Reclaiming Herself—Completed

Chapter Twenty-Three

Danielle.

It was the sound of heavy breathing. It was the hot breath on her skin. On her neck. On her cheek. It was his scratchy 5 o’clock shadow. It was his fangs piercing her skin. It was his cold, dead eyes glaring at her, yelling at her, growling at her. It was their cries. Their pleas for help. Their blood. It covered her, engulfed her. She couldn’t take it. It had to end. She needed it to end. The pain. The sorrow. The–

“Dani! Please!” someone yelled.

No, it was Patrick. She was in his lap. He was hugging her and pressing her against his chest. He was petting her head. It felt…nice.

“What?” she whispered.

Danielle’s heart was pounding quickly. She noticed her fists were clenched, and her body was rigid. She touched her cheeks and felt the moisture. She was crying. The pain from her heat returned, though, and she grit her teeth until it subsided enough for her to focus on his words.

“It’s going to be okay. I promise you that it’ll be better. I won’t let him touch you ever again. I’m so sorry, Dani. I’m so so sorry,” Patrick was cooing into her ear.

She briefly looked around the plane they were still on. Though the others were attempting to maintain normalcy, they were peeking glances at her and whispering.

“What happened?” she then asked, finally returning Patrick’s gaze.

“You were screaming in your sleep. You, uh, were begging Richard to stop,” he replied quietly.

“Oh,” was all she could say.

Strangely, she didn’t feel embarrassed. But, she did feel sad and empty. d**k had taken everything from her. She was an empty shell of who she used to be. A mere shadow of her former self, and it pained her greatly.

“I promise,” Patrick repeated. “He will never lay a finger on you again.”

“Please don’t make promises you can’t keep,” Danielle replied matter-of-factly.

Patrick frowned. “Alright. Then, instead of that, I vow to do my best to protect you the best I can while you’re with me or associated with my pack. Can I promise that?”

She nodded. “I suppose that’s fair.”

He smiled at her, and it made her breath hitch. Before she could stop herself, Danielle reached up and pushed the hair that had fallen onto his face out of the way. She liked the way he looked. Patrick was handsome. He seemed surprised by her actions, and to be fair, she was also a bit shocked at herself.

Realizing how awkward she must’ve been, she pulled her hand back, cradling it to herself and mumbled, “Sorry.”

“Never apologize, my dear. You have no need to,” he grinned back at her. “I quite like you touching me or being curious. Whatever you need, I’ll give it to the best of my abilities.”

She flashed him a half smile before pointing at her chair. He laughed, which sounded like music to her ears, and he helped her sit properly in her seat once again.

Danielle felt odd being in a private plane with her mate, who was practically a stranger, and all his warriors. She briefly wondered where the other women had gone, and thought about asking when Patrick cleared his throat.

“I know you probably have a million questions, so I’m happy to answer them all as you think of them,” he said.

Danielle nodded, suddenly feeling shy and uncomfortable. A part of her hated that she felt this way, since only a few years ago, she was a fierce and formidable person. She didn’t want to be weak anymore. She didn’t want to be powerless and cower in people’s presence. Briefly, her mind wondered if she could return to her old self. The Danielle she knew before Richard.

“The girls,” she said quietly. “You said they were safe. Where are they now?”

“I had another plane arranged for them with only my female warriors. I didn’t want them to feel uncomfortable around my men. Just like in here, only mated warriors are present due to your…condition.”

Danielle was deeply touched by his thoughtfulness. The girls would certainly have felt nervous about being trapped in a plane with men. She then looked around their plane and noticed mostly women and men who were clearly marked.

“Thank you,” she replied, genuinely moved.

She rubbed the spot on her wrist where the bracelet had been. She’d taken it off the moment she realized that Richard had left her with Patrick. Taking the piece of jewelry out of her pocket, she handed it to Patrick.

“What’s this?” he asked, puzzled.

“Richard made me wear it. I overheard him talking to some women about it and a process, and,” she paused to squeeze her eyes shut, searching through her memories. “Something about being his. I don’t quite remember, but can you, uh, can you look into it?”

Patrick took the bracelet from her fingers and gazed at it as he nodded. “Of course. I have some connections.”

