Knock-knock-knock
“Come in.” Damian answered.
The door slowly opened and then stood up worryingly upon seeing it was Katrina that entered. She had large sleeping bags under her eyes as she’d just woken up from heavy dosage.
“Katrina…. What are you doing here??? You’re not supposed to be out of bed!!!”
“I know…” she said after taking the seat that Damian let out for her, “… but I had to… come here after hearing about what happened.”
He took her hand, “Katrina… you don’t have to feel guilty, none of what happened is your fault.”
“It’s not Renard’s fault either, Damian! He didn’t force me to do anything!”
“I’m not saying he forced you dear, but perhaps… with the way I know you, there must have been some persuasion from his end.”
“There was no persuasion, we both did it out of mutual feelings.”
“So, you love him… as in for real? Or was he the one that told you to come here and tell me this?”
She shook her head, “no… He told me what happened, but then I didn’t tell him I’d come here afterwards. I only want you to understand that Renard shouldn’t be blamed. If there is any blame at all, then we both should share it.”
Damian stared at her with wide open eyes, “I can’t believe it! My eyes ought to be deceiving me right now, Katrina. You really have fallen in love with him!”
Katrina’s cheeks flushed as she nodded admittedly, “yes… I never thought it would be possible… I never thought I would be able to fall for someone else besides you, but then, Renard… He…” she hesitated.
“He what?”
“He’s touched a part of my heart that no one has ever done before, not in all the years I could remember.”
“Katrina… you know that I don’t mind who you choose to mate with… my only concern is that it should be for your happiness.”
“My happiness lies with Renard, Damian. That’s why I came here so persuade you to let him off the hook for what happened.”
“Are you saying I shouldn’t force Renard to marry you and take responsibilities for his actions?”
She nodded, “Renard let me know that he’s willing to marry me due to your orders. I want the same thing too; I want us to become mates and live happily together.”
“So why do you have a problem with the order I gave?”
“Because… I don’t want us to marry out of compulsion…”
“Katrina… I only gave that order because of the impact being a single pregnant wolf might have on your status. Everyone will think badly of you especially after finding out it’s not my child.”
“I do not care what anyone thinks of me… what I care about is my own happiness. I want to marry Renard, but not like this… I want a romantic proposal, where he’ll confess his commitment for me out of his own will, not out of being forced…. The pregnancy was a mistake, yes… but our love was not. We are both taking things slowly, and finding our happiness with each other. I want things to continue that way.”
Damian nodded, “I understand. It’s because of you that I’ll consider this, Katrina, but I do hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I am sure of it, sire. Thank you for all you’ve done for me.”
He then gave her a hug before she left; wishing her nothing but the best.
************
Miranda was busy the whole day; as she’d just returned from supervising the packhouse keeping. She was headed back to her chambers before she received a phone call from the ruling affairs of the Lotus pack back home. It was the beta, Orphne calling.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Hello, alpha Miranda.” She could already hear excitement in his voice.
“How are you, Orphne? How are the ruling affairs back home?”
“Going smoothly ma’am. In fact, I made this call because I have some good news to report!”
“Really? What is it?”
“You received a package in form of a blessing today ma’am. A batch of 100 of level 10 soldiers marched into our territory to be added to our defenses. They claimed they were sent by the night shadow alpha for the Lotus queen!”
“I don’t understand. Why would Walden send me soldiers all of a sudden?”
“It’s a gift for you, ma’am! To aid your people in the upcoming war, and as a form of comfort to aid you in these troubling times!”
Miranda pondered over the phone a bit, trying to make sense of the situation. She doesn’t remember asking for any assistance prior to this, so if Walden had sent her soldiers out of the blue; it could only mean one thing.
The Walden she knows doesn’t give things for free, he’d always want something in return.
“Orphne… are you still there?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m right here with you. Do I start positioning the men?”
“No… send them back. Tell them to thank the night shadow alpha for his generosity, but we will not be accepting his gift.”
Beta Orphne’s face suddenly became pale upon hearing the order. The words he wished he’d heard incorrectly then.
“Sorry ma’am… I didn’t get what you said…”
“I said… do not position the men anywhere. Send them back to where they came from along with a letter to the night shadow alpha. Thank him for his generosity but tell him we will not be accepting his gift. We are in a very fine position for the war and we do not need any further assistance.”
Normally, it was a crime to speak against the decisions of an alpha, but this one, Orphne didn’t mind losing his head for this one.
“But ma’am, you of all people know that is not true. We need as much help as we can get and I really don’t think we should be turning away those who have chosen to help us.”
“Do as I say Orphne! And never question my decisions again. Send the men back right this instant!” She ordered before cutting the call.