The One I Was Meant To Fear

The Alpha's Secret

Chapter Five

Daniella woke before sunrise.

For a few seconds, she didn't remember where she was.

She stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, listening to the quiet sounds coming from outside her window. Birds chirped somewhere in the distance. The wind moved gently through the trees, and somewhere far away, she could hear people beginning to wake.

Then she remembered.

Blue Moon Pack.

Kelvin.

The deal.

Her escape.

Daniella slowly sat up.

She looked around the room again.

There were no chains.

No guards standing outside her door.

No heavy iron lock.

She walked toward the window and pulled the curtains aside. The first light of morning was beginning to spread across the pack.

It looked peaceful.

Almost too peaceful.

She wondered how long it would take before someone came to tell her that she didn't belong.

A knock sounded.

Daniella turned quickly.

"Who is it?"

"It's Mia."

Daniella relaxed slightly.

"Come in."

Mia opened the door carrying a tray.

"Good morning."

"Morning."

Mia placed the tray on the table. "Breakfast."

Daniella stared at the food.

There was more food on that tray than she had sometimes received in an entire day back in the vampire kingdom.

She sat down.

"Does the Alpha always give people this much food?"

Mia laughed.

"No. He doesn't."

"Then why am I getting it?"

"Maybe he thinks you're too skinny."

Daniella nearly choked.

Mia burst out laughing.

"I didn't mean it like that!"

Daniella shook her head, smiling despite herself.

"I haven't heard someone joke with me in a very long time."

Mia's smile faded.

"Well, you'll have to get used to it."

Daniella looked at her.

"How long have you known Kelvin?"

"Since we were children."

"What's he like?"

Mia thought about it.

"Complicated."

Daniella raised an eyebrow.

"That's not very helpful."

"He can be stubborn. Extremely stubborn. He's protective, sometimes too protective. He doesn't trust easily, and he doesn't talk about himself much."

Daniella lowered her eyes.

"That sounds about right."

Mia smiled.

"But he's a good Alpha."

Daniella looked up.

"You really think so?"

"I know so."

Before Daniella could ask another question, Mia stood.

"You should get dressed. The Alpha wants you at breakfast."

Daniella immediately frowned.

"With everyone?"

"With him."

That didn't make her feel much better.

---

When Daniella entered the dining hall, she immediately noticed the silence.

Dozens of eyes turned toward her.

She resisted the urge to turn around and leave.

Kelvin was seated at the head of the table.

He looked up when she entered.

For a moment, his expression softened.

Then he stood.

"Come here."

Daniella walked toward him.

There was an empty seat beside him.

She sat.

The conversations slowly resumed.

Kelvin leaned toward her.

"You look nervous."

"I'm surrounded by strangers."

"You're surrounded by wolves."

She looked at him.

"That's supposed to make me feel better?"

Kelvin smiled.

"No."

Daniella almost smiled back.

Almost.

Breakfast was surprisingly quiet.

Nobody openly insulted her, but Daniella could feel the questions hanging in the air.

Eventually, someone spoke.

"So, Daniella."

She looked up.

It was the same man who had warned her the previous day.

"What?" she asked.

He leaned back in his chair.

"Where are you from?"

Daniella hesitated.

"Not far from here."

"That's not what I asked."

Kelvin's eyes narrowed.

The man continued.

"You don't seem like someone who grew up around wolves."

"I didn't."

"Then how did you end up becoming the Alpha's mate?"

The room became quiet.

Daniella glanced at Kelvin.

Before she could answer, he spoke.

"That's enough."

The man looked at him.

"I was only asking."

"And I'm telling you to stop."

The man lowered his eyes.

Daniella stared at her plate.

She hated being the reason for tension.

After breakfast, Kelvin caught up with her outside.

"Don't worry about him."

"I wasn't."

"You were."

She sighed.

"Everyone keeps looking at me like I'm some kind of problem."

Kelvin walked beside her.

"They'll get used to you."

"And if they don't?"

"Then they'll have to get used to me being unhappy about it."

