The One I Was Meant To Fear

A Place To Belong

Chapter Four

The garden had grown quiet by the time Daniella's tears finally stopped.

She sat beside the fountain, staring at the water as it rippled beneath the afternoon sun. Her eyes felt heavy, and her face was probably a mess, but for once, she didn't care enough to hide it.

Kelvin was still sitting beside her.

He hadn't asked her to stop crying. He hadn't told her that everything would be fine. He hadn't given her one of those meaningless promises people made when they didn't know what else to say.

He had simply stayed.

Daniella wasn't used to that.

Eventually, she wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand and stood.

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

Kelvin looked up at her. "You already apologized."

"I know."

"You don't have to."

She nodded, though she wasn't sure she believed him.

Kelvin stood as well. "Come on. You need to see your room."

"My room?"

"You're staying here, aren't you?"

Daniella hesitated.

For twelve years, she'd had a room, but she had never been allowed to think of it as hers. It had been a stone chamber with a narrow bed, a small table, and a door that could only be opened from the outside.

The thought of having a room that actually belonged to her felt strange.

Kelvin led her back through the pack's main grounds. The garden slowly disappeared behind them as they approached a large building made of dark stone and wood.

Daniella glanced around.

People were still watching her.

Some tried to hide it.

Others didn't bother.

She lowered her gaze.

Kelvin noticed.

"Stop looking at the ground."

Daniella looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because you're not a prisoner here."

She didn't answer.

He continued walking.

"You're going to have to get used to people looking at you."

"I don't like it."

"Neither do I."

She gave him a skeptical look.

"You? You're the Alpha."

"That doesn't mean I enjoy having everyone stare at me."

Daniella almost smiled.

"People probably stare because you're their Alpha."

"Exactly."

"Then you should understand why they're staring at me."

Kelvin looked at her for a moment.

"Fair point."

They reached a staircase and walked upstairs.

Kelvin stopped in front of a wooden door.

"This is yours."

Daniella stared at it.

She slowly reached for the handle.

When she opened the door, she stopped.

The room wasn't enormous, but it was beautiful.

A large bed sat against the far wall, covered with white blankets. There was a wooden wardrobe, a desk beside the window, and a small bookshelf filled with books.

Sunlight poured through the curtains.

Daniella walked inside.

She touched the edge of the bed.

"It's mine?"

Kelvin leaned against the doorway.

"Unless you want to sleep outside."

She looked at him.

"Very funny."

"I try."

Daniella walked toward the window.

Outside, she could see the pack stretching across the valley.

People were moving through the streets. Children ran between houses while adults carried baskets and spoke to one another.

It was so ordinary.

And somehow, that made it harder to believe she was actually free.

"There's a bathroom through that door," Kelvin said. "Someone will bring you food soon."

Daniella turned.

"Someone?"

"One of the servants."

"Servants?"

"Yes."

She nodded slowly.

There were so many things she didn't understand about this place.

Kelvin started to leave.

"Wait."

He turned.

"Where are you going?"

"I have a meeting."

Daniella looked disappointed before she could hide it.

Kelvin noticed.

"You'll be fine."

"I know."

He smiled slightly.

"You don't look like you know."

Daniella rolled her eyes.

"Just go."

Kelvin laughed quietly before walking away.

Daniella closed the door.

For the first time in twelve years, she was alone because she wanted to be.

She walked around the room slowly.

There were no chains.

No guards.

No locked windows.

She opened the wardrobe.

Inside were clothes in different colors and sizes.

She touched one of the dresses.

Someone had prepared all of this for her.

That thought made her uncomfortable.

She didn't know how to receive kindness without wondering what it would cost her later.

A knock came at the door.

Daniella immediately stepped back.

"Who is it?"

"It's me."

A woman's voice.

Daniella opened the door slightly.

A young woman stood outside carrying a tray of food.

She smiled politely.

"Alpha asked me to bring this."

Daniella opened the door fully.

"Thank you."

The woman stepped inside and placed the tray on the desk.

"I'm Mia."

"Daniella."

"I know."

Daniella's shoulders stiffened.

Mia noticed.

"Sorry. I didn't mean anything by that."

"It's okay."

Mia looked toward the door.

"Don't worry about what people downstairs say."

Daniella frowned.

"You heard them?"

"Everyone heard them."

Daniella looked away.

Mia sighed.

"Some people are just protective of the Alpha."

"Because I'm his mate?"

Mia hesitated.

"Yes."

Daniella frowned.

"Is that a problem?"

"Not exactly."

"Then what is it?"

Mia sat on the edge of the chair.

"The Alpha has never brought anyone home before."

Daniella stared at her.

"Never?"

"Never."

"Then why me?"

Mia smiled faintly.

"That's something you'll have to ask him."

Before Daniella could respond, another voice came from the hallway.

"Mia."

Mia immediately stood.

A tall man stood outside the door.

Daniella recognized him from earlier.

He had been among the people introduced to her.

His expression was cold.

"Alpha wants you downstairs."

Mia nodded.

She turned toward Daniella.

"I'll see you later."

Daniella watched her leave.

The man remained at the door for a moment.

His eyes moved over Daniella.

She recognized that look.

Judgment.

"You shouldn't get too comfortable," he said.

Daniella's stomach tightened.

"Excuse me?"

"You've been here for one day."

He stepped closer.

"Don't mistake the Alpha's kindness for acceptance."

Daniella didn't respond.

He smiled.

"Some of us don't believe you're his mate."

Then he walked away.

Daniella slowly closed the door.

Her hands trembled.

She hated that feeling.

The feeling of being watched.

The feeling that she had to prove she deserved to exist.

She walked toward the window and stared outside.

Maybe Kelvin had been right.

Maybe she wasn't a prisoner anymore.

But freedom didn't mean everyone would accept her.

And Daniella was beginning to realize that becoming Kelvin's pretend mate might be more complicated than she had imagined.

---

Downstairs, Kelvin stood at the end of a long table.

Several members of the pack surrounded him.

"We need to talk about the girl," one of the men said.

Kelvin's jaw tightened.

"Her name is Daniella."

"We know her name."

"Then use it."

The room went quiet.

Another man leaned forward.

"Alpha, you can't expect us to accept a stranger simply because you say she's your mate."

Kelvin stared at him.

"I expect you to respect my decision."

"And if we don't?"

Kelvin's expression changed.

The room seemed to grow colder.

"Then you can challenge me."

Nobody spoke.

Kelvin looked around the table.

"I've led this pack for years. I've protected every person in this room. I've never asked you to trust a decision without reason."

He paused.

"But this is my decision."

One of the older wolves sighed.

"We're only worried about you."

"I know."

"And her?"

Kelvin's eyes hardened.

"I'm worried about her too."

The meeting continued, but Kelvin's attention kept drifting toward the staircase.

He couldn't explain why.

Daniella had only been in the pack for a few hours.

Yet something about her presence felt strangely familiar.

Not just familiar.

Important.

He had spent years trying to understand that feeling.

And now that she was standing inside his home, it was getting harder to ignore.

Across the pack, Daniella stood alone by her bedroom window.

Neither of them knew it yet.

But the decision they had made that morning had changed both their lives.

And there was no going back.