The One I Was Meant To Fear

The Blue Moon Pack

Chapter Three

Daniella barely slept.

She spent most of the night sitting beside the cottage window, staring into the darkness and wondering if the vampire guards were still searching for her.

Every sound made her tense.

Every branch that moved outside made her wonder if someone had found them.

By morning, she had made her decision.

She would take Kelvin's deal.

Not because she trusted him.

Not yet.

But because she had nowhere else to go.

Kelvin stood near the fireplace, watching her carefully.

"So?" he asked.

Daniella looked down at her hands.

"I'll do it."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Do what?"

She gave him an annoyed look.

"You know exactly what I mean."

A small smile appeared on his face.

"The mate arrangement?"

"Yes."

Kelvin nodded.

"Then we have a deal."

"But there are conditions."

His smile disappeared.

"I'm listening."

"You don't control me."

"Agreed."

"You don't lock me up."

"Agreed."

"You don't decide where I go or what I do."

Kelvin thought for a moment.

"As long as you don't put yourself in danger."

Daniella frowned.

"That's not what I said."

"It's the closest you're getting."

She rolled her eyes.

"And one more thing."

"What?"

"If your pack doesn't accept me, I'm leaving."

Kelvin's expression became serious.

"They'll accept you."

"You sound very sure."

"I am."

Daniella wasn't convinced.

Neither was Kelvin's pack.

---

The journey to the Blue Moon Pack took several hours.

Kelvin had arranged for a horse and another one for himself, refusing to make Daniella ride on his back again.

The forest gradually changed as they traveled.

The trees became thinner, and eventually Daniella saw buildings scattered between them.

Wooden houses.

Large stone structures.

People walking through the paths.

Children running around.

For the first time in twelve years, Daniella saw something that resembled an ordinary community.

She stared.

Kelvin noticed.

"Welcome to Blue Moon."

Daniella looked at him.

"It looks peaceful."

"It usually is."

"Usually?"

Kelvin gave her a sideways glance.

"You'll learn."

As they entered the main part of the territory, people began turning toward them.

Whispers spread quickly.

"That's him."

"Who is the girl?"

"Is that his mate?"

"Where did he find her?"

Daniella lowered her gaze.

She wasn't used to being looked at with curiosity.

Usually, people looked at her with disgust.

Or amusement.

Or cruelty.

Kelvin dismounted and walked toward her.

"Ready?"

Daniella nodded.

He held out his hand.

She hesitated before taking it.

They walked toward the large building at the center of the pack.

The moment they entered, the whispers became louder.

A group of people were already waiting.

Kelvin stood in front of them.

"I have someone to introduce."

Daniella swallowed.

"This is Daniella."

Silence.

Then Kelvin continued.

"She is my mate."

The room erupted in murmurs.

One woman stepped forward.

"Your mate?"

Kelvin's expression hardened.

"Yes."

The woman looked Daniella up and down.

"She doesn't look like one of us."

Daniella's shoulders dropped slightly.

Another man laughed.

"She looks terrified."

Someone else whispered, "Maybe she doesn't even know what she agreed to."

Daniella tried to ignore them.

She had learned how to do that a long time ago.

Keep your head down.

Don't respond.

Don't give them a reason to hurt you.

But Kelvin stepped forward.

"Enough."

The room went silent.

He looked around at everyone.

"I didn't bring Daniella here for your approval."

Nobody spoke.

"I brought her here because she is my mate."

The woman who had spoken earlier crossed her arms.

"But Alpha—"

Kelvin cut her off.

"You don't have to like her."

His voice became colder.

"But you will respect her."

Daniella looked at him.

Kelvin continued.

"If I hear anyone insulting her, humiliating her, or treating her as though she's beneath them, you'll answer to me."

Nobody challenged him.

He turned toward Daniella.

"Come."

She followed him out.

They walked in silence for several minutes.

Daniella didn't know what to say.

Eventually, Kelvin led her through a stone pathway and into a large garden.

It was beautiful.

Flowers surrounded the paths, and tall trees provided shade. A small fountain sat in the middle, its water sparkling beneath the afternoon sun.

Daniella stopped.

She stared at it.

Kelvin looked at her.

"You like it?"

She nodded.

"It's beautiful."

"It's usually quiet."

"Thank you."

"For what?"

Daniella didn't answer.

She walked toward the fountain.

Then she sat on the edge.

For several seconds, she simply stared at the water.

Kelvin remained a few steps away.

"Are you okay?"

Daniella shook her head.

And suddenly, she began to cry.

Not quietly.

Not the way she'd learned to cry in the darkness of her cell.

These were years of tears finally escaping.

Kelvin froze.

Daniella covered her face.

"I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize."

She tried to wipe her tears away.

"I don't know why I'm crying."

"I think you do."

Daniella looked at him.

"No one has ever stood up for me."

Kelvin's expression softened.

"Not once."

Her voice trembled.

"For twelve years, people treated me like I wasn't even a person."

She looked down.

"They laughed at me. They called me names. They reminded me every day that I didn't belong there."

Kelvin said nothing.

Daniella continued.

"I learned not to fight back."

A tear rolled down her cheek.

"Because whenever I did, things got worse."

Kelvin slowly sat beside her.

He didn't touch her.

He simply stayed.

Daniella looked at him.

"But today..."

Her voice broke.

"You stood up for me."

Kelvin shrugged slightly.

"They were wrong."

Daniella stared at him.

"You don't even know me."

"I know enough."

She looked away.

"Thank you."

Kelvin nodded.

"You don't have to thank me for treating you like a person."

That sentence broke something inside her.

Daniella cried harder.

Kelvin stayed beside her until the tears slowed.

After a while, she whispered, "I don't know how to live like this."

"Like what?"

"Like I'm free."

Kelvin looked toward the garden.

"Then you'll learn."

She looked at him.

"And if I don't?"

"Then I'll remind you."

Daniella smiled faintly through her tears.

It was small.

But it was the first real smile Kelvin had seen from her.

Neither of them noticed the figure standing far away near the garden entrance.

Someone was watching them.

And unlike the others, this person wasn't curious about Daniella.

They were afraid of her.

Because they had felt something the moment she stepped into the pack.

Something powerful.

Something that should not have been there.

And whatever it was...

It had already begun to awaken.