Reclaiming Herself—Completed

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Danielle.

The birds chirping outside in a sing-songy way gently woke Danielle up. She stretched her arms out over her head and smiled in glee to herself. It had only been five days since the dreaded auction and she was already growing used to waking up when she wanted and doing as she liked.

After her heat had ended and after the talk with Patrick, she agreed to move into the room next to his in the pack house. It hadn’t taken very long to move her nonexistent things, but she and Brenda had gone shopping the day before and picked out a few things to call her own. It was a bit overwhelming, but it was nice nonetheless.

Halla wanted to see and do absolutely everything after taking such a long leave of absence that had been forced on her, and honestly, Danielle couldn’t blame her. Though, she was glad that her wolf hadn’t witnessed what a weakling she’d been while she was d**k’s prisoner. Halla had only ever known her to be strong and powerful, and yet, in his pack, she’d only been defenseless and feeble. However, that was going to end.

There was a knock on her door, and her heart sped up in fear before she mentally talked herself out of her flight or fight response. No one here would hurt her. She had believed it.

“C-come in!” she said, clutching her comforter anyway.

A moment later, Caleb poked his head around the door and flashed a grin at her. “Still in bed, eh? And here I thought you’d be jumping at the bit to start.”

Caleb entered the room and surveyed the cozy set-up. Danielle was settled in the bed, which was in the middle of the far wall. On either side of the bed were big, floor-to-ceiling windows, which let in a large amount of sun that was just only peeking through the clouds. Spring was finally making its appearance after such a long, drawn-out winter. The room also held a couch and chairs in front of the bed. There was a vanity set off to the right, and a closet and door to the bathroom to the left. Bookcases mirrored each other as they lined both of the bottom right and left corners, running about halfway up each wall, but reaching to the ceiling.

“Seems like you’re taking to the place nicely already,” Caleb commented.

Danielle shrugged with a sheepish smile. “It’s way better than d**k’s room, that’s for sure.”

“How are you holding up?”

She lost her smile and studied the texture of the comforter. “I’m trying not to think about it. You promised me that things were different here, and they are… But, there are small reminders everywhere that I could easily fall back into his hands, and it terrifies me.”

“Alpha Patrick isn’t going to ever let that happen. As long as you’re with him or within his perimeter, he will keep you safe. And I know that with certainty.”

“But how?” she couldn’t help but ask.

Caleb sat down on the bed near her feet. “I just do. I’ve seen him in action. I’ve seen how he’s treated the others he’s rescued. He’s kind, patient, gentle, and puts his people above himself. I wouldn’t lie to you and say you should stay unless I meant it. He’s a great guy, and it’s obvious how much he already cares for you. Didn’t we say that was the dream?”

“Escaping was the dream,” Danielle chuckled mirthlessly.

“Well, finding a mate who truly cares for you is the new dream, and you’ve hit the jackpot.”

Danielle was quiet as she pondered over his words. It wasn’t as if Caleb was wrong, it was just that she needed more time to see Patrick’s character. To see if he really did match the image he portrayed. She wanted it to be real, but she couldn’t give in yet.

“Anyway… Time to change. Practice starts in a half hour,” Caleb said, playfully shoving her shoulder.

She nodded, feeling excited. Patrick had mentioned letting her join his warriors in their daily training regiment. She wasn’t sure how much she could do in her weakened state, but she was eager to feel the ache from her muscles in a positive way. She was ready to become stronger.

Caleb left her to get dressed in the new athletic attire she’d just recently gotten. It felt nice to change into new, clean clothes, and know that she’d be able to keep them. Anytime Richard had given her something to wear, she knew that it had belonged to someone else who no longer would use it, and it made her feel incredibly guilty. Her mind still wandered to all the people trapped in his web of fear and deception and slavery. She had gotten out, but what about everyone else?

Walking out to the training field, which she’d learned about yesterday, she shook her thoughts away. Today was about taking steps forward and not drowning in her survivor's guilt. If she could regain her former stature, she could face him and save those people. However, she needed to train first.

The people bowed their heads as they walked by, making her feel uncomfortable. Even at Richard’s pack, no one had treated her like a real luna because she was a figurehead. Everyone knew it. They only feared Richard’s wrath if they attempted to make a move on her, not if they disrespected her. Danielle didn’t know how to accept the people’s genuine delight at seeing her and knowing their pack might finally have a luna.