“Magic. One of the women said she’d reapply the magic. Ever since I began wearing it, I’ve been sicker and not healing from his…” her voice died on her lips.

Danielle watched Patrick’s demeanor change from his gentle smile and light eyes to a frown and a murderous stare.

“From his what,” he asked curtly.

She gulped nervously. “N-nothing.”

“I am going to rip that sorry excuse of a man to pieces when I see him next,” he said in a voice so deadly it sent shivers down her spine.

“Please,” she whispered, placing a hand on his forearm, feeling a small amount of tingling sensations in her fingers. “I don’t want to think about things.”

Looking over at her and seeing the fear creep into her eyes, he smoothed out his features. “I’m sorry for losing my temper,” he mumbled. “I just– To think about what he did to you…”

Danielle bit her bottom lip. “I’m here now,” she said softly. “I–I have more questions.”

“Ask away.”

Once again, she felt uncomfortable and nervously looked around the room. She couldn’t face him. “What do you plan on doing with me?”

She both needed to hear his answer and dreaded the words that would leave his mouth. She would not become another slave to anyone, let alone her actual mate. She had suffered enough and vowed to herself right then and there that she would end her life before she’d ever be subjected to the things she had endured again. Though she had made it this far, she wasn’t sure she could last any longer under such conditions. Their faces haunted her already. She would not let anyone else die in her place.

Patrick’s sigh drew her attention. “I’m not planning on doing anything with you.”

“What do you mean?” she asked skeptically.

“I obviously want you to stay with me, but I will not force you to do such a thing. I want to get to know you, be someone you can depend on, and perhaps even love. I have dreamt of my mate my whole life; however, if you do not need me to be your mate, then I will have to accept that.”

Danielle couldn’t believe her ears. “What?” she asked in a breathy whisper.

Patrick fully turned to her and gently took her hands in his. She flinched out of habit, but found that her pain subsided slightly as he held her hands.

“I want a Luna for my pack. I want you. My people want you, and we will do anything you wish. I will do anything you wish. And with saying that, if you wish to leave, then..” his voice broke as he finished his sentence. “Then I will not stop you, if that’s what you need.”

She could see the hurt and pain in his face as he said those words, but at the same time, she felt invisible shackles fall off of her. She believed every word from his mouth and wanted to weep in joy at hearing them.

“You’ll let me leave?”

He nodded, though it was evident that he wished for anything else. Danielle felt torn. She didn’t want to be a luna. She didn’t ask for this type of life. She didn’t want the responsibility placed on her shoulders. But, she also didn’t want to hurt this man, who so evidently cared for her already. Though he wasn’t anything like Richard, who was to say that he wouldn’t turn out the same? Who was to say that if she displeased him that he wouldn’t retaliate by hurting her or others?

Patrick cleared his throat. “I would, of course, ask you to stay in the pack until you’ve recovered. You’ll need, uh, money and new identification. I will secure it for you.”

“Just like that?”

He dropped her hands and looked away. She saw that her questions were hurting him; however, she marveled at his resolve. He would let her go if she asked.

“Just like that,” he replied moments later, his face turned away from her, and his voice full of raw emotion.

Frowning at herself and feeling guilt well up inside of her, she tugged on his shirt, causing him to look over at her. His eyes were reddening and glossy.

“I–I didn’t say I would. But, thank you for being honest.”

“Of c-course,” he said, facing forward.

Danielle chewed on the inside of her cheek while she thought. This man, whom she barely knew, infiltrated Richard’s auction and risked his life to save her. This man was already committed to her, so much so that he was willing to immediately let her leave him, possibly forever. Her heart suddenly ached, and her head swam. It was getting so hot, and she began sweating profusely. She needed air. She needed to cool down.

“You’re burning up,” Patrick said in her ear, the back of his hand resting on her forehead. “Your still in the middle of your heat.”

She barely heard him bark a few orders and then cold towels were placed on her body. She felt relief, but it wasn’t enough. Danielle let her head roll to the side and saw Patrick pointing and beckoning for more of something. More towels, she guessed seconds later, as he bent down in front of her to place them under her shirt to help cool her body down.

He was so close, and his lips were inches from hers. They were so plump, so kissable. Without a second thought, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard.