Reclaiming Herself—Completed

Chapter Seven

Danielle.

Same day as previous chapter.

***Mature content throughout the chapter. Read with caution. s****l trauma and abuse.***

The first clue that informed Danielle that something was amiss was the fact that no one had brought her sorry excuse of a meal in. Not that she looked forward to it, but it was the only source of sustenance she received. After what had happened, Danielle needed a distraction, even if it was cold, gross soup.

She then took the time to assess the damage done to her body. Looking down at her stomach, she counted four, very distinct, bite marks. Blood was still crusted from where his fangs had pierced her skin. A flash of memory from the night before entered her mind, and she shuddered in horror. Her brain had already begun stashing the painful memories into the deepest recesses of her mind. However, this one stayed rooted in the forefront of her mind a moment too long. Even as her blood ran cold, Danielle swiftly raised a hand to her neck. To her marking spot.

“Please let it just be fear. Please don’t be real. Please no,” she whispered.

However, to her dismay, she felt the bumpy, ripped skin. Flakes of dried blood ripped off from the scab and attached themselves onto her finger. He had marked her. Danielle had no idea why he’d done such a stupid thing, but he’d done it. She briefly wondered if this would change her standing in the pack, but her cell door opening drew her attention back to reality.

Caleb entered with a stoic face. This time, what was on the tray wasn’t food, but were supplies instead. He knelt quietly next to her and began tending to her various wounds.

“Caleb,” Danielle mumbled. “What’s going on?”

He only shook his head.

“Please?”

He shook his head again, his eyes pleading with her to remain silent. She frowned, but stayed quiet, watching him as he had her stand to tend to her various cuts and bruises. Her cuts hissed, but nothing pained her more than to see his eyes scan over her marked neck. There was such sorrow and pity in his eyes for her. Danielle had to look away from him. Caleb did a once over and silently declared his work done.

He then pulled out a small, hard roll that looked half-eaten.

“Eat this quickly,” he said.

“What about my neck?” she murmured, confused.

Caleb shook his head and handed her a cream sundress. Danielle’s brow furrowed. She’d never been given real clothes before. Taking it hesitantly, she slipped it on. It was a cotton fabric that was soft on her skin. The collared, v-neck met in the front with buttons running all the way down to the end of the dress that stopped just above her ankles. There were flowy, loose sleeves that fluttered over her shoulders. The waist was synched with a belt, and Danielle tied a bow in back. The skirt of the dress poofed out to give volume, but wasn’t overwhelming. It was a simple, clean garment, and Danielle cherished it. She understood that she was still just a slave, but for the first time since we had been brought into d**k’s pack, she felt like a person again. A real person.

“What’s the catch?” she then sarcastically asked Caleb.

He held out a silver collar attached to a leash.

“Ah… I’ll look like a Luna up until the collar. Dashing. He accidentally marked a slave in the heat of passion, and now he must live with the decision.”

Her words were biting, but there was no one to hear them or save her from the actions of a cruel man. Talking to Caleb was like talking to a wall because he was powerless to stop d**k, just like she was.

Questions welled up inside of her mind. Why hadn’t he instructed Caleb to cover her neck or help the wound heal in any way? Did d**k really want his own people to see her like this? To see her as a Luna? That was what this meant. He had chosen this role for her, whether he had intended it or not. To be marked with consent or not by an alpha meant that she’d fill the Luna role.

Before she could dwell on it any longer, Caleb attached the collar to her neck, and the smell of sizzling, burning flesh filled her nostrils. She winced in pain, but held back her scream of agony. Pain was nothing new. This would be no different. She would endure. She had to.

Using the leash, Caleb gently pulled her toward the door, and Danielle reluctantly followed. She climbed the stairs and felt herself self-consciously smooth out a fold in the dress.

“Gorgeous as per usual,” d**k’s voice boomed out as they reached the top of the stairs. “Yes, that dress was a perfect fit. I knew it would look good on you. You almost look like a Luna. A good wash and some product for your hair will do the rest. Maybe some make-up,” he mused.

Danielle couldn’t believe her ears. What was this lunatic carrying on about? Her? A Luna? He was serious?

Richard snatched the leash from Caleb and kicked her friend to the side. She resisted the urge to help, knowing it would only incite a further beating for Caleb if she interfered.

Pulling on the leash, Danielle fell forward, landing hard on her knees in front of the alpha, who gave her a lustful smile. She shook her head in confusion.

“I know, I know,” he mused. “This must seem out of the blue for you. But I couldn’t help it last night. I’ve been dreaming of making you mine, and I finally gave into my temptation. Just the thought of anyone else touching you boils my blood. I am a very jealous alpha, you know. Better to make you my slave Luna, at least you can attend to the needs of my pack for me. These wolves need a Luna, and it’ll help keep the other slaves in line to see you, one of them, by my side. Besides, you were practically wasting away before my very eyes. I want you around for a very, very long time. Your only job in life is to first and foremost please me, and then serve my pack. I need you healthy to do either, so, if you’re always by my side, then I can be sure you’ll survive.”