Daniella looked at him.

"You really don't care what they think?"

"I care what my pack thinks."

"Then why defend me?"

Kelvin stopped walking.

"Because you're my responsibility."

Daniella's expression changed.

"Your responsibility?"

"You're under my protection."

Something about the way he said it made her uncomfortable.

Not because it sounded threatening.

Because it sounded sincere.

Daniella looked away.

"Thank you."

Kelvin nodded.

They continued walking.

They passed several training grounds where members of the pack were practicing.

Daniella slowed down.

She watched as the wolves trained together, moving with incredible speed and strength.

Kelvin noticed her staring.

"Want to see?"

"Can I?"

"Of course."

They approached the training area.

The moment Kelvin stepped inside, everyone straightened.

"Alpha."

He nodded.

A young man walked toward him.

He looked about Kelvin's age and carried himself with confidence.

"You're early."

Kelvin smiled.

"Couldn't sleep."

The man glanced at Daniella.

"And who's this?"

"Daniella."

The man looked between them.

"Your mate?"

Kelvin nodded.

The man's expression changed.

"Interesting."

Daniella noticed that he was looking at her differently from the others.

Not with suspicion.

With recognition.

She frowned.

"Have we met?"

The man shook his head.

"No."

His answer came too quickly.

Kelvin stepped between them.

"She's still getting used to the pack."

The man nodded.

"I'm Lucas."

"Daniella."

Lucas smiled.

"Welcome to Blue Moon."

There was something strange about him.

Daniella couldn't explain it.

She looked at Kelvin.

Kelvin was watching Lucas carefully.

For a brief moment, something passed between the two men.

A silent conversation Daniella couldn't understand.

Then Kelvin turned away.

"Let's go."

Daniella followed.

Once they were out of earshot, she asked, "Who is he?"

"Lucas."

"I know his name."

Kelvin smiled.

"He's my Beta."

"Your best friend?"

"Something like that."

Daniella looked back.

Lucas was still watching them.

"He's strange."

Kelvin laughed.

"That's rich coming from you."

Daniella frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing."

She crossed her arms.

"You know, you're very annoying."

"So I've been told."

They continued walking.

Daniella didn't notice the way Kelvin's expression changed when they passed the edge of the training grounds.

A faint scent had reached him.

Something metallic.

Something familiar.

His eyes briefly darkened.

He stopped.

Daniella turned.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Kelvin."

He looked toward the forest.

For a second, he seemed distracted.

Then he shook his head.

"Nothing. I thought I heard something."

Daniella studied him.

"You seem nervous."

"I'm not."

"You are."

Kelvin looked at her.

Their eyes met.

Neither spoke.

Finally, he looked away.

"Come on."

Daniella followed him.

But she couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed.

Something had happened in those few seconds.

And Kelvin clearly didn't want her to know what it was.

Later that evening, Daniella stood by her bedroom window.

She watched the pack settle for the night.

She had only been here for two days.

Yet somehow, this place already felt different from the vampire kingdom.

Not safe.

Not completely.

But different.

She touched the window frame.

For the first time in years, she allowed herself to imagine what her life might look like if she stayed.

Maybe she could make friends.

Maybe she could learn to trust people again.

Maybe she could finally have a home.

But downstairs, Kelvin stood alone in the darkness.

Lucas approached him.

"You felt it too."

Kelvin didn't answer.

"The moment she entered the pack."

Kelvin's jaw tightened.

"I know."

Lucas lowered his voice.

"Then you need to tell her."

"No."

"Kelvin—"

"Not yet."

Lucas stared at him.

"You're playing with something you don't understand."

Kelvin looked toward the window above them.

Daniella's silhouette was visible behind the curtains.

"I understand enough."

Lucas sighed.

"And if the pack finds out?"

Kelvin's eyes hardened.

"Then I'll deal with it."

He looked back at the forest.

"But nobody touches her."

Neither man noticed the faint red glow that briefly appeared between the trees.

Then vanished.