“Good morning.” Patrick’s voice purred into her ear, causing her to jump slightly.

There was something in his voice that made her body yearn for him. It was smooth and sexy and stirred in her emotions she long ago thought lost.

“Good morning,” she whispered back, turning her head to face him.

He grinned as she took him in. He was in basketball shorts and sneakers while being topless. His broad chest soaked up the morning sun and his muscles already had a fine sheet of sweat coating them.

“Did it start without me?” she then asked, suddenly worried.

“No…I just had some, uh, pent-up energy to get rid of. So, I decided to go on a light jog before training.”

“A light jog?”

“Yeah,” he smiled, grabbing her hand to pull her along.

While Danielle was focused on the tingles in her hand and arm, Patrick was leading her to the middle of the training ground.

“Alright everyone!” Patrick began, gaining the attention of those surrounding them. “As most of you know, my mate, Danielle, is with us for training this morning. Treat her with respect, and meet her where she’s at. Understood?”

They replied in unison, “Yes, Alpha!”

“Good. Start with your five-mile run. Be back no later than 40 minutes. Go.”

The warriors took off, and Danielle started to follow until she realized that Patrick had tightened his hold on her hand.

“Shouldn’t I join them?” she asked cautiously.

“Dani, your results came back from the tests our doctor took.”

“And…?”

Patrick winced at her forlorn tone. “They aren’t good. Your body has seriously regressed. You’re underweight, your bones are brittle, and you’re dangerously under nourished. I am very concerned. I’m guessing you’ve done little to no physical activity since you, were, well…”

“Enslaved,” she stated. “Yeah, I guess I figured things wouldn’t be good.”

“Can we start by walking? Perhaps together?”

At her hesitancy, Patrick quickly backtracked. “Or with Caleb or Brenda or someone of your choice. I just don’t think starting off running is the best plan to help you recover.”

Slowly nodding, Danielle said, “You’re right. And I know you’re right; I just wish you weren’t right, is all. I…don’t mind walking with you.”

“Great,” Patrick replied with a huge, cheesy grin.

They began walking at a brisk pace, Patrick careful to let Danielle lead. At first, it was quiet and slightly awkward between the two. There was so much to say and many questions to ask, but it was difficult to determine where to start. After a few full minutes of silence, Danielle finally decided to blurt out a question that had been weighing heavily on her mind.

“Were you disappointed to learn that I was your mate? That I didn’t go with you that night at the Alpha Summit?”

“No,” Patrick replied immediately and without hesitation.

“Why? You should be. I had an opportunity to leave with you and escape d**k, and I didn’t take it. I literally turned you away even though I knew who you were to me.”

Patrick let out a contemplative sigh. “I’ve never been disappointed with you, Dani. Never. Yes, I was hurt at your refusal, it doesn’t mean that you didn’t have reasons for doing so. Also, while studying that bracelet you gave us, we’ve learned that it was trying to warp your mind and break the mate bond. I’m not entirely sure how much of your rejection was you or the magic placed that thing.”

“I hadn’t been wearing it for very long,” she muttered more to herself than to him.

“It was very powerful magic. The fact that it hadn’t completely broken you already and our bond speaks volumes about your inner strength.”

Danielle turned to look up at him, surprised. “Really?”

“Yes,” he said firmly. “Anyone with a weaker mind would have succumbed within a matter of days.”

She let that sink in, turning the idea over in her mind, but ultimately, she rejected it. “If I had actually been strong, then I wouldn’t have let so many die in my place because of my failures.”

Patrick frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Countless lives were lost because of my inadequacies.”

“Did you kill them?”

“Well, not exactly, but my actions did. Had I been better or did what d**k wanted–”

Patrick shook his head. “No, did you end their lives? Did you kill them by delivering the blow that took them from this Earth?”

“N-not quite. But had it not been for me–”

“Danielle,” he said softly. “Richard killed them. He is the murderer. Not you.”

Something within her broke, and she fell to the ground. Tears streamed from her eyes as she pictured the faces with their blank expressions and dull eyes. All of them seemed to blame her, to look to her for help, but what had she done? Nothing. She hadn’t saved them. She hadn’t stopped him from meeting the Moon Goddess.

Patrick gently touched her shoulders, and she felt him embrace her.

“It’s not your fault,” he said over and over and over again as she sobbed into his chest.