Chapter 16
Samara then sighed before saying, "I didn't want to tell you this before because I was so frightened, but I guessed you've figured it out already."
"What is it, Samara? You can tell me anything. You know I'll always listen to you."
She took another deep breath before continuing, "It's about the man you arrested this morning. He came here claiming to be a messenger from the Silver Pack two days ago, but you weren't around that day."
"Yes, that's what the guards told me. They said he left behind a message for me with you. Why didn't you give it to me when I returned?"
"That's what I've been hiding from you, Walden. Curiosity got the better part of me, so I opened the letter and read it before you came. It was wrong of me, I know, but I don't regret what I did because I was able to save your life by exposing that scoundrel!"
Walden held a questioning gaze, "Tell me, what did the letter say?"
"The message was from Alpha Damian of the Silver Pack, telling you to meet him at the neutral ground that bordered the Silver and Night Shadow's territories. He didn't say why, but I knew that something smelled fishy. That's why I didn't give it to you, but instead, went to your place."
"Samara, why is it now that you're just telling me all this? Did you really go alone? What if you got hurt or even killed?! What would I have done then?"
"I'm sorry, but I knew it was better to take the risk than to let you go and meet an unexpected fate."
He calmed down then and asked, "So what happened when you went to the border?"
"I didn't see any sign of Alpha Damian. Instead, this guy attacked me."
"Samara, you're beginning to annoy me! Honestly, how could you have kept this from me?!"
"I didn't want to worry you."
He yelled, "Bullshit, Samara! That's a shitty excuse for you to give! You didn't want to worry me? So you thought it was better to risk your life instead?!"
"I didn't die, Walden. Nothing happened to me, and I couldn't let myself get killed when I knew what that would do to you."
"I don't know. It's really hard to believe any of this, Samara. Like, how did you even manage to escape?"
"I fought back, but it was hard. The guy nearly overpowered me, but I knew I had to fight. I had to fight, so I would have the chance to see you again."
"So when I returned, and you saw me, you couldn't even tell me any of this? You just decided it was best that you kept all that to yourself? Just like that?!"
"Yes, I'm sorry, Walden! I'm sorry for hiding it all from you. I thought I was protecting you, but when I saw that the killer had returned, that same fear sprang in me. That was why I fainted this morning. You know I would never do anything to hurt you on purpose, Walden. I'm sorry."
Walden took a minute to calm down and understand Samara's plight. However, no matter how much he tried, he just could not make any sense of it. Maybe Sandy was right.
"Where are you going?" Samara asked as Walden stood up to take his leave.
"I want to believe you, Samara. I really do, but I feel this isn't the right way to handle things. I think I must hear another version of this story from the prisoner's mouth before I can decide."
"No!"
He raised his brow at her, questioning her reaction. After seeing the look on his face, she had to calm her stance as her yelling would only make it harder to stop Walden from going to that prison cell. She needed to make him believe her reason.
"I mean, he's very dangerous. I don't think you should be going to meet him alone, Walden. I've met him before, and he's a cunning person. You never know what trick he might have up his sleeve."
"I'm not going there alone, Samara. The dungeon is heavily guarded, and he is fully restrained. I only want to speak to him and hear whatever he has to say." He turned and was about to leave when Samara quickly sprang from her bed, reaching him before he could touch the doorknob.
She tugged his shirt, pleading, "Don't go, Walden! I'm begging you!"
"Samara..."
"Please?" She suddenly put on a mask of sadness. Her body suddenly became weak again and was about to drop to the ground, but luckily, Walden caught her on time.
"Samara! Samara! What's wrong with you?! Are you feeling okay? This is why I told the healer to examine you, but you refused!"
As Walden held her there on the ground, she began to mumble some words, "Please don't leave me. Please stay with me, just for tonight?"
"I can't. I have to speak with the prisoner now, Samara."
"Please? I'm still feeling weak. Let me rest beside you just for tonight. The prisoner can wait. You can see him tomorrow, but I want you to stay with me."
"Samara..."
"Please, Walden? Please?"
Dragging this back and forth was only going to waste time. Being the kind of person he was, he always hated it when she was upset with him, so he finally agreed.
"Okay, Samara. Just for tonight, I'll stay with you before meeting with the prisoner in the morning."
He lifted her and took her to her bed. Using the blankets to tuck her in before cuddling her in his arms, she lay beside him. She then fell asleep beside him as her slow breathing was in sync with the steady beating of his heart.
***
Midnight came, and Samara woke up from her slumber. Walden was still beside her, and his snores radiated the quiet room as he was sound asleep. This was the perfect time for her to act now. Gently, she crept out of bed, slowly withdrawing herself from Walden's arms, until the two shared no contact. Thankfully, she did not wake him up in the process.
She slowly tip-toed to her drawers, quietly searching the shelves for the tools she needed for tonight's mission. She needed a can of sleeping gas, a gas mask, and a dagger. It could be small but have a blade sharp enough to penetrate one's heart. After gathering everything she needed, she quietly put on her slippers and proceeded to leave the room while Walden was still asleep.
The following day, the guards on morning duty reported to the Alpha to deliver the news about the sleeping night guards and the dead prisoner, who had been stabbed in his cell.