Chapter 34
"I don't believe you," she said, shaking her head in doubt.
"Believe it or not, Miranda, he even went as far as turning one of my loyal pack members against me. Do you remember Omega Conor, the son of the seamstress?"
She tried to recall her memory of the name. "I think I met him once before. Isn't he Sandy's good friend?"
"Yes, but unfortunately, Conor wasn't all he seemed to be at the time. He confessed his crimes with his own mouth before I executed him in my court. He was sent by Damian to destroy me and my pack. He's no friend to my sister. He fooled her and used her to gain entrance to the pack-house to do Damian's dirty work!"
"No! You're lying! No, I cannot―I do not believe you. I won't―"
"Believe it or not, Miranda, it's the truth. I swear that I received no such message about you in captivity, and even if I did, it must have been a trap for him to lure me into his territory. He is evil, Miranda. You cannot marry him. You just cannot."
Miranda began to stutter. "But... b-b-but..."
Walden stood up and went to kneel in front of her and took her hands in his. "Miranda, I'm sorry for all that's happened between us. I only came here to tell you that I'm willing to turn a new leaf if you'll accept me back. I promise to make things right and always put you as my top priority from now on. I know I haven't been doing a good job at that, but I'm willing to make these changes for you, dear, if you'll forgive and accept me. Please Miranda, call off this wedding, do it for the both of us... Please."
"But what about Damian? He was really looking forward to this. He'll be heartbroken."
"I can't believe that you're still concerned about Damian's feelings after hearing all these things about him. Miranda, can't you see that he's doing nothing but using you to get your men? Who knows, he might even kill you after that. I came here for you because I love you, Miranda. I want to protect you and I'm willing to go to any length to get you back. Please don't enter into a marriage you'll regret for the rest of your life."
She kept quiet and contemplated his words. Damian might have done all those things, but then how could she believe the words of Walden whom she'd always known to be nothing but a pathetic liar?
'What to do? What to do? Oh, dear Lily, what do I do?'
Lily responded immediately. 'Follow your heart and not your ears. Let it be the one to guide you."
As if in a short trance, she then heard Walden's words echo in her ears, "Please don't enter a marriage you'll regret for the rest of your life."
Taking Lily's advice, she spoke her firm reply out loud. "The only such marriage I'll ever regret is the one with you, Walden."
Walden was taken aback by her words, which had clearly caught him unawares. "What?!"
"Yes, you heard me. And I still stand my ground on what I said. Damian might have done all those things, but regardless, that does not justify all the evil you've done through Samara. You're not in any way better than him, you're even much worse."
"Miranda..."
She didn't let him finish. "I'm going to marry Alpha Damian, no matter what you tell me about him, because unlike you, I never back down from a promise. You broke my heart the minute you left me hanging because of Samara and I'll never forgive you for that! Even with all you said, if I were to choose who I would marry between you and Damian, I would choose Damian a million times over! He might be a killing machine as you said, but you're no better, Walden. You know you're not!"
"Miranda, I'm begging you, please reconsider this decision you're making. I know you're mad at me, but don't try to punish me by marrying him. Please Miranda!"
"There is nothing to consider, Walden, and I'm damn sure about what I said earlier. We're never getting back together again. It's over!"
"Please Miranda, you can't do this. You're making a mistake."
"Please, take your leave now, Walden, I have a wedding to prepare for," she snapped at him.
Walden sighed in frustration and got up from the ground. He'd done all he could; he'd run out of words to say; he didn't know what to do anymore that would convince her and make her see sense in what he was saying.
"I know you're angry at me, Miranda. I'd feel the same way too if I were in your shoes. I'll leave you alone to think things through. Please think about all I've said. There's still time... There's still time to change your mind. I promise to fight by your side, Miranda, I promise to never let you go again."
***
Valledor had heard about Walden's arrival and he didn't waste any time before rushing to the meeting room, his heart racing wildly. At first, he stood outside the door, ready to enter, but then, he quickly thought better of it. If Miranda saw him in there, she would know that he was the one who had called Walden to come, and then she would certainly refuse him. So Valledor decided to wait outside, hoping for a positive result.
"Let's just hope that Walden is good enough in convincing Miranda to call off the wedding," he said to himself.
Shortly after, a disappointed Walden came out of the meeting room. Valledor could read the look on his face. He needed no soothsayer to tell him that Walden hadn't succeeded after all. Miranda had clearly made up her mind and she wasn't going to back down on her decision to get married today, no matter what anyone told her.