The Ember In The Dark ( book one )

Chapter 27

“Please stay with me,” Danny.

-present time -

As the soothing voice of Blake calls her from the dark void she was in. Danny was hesitant to wake. Scared that the safety and comfort she felt would all disappear.

“Wake up, Danny,” Blake’s voice calls. As if it was a rope tugging on her pulling her out of the darkness she was floating in.

Finally, her eyes flutter open. Unsure if she was still in a dream as she saw muscular arms wrapped around her. Her head lifted as the chest she was resting on took a deep breath.

God, he is so warm, She thought to herself.

The warmth radiating from his chest and arms made her snuggle deeper into him.

“Hmmm” Uncontrollable, she lets out a soft moan.

“Wake up, love,” Blake's soothing voice called her once more. Blake enjoyed how she snuggled onto him. He was convinced even more that their mate bond was strong, and she could feel it as well.

She didn’t want to wake up if this was indeed a dream. She just wanted nothing but to be wrapped in his arms. Snuggle her head on his chest. She wanted the feeling of safety, comfort, of love. She wanted it all at that very moment.

Blake lowered his head to her ear and whispered, “You need to wake up, my love” She could smell the mint in his breath. Being this close to her made his need for her grow much more potent.

Danny’s opened wide as the realization hit her; she was wrapped in Blake’s arms.

How? What? a million other questions buzzed in her head. Her body became rigid. Quickly she pushed herself up, but Blakes's arms just wrapped around her.

“Calm down, my love; we are just here to give you your medicine,” Blake whispers, sensing Danny's panic.

Danny started to panic. Why was Blake here? On the bed with her?

And as her eyes adjusted to the light, she noticed Lucas sitting on a chair next to her bed and Jacob sitting a foot away from her feet.

“What? What are you guys doing here?” She pulled the blanket to her chest as she managed to push herself to sit up straight.

Blake sensed that she needed some space to let go of his embrace. He was allowing her to sit up straight.

She knew it was a stupid question, but she asked it anyway, “Again? What are you doing here?” Her voice was a little shaky.

She knew in her heart why they were there. She had a night tremor, and they heard her screams. They saw her at her worst; that’s why they all had this pity look on their faces. She knew it was time. Time to tell her friends the truth.

“You heard me screaming?” She looked at Jacob.

Jacob just nodded

“So you came.” She glances at Lucas. Lucas nodded his head.

“What did you see?” Her eyes remained at Lucas, not wanting to dare look at Blake. She may have gained some confidence, but she knew she would melt in shame if she looked at Blake.

She couldn’t stand it if he thought less of her after what she would say.

God, what did he think of her now? She thought.

Blake was still sitting behind her, leaning on the headboard.

“Maybe you need to take this first?” Lucas handed her the pill.

“How?” She asked as she took it from him.

“Saw it next to your nightstand,” Lucas answers as he hands her the water.

“Thanks” She took a deep breath before continuing, “I guess you all want to know what the hell was that you just witnessed.”

“ You don’t have to tell us anything you are not comfortable telling.” Blake rubbed in a circular motion the bottom of her back.

The anxiety she felt subsided, and she felt confident once more.

“This is not exactly how I wanted to tell you three about this. But no better time than the present.” She faked a weak smile to Lucas and Jacob.

“Night terrors,” She blurted out. “They are called night terrors. I’ve had them since,” She takes a deep breath, “Since the attacks.” She paused.

“You don’t owe us an explanation, Dans,” Blake’s voice soothing her.

She knew she had to tell them eventually; why not now. She had to tell someone, at least. She couldn’t go on living this way. As if it was her fault that she needed to hide the truth.

Something inside her compelled her to reach out for Blake’s hand. Maybe holding on to him would stop her from actually falling into the darkness of her past pains.

Sparks erupted as they held hands, and it gave her the courage to continue.

“The night mom was killed. The night of the attack.” She paused,

“Danny, you don’t have to,” Lucas cuts her off. She is seeing how it pained Danny to tell the story.

