the room for seconds, which seemed like a long time for Renard. He was tired of all the suspense, deciding to be the one to dig out his thoughts if Katrina wasn’t going to.
“Katrina, I want to talk about the kiss…”
Her expression still held blankness as she asked, “what about it?”
“I thought you might be wondering why it happened… why I kissed you.”
She shrugged, “not exactly… is there something you want to say about it?”
Why was she acting so unconcerned? As if it wasn’t a big deal when she’d clearly kissed him back…? Calm down, Renard. Just tell her the truth.
“I’m sorry Katrina. I didn’t mean for it to happen like that, but I just couldn’t control myself, I didn’t know what came over me when I looked into your eyes then…”
“What do you mean?”
He bent his head, clenching his hand. Why was she making this harder than it was supposed to be? Patience… patience, he comforted himself inwardly.
“I didn’t want… you to think that I was helping you because I wanted you to fall for me, I had no intentions of doing that, I swear, but what I couldn’t control were my feelings, and that’s why I kissed you. I like you, Katrina, I really do.”