Chapter 16

Danny’s POV
**“Any ideas?”** I ask Jesse. **“I’m thinking; give me a moment” “We need to come up with something; I don’t want Todd thinking he can come here again”** I fume; the frustration coming through in my voice. **“You need to sleep; let me think it over and I will let you know my thoughts when you wake up”** he tells me. **“I can’t sleep.” “It’s 3am, you need to sleep”** he snarls at me. **“I’ll sleep when we come up with a plan”** I inform him.
I gently move off the bed; trying not to wake Claudia and walk down the stairs to the front of the packhouse. **“Where are we going?”** Jesse asks; **“I’m just getting some fresh air.”** I answer him; sitting on a wooden bench.
“You couldn’t sleep; either” a voice comes up behind me and I jump; “Shit! You startled me, Dad. I’ve been thinking about what we can do; everything I think of, ends in the same result” I inform him as he sits down beside me.
“I’m the same, son.” “How do you and mum handle Amanda; being a white wolf? She’s already been taken once” I question him.
“When pups shift for the first time; we make it a pack celebration. Jade and myself couldn’t wait for Claudia to get her wolf and celebrate it with the pack. The day before she was to shift; she came to us and told us Amanda didn’t want to shift in front of the whole pack. I thought it was nerves. She informed me; it wasn’t. It was because Amanda was white. Since then; we have been keeping Amanda, confidential. There is only a select few, who know she has a white wolf. There are already rumours of a white wolf in the shifter community, but no-one knows who it is exactly. Todd knowing…” he doesn’t finish his sentence; I know where he is going with this.
“When Claudia told me about the kidnapping; I knew I needed to learn how to fight. We will be looking over our shoulder for the rest of our lives. I agree with you; killing is the last option. I will still need to learn what to do. There will come a time I will have to kill someone; whether it is Todd or someone else” I tell him.
“That’s what scares me” Claudia says, coming over to sit on the bench. “You need to rest” Dad tells her; “So do the pair of you” she huffs.
“I have an idea. I don’t know if it will work or not; but it’s an idea, none the less” Claudia informs us. “It’s more than I have; let’s hear it” I smile at her.
“Todd knows I have a mate; but doesn’t know who that mate is. Jesse answered the phone and told Todd who he was. If I was on the other end of the call; I would assume Jesse is my mate” she tells us. “He is; technically” I respond.
“Have Jesse answer another phone call. Let us introduce him to my mate; by giving him information only Todd, would know about you. Didn’t you say, he thought you were a good aim with a Bebe gun?” “I can’t say I was a good aim; but I did out shoot him at the range” I answer her.
“What will that accomplish? He will just know; Danny and you are here” Dad says. “Precisely; I am the mate of a tortured brother, who is seeking revenge. Do you want to be in that fight?” She says, grinning. “I’m not seeking revenge” I sigh. “He doesn’t have to know, you aren’t. He just has to assume you are” she smiles.
**“It’s not a bad thought; I wouldn’t use the target practice scenario, though”** Jesse says. **“What do you suggest?” “Anastasia”** he answers.
I let Jesse come forward; **“tell them, your thoughts”** I encourage him. “I like your idea; honey cakes” he says to her. **“Honey Cakes?” “You have your nickname for Claudia, I have mine”** he chuckles; bringing up an image of pancakes, dripping with honey.
“I have a better scenario to discuss with our ex-brother. Anastasia” “the she-wolf, who rejected Danny?” Claudia questions. “She rejected him because he chose her to be Luna; or so he stated. I believe, Todd knew about the mate bond and told Anastasia to reject Danny. He was trying to hurt him; it didn’t. He stood tall, accepted the rejection and rejected her in return. You and Amanda are our true mates, we are meant to be with” he explains, giving her a wink.
**“Let me back out there”** I tell Jesse. He moves back into my mind “I want to talk to him. I want to be the one to tell him; who I am” I yell; coming forward. “Do you think that is wise?” Dad asks me. “I am not weak” “We know that” Claudia interrupts. “I want to show Todd; I’m not” I finish.
“We can use both of you” Dad injects. “What do you mean?” “Have Jesse answer the phone and ask about Anastasia. If he is smart enough to work it out; then you can come forward and teach him how strong you really are” he smirks. “I like that idea” I smile back at him.
“The sun is coming up and we have a plan. Now can the two of you get some sleep?” Claudia snarls at us. I chuckle; “I can relax and sleep now” I say, stifling a yawn. Dad laughs “You better get some sleep. The next few weeks; I will be putting you and Jason through intense training.”
“Can’t wait” I smile; picking up Claudia’s hand and standing up. “And your mother wants to take you baby shopping. She’s been a nervous wreck since you went into heat” Dad chuckles to Claudia. “I need to get more sleep. Mum and shopping; I will be more exhausted than you” she laughs back.
Dad stands up and wraps his arms around me; taking me a bit by surprise. “We will get through this, together” he whispers, as I hug him back. He gives Claudia a peck on the cheek and heads back into the packhouse. “Shall we go back inside” she smiles at me. “Only if you tell me about the honey dripped, pancakes” I laugh, heading into the packhouse.
“Jesse wouldn’t stop complaining about how I cooked you pancakes, so I cooked him some” she answers “And where does the honey come into it? That’s what he wanted on them; lots of it” she smiles.
……….
*“Danny; you need to come to my office”* Dad mind links. **“We’re on”** I say to Jesse, heading up the stairs to dad’s office and opening the door. “I just rejected, Todd’s call. He will be calling back shortly’ he says, as Claudia and Luna Jade, follow me into the room.
Sure enough; the phone goes off again and I withdraw myself into my mind and let Jesse come forward. “Hello” Jesse answers; putting the call on speaker.
“Is Claudia there?” Todd asks. “You will never speak with Claudia” Jesse rumbles. “Why don’t you ask her” Todd spits back. “I have a question for you, Todd. What does Luna Anastasia say about you chasing another woman?” “Anastasia is not my Luna” he yells through the receiver.
There was a slight pause and Jesse continues “Funny; I thought that was the whole point of the rejection. She was to reject her mate, to become your Luna.” The phone went silent; Jesse double checked to make sure we were still connected. “Error?” A nervous whisper comes through the receiver. Jesse starts cackling, as I come forward.
“I am only going to tell you this once. You come near my mate; touch one hair on her head. All the kicks, all the punches; all the pulling of my hair will come back, tenfold” I boom down the receiver. “No; you’re dead” he says, a hint of fear in his voice. “Hello, brother. It’s not good to hear your voice again” I snarl.
“You are..” “Claudia’s mate” I finished his sentence; smirking. I know he was going to say alive, but why beat around the bush. “Consider this your only warning; I am stronger than you will ever be. For everything you did to me. If I see you; I will kill you. No questions asked” I boom at him; hanging up the phone.
“Operation: Todd’s a fuckhead; is underway” I chuckle at Claudia. “I don’t think he will be calling back somehow” Dad agrees, laughing. “It’s bought you some time to train” Claudia answers, giving me a kiss. “And for you to have our grandpup” Mum says to her.
“Speaking of which; Mum, I don’t think I should go baby shopping with you. I know it’s what mothers and daughters do; but considering the circumstances, regarding Todd. It’s best I stay here” she tells Luna Jade. “I’ve been thinking about that too. We can still do baby shopping; we’ll just buy everything online” she smirks.
“You can use my computer. Danny; this is our cue to leave the two ladies to do what they need to do. And trust me; you don’t want to be here” Dad chuckles; “Let’s get training” I answer him; following out the door behind him.