The Ember In The Dark ( book one )

Chapter 33

Blake

- Unknown time – 

All he could see was the freckles on her flushed cheeks. The green of her eyes filled with fury. Her sweet scent intoxicated him. He just want to drown his face in her thick red curls. Touch her pale skin and watch it redden from contact. Watch her bite her lower lip as she brushed it with the tip of her tongue. All he could think of is capturing those pink lips into his. All he could smell was her. Recounting all the little details of her face just incase he missed anything.

He can't believe she was in his arm. He lowered his face their lips only inches apart. Rain stated to fall on their faces. He looked up to see the night sky wondering when did they step outdoors. 

"Blake" Danny's small trembling voice calls him, "What are you saying?" A younger version of Danny stood in—front of him. She was in her matching Mr. Spock pajamas. Her pigtails dripped from the rain.

Shock he took a step back, knowing this night very well. It has played countless times in his mind. Over and over again even if he tried to stop himself the end was the same. He will hurt Danny tonight. His words will cut through her and what ever friendship they once had will seize to exist. 

"You need to go. "He insisted 

"Blake I just need someone to talk to. You don't understand what happened that night. I can't go back to that house. All I see is my mother." She stuttered as her teeth chattered from the cold. 

"I can't help you Dans. Your mom died. You need to get over it. Stop coming her to cry its not.. well just stop." He spat.

"I just need my best friend. Dad is also sad I have no one else to turn to" She sobbed. 

"Then talk to a shrink. I am cant be your go to person for this. I am just a kid I cant handle this shit." He takes a deep breath as he continued "You know what let me make this simple for you. Just leave me alone. She died. If you can't deal with that then that's your problem not mine."

Danny fell to the wet grass as tear rolled down her face. He cursed under his breath stopping himself from comforting her. He turn his heels and run back home. 

- Present time –

Blake wakes up hyperventilating. Grabbing the pillow behind his head and throwing across the room.

"Am a f*****g jerk" he buries his face on his hands as he groans, "She hates me and she has every right to." 

He gave up on trying to sleep and went to the kitchen where he find his Dad making two cups of hot cocoa. "I guess you'll be up." He smiles at him as he pours him a cup.

"That bad huh?" Blake takes the cup from his dad and leans on the counter. Blake's nightmares have been more constant. Causing him to scream out in his sleep. The dream was always the same replaying that faithful evening over and over again. 

"Well lets just say I had to convince your mom not to call the pack doctor." Mr. Conner's looks at his son sympathetically. "I owe you an apology son."

"Dad we have talked about this. You have nothing to be sorry for We all agreed it was the best for her and the pack." Blake takes the cup and swirls the drink in it before taking a sip. Recalling the night he turned into a werewolf.

13 year old  –

He just turned 13 and it was the very same night Danny showed up. His emotions and adrenaline were high. He knew if danny wouldn't leave he would end up hurting her as he shifted. 

A newly turn wolf losses their control over their senses. Making them more animal like than human. It takes awhile for the man and wolf unite. Blake knew that Danny would see right through him if he lied. He needed to push her away and fast. 

When he came back to his senses a week later he was too late. Danny was in the hospital recovering from a failed suicide attempt. Blake blamed himself for what happened to her. 

"Stay away from my daughter" Mr. Matthews seethed with anger stood by the doorway of the hospital room. Blake was by Danny's bedside next to his father, Mr. Connor. 

Surprised both Blake and Mr. Conner turn to face Mr. Matthews. "I don't need your kind near my daughter." He continued in his tirade with clench fist. 

Mr. Conner stood next to his son, "Kind?" 

"Don't play dumb with me ALPHA." Mr. Matthew's as if disguised when he uttered the words ALPHA. "I know what your kind are. I've always known. "

"Then why didn't you say anything?" Mr. Conner protectively stood in-front of Blake. 

"Since your family treated my late wife and Daniella like your own. I thought you'll be different. I kept your secret. Only to be repaid by such currently." Mr. Matthew's paced in the room red from anger. 

"We are doing everything we can to find the rogues who attacked your family. I promise you I will find the justice you seek. We have always considered your family especially Daniella like one of us."

"Then where were your so called patrols on the night they were attack? If they were one of you how come you left them to fend off a werewolf on their own. Or do you only protect your own kind?" Mr. Matthew's spat. 

"The rogues, they were more than we expected. They attacked in packs targeting our young. Then by the time we captured their leader. By the time we figured the extent of their attacks we were too late. I am so sorry." Mr. Conner took a step towards Mr. Matthews placed his hand on his shoulder to offer some comfort. 

Mr. Matthews pushed his hand away and pointed his finger at Mr. Conner "Conner I don't want your apologies. I want you, your pup, or any of your kind to stay the hell away from Daniella. That pup of yours better end his friendship with my daughter now. Or I swear to God you will have the WHC come down on your entire pack."

Mr. Conner's eyes widen in shock, "WHC? Matthews, don't tell me?"

"Yes you got that right ALHPA, your looking at the captain of the Elite Task force for the Werewolf Hunter Confederation" Mr. Matthews smirked, "Don't worry Alpha, for the sake of my late wife who loved that pup of yours like her own. Your secret is safe, for now. But if you break our agreement, and I see your pup sniffing anywhere near my daughter. "

"You have my word. Thank you Matthews. I hope you would reconsider using your skills for good though."

- Present time — 

As if they were reliving the same memory  Mr. Conner continues "I shouldn't have agreed on his terms so easily. Yet it was the lease I could do for a grieving man. He did keep our secret all those years even when he was still working for WHC. "

"Dad we have talked about this. It was and still is what's best for Danny and the pack. She will never accept me, not after knowing a werewolf killed her mom. And we can't risk the pack's safety. What if Mr. Matthews makes good on his threat." Blake shakes his as he reassure his father. 

"But son, she is your mate things are different. I am sure by now Matthews will understand." Mr. Connor visibly consumed by guilt tries to argue with his son. 

"Do you really think he a former WHC Captain would allow his daughter to be a Luna of a pack? "Blake sounding exasperated having had this discussion with his father one to many times. 

"But son" Mr. Connor tries to continue but is quickly interrupted by Blake.

"I will reject Danny for the sake of the pack. We were luck Mr. Matthews kept his word for so long. I don't want to push our luck." Taking a deep breath he continues, "Besides Danny hates me, It's impossible to reconnect with her now after 4 years. It's for the best, I suppose. She has been through a lot adding this life, putting a rift between her and her dad. I can't do that to her. His the only one she has left. "With that Blake left the kitchen. 

Everything was going as planned. He was going to ignore Danny in order to keep the treaty. But when he turned 18 and found out Danny was his mate things have been harder. His body ached for her, his dreams consisted of her, he longed for her. 

He would find himself walking behind her in school just to catch her scent. Sitting next to her in class. Observing her from a far. When all he wanted to do was be with her. 

He kept his distance creepy stalking her only in school. If I allowed himself to much of Danny he knew he will have a harder time when it was time to reject her. 

But after today, after touching her he wasn't too sure he could stay away from her anymore.