Chapter 72
I woke up on Sunday morning to soft rays of sunlight through the bedroom window and Daniel’s lips on mine. I realised almost immediately it was far later than I usually slept, I sat up when he pulled away and set a steaming hot coffee on the bedside table.
“Good morning my queen.” He said as he walked around the bed.
“What time is it?” I asked, as I stretched and repositioned my pillows behind me.
“It’s getting late, it’s almost nine.” He said as he climbed back into bed with me.
“Oh, okay,” I said, as I took a sip of my coffee and allowed my brain to catch up to our conversation. “Wait, nine!? Oh my god! Why didn’t you wake me? Everyone will be here in an hour!” I grumbled alarmed, as I set my coffee down and tried to get out of the bed, only for Daniel to pull me back under the covers.
“Don’t panic, Maria is the only one staying here with you, but there will be men outside the entire time, and it wouldn’t be the worst thing if you didn’t hear all the details about what happened yesterday. So, finish your coffee, and take your time getting ready, you won’t miss anything important, I promise.” He said with a smile and a kiss on my cheek.
“Fine, I won’t rush, but what is it you’re afraid of me hearing?” I asked as I turned to face him and picked my coffee back up.
“Let’s just say, the meeting hall wasn’t the only place violence broke out yesterday, and if I know my mother, she will want to talk about the many disturbing ways she wants to torture Owen,” Daniel said with a sigh.
“Yeah, I don’t want to hear that,” I replied quickly, which made Daniel almost choke on his coffee. “Do you really have to torture him?” I didn’t like the idea of anyone getting hurt, despite what they had done.
“I wish I didn’t, but it’s unlikely he will talk without an incentive,” Daniel said solemnly, all of his previous humour was gone.
“What if you offered him his life in exchange for information?” I asked, desperate to find a way to keep blood off Daniel’s hands.
“I doubt it will work, but I promise to try.” He said softly, his fingers ran along my arm, creating goosebumps on my skin.
“I hate that you have to be a part of that,” I whispered, as he moved closer to me, his hand moved my hair aside, and he ran his nose over my shoulder, and up my neck. My breath hitched as his fingers moved over my throat.
“I would stay in this bed with you all day if I could.” He murmured against my skin, his lips traced my jawline, I hummed in approval. “I would never leave your side if I didn’t have to.” He breathed against my ear, as his hands moved under the nightie to my wet opening. I heard him growl softly, as he caught the scent of my arousal, his lips were almost touching mine, his fingers poised to enter me, when he groaned in frustration. “Ben and Maria are here, she didn’t sleep well last night, worried about you and how you were coping with all of this.” He mumbled into my hair; his irritation evident. I allowed him a few moments to wallow in his disappointment before I got out of the bed. “Where are you going?” He asked completely serious.
“Umm, to answer the door to your brother and sister-in-law?” I asked, suddenly unsure.
“You can’t go out there like that!” He cried, as he jumped from the bed and blocked my path.
“I’m gonna wear the robe, and didn’t we talk about you asking, not ordering?” I asked, irritated.
“It’s not that, well not completely, what I mean is, if you open that door right now, every wolf on patrol will be able to smell you.” He said through gritted teeth as he ushered me back to the bed.
“Smell me? Daniel what the hell-” I abruptly stopped as the realisation hit me. “You mean, smell my...” I blushed unable to finish the sentence.
“Yes, and it’s going to be hard enough for me to leave you here with only Maria to protect you from the males in this pack. If they’ve caught your scent, I will be useless, I need to know Owen isn’t able to get anywhere near you. I can’t do that if I can’t leave your side for fear of my own men being enthralled by your intoxicating scent.” He almost begged.
“Fine. Go let them in, but we are in no way finished with this conversation!” I warned as I went to my drawer to pick something to wear. I had barely pulled my jeans on when I heard Daniel shouting, I ran out of the bedroom, throwing my shirt on as I went. By the time I got to the kitchen, Daniel was pacing, furious, Maria was sitting at the table, she looked tired and paler than I had seen her before.
“You had no right to keep this from me, Ben! You are supposed to be my Beta. How can I trust you to be my second if you’re keeping things from me? Especially something as important as this!” Daniel bellowed.
“Calm down, what happened?” I asked as I rushed to Daniel’s side to try and soothe his anger, I looked around the room, I realised Maria wasn’t the only one who looked a little worse for wear.
“Tell her! Tell her Ben, everything, go on!” Daniel barked; his eyes flickered to that of his wolf. I turned towards Ben, confused as to what could make Daniel this angry.
“There was an attempt to break Owen out of the cells last night,” Daniel growled loudly, which made Maria paler, and Ben’s eyes lowered. “But, thanks to us already being aware of the vampire involvement we were prepared, and Owen is still in custody,” Ben added hastily.
“Okay, so did you catch whoever was trying to break him out?” I asked hopefully.
“Not all of them, unfortunately, a few got away, three were killed in the fight, one in Owen’s cell,” Ben said almost sadly.
“And I’m guessing you didn’t notify Daniel of any of this?” I asked hesitantly.
“Correct, he didn’t, but what else happened Ben?” Daniel snapped before Ben had a chance to answer me himself.
“One of our men was bitten, by a vampire,” Ben replied, his eyes downcast, Maria sobbed softly at the table.
“But a vampire’s bite is toxic to Lycans, isn’t it?” I asked, I silently prayed I was wrong.
“He’s in the pack hospital now, the doc said he only has a day, maybe less,” Ben answered quietly, I gasped audibly, and Daniel pulled me into his arms to comfort me.
“I have to leave now, I need to check on my warrior in the hospital, then I’m going to force Owen to tell me everything. I’m not going to see Hyacinth until everyone involved with bringing those vampires here is in a cell or dead.” Daniel vowed to me, he kissed me softly and ran back up the stairs to put some clothes on. I was frozen, shocked and unsure of what to do next.
“What was the name of the man that was hurt?” I almost didn’t want to ask, I knew on some level, or at least suspected.
“His name was Kyle Henry, and he saved three other men, by sacrificing himself,” Ben said with conviction, I choked back a sob as I walked on weak legs to Maria. She stretched across the table and took my hands in hers.
“He was really nice to me,” I said feebly, as I sank into the seat opposite hers.
“He is a good boy.” Maria sobbed softly, as she clutched my hands, I couldn’t form the words to ask her how she knew him, thankfully she read my expression. “He is my cousin, my mother and his were sisters.” She whispered.
“My first day at Appletree he checked my ID as I was leaving, he was kind and sweet. And then last night, he kept me safe.” I mumbled, lamely as the shock overcame me.
“I saw, it’s the only reason I was able to concentrate on my part of the plan and get the last of the elders out,” Maria replied, almost absentmindedly.
“What do you mean? You’re part of what plan?” I asked Maria, who lost the last bit of colour in her face and looked desperately towards her husband for help. “What plan Maria? Ben?” I screeched, the heartbreak and despair I was feeling quickly replaced by anger and disbelief that they kept a plan from me. Daniel walked in, his face angry and disappointed they had let slip to me. “You had better tell me what the hell is going on now Daniel, or I’m leaving,” I warned, furious with him too.
“Calm down, please? It’s not as bad as it sounds, I didn’t find out until you were in the hospital, having your examination for the tribunal.” Daniel said softly, as he attempted to calm me down.
“Find out what!” I cried, back on my feet, when I felt the familiar feeling of power building inside me.
“This is why I didn’t want you to know, your eyes are purple again, you need to calm down!” Daniel snapped at me before he was thrown bodily back down the hall towards the front door.
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