Chapter 25

Danny’s POV
“Got everything sorted?” I call out to Simon as him; Timothy and Rick make their way onto the territory with Lorraine, Simon’s Mate; Chelsea and Jacob, Timothy’s mate and son and Denise and Elizabeth; Rick’s mate and daughter.
“Yes, James isn’t too pleased we are leaving. We told him, I wanted to leave and spend some time with Simon and Tim away from the pack” Lorraine informs me. “And I told Todd, he is a fuckwit and I didn’t want anything to do with him, anymore” Rick grins at me.
“Let’s get you all to the packhouse. Omega Joslyn has your rooms ready for you” I tell them as we all head towards the packhouse. “Is Joanna, ok? Todd can’t keep his mouth shut about how he got you in the first place. I was really pissed about him using her, like that” Tim asks me. “She is; Dad’s setting her punishment today, regarding her involvement. She has a few pack members standing behind her and he has taken our statements into consideration” I explain to them.
“Are you going to tell us why Todd was obsessed with Claudia?” Rick asks me; I look in his direction and let out a growl. “Rick; Claudia is Danny’s mate. I don’t think, it is the sole reason for his obsession, but it’s a huge part of it” Simon answers for me. I give Simon a smile; we told him the full truth of why Todd was chasing Claudia. He understands the confidentiality of the situation and promised to keep Amanda a secret.
“Here we are; Cedar Moon Pack, packhouse. This is Omega Joslyn, head Omega and maker of the best apple pie” I smile at her; using Claudia’s introduction of Joslyn, as my own. “She will show you to your rooms” I add. “Best apple pie? I will have to see if it stacks up to Josie’s” Denise laughs and Joslyn gives her a snarl. “It’s better than Josie’s” I huff as Joslyn beams a smile at me and ushers the group inside the packhouse and I head up to Dad’s office and knock on the door.
“Come in, Danny” Dad calls out. “Simon, Tim, Rick and their families are getting settled in” I inform him. “Good; Did you talk to Claudia about why she decided to tell James about Amanda?” he asks. It’s been four days and the three of us haven’t left our rooms. We all decided to spend the quality time we needed with Claudia, Tracey and Mum.
“Yes, and we were right. She asked for Goddess Selene’s help; she allowed Claudia to speak with Mum. Luna Rachael mum; not Luna Jade mum” I say, as Dad stifles a laugh with my explanation. “Did she explain why?” I nod my head at Dad; “James will want Amanda and as she is my mate; he knows the only way to be around her, is to play nice with the slave” I chuckle and Dad starts laughing with me.
“That must be hurting him” Dad laughs; “Big time. She did ask me yesterday why I was the condition to be released. I told her because without me; they had no right to hold you and Jason” I tell him. “We didn’t talk about it, in the cell. But yes, that was the reason” Dad answers me.
“We should get down to business. I have Joanna being sent up from the dungeon. They should be…” Dad starts as a knock comes on the door. “Right on time. Come in” he calls out as Joanna is bought in by Cynthia and Paul. “Please sit down, Paul; Cynthia can you stay for a moment?” Dad says to the trio.
“I’m really sorry, Alpha Henry. I thought Todd had changed, he told me it was the only way to get Danny back, where he belonged. I didn’t know, he knew about Amanda and Claudia” Joanna cries; tears spilling down her face as Jesse growls in my head.
“What you did, had severe consequences. Not only did you put Danny’s life at risk; you put mine and Jason’s as well. Claudia has informed me, you rejected him; finally,” Dad says to her. “Y-yes” she sobs.
“Why did you decide to finally reject him?” I ask her. “Because it was the last straw. When he came into the office with Tim and Rick, to take you away. I went to give him a kiss; he pushed me away and told me he had a bigger and better wolf to catch. I knew then, he didn’t love me and was using the mate bond to get what he wanted. I never accepted his rejection; I thought he would come around eventually. I was expecting you to kill him. When Claudia finally got him in the cell, I told her I had to do something, I should have done years ago and she let me” she explains.
“There are a few people standing up in your defence; Danny is one of them” Dad tells her and she lets out a gasp of surprise. “Don’t look so surprised. I know what Todd is like; I have lived around the asshole, all my life. I am defending you; because I have seen him persuade many women, not just you; to get what he wants and then discards them. You are a pawn, nothing more” I say to her.
Dad continues; “You have been in the dungeon for how long? a month now?” “Give or take a day or so” Paul adds. “I think you have been punished enough and I can see the remorse you have. However; you are treading on thin ice, Joanna. You need to start towing the line, or I will have no other option but to cast you out of the pack and you will become a rouge. Do I make myself clear?” Dad informs her, releasing his aura. “Yes, Alpha” she replies, dropping her head in submission.
