Sandy had been around for a while, but did not join them this evening for dinner. Miranda knows that the poor girl is still going through some emotional trouble, not to talk of the separation from her brother at the point they needed each other the most.
Miranda decided that she would go up to take her dinner to her room, in hopes that the both of them could talk. After entering, she met Sandy still unpacking, folding her clothes into the closet that was provided for her.
“Sandy, I brought your dinner.”
Sandy turned from what she was doing to face her, “oh, no… You shouldn’t have. I’m really not that hungry, that’s why I didn’t come downstairs.”
Miranda smirked, “we both know that’s a lie, there’s no way you wouldn’t be hungry after such a journey.”
“You’re right. I might be hungry but I can’t think of food right now. I have so much going on in my mind, it’s hard for one to even sit down to eat.”
“Stop pushing yourself too hard, Sandy. I know what it is that’s bothering you.”
“You do?”
Miranda took the piece of fabric in her hand as she sat her down beside her on the bed. “Yes, I do, with the way I see things, you’re feeling guilty about the way you left your brother behind just like that. You are scared that if something should ever happen to him, you’ll blame yourself for the rest of your life, just like you did with Conor.”
Sandy sighed in defeat, “you’re right. I do feel so guilty, but then I never meant to leave him… I just had to do it for me because I didn’t notice this before, but whenever I’m away from that place, I feel a sense of calmness I hadn’t felt in such long time. I find it hard to sleep there, even after Samara’s execution, it’s like it gets worse as time passes, that’s why I left.”
“I understand dear. But what about your brother? How do you think he’ll cope from now on?”
“I honestly don’t know, and I wish that there would be a way to settle things without me having to leave, but there isn’t.”
“Search your heart, Sandy. Do you think you’ve forgiven him?”
“That’s a question I’m not sure I can answer… whenever I ask myself that, I just suddenly think about the way Conor died, and then, my mind just suddenly goes blank.”
Miranda didn’t notice before that Sandy had begun to cry. Poor dear, she’s been through so much, but then it’s good for her to cry. It’s better to let those emotions she’s been bottling up out, instead of letting them remain to destroy her, so long as she has someone right by her to console her. Miranda then took her hand and rubbed it gently.
“You are like the sister I’ve always wished for, Sandy. When I found out recently that my mother would have had another child if it weren’t for my father’s selfishness, it hurt me so much.”
“It must have been pretty bad, not having to find out the truth until after he died, not having the chance to talk to him about it.”
“Not as bad as I expected, but maybe it’s because somehow, I’ve always known. Whenever I looked into his eyes, I always saw guilt and sadness for some reason, even when he smiled. There was never a day I didn’t see it. I’ve always known he was hiding something from me then.”
“I’m sorry about that, Miranda.”
“Look at you. I should be the one feeling sorry for you with all you’ve been through. Mine is nothing compared to yours.”
“Don’t say that, Miranda. I know very well how much you’ve been through, and how you managed yourself. What surprised me is how you managed to rise above it all and still become one of the strongest, fiercest female alphas that the world has ever seen.”
“It was hard at first, dear. I wont lie that it was very hard. At some point, I thought that it would be just better to die, but then, love saved me at the moment I was about to give up.”
Sandy smiled, “the story between you and alpha Damian is a very interesting one, with the way you stepped into his territories and changed everything. You brought light into this dark world, and even after all you’ve been through, you still stood strong. I’m very proud of you, Miranda. Sometimes, I wish the goddess made you my sister.”
“The goddess does not make mistakes, Sandy. She made Walden your brother for a reason, and now I know that you are mad at him, but there is something I will tell you today, something that helped me in this journey. Something I had to learn in order to move forward in life.”
Sandy was eager to know. “What is it?”
“It’s forgiveness, Sandy. And I want you to learn it today. I want you to forgive your brother, if not for anything, forgive him because I asked you to. Trust me dear that when you do, the happiness you seek will come right after.”
“I know I have to forgive him, it’s hard, but I will try because I respect you so much, Miranda. All I am asking you is that you give me some time to stay here and figure myself out. The one thing that troubled my mind before is finally laid to rest and now that Conor is at peace, I think that I can now move on to settle other things. I will forgive him; all I need is time.”
“Of course, dear. You can stay here for as long as you like. I never said you couldn’t, all I asked is that you find it in your heart to forgive your brother so that you can then move on to find your happiness.”
“Thank you, Miranda. I will forgive Walden when the time comes, thank you so much for this talk, thank you for letting me stay here. I really appreciate it.”
**********
After leaving Sandy’s room, Miranda retired to her bedroom for the night. It’s been a long day, and with the battle finally over and the Lotus gradually uprising, she remembered the new suggestion she made in court today.
All the circle had voted in favor, and from the reports she received back at home, they were also in support of this new decision that would lead to new beginnings.
She entered her bedroom to meet Damian in the study, drafting out the decrees to be finally announced in a few days to come, along with the letters that would be sent out to all the remaining packs, informing them of this new decision.
“How is it?” Miranda asked him.
“It’s going well,” Damian responded. “You were amazing in court today, Miranda. I will never forget your wise decisions that changed all of our lives for good.”
“I learnt it all from a certain someone, a certain leader who rules by example, who is never scared to do the right thing for the good of his followers. A certain leader I fell in love with.”
“Hmmm,” he smirked. “And who might this be?”
“I’m looking at him right now, and you know something else?”
“What else?” He already knew what was coming next. Following the question, he left his work from the table as he grabbed her fully by the waist, pulling her closer to him so they could feel the warmth of each other’s bodies on their skin. She began to speak with so much desire and passion written on her face.
“I want this certain leader to make love to me like he’s never done before,” she whispered.