Chapter 18

**Daniel**

I was glad Marilyn was finally apart of the pack, but that didn't make me forget that she was in danger. She hadn't been up front with me and I had to hear from my alpha that she was in danger. That was unacceptable. She was going to explain herself tonight whether she wanted to or not. I needed to know everything if I was going to protect her.
She walked down off the platform and I was there waiting. People were congratulating her on becoming a new member but there would be time for that later. I motioned for her to follow me and she did so nervously. She was quiet as we made our way to our room. I held the door open for her and closed it behind us.
"Talk to me. I want to know everything starting with your uncle and why he's after you and don't bother lying," I told her firmly. She took a deep breath and nodded.
"Well to put mildly, he hates me"
"Why?" I asked curiously.
"My mother died giving birth to me. My father died not to long after of a broken heart. My uncle and them were really close. My mother was his perfect sister and my father was like the brother he never had. He took their deaths really hard. He needed someone to blame. I became the obvious choice since my mother had been high risk and refused to abort me, no matter how many times he asked her to. When I was little he treated me like a princess and hardly let anyone near me. I never knew my parents so that's what my aunt and uncle were to me. They sheltered me from everything and spoiled me rotten since they never had children of their own. But the older I got things started to change. The gifts stopped and he became cold. I wasn't his princess anymore. I knew it was because I started to look more and more like my mother. When I was eleven he 'accidentally' broke my arm for the first time. I remember because I had to lie to my aunt for the first time. When she asked what happened I told her I fell. The truth was he got angry and yanked me out of the car so hard my arm snapped in three places. He apologized and told me to forget it happened, so I did. When I was twelve I was sent to the hospital for a broken leg. By then I had mastered the art of lying about my injuries and told everyone I fell down the stairs. Things went on that way until I was fourteen. He came home drunk and beat me within an inch of my life. My aunt was furious and threatened to leave him if it ever happened again. He promised her it wouldn't and being his mate she forgave him. That's when the threats started. Whenever she was gone he would beat me and threaten to kill me if I say said anything. I knew he meant every word. He even had a little cabin where he would take me to heal and then tell her I was staying with a friend. When I was sixteen she died in his arms after she was attacked. I felt sorry for him. He started to drink heavily and ignored me for awhile. I was actually glad he had practically forgotten I existed. That didn't last long. He started to get worse. He told me I didn't deserve to be alive when everyone he cared about was dead. He would chain me up for hours just to abuse me. I would miss days of school and think the moon goddess everyday I wasn't raped. After one particularly nasty beating he sent me to school with a black eye and some bruised ribs. I'll never forget that day, it was the day I met Ryland. I know you may not want to hear this but," she stopped waiting on my reaction. I didn't want to hear but I needed to.
"It's okay. Go on," I said through gritted teeth. I was about to go insane, on the verge of shifting from everything I had heard, but I wanted to get it over with. I tried desperately to calm myself, but knowing that someone hurt my mate like that was enough to send me over the edge. She walked over to me and wrapped her arms around me.
"I know this is all hard for you to hear and I'm sorry."
I wrapped my arms around her waist and inhaled her scent. It calmed me slightly.
"Tell me the rest."
"I had on dark glasses and was hoping I could just fade into the crowd. That no one would notice me and I could get through the day. I was walking with my head down not looking where I was going when I bumped into him. My glasses came flying off and I cried from the pain of my broken ribs. He took me to the nurse who gave me pain medication since I refused to talk about what happened. He offered to give me a ride home and I begged him not to take me there. I didn't want to think of what would happen if I came home early especially riding with a boy. He asked me what I was afraid of and why I couldn't go home. I just stayed silent. He drove to the park and we just sat there not speaking. When school was over I told him it was okay to take me home. He was reluctant but did. The next day I saw him he just waved and went on his way. No one had ever waved at me before, it was strange. A few weeks later he saw some girls making fun of me and ordered them to leave me alone. By then everyone knew he was going to become the Gamma. We started to talk every once in a while. It was nice to have something like a friend. I started to feel better knowing that I had someone who would protect me again like my uncle used to. He defended me and no one bothered me. I didn't have to stand up for myself because he was there to do it for me. Eventually we started dating and my uncle found out. He was furious and told me I could never see him again. He called me a whore and told me I deserved to be punished. He chained me up at the cabin and left me there for almost a week. I had no food, no water, and the only time he showed up was to slap me around. The sad thing is I didn't even try to fight back. Ryland followed him one day after wondering where I had been. He was Gamma by then and stormed into the cabin. He and my uncle fought and he took me away. He asked me to move into the pack house with him and I didn't even give it a second thought. I needed protection and he provided that. I was weak, he was escape. My uncle wouldn't dare touch me as long as I was with him. That's why I didn't want to think about finding you. I didn't want to loose that feeling of being safe. When I met you everything happened so fast. You brought out feelings I never knew I had and I hated it. All I wanted to do was go back to where everything made sense."
Everything she said made me understand her just a little better. She was being honest with me. Even though everything she said pissed me off more I understood. She went from pampered to broken and none of it was her fault. I hated Ryland with a passion and I always would. But at least he protected her when I couldn't. I knew I couldn't go back in time, save her from all the pain, but the I'll be damned if I didn't want to.
"I get it. You were vulnerable. I don't blame you for that," I told her truthfully.
"Yeah, but I blame myself."
Now I was confused.
"I know this may not make much sense but bare with me. When I met you things changed completely. I really started to take a look at myself and what I discovered I didn't like. When I broke down I realized that even though I found you I was still the same: weak, afraid and defenseless. I wanted you to protect me. I was prepared to let innocent people who knew nothing about me risk their lives because I was too weak to fight my own battles. I realize now how selfish that was. I never stood up to my uncle. I just let him abuse me because I thought I didn't stand a chance against him or anyone else. I don't want to have that mindset anymore. I don't want to be that same girl that used to cower in the corner and hold her head down trying to hide from the world. I want you to be proud to have me stand by your side. I want to be a Gamma female that people will respect. I know it won't happen over night but I'm willing to try."
"I am proud Lyn. The more I get to know you the prouder I become. I understand that you want to be able to take care of yourself and hold your own. I want to help you do that. But never feel bad about me protecting you. I'll always protect you no matter what. I'm your mate and it's what I do. You may have to earn the pack's respect, but you have mine. Even though you might not have fought back you still went through more than some people will go through in a lifetime. Not only that but you got through it so give yourself some credit."
She smiled at me and I smiled back.
"Thank you. Now since we're being honest. Tell me your life story."