“Get her out of here” I tell Paul and Cynthia. Joanna gets up out of her chair, crying and walks out the door with Paul and Cynthia a few paces behind her.
“I’m glad you and Claudia decided to stand as her defence. There are two things I hate doing; killing someone and casting someone out of the pack” Dad says, dropping his head with a sigh of relief. I didn’t realise, it took a toll on him to make those decisions. He lifts his head again and gives me a smile “I never did ask you; why didn’t you kill James when you had the chance?”
I let out a sigh; “I told you, it was because you said I if I didn’t need to kill him, I shouldn’t. The truth of the matter; I wanted him to pay and I was ready to kill him, I just couldn’t do it. I know I am nothing like James; thank goddess. But taking someone’s life for my own personal satisfaction; isn’t something I want to be known for.”
Dad smiles at me; “That is the right decision and I am proud of you for making it.”
I smile back at him “Thank you. It means a lot” I tell him. “Come on; we need to get down to Isabella. She has a group therapy session for us” he notifies me; and I let out another sigh; “why, do we need more therapy?” I complain, “standard procedure” he grins.
We get to Isabella’s office; Mum, Claudia, Tracey and Jason were sitting on the chairs, waiting for us. I give Claudia a kiss, sitting next to her as we wait for Isabella to call us in. “Our therapy group is growing” Claudia giggles; as I stifle a laugh. Isabella opens her door; “Welcome everyone” she smiles walking back into her office.
“Thank you for seeing us” Mum says to her, sitting on a chair. Isabella placed four extra chairs around her desk as the rest of us sit down. “How are you all doing?” she asks our group as a whole. “I’m fine; I continued doing the exercises you taught me, while I was chained. It helped me to control my emotions” I tell her, smiling. “Good, Danny” she smiles back.
“Jason, Tracey; how are you coping with the ordeal?” she asks them. “I’m ok. Yes, I was chained and couldn’t leave; but Alpha Henry and Danny were there to help me through it. We had help from Simon, Tim and Rick as well. We weren’t without food or water and James and Todd ended up being scared of Danny; so, they didn’t harm us” Jason answers.
“I see” Isabella says, writing on her notepad. “Tracey?” “I’m fine, I guess. I was scared, they wouldn’t come back” “All three of us ladies were scared about that” Mum voices her concern. “We were still able to see them; that helped us” Tracey adds as Mum, Dad, Claudia and I let out a gasp. “What?” Tracey asks, confused.
*“Tracey; we aren’t supposed to tell anyone about the Sanctuary”* Claudia mind links all of us. *“Oh, sorry. You didn’t say we couldn’t discuss it with Isabella. I thought she knew”* she answers back. “When you have all finished talking about what you can and cannot tell me; I would appreciate it, if you could let me do my job” Isabella says to us; raising her voice slightly in annoyance.
“The cats out of the bag now; Bella, the moon goddess allowed us to meet up every few days so we can be with our mates; through Amanda” Dad explains. “It was an unforeseen circumstance; so, she allowed it” Claudia adds. “And how did you meet up?” “Amanda sent us to her sanctuary. It was temporary; until they came back” Mum answers her.
“One of the main concerns for mates being taken; you can’t talk with your loved ones. You were able to do this. Do you have any underlying problems with what happened?” she asks all of us. “I don’t really have a problem. I had Dad and Jason with me, this time. They helped me, just as much as what Jason said about us helping him. I did learn; I wasn’t willing to kill James for my own satisfaction and how I don’t want to seek revenge. It’s not healthy for me” I inform her; Claudia, Mum and Isabella all smile at me.
“And I thought I didn’t have an impact on you” Isabella giggles at me, sarcastically. “If we didn’t have a way to be with Jade, Tracey and Claudia; we would be here, chatting with a different view. I am extremely grateful to have Amanda in our life. I prayed to Goddess Selene last night thanking her for allowing Amanda to be with us” Dad said smiling at Claudia, who is wiping away a tear. I can see Mandy behind her eyes.
“Damn it, Mandy” Claudia says; wiping away a few more tears. “I love you too; Baby wolf” Dad smiles toward Claudia as we realise Mandy was crying through her.
“I don’t think, I need to keep you. If you start having some concerns; my office is always open” Isabella says to us; as the group, get up out of our chairs. “Thank you; you have more of an impact on me, than you realise” I say to Isabella “You’re welcome” Bella replies, wiping away a few tears of her own as we head out the door.