Danny reached out for Lucas's hand. “I need to tell you,” She smiled, “my best friends in the world. I need to tell you for me. I’ve been haunted by it for so long. And with you three, I can not face it.”

“I just hope that you three,” She glances over at Jacob, “wouldn’t look at me differently.”

She recoils her legs and leans back to Blake’s embrace like a kitten. She pulled his arms around her tightly like she needed the support. “Just promise not to let go.” She whispered.

“Never,” Blake responded.

Something inside her body knew that she was next to Blake. That staying in his embrace was what she needed.

In his embrace, she felt safe. Safe enough to tell her story.

“On the night of the attacks before they killed mom.” She took a deep breath, “The man who seemed like their leader carried me to my room. They tied me up, and ….”

“You do not have to say more” Jacob's voice was now low and almost like a growl.

Blake’s heart broke to pieces even before Danny could finish her sentence. It was a good thing he was embracing her. If not, he would be punching holes in the walls. His wolf was raging and wanted blood.

Those f*****g rogues touched our mate; his wolf barked in his head.

Blake focused his energy on just embracing Danny and giving his support. He knew this was not a straightforward tale to tell.

“Before I knew it they..” Tears started streaming down her eyes. Blake’s embrace tightened as he pulled her into him.

Blood human, I want the blood of those f*****g rogues, his wolf demanded.

We have time for that later; our mate needs us now. Blake responded to his wolf.

“Ever since then, I get what my therapist calls Night terrors. Like I am relieving that very same moment.” She bites her lip. She told them this much already. She needed to say to them everything. She continued with a shaky voice, “The first time I got the tremors were the week after mom died.”

“The night you came over?” Blake muttered

“Yes. And I couldn’t; I was overwhelmed by all that I tried to, you know” She lifted her hand and pulled back her sleeve. “It wasn’t the first time either.”

“I cannot live in a loop of pain, fear, panic.” She leans in deeper onto Blake.

“Why didn’t you reach out to any of us?” Lucas ask

“You were too far? Blake and I were no longer friends.”

“What the f**k, man?” Jacob roared, “ You cut off ties with her? You f*****g ashole.”

“Jacob, no, It wasn’t all his fault. I was too embarrassed. I was ashamed of myself. I withdrew from everyone, including Blake.”

Blake couldn’t believe that she was defending him from Jacob when he was disgusted at himself for treating Danny in school.

“Am so sorry, Daniella. Jacob is right; I am a jerk.”

“Asshole, I said ashole,” Jacob corrected him.

“He did say asshole Blake,” Danny quipped.

“Ok fine, you win. Am sorry I was an asshole” Blake chuckles a bit.

“Is,” Danny retorts

“What?” Blake pops his head next to her, arching his eyebrow.

“You said it was, and your still a little bit. So the proper tense to use is - us” She giggles softly.

“Oh, so we are being smart now” He tightened his embrace and kissed her cheek.

He cups her face with both hands as he wipes away her tears.

“Hey, what was that for?” Danny ask

“For being, so GOD damn strong. Don’t you ever forget it.?” Blake was glad she was making jokes, but he knew she was stirring the conversation away from what she had just revealed.

“I think let's make Danny rest. We can talk more in the morning. Just know that we love you, Dans. And Blake’s right, don’t ever forget you are strong as s**t. And we are never leaving you again.” Lucas stands and kisses the top of her head.

Blake was taken aback by Lucas's actions. His wolf is stirring in jealousy that he lets out a low growl.

He quickly embraces Danny once more and pulls her towards him.

“Thanks for trusting us with your truth Daniella” Jacob stands after he reaches for her feet and squeezes them as a sign of reassurance.

“Time to go, mate” Jacob looks at Blake.

Blake didn’t want to leave Danny, but he knew his friends were right, and she may need the space for the night.

As he was releasing his embrace. Danny places her hands on his forearms, preventing him from removing them.

She whispers, “Please stay.”