Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Right from childhood, Miranda and Walden had chosen each other as mates and were going to get married at one of the future cardinal conferences. Things went well between the two until the rogue war, which disrupted the gatherings. The packs gradually became isolated from each other and Miranda and Walden's relationship suffered, before he started getting closer to Samara, the daughter to the previous Beta of the Night Shadow Pack.

After the gatherings resumed, Walden was no longer as close to her as before. Probably because her pack's status had degraded. It felt like he was ashamed to be seen with her. Whenever they met, it was always Samara this, Samara that. She did not need anyone to tell her that Walden did not love her anymore, but what could a princess who wanted to save her pack do?

Now that she had decided, she was going to stick by it till the end. She did not know what the outcome would be, but the only thing she would do was what her wolf said, 'follow your heart.'

"Princess?"

She turned to see the healer, Roku, who was standing in front of her in her father's bedroom. Only the Goddess knew how long he had been there, calling her.

"S-sorry, I was just distracted," she apologized.

"I understand the pressure you're facing, dear Princess. It's never easy."

She nudged her chin toward her father, who lay asleep on his bed. "How is he?"

"Hmm... I will not lie to you, Princess. I've given him some herbs that will calm his heart down. He's sleeping soundly and I will keep checking on him at intervals." The healer showed resistance to continue speaking, but Miranda knew there was more. "What is it? Tell me." She asked him to continue.

"I don't want you to worry too much by giving all the details. The only thing I can say is that if there's ever a time, you need to be the strongest in life. It's now. The Alpha's time will soon be near. We can do nothing more but wait till the day he takes his last breath."

Miranda closed her eyes, as she wished it would blow the pain away, but it did not. The thought of losing her only family hurt more than she could ever imagine.

"I'm sorry Princess. I've done all I can," and with that, she heard the door closing as Roku left. She was all alone with her sleeping father.

Miranda burst into tears as she rushed to his bedside, crying profusely. Taking his hand in hers, she stammered, "T-t-this... This is all m-my f-f-fault. I should have agreed to what Walden said, but I didn't, and now look at you."

'Calm your heart, dear,' Lily said. 'It's not your fault.'

Of course, her wolf was right. Her father had been sick for many years. After losing his mate during the war, his wolf had damaged him completely, gave him paralyzing sickness, and through the years, Miranda always knew that the day would come. The day healer just spoke of when Alpha would take his last breath. She had always thought that it would strengthen her heart with the time and she would be ready for it when that day came, but apparently, she was not. She was not ready to be left all alone in the world.

She was still holding her father's hand when she felt a movement in her fingers. He had woken up. She quickly wiped off her tears with the back of her hand, which did not hide the fact that she had been crying, but still she wiped because her father hated the fact that she always cried because of him.

Alpha Luther opened his eyes to see Miranda staring down at him with glistening eyes. He spoke slowly, with much difficulty, of course. But the words he had to tell her were very important. The pain he was in could not stop that.

"How many times do I have to tell you that crying ruins your beauty, my Princess?"

Miranda sniffed her tears back, "Father. You're awake!"

"Of course. I am."

"I'm so sorry, father, I shouldn't have said that."

Alpha Luther cut her short. "No, you did the right thing. It is I who refused to see the truth for so long. Everyone is trying to force this wedding on you. Forcing you to carry on with it for the Lotus Pack. No one even wants to think whether the union between you and Alpha Walden will work or not?"

"Oh, father!"

"A failed union between the both of you will only bring enmity between the two territories in the future, which will create an even bigger problem than the one we are facing now. Miranda, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I refused to accept the truth before. I refused to see that my Princess is no longer a Princess, but a Queen."

He paused for a moment to catch his breath before he continued. "I support your decision, because I know you will make a good Alpha one day, Miranda. One day you will bring the Lotus Pack out of dark tunnels and make us all proud!"

Bringing his hand near her lips, she kissed it softly.

"Thank you, father. I promise I will not stop until our people rise from the ashes again!"

***

After a heartfelt talk with her father, the healer came in to give him another dose of his medication. Later, they both left the room, so his rest could not be disturbed. Now that the Alpha was inactive, and the Beta was around for a few days, Miranda was the one in charge. Her father had given her his blessings, even though he knew that from the perspective of any werewolf, she was being foolish by calling off the engagement. But it was time that she wanted to trust her heart, just for once. Then see what happens after that.

She called one guard.

"Dereck!"

"Yes, Milady?"

"Beta Valledor is headed to the conference, right?"

He nodded, "Yes Princess."

"I have to inform him of father's condition and about my canceled engagement so he will not go ahead with the preparations. Call the driver. I'm heading to the cardinal conference now."