Chapter 16

**Marilyn**

Daniel walked in with a blank expression on his face. He barely looked at me which made me a little uneasy.
"Is everything okay?" I asked nervously as he slowly paced the room.
"No."
"What's wrong?"
"The alpha wants to see you in three hours."
"I don't understand. Why does he want to see me all of a sudden?"
"Listen Marilyn. Rick is not your ordinary alpha. He's upset that you haven't asked his permission to join the pack. Its my fault. I should have taken you to him the day after you got here. We've been so caught up in everything that's been going on I didn't think. He normally doesn't make a big deal about mates coming in, but since you're from Lake Moss territory he's suspicious. He wants to interrogate you."
I froze. I hadn't even thought of joining the pack. I wasn't even sure if I wanted too. All this was happening so fast. What would happen if I didn't want to join? If I did join how would they present me? As a new pack member? As the Gamma female? Would he make Daniel mark me before the ceremony? These questions never crossed my mind until now. I wasn't ready to be the Gamma female, that much was certain. I wasn't ready to be marked and displayed like some show pony. At the same time I didn't want to be forced to leave Daniel. If that meant I had to join to stay with him, I would. But what if the alpha didn't allow me to? Would Daniel leave with me if I was banished? I didn't know what to think. To make matters worse I would be interrogated. From the way Daniel was acting it wasn't a good thing. What did his alpha want with me?
"Marilyn I've been calling your name for the last ten minutes answer me!" Daniel said furiously breaking me out of my thoughts.
"Sorry. I was just thinking. This is crazy. I'm not ready to deal with this."
"I know that and I won't try to persuade you to join if that's not what you want," he said sincerely.
"I want to join. If that's what it takes to stay with you I'll do it. I may not be certain when it comes to a lot if things but I am sure that I'm not ready to loose you yet."
He gave me a weak smile and kissed my cheek softly leaving tingles behind.
"I don't want to loose you either. We may not have the best relationship but we'll get there. For now I just want you to be safe. Make sure you answer all his questions truthfully. He won't take kindly to lying. Whatever you do don't back talk him. He hates being challenged. With any luck the Luna will turn up. She's the only one that can tame him. In fact she's the reason he's out of his mind."
"What do you mean?" I asked curiously.
"Some things happened in her past that weren't pretty. Some awful things were done to her and it took Rick a while to get her to open up and become the great Luna she is today. The main guy responsible is still on the loose and rogues have been sniffing around the border lately. Rick thinks their working for the asshole and that their planning to try to take his mate away from him. That's why we were in your territory the day I found you. He thought one of your alpha's prisoners had some information and wanted to interrogate him. Your alpha refused, but of course he took matters into his own hands and showed up at the border. The prisoner didn't seem to know much of anything, but it didn't matter. Rick is suspicious of mostly everyone now especially if they aren't from this territory. He wants to kill the guy and protect his mate. His reasoning is understandable, but he can be ruthless and sometimes he goes a bit too far. That's what worries me. I'm not sure how he's going to react."
I nodded in understanding, but now I was even more nervous about meeting him.
"If you want to eat first you better start getting ready. We can't be late."
"Okay."
"I'll meet you downstairs."
He closed the door and left while I quickly found some jeans and a top. Luckily I had already showered and brushed my teeth so all I had to do was fix my hair and put on descent clothes. This wasn't a formal occasion but I wanted to looked presentable.
After I was done with my hair I put on some wedges to match my ruffled yellow top. I didn't bother with too much make up so I was done in about thirty minutes.
I made it downstairs and followed Daniel out to the car. We ended up at a little diner about ten minutes away since we didn't have much time and ordered some lunch. We mostly ate in silence since we both had things on our mind.
Once we were done we headed back and had ten minutes to spare. We stood outside the door and I swallowed the lump in my throat as Daniel knocked.
"Relax it'll be fine. Just remember what I told you," he whispered as a voice told us to come in.
He opened the door and the alpha was sitting behind his desk looking very intimidating despite the fact he had a smirk on his face.
"A bit early I see. Excellent. Now have a seat."
I walked over and sat down in a chair in front of his desk. I noticed Daniel stayed standing so I guessed he only meant me since I was the one being interrogated.
"Now tell me Marilyn. Why is it you're just coming to meet me? Is this pack not good enough for a Lake Moss member? "
"Not at all alpha sir."
His voice gave me chills and not the pleasant kind. I wanted to run out the door but I didn't trust my legs at the moment. Besides I know I wouldn't get very far. This guy looked like he could catch me before I got the chance to stand.
"Do I make you nervous Marilyn?"
I didn't know what made him ask that question. It was like he could sense my fear, which he probably could.
"Yes alpha."
"Good. It will make things a lot easier. I don't know a lot about you but I do know your deranged uncle went rogue after you left. It seems he wants you back."
Now it made since. I was here because I was a possible threat. If my uncle was after me that meant trouble for everyone, especially if he had gone rogue. I wouldn't go with him. I couldn't. Not after the way he treated me. He was bound to be worse now.
"No," I said softly. Barely above a whisper. But I knew they both heard me. Daniel gave me a puzzled look, but I was on the verge of having a heart attack. I knew I had some explaining to do but it would have to wait.
"Please no. You can't. I won't go with him."
"Now, now I'm not that cruel to put you in harms way. You are my Gamma's mate after all. But if I am to give you protection you must show your loyalty to my pack. Otherwise I can't help you."
"I will. Just don't let him anywhere near me."
The tears started to flow and Daniel pulled me into his arms to comfort me. He whispered sweet nothing in my ear and told everything would be okay. I calmed down slightly but nothing could take away the fear I felt.
"Calm down. I know you're upset, but I have to ask you some questions. You need to answer them honestly," the alpha said firmly. Daniel let me go and I sat back down missing the warmth. I nodded to let the alpha know I was ready.
"Do you know why he's after you?"
"He thinks he can get to me now. He thinks I'm vulnerable since I don't have Ryland and the other pack members protecting me anymore. He blames me for what happened to my parents."
He looked at me and I felt like I was being x-rayed. I knew he was trying to find any trace of a lie.
"How do I know that you're not in contact with him? That you won't help him and others to take down my pack?" I didn't hesitate to answer that question.
"Because he made my life a living hell. I never want to see his face again as long as I live. I know you have a pack to protect and you have to consider all the possibilities. People betray packs all the time and you don't know me well enough to trust me. But I assure you that there is nothing that he could ever say or do that would make me change my mind or want to help him. My uncle died the day my father did."
I wasn't sure if he believed me but I meant every word. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
"This isn't something I would normally do but I'm going to let you join. However, the Moon Goddess have mercy on both you and Daniel if I find out you lied to me or have been in contact with your uncle in any way. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes alpha."
"The ceremony is tonight at seven, so be ready. If you're late I'll consider it treason. Future female Gamma or not you still have to earn my trust. You are dismissed. Daniel you stay I want to have a word with you"
"Yes alpha," we said in unison.
I got up to leave, still a little shaky about the change of events. I knew I had to talk to Daniel about my past, but I didn't think it would be this soon. Looks like I had a long night ahead of me. I opened the door and a woman stood there. She took one look at my tear streaked face then looked at Daniel and Rick. She put her hands on her hips and glided pass me.
"Rick what the hell is going on in here?"
This had to be his mate, the Luna.