Arianna was not okay, she was frozen in shock, having watched everything play out right in front of her. She had not only narrowly escaped being killed by bullets but watched Samson devour a woman right in front of her. It was a very traumatic sight and she was covered in sweat.
Her stomach couldn’t help but churn at the bloody scene. As much as the woman had come to take her life, she still didn’t deserve this painful end. She was probably a mother or sister to someone and she was gone just like that.
However, Arianna’s heart hardened in the end, the woman had come to take her life and it was no fault of hers she met a terrible end. Samson had only been doing his job. Arianna wondered if the woman thought about how her action would cause her loved one’s pain before attempting to take away her life. Never take away a life that you can’t give. So no, she refused to feel any more guilt.
“That’s it, buddy,” Marcel was working on calming Samson down and so far the lion had stopped growling which was a good sign.
“You can move now,” He instructed Arianna who carefully left Samson’s side under his ever-watchful gaze, careful enough not to step on the blood and the woman’s bit. Samson had not eaten her, instead, he mauled and decapitated her in the end.
As soon as Arianna was in Marcel’s embrace, she burst into tears. While she had been putting on a brave front, the realization of what almost happened finally dawned on her and it was overwhelming. In a flash, she could have been separated from Marcel forever.
All it took was mere seconds and he would have lost her forever – together with the dreams and future they planned to build together. How fickle was human life? One moment you are there and the next, you aren’t. So many thoughts ran through Arianna’s mind at that moment.
Would Marcel have mourned for her? For how long would he mourn for her? In the end, would he settle down with another woman? In years to come, when the memories had grown faint, he would probably find another woman and start a family with her to continue the lineage, right?
While it was common for humans to move on, Arianna wished he would never forget her. Even if he’s somehow happy with his new life and wife, she wishes to be the one he would love forever. His one and only soul mate. The one that would always have his heart.
What about her mother? Arianna knew deep down that Natalie would mourn and probably blame Marcel for her death, because it had happened in his territory. She would carry the guilt forever and would never forget Marcel till the day she died. Her mother would always regret sending her to the base. The more Arianna thought about it, she realized how loved she was and how much pain those she left behind would have been in.
Speak about Marcel, he embraced Arianna so hard that he didn’t realize he was literally crushing her. His hands were shaking with dread and the reality that he could have lost, not only Arianna but his child. His heart was pounding in his chest and he wouldn’t stop shaking.
All it took was one moment and he could have lost her forever. He would have never seen her smiling face again; her cute look whenever she was angry; the pure bliss on her face whenever they made love. All of it would have been a memory. Marcel hugged her tighter, a tear slipping down her eyes.
He couldn’t even imagine breaking the news to Natalie. What was he going to tell her? That her daughter who was in his care was dead? Like she would believe him. It was undoubtedly going to spark a war between both families and the peace he had fought to maintain went in the twinkle of an eye.
Although to be honest, Marcel wouldn’t mind a war. No, he would prefer it if he died instead because there was no use living if Arianna was dead. He would rather go with her. A world without Arianna was not worth it. How could he lose both the love of his life and his child at the same time? It was the cruelest fate that he could be subjected to. No wonder his father Daniel didn’t want to “feel” because love is a bullet to the brain.
“Marcel…. Marcel….” Arianna began to protest when she couldn’t breathe anymore and Marcel sensing her discomfort, loosened his grip at once. He was simply scared to lose her and that had been a close call. He didn’t let go of her and they remained in that position.
It wasn’t after a while that Marcel felt something nudging him and he looked down to discover that it was no one else but Samson. The lion was rubbing his side as if fishing for a compliment and that was what Marcel did exactly. He let go of Arianna and crouched down to hug the big cat. Marcel had never loved Samson more than now.
While Samson as a baby cub, freshly separated from his mother had been a test given to him by his father to test his bravery and resilience, Marcel never regretted getting to be with him. The lion was more than a pet to him, he was family.
“You did well, buddy,” Marcel rained compliments on him, rubbing and running his hands through his thick mane and not caring he got blood on it. He would treat him later.
Samson strolled away, contented, his tail swishing excitedly. Marcel then turned and carried Arianna off her feet, surprising her. He needed to get her out of here while they cleaned this place up. And then, he would look into this matter and find out who had dared to lay a hand on Arianna.
When he does, he was going to destroy whoever that was. There would be no mercy!