The Broken Queen

Chapter 4; Speed?

Dani's POV:

I wake up screaming, with a burning sensation in my chest. It feels like my lungs are on fire. 'What the hell is going on?' I wonder, panic rising with the pain. I glance at my clock, and it reads 2:45 a.m. Goddess it's early. I instinctively clutch my chest as hot tears stream down my cheeks. It hurts so badly. I scream loud enough to make my mouth go dry, but it's like my screams are silenced to anyone's ears but mine. My shack isn't isolated enough to be as far away from everyone as one might expect. It's directly across from the cabin of an elderly omega couple, but alas, no one can hear me as I scream in pain.

Suddenly, it feels like a brick slams into my stomach. The blow forces me to the opposite wall, and I crumble to the floor as darkness quickly overtakes me and all I feel is pain. I startle awake an hour later, hoping it had all been a dream. When I carefully bring myself to my feet from the floor, I realize it's because I'm no longer on my makeshift bed, and my stomach and back hurt like hell. My breath quickens and my heart starts to race in confusion and fright. What is happening to me?

I throw my hand out in front of me to steady myself and keep my balance. I feel unsteady on my feet. This somehow makes my blanket fly across the room, while my old, flat pillow smacks me right in the face. What the hell? I begin to panic and everything in my shack begins to float uncontrollably around the place, including the wardrobe, which starts vibrating and floating a meter or so above the ground. This must be a dream, mustn't it? And then I hear Kayla's voice in my head.

'Dani breathe, the more you panic the worse it will get. You are getting older and I'm maturing, plus you have some new powers coming your way in the near future and I'm pretty sure they are out of control because of your emotions, until you learn to control them. They are starting to come to life inside you. Just breathe for me, we don't want to bust a huge hole in the shack and get the attention of everyone around now do we?' I follow her instructions and then open my eyes again.

After some shuffling, everything settles right back into their places. 'Kayla, what's happening to me?' I ask scared. 'Dani, you will understand everything when the time is right, you have been chosen for great things. You have a lot of power inside you. Your body just got overwhelmed as you are on the edge of your powers coming to the surface ' she tells me. 'What powers are you on about' I ask in confusion. 'Sweetie, you have quite a few different powers and abilities just waiting to be released, but it will take time. You will unlock your new speed, shortly.

You will need them for what is to come, so this is a blessing Dani, trust me. No one who isn't going to be a part of our journey can know about this yet because it will only complicate our escape. Now we must practice controlling our emotions when we train over the next few days, so we don't cause any destruction by mistake and I'll be with right there you.' It sounds pretty cryptic of her I have to say, what is she not telling me? 'We better get going pup, it's time to train' she explains. I nod in response, with a new sense of determination in my eyes, for what? I don't know.

I regulate my breathing and stand on shaky legs, creeping down the old, rickety staircase. I begin to run, and after a minute I'm knocked off my feet by a blow to the chest. What now? I look around panicked, but I'm completely alone. Only the sounds of nature and the pack controls on the border fill the silence.

'Be careful Dani, you just hyper focused on going faster, triggering your speed, I think, don't panic' Kayla jumps in to calm me down. 'Okay...' I say slowly, only half believing her. I take a breather, before running again. Trees and bushes blur past me as I run. I arrive at my clearing in just under three minutes. Technically, this is my father's land, but it's the only place on the pack's land that I feel safe and at ease, so I kind of just claimed it as my own. I spin around, not used to the feeling of freedom or the wind whipping my hair and hitting my face. Hmmm, it feels so relaxing and peaceful.

I put my arms out and spin around happily once more with a wide grin on my face. I sigh and start my training, focusing on harnessing my speed. In only forty mins, I complete my usual hour and a half training session. Wow, that is much better than I had anticipated. I have really improved my agility in recent months, and Kayla has taught me lots of different jumps, dodges, flips and blocks, as well as attack strategies of course.

It isn't amazing, but it's the best possible substitute I could compile. We have gathered little snippets out of the pack's training and the pack members talking about certain moves after training sessions. Over the last two years since I've been out among some pack members after being put into my shack instead of the attic, we pieced together the little bits of information as best as we could.

I'm both shocked and proud of my newfound speed and feel grateful for the power, although a part of me knows that the more 'special' I turn out to be, the more burdens and responsibility I will have to carry, whether I want them or not. I just wonder if I am up to it...

I sit down, with my back pressed against the bark of an old birch tree at the edge of the clearing. I rest for 15 mins and take the time to rehydrate as I'm beginning to feel a bit lethargic, although I still have a lot of work to do. 'Okay, I have completed our regular training and have practiced with my speed, what do you want to do now?' I ask Kayla. 'Can we go for a run? Please!' she begs in response.

'Okay but we gotta stay out of sight okay, we can't get caught running freely, or we could be killed, especially as my father thinks he's made me too weak to develop or connect with you. He can't know that I have my wolf yet, it's our biggest element of surprise for taking him down once we are strong and powerful enough' I warn her. She agrees, knowing exactly what I mean as I shift into our wolf form, and I let Kayla take the reins. She hasn't been out in months, and I know it's been driving her crazy, but she would never take over without my permission as its as much my decision as it hers to shift. Kayla leans down on her front legs stretching her stiff limbs before slowly trotting around the clearing, tracking the guards at the border.

Once she is satisfied with her analysis of the guards, she sets off into a soft sprint, making sure not to go fast enough to draw attention to us. Kayla spends about half an hour running around like a carefree pup, relishing in the sensation of the wind in her fur for the first time in months, while I keep an eye on our surroundings, letting her truly enjoy herself.

I sit down on the grass, feeling quite weak after emptying our energy reserves. 'I think that's enough for today Kayla, we need to get back and I don't know about you, but I'm wrecked. Did you enjoy your short run?' I query. 'Okay, we can go now but thank you for letting me out Dani, it felt amazing to finally stretch my legs out again.

It's cramped inside your mind you know.' She sniggers the last part making me laugh and I nod as I gulp down my water, feeling myself starting to slowly regain my strength already. I sigh in content, with a small smile on my face thinking about what is to come. My entire life is about to change forever, I just hope it will change for the better, I just want to be happy... 

Author's Note:

What do you guys think? Do you hate her father, or do you feel sorry for him and his grief? Would you let Kayla take the belt if it was you?