The One I Was Meant To Fear

Learning to stay

Chapter Six

Daniella woke to the sound of laughter.

For a moment, she simply lay there, staring at the ceiling.

It was strange.

For twelve years, mornings had always sounded the same: heavy footsteps outside her door, keys turning in a lock, and the cold voices of guards telling her when to wake.

This was different.

There were voices outside her window. Children laughing. Someone calling to another person across the street. The distant sound of what sounded like training.

Life.

Daniella slowly sat up.

She had almost forgotten what it felt like to wake up without immediately wondering what would happen to her that day.

She got dressed and walked downstairs.

The moment she entered the dining hall, she noticed several people looking at her.

She almost turned around.

Then she remembered Kelvin's words.

You're not a prisoner here.

So she kept walking.

Mia waved her over from a table.

"Over here!"

Daniella smiled and joined her.

"You slept well?" Mia asked.

"Surprisingly."

"Good. You look less terrified today."

Daniella laughed softly.

"Was I that obvious?"

"Very."

Before Daniella could respond, someone placed a plate in front of her.

She looked up.

Kelvin stood there.

"Eat."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Good morning to you too."

"Good morning."

He sat beside her.

Daniella looked at him suspiciously.

"Do you always order people around?"

"I'm the Alpha."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the best one I've got."

Mia laughed.

Kelvin glanced at her.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Daniella looked between them.

"You two do that a lot."

"Do what?"

"Have conversations where nobody explains anything."

Mia grinned.

"Welcome to Blue Moon."

Daniella shook her head.

For the first time, breakfast didn't feel uncomfortable.

She found herself talking with Mia, listening to stories about the pack, and even laughing at some of Kelvin's dry remarks.

It was almost normal.

Almost.

After breakfast, Kelvin stood.

"Come with me."

Daniella sighed.

"Where?"

"You'll see."

"That's becoming your favorite answer."

He smiled.

"Probably."

They walked through the pack until they reached a large open field.

Daniella stopped.

There were dozens of wolves training.

Some were running through obstacles. Others were practicing combat. A few were shifting between human and wolf forms.

Daniella watched in amazement.

"You've never seen this before?" Kelvin asked.

"No."

"Want to try?"

Her eyes widened.

"Absolutely not."

Kelvin laughed.

"I wasn't asking you to fight."

"Good."

"I thought you might want to learn how to defend yourself."

Daniella's expression changed.

"I know how to run."

"I noticed."

She glared at him.

"Are you making fun of me?"

"A little."

She shook her head.

"You're impossible."

Kelvin smiled.

Then his expression became serious.

"You shouldn't have to depend on someone else to protect you."

Daniella looked at him.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that if someone comes after you again, I want you to know how to protect yourself."

She looked toward the training ground.

"I don't think I can."

"You can."

"You don't know that."

"I do."

Something about his certainty made her believe him.

Maybe only a little.

But it was enough.

Kelvin spent the next hour teaching her simple defensive movements.

Daniella was terrible at first.

She stumbled.

She lost her balance.

At one point, Kelvin barely caught her before she fell into the grass.

He laughed.

"Don't laugh!"

"I'm sorry."

"You are not."

"I'm really not."

Daniella tried again.

This time, she managed to stay standing.

Kelvin nodded approvingly.

"Better."

She smiled.

"Really?"

"Really."

For some reason, that small compliment made her happier than it should have.

They continued until Daniella was exhausted.

When they finally stopped, she sat beneath a tree.

Kelvin handed her a bottle of water.

"You're improving."

"You're surprised."

"A little."

She smiled.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"You should."

They sat in comfortable silence.

Daniella looked across the field.

"Kelvin?"

"Hm?"

"Why did you really choose me?"

He looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"The mate arrangement."

Kelvin didn't answer immediately.

"I told you. I needed a mate."

"That doesn't explain why you chose me."

His gaze remained on her.

"Maybe I had my reasons."

Daniella frowned.

"That's frustrating."

"I know."

"Do you ever answer questions properly?"

"Not when I don't want to."

She rolled her eyes.

"You're impossible."

"So you've said."

She smiled despite herself.

Then she noticed something.

Kelvin was staring at her.

Not in the way people at the pack stared.

There was something different in his expression.

Something she couldn't identify.

"What?" she asked.

He looked away.

"Nothing."

Daniella studied him for another moment.

Then she let it go.

Neither of them noticed Lucas watching from across the field.

His expression was thoughtful.

Later that afternoon, Daniella wandered through the pack alone.

She passed houses, gardens, and small shops. People were beginning to recognize her, and some even greeted her.

Not everyone was friendly.

But at least no one was openly cruel.

That was progress.

She stopped near a small group of children playing beside a tree.

One little girl noticed her.

"You're the Alpha's mate!"

Daniella smiled awkwardly.

"I guess I am."

The girl ran toward her.

"What's your name?"

"Daniella."

"I'm Lily."

Another child called from behind her.

"Lily! Come back!"

Lily waved.

"Bye, Daniella!"

"Bye."

Daniella watched them run away.

A strange warmth filled her chest.

She had never imagined she'd miss something as simple as children laughing.

She continued walking until she reached the edge of the forest.

The trees looked familiar.

For a second, she remembered another forest.

The night she escaped.

The wolf.

Kelvin.

She wondered what would have happened if he hadn't found her.

She didn't want to think about it.

She turned around.

And nearly walked into someone.

The man from the previous day stood behind her.

Daniella recognized him immediately.

He looked at her coldly.

"You're getting comfortable."

She straightened.

"I'm just walking."

"This isn't your home."

Daniella's heart tightened.

"I know."

"Then don't forget it."

He walked past her.

Daniella stood there for a moment.

The old fear returned.

That familiar feeling of being unwanted.

She swallowed and kept walking.

She didn't see Kelvin standing several yards away.

He had heard everything.

His expression darkened.

The man noticed him.

"Alpha."

Kelvin said nothing.

He simply stared at him.

The man lowered his gaze.

"Come with me," Kelvin said.

Daniella continued toward the main house, unaware of what was happening behind her.

She didn't know Kelvin was confronting the man.

She didn't know Kelvin had begun becoming protective of her for reasons that went beyond their agreement.

And she certainly didn't know that, beneath the calm surface of the Alpha she'd come to trust, another side of Kelvin was beginning to awaken.

A side he had spent years learning to control.

A side Daniella could never be allowed to see.

Not yet.