The Broken Queen

Chapter 13; Telling Bree the Truth; PART TWO;

Dani's POV;

I am listening as Kayla explains my heritage, and my mother's story to Bree in my clearing, when I am blocked out of the conversation. Kayla is probably threatening to kill Bree if he tells anyone or hurts me, she's so damn protective. I smile lightly at the thought. I'm sitting down in the inner world when suddenly I am tapped on the shoulder and pushed forward in my mind to take control. 'I'll keep an eye out, don't worry child' Kayla assures me as I regain my bearings. I look at Bree with a small smile on my face. I open up a strong connection between us, where he can hear every free or unguarded thought.

'I know you are wondering where I have been for the last six years, especially the first three. I have told you a little about the attack, but it is not something I am ready to relive just yet by going into full detail. You will come to learn about my life piece by piece as I am able to talk about them and I learn to trust again. You already know that I have been living in that shack house close to Bertha and Martin's cabin for the last two, almost three years, but for the first three, I was held captive in the pack house attic. I was starved and beaten black and blue daily. I was only allowed to look out the window for ten minutes a day, but if I got too close and risked being seen, I was almost always caught, and it resulted in another beating.'

He swallowed harshly at the image forming in his mind, holding my hand in comfort and encouragement to continue. 'I was only allowed downstairs at night to do 6 hours of household chores while everyone else was sleeping and if I forgot anything there was serious consequences in the morning when my mistake was noticed, and I was forced to drink this slate grey mixture every morning that he said was to dull my scent in an attempt to disguise and hide what the hierarchy were putting me through. They were all convinced it worked, but Kayla was responsible for hiding my scent, the drink just made me puke my guts up every day.'

'I was tortured when my father wanted to express some rage at a rouge issue, a deal gone bad etc. He would whip me, kick me, punch me, burn me, he would try to drown me, and he would chain me down to slice into my skin, sometimes carving words.' I look down, feeling incredibly vulnerable and not being familiar with any type of emotional vulnerability anymore, it feels strange, out of place in some way. Bree looks at me mortified. 'Wh-what? Omg, Dani!' he gasps in horror. 'Hush now, we have little time, I am going to escape.' Bree interrupts as his eyes go wide. 'When, how?' I glance around the clearing for anyone while answering.

'Me and Kayla have a plan but we are leaving tomorrow night once darkness falls. We want you to come with us Bree, we don't want to leave you behind under our father and we think you need a fresh start too. You have lost enough here...' I explain, hesitant at the last part, I didn't want to offend him in anyway by hinting at Thomas's death. Bree smiles wildly. 'Of course I will come with you, I would be honored to be by your side. I will make sure you get out, I swear on the memory of my brother...' he says, his face, bittersweet.

'Don't worry about that, I will protect you, we will get out of here and I will start my own pack in the mountains, with you as my beta. We will offer shelter and protection to those who are vulnerable and in need of help. Any rogue who wants to cause trouble will have to deal with me. I have Alpha blood in my system and the Moon Goddess gave Kayla the ability to make me an Alpha of my own pack at the age of 16. I plan to build a community, make allies, and dethrone my father or whoever sits in his place at the time and I will take those willing to join us from this pack." He looks at me astonished.

He stays silent for a moment before Dale's eye flash his sandy beige with their hints of gold before he stands up and gets down on one knee. He begins to recite an informal version of the Beta pledge of loyalty. 'I swear to the Moon Goddess herself that I will help, care for, and protect you, standing by your side, always.'

I smile as both him and Bree stare back at us, their eyes full of respect and determination, making me tear up and Kayla sniffle at this emotional heart-warming moment. 'I shall protect you with my life and follow your every wish. I will be loyal to you and only you, my Alpha.' They bow their head to us, bearing their neck, as Kayla shows herself, coming forward to accept their submission. A low grumble escapes my lips as she stands prideful. She has a purely primal reaction, whereas I take it as an opportunity to lighten the mood by teasing Bree. I smirk. 'Aw Bree, thanks man' I punch his right shoulder lightly but hard enough to knock him over in surprise.

I laugh so hard it turns into choking from the pain in my ribs. Bree gives me a crazed look hushing me but laughing through the link at my childishness. Once I sober up, we both stand up, dusting ourselves off, preparing to head back, as our wolves crawl back leaving just Bree and myself. 'Pack water, food, any sentimental belongings and some clothes and meet me behind the shack house tomorrow night' I instruct, to which he agrees. I put my finger on my lips to tell Bree to keep quiet as we head back. As Kayla dulls our scents, we quietly creep back to my shack house. As we approach my back door, I turn to Bree and whisper "Goodnight and thank you...for protecting me and keeping me company."

Dale comes forward and bows his head. "Anything you wish my Alpha" he whispers back with a smirk on his face. He looks at me with his glowing eyes as he turns to sneak back to his shack but I stop him by suddenly pulling him into a frantic hug. Dale wraps his arms around me in a protective embrace and then asks 'what's this for?' through the link. 'I haven't hugged someone in 5 years, and you are the first person I have felt trusting of since then, so please don't break that trust.' I smile and point at him with a serious look. 'I would never dream of it Alpha as Kayla might torture me, and you know your power is quite intimidating. I won't be messing with you any time soon' he laughs through the link.

Pulling out of the embrace, Bree resurfaces, and sneaks back to his shack as I go into mine. Once in my depressing bedroom, I fall onto my busted mattress and then Kayla reminds me about Sophia, suggesting we should bring her with us too. Sophia was a childhood friend of mine that lives on the edge of the pack lands. She is a regular pack member now since her father and brother were exiled and she lost her title as the Beta's daughter, at least officially. Though, she has special skills such as being skilled in hunting, hiding and herb magic from her mother, as well as being on equal par with some of the male warriors, strength-wise.

I open a strong link,forcing my way into her dreams and reiterate everything we told Bree and askher if she wants to come with us. She says yes! And with that I drift off tosleep dreaming of our escape, Bree's and Sophia's company and my future pack...