Chapter 28

**Marilyn **

I was about to risk everything to save the people I loved. Although this was not my original pack I wanted to protect them. I didn't want them to die because of me. I knew it would only be a matter of time before my uncle began attacking other packs to get to me. He wouldn't care who he killed and knowing that people were dying while I was safely locked away just made me uneasy. This had to end and it had to end tonight. My human half was convinced I was doing the right thing but for some reason my wolf side had been awfully quite.
"Delila?" I called hoping to get a response. I needed her to say something, anything. Every since I was thirteen she been a source of comfort and security for me. I had to know if she thought I was making the right decision. I had to know that she supported me. She hadn't been this quite since Ryland and I started being intimate. She had wanted me to wait for our mate. Now I know why.
"We shouldn't leave," she said softly after a few minutes of silence.
"Why not? We have to protect Daniel," I said confused. I thought she would be all for saving our mate.
"I don't trust her. We will be endangering our mate by risking our lives, not protecting him."
"How? I don't understand."
"Mate is no ordinary gamma. He is far more than that. He will be fine."
I knew I must have looked ten types of crazy with the expression on my face. What did she mean Daniel was no ordinary gamma? What else could he be? How could she be so certain that he would be okay?
"Well are you going or not?" a voice said said breaking my train or thought and scaring me half to death. It was the woman from before and she was starting to look anxious.
"Your mate could be out there about to die and you're still here trying to decide whether or not to save him. If it were my mate I wouldn't hesitate to get out of this place and fight. Or at least die trying. What kind of mate are you?" she said angrily not bothering to hide her disgust. Her words were running through my mind like a broken record. It seemed like she knew exactly what to say to bring out each of my insecurities. But what bothered me the most was how I got the feeling that she was saying those things intentionally, that she wanted, no needed me to try to escape. My only question was why.
"Why does it matter to you if I go through with it or not?" I asked boldly. For the first time I wasn't going to be naive enough to let someone's words get the best of me. I felt insulted and offended that she thought me silly and immature enough to even attempt reverse psychology.
"You asked for help. I gave it to you. Now you're sitting her wasting time. What was the point? I thought you were strong and brave since you were mated to a gamma. I thought you wanted to prove your self worthy. I guess I was wrong."
Maybe I should have thought over her words. Maybe it should have mattered to me that she had spoken the very words I had thought to myself not moments ago. She had even offered me a way out. But none of that mattered. All that mattered to me was that this woman was someone I knew nothing about who knew an awful lot about me.
"How did you know I was mated to a gamma? Who are you?" I asked for the second time.
"Everyone knows you're Daniel's mate. It doesn't matter who I am."
This wasn't Daniel's pack and I had never seen her before. How did she know his name?
"How do you know my mates name?" She turned pale at the question. I could see the wheels turning as she thought of an answer. That was enough to let me know that she was a liar. Something wasn't right. She knew who my mate was. She also knew about the secret exit that no one else knew about except the alpha, beta, and gamma. I knew from the moment I met her something was wrong. My desire to prove myself and save Daniel clouded my judgment. Lucky for me I had a wolf who could provide some clarity.
"I overheard it earlier," she said nervously. She seemed satisfied with her answer and tried to look confident. I wasn't convinced.
"I haven't seen you around here. Are you from this pack?" I asked casually.
"You're stalling," she said through gritted teeth. I knew she was getting angry.
"And you're lying," I said eyeing her without a trace of fear. I decided to do what I should have done in the first place.
"Does anyone here know who this woman is or where she came from?" I asked the room at large.
"You little bitch," she snarled as all eyes went to her.
"We thought she was from your pack," a middle aged woman said.
"We thought she was from one of yours," said another woman. Before I knew it a chorus of voices filled the air. None of them able to confirm her identity.
"You ruined everything!" she screamed. "Why the hell didn't you just escape like you were supposed to!"
Everyone watched as she continued her rant.
"You want to know who I am. I'll tell you. I was sent here by your uncle to help you escape. As soon as you made it out I was supposed to give him a signal. He would be there waiting. After the guards were taken down he would finally be able to kill you once and for all." I couldn't believe it. I listened in silence as she continued.
"After watching you and finding out everything I could I knew you would want to save Daniel, so I helped him come up with the plan. You see your uncle and I met one day while he was on a long run. He was grieving over the loss of his sister and telling me how it was all your fault. Of course I agreed with him completely. You see, I am his true mate" I was shocked. His true mate?
"But what about-"
"Your aunt. He met and claimed her thinking he would never meet me. No one knew he found me. I didn't care he had claimed and mated another. I forgave him. The only problem was he wouldn't let go of that bitch. All he cared about was finding you. He said he needed closure. With you out of the picture he would be able to move on, start fresh. You were a constant reminder of the past. With you gone he would finally be free. After he killed you nothing could stand in our way. But since you ruined that plan looks like I will have to kill you myself."
Before I had a chance to process everything she lunged for me. I dodged her quickly and gave her a swift kick. I wasn't going to give her a chance to attack anyone else. I looked around at everyone hoping they got my silent message to stay out of it. The look on their faces let me know they were ready to intervene if necessary. I was grateful, but I could handle this on my own.
"How did you get in here?" I asked trying to keep her focused on me.
"One of the guards owed me a favor. Let's just say he paid in full," she said smirking. Before she got up completely I kicked her again. I saw her gasping for air but before I could attack again she was up. I felt a punch to my face. It hurt but I chose not to focus on the pain. I quickly punched her back and she landed a kick to my stomach.
"Daniel we need help. There is an imposter down here," I mind-linked quickly praying I wasn't distracting him. I could kill her but children were around and I didn't want them to see that. I grabbed her leg bringing her to the floor. I quickly used a technique Daniel showed me to get her hands behind her back and restrain her. I shoved her my knee in her back as she fought to free herself. She head butted me and I saw black spots. It was enough to make me lessen my grip and I felt something pierce my side. My shirt turned bright red and my body began to get weak. The last thing I heard was the doors being thrown open and her screaming as she was taken away.