He paused for a moment and just stared at her. “Having you in my bed, well, I can most definitely get used to that,” he concluded, causing her to involuntary shudder.

Using a finger to lift her chin, her eyes briefly met his.

“Yes, I could get used to that,” he mumbled once more.

“Boss?” Beta Antonio spouted. “Boss, we’re ready for ya, and the Luna.”

Danielle watched as the beta strutted up to them, taking in the scene of her on her knees in front of their alpha. His eyes lingered on her figure, gaining a wicked glare from d**k.

“One second longer and I'll pluck your eyes out myself and make you wear them as a gift,” d**k spat, malice in his voice.

“Sorry, my alpha. I meant no disrespect,” Antonio immediately said, bearing his neck in submission.

Dick roughly grabbed her shoulder and pulled her to her feet. Danielle didn’t give Antonio another glance as she followed Richard. She didn’t know where they were going or what was happening. She had learned not to ask questions.

The entourage went up the stairs to Richard’s bedroom. Danielle swallowed her fear as she stepped into the cursed room. To her relief, they continued walking to the glass doors. Richard opened them, and Danielle couldn’t stop the smile that graced her lips as the sun kissed her skin for the first time in many, many, many days. In fact, she couldn’t even remember the last time she’d been in the sun. Her usually darkened skin was scarily pale because of how long she’d been cooped up in her cell.

“Listen,” d**k was saying into her ear.

His breath was hot, humid, and carried a disgusting odor.

“You’re going to smile. And, you’re going to wave when I introduce you. That is it. You will not speak, you will not frown. You will be my Luna, and I’ll use every single other slave you’ve grown fond of as collateral if you don’t follow my exact bidding. Do you understand?”

Danielle nodded once. She hated being his puppet, but she didn’t know what to expect. She figured it would be easier to go along with what he said until she could see more of the full picture.

The two of them walked out onto the balcony and into the full sun. When Danielle looked down, she saw the entire pack was beneath them, eagerly awaiting their alpha’s speech.

“Greetings, my beautiful people!” Richard roared.

The crowd below cheered for him.

“As you know, this year the Moon Goddess has blessed us with wealth and power. More so than the previous year! We have much to be grateful for!”

The crowd cheered again.

“But, as you may have also heard, we are being hunted!”

Gasps filled the air.

“Yes, I hate to inform you of the truth. The rumors are sickeningly true. Our sister pack, Half Moon, has been attacked and ransacked by the evil werewolf hunters. Their pack is no more, and we were unable to aid them in their struggle.”

Silence.

“But we will prevail, as we always do. We will make more sister packs. We will continue to be blessed by the Moon Goddess and do her work. We will fight against these evil hunters and take back our rights as wolves!”

Deafening cheers sounded from the pack. Hooting and hollering as well as clapping and joyous shouts filled the earlier silence.

“Now, as you may all be wondering who this gorgeous creature beside me is, I want to introduce you to someone very special. I was able to save her from the evil hunters' clutches. They used her as a slave for their own means; however, my Luna, my mate, is a survivor!”

Cheers cascaded up into Danielle’s ears.

It then dawned on her what was happening. d**k was lying to his people. He was going to use her as the pawn she was to control his pack. If a slave could be his Luna, then there was hope for the rest of them. She wanted to vomit. She wanted to scream. She wanted to tell them all it was a bold-faced lie!

“I’d love to introduce my slave and Luna, Danielle!”

She felt d**k nudge her forward, and she did her best to smile and gave a quick wave before stepping back as quickly as she could.

“My Luna lives to serve me, of course, but she is here for you. As we know, the Moon Goddess gives alphas the best for their packs. And, as we also know that women are subservient to men and are to serve their masters, she will not only serve me, but will give everything to serve you, my pack, as well! Give my Luna the same respect as you would give me!”

The place erupted in a joyful chaos. Danielle saw servants beginning to pass out champagne, and she almost lost the two bites of bread she had ingested just a little bit ago. How could these people so blatantly accept his lies and deceit and be happy for him? How had d**k done such a good job of bamboozling his pack?

As she racked her brain for an answer, she felt her collar tug. Richard was pulling her back into his room.

“Tonight there will be a feast and a party! For tonight, we shall celebrate our love and union,” he said to her, his eyes filling with lust for her.

Richard began unbuckling his belt even as he pulled on the leash to draw her closer to him.

“Hey, uh, boss?” Antonio said, popping his head into the room.

“WHAT?” he roared at his beta.

Antonio entered the room, a bloody Timothy held in his arms.

“I think there’s something you’re going to want to know about. We need to leave the pack grounds. Tonight.”

Danielle watched fear flash through Timothy’s eyes before Antonio told Richard everything he’d overheard.