Chapter 26
"It's only the first day of your engagement and you've already begun to receive gifts! I can already tell that this union between you and the Alpha is sure to be a blessed one!" Madame Jane beamed as she placed the package in front of Miranda's dressing table.
"Miranda? Aren't you going to come and open your gift? Aren't you excited to see what it is? Miranda?"
She didn't respond, Madame Jane noticed that she had a gloomy face when she was seated on her bed, she didn't even seem to hear the old woman calling her. Madame Jane, with a look of concern, went over to tap her lightly on the arm.
"Miranda?" Miranda shifted upon feeling the contact with her skin, she appeared to be distracted, probably thinking about something that bothered her a lot.
"What is it dear?" Madame Jane asked concernedly.
"No... Um... Nothing, sorry, I was just distracted, that's all."
Madame Jane then sat beside her, "Would you mind telling me about what distracted you?"
She sighed, "I don't know... at the court today, it just seemed so strange. Even though I'm agreeing to go on with this marriage based on reasons far from love, everyone seemed to be so happy about it, even the Silver wolf guards that had treated me badly, they all changed their attitude towards me the minute they heard about my engagement to their Alpha. They all suddenly began to show me the respect they never had for me before."
"I know what it is you're bothered about. You're worried it's all pretense and that you won't fit in here, especially the fact that you'll be getting married to someone you just met a few days ago."
"Yes, exactly that. It's like you're the only one who seems to understand me here."
"Thank you, but the truth is dear, I'm not."
Miranda raised her eyes, "What are you talking about?"
"That man that calls himself Damian, is wiser than you think. His terrible past and experience have shaped him to be the man he is today. He's not one to just jump into decisions without having a valid reason for them, and your engagement to him now... Well no one saw it coming, but then, it happened."
Miranda was confused by her words, "What do you mean by that?"
"I don't know everything but then I'll only say what I think is possible, Alpha Damian may be more than sure of who you are already, or else he'd have killed you since."
"If he's as sure as you think, why didn't he just let me go? Why give me a marriage condition and take my men in exchange for his aid?"
"The Alpha is an unpredictable man, Miranda, and we always trust his decisions. This is one of them where we'll just sit back, watch and see what happens. The news of Alpha Damian getting married is not one you hear every day, so of course, they will be excited, as for the Silver wolves' behavior, I'm sorry for our shortcomings but we are no different from the other packs. I wish for nothing more than for us to be more welcoming towards foreigners, but given the risk of safety, I know it was for the best."
"I too wish the same thing, not just for the Silver Pack but for the other packs as well. Imagine if we were all united; the rogue war would have never happened because they wouldn't even stand a chance."
"That would have been good, but tell yourself the truth Miranda, the twelve tribes are vast in their differences, and the day that they all unite is a day that is sure to never come."
***
Miranda spent the rest of the evening receiving gifts and visits from the Silver wolves who came to wish her well. Even till the next morning, she began to see the more welcoming side of this pack, as they were all excited about their Alpha's wedding. Some were even calling her Luna already. Madame Jane was right, the Silver wolves did wish happiness for their Alpha.
That afternoon after lunch, she received a visit from someone she expected the least to come, her husband-to-be, Alpha Damian. Fear and surprise sprung through her the minute she opened her door and met him standing in front of it.
"Oh, Um... Alpha Damian... Good afternoon sire."
"Good afternoon, Miranda, and there's no need for the formalities, just 'Damian' is fine."
She nodded nervously, "Of course, Damian... Um, please, come in."
She held the door open as he entered her small room, not very small but like a tiny hut compared to his big lounge. He looked around it as if it was a strange place to him, not suppressing the urge to ask.
"Is this where you sleep?"
The question surprised her, but she answered anyway, "Yes."
He looked around the room again. He didn't appear to be pleased by her answer but then brushed the thought aside as he would deal with that later. Besides, he had other important things he came here to discuss. She went over to the table and offered him a seat in front of it, he nodded and went over to sit, and then she took the other seat facing him.
"I have made arrangements with the transport officers; we will be traveling to the Lotus territory to meet with your father. After I confirm who you are, I will officially ask him for your hand in marriage and then we will have the Luna ceremony afterward."
She nodded, "Okay."
"Be ready tomorrow, Miranda, for you are soon to become my wife."
***
Nervousness racked through Miranda as she sat at the back of the moving black Range Rover beside Alpha Damian, it was only the two of them with a driver in front. None of them said a word to each other as they traveled the long journey to her pack. Their car was surrounded by other similar vehicles containing silver guards meant to protect the Alpha and his mate. It was a whole day's trip, and apart from the few questions he asked her now and then between intervals, Damian said nothing else to her, making the insides of the car quiet and cold as ice. They couldn't even engage in a regular conversation and this was supposed to be someone she would soon be married to so what could have caused this sort of coldness this groom of hers possessed?
Hours passed, and finally, they reached the Lotus territory and then the Lotus Pack-house. The guards at the gates were surprised to see the swarm of expensive cars driving into the compound. Had it not been they caught sight of the Princess; they would have mistakenly thought it was an attack from the rogues because of so many soldiers.
The Lotus Pack members gathered in hundreds at the entrance, they were all wowed and mesmerized at the parade of cars, curious to see who had come along with the princess and what for. He looked so powerful, who could he be? They wondered.