The Broken Queen

Chapter 15; Today Is the Day: PART TWO

Sophia's POV:

I'm cleaning my kitchen when I feel someone pushing to open a link with me. It has been a while since someone tried that, a long while, though I get a weird sense of déja vu that I can't explain. I know I haven't linked with anyone in a very long time, yet for some reason, it feels as if I did, very recently. Weird. Goddess, it must be three years or more since I properly socialized, with anyone now that I think about it. I allowed the person to connect, anxiety rising in my chest.

'Sophia, it's Dani, I need you. I need you to meet me behind my shack in 30 minutes, come alone.' An image of a shack beside Martin and Bertha's cabin appears through the link. I'm shocked, I haven't heard from Dani in years, I miss her, our friendship. 'I know that I have been MIA since we were younger, but I trust you and the truth is I have been locked up and enslaved by Alpha Reece ever since the attack.' I go rigid, Dani seemed to disappear off the face of the earth after the attack on her, Danielle, and Damian. The truth behind her disappearance strikes me to the very core. As she speaks, anger rising with the shock of it all.

It disgusts me that the Alpha of this fucked up pack is actually dark and twisted enough now to do such a thing. 'Everyone knows he's not himself, my father is gone Soph, I don't recognize the man he has become, and that feeling scares me. I'm escaping tonight, with another friend of mine, one of the Omegas, Bree. I want you to come with us...please Sophia, just meet us.' The idea of escaping this hellhole sparks a glimmer of hope somewhere deep inside me and my wolf Andrea stirs slightly at the thought. I have always hated this pack, but after we lost Danielle, I gave up on it. 'Okay, I will meet you and...Bree? I will be there soon. I will be as quiet as I can, don't worry' I reply nervously.

I wonder what her plan is and why she wants us to go with them. I get excited thinking about seeing Dani again, I really miss my friend, and Andrea misses her friend Kayla, yet the feeling of déja vu lingers throughout the short conversation. I put on my boots immediately and leave my shack. I carefully move towards Dani's place, anxiety building in my chest once more. The birds chirp and foxes can be seen running through the forest on the outskirts of the pack lands. The grass is tall, coming up to my waist when I crouch. I keep a trained eye out for any nosy wolves. There is no one nearby and none of those in the town center are paying any attention. They are too busy singing and dancing quietly. That's when Alpha Reece storms out of the pack house...

"What the hell is the meaning of this?" The Alpha shouts harshly, rage in his expression. "Get your asses inside...NOW!" Everyone scatters into their homes in fear of his temper. It was never like this before the attack, he is just heartless now. I duck behind a small cabin, which is directly beside Dani's shack. Once the Alpha and his guards leave my line of sight, I run to the shack's back door and lightly tap three times on the window. The door swings open and the girl that stands in front of me is unrecognizable to me.

She's this skinny little thing; her skin is littered in bruises and scars. Her dark onyx hair is thin, and her narrow face is pale and hollow. It's a harrowing sight. I wonder who she is. I snap out of my thoughts as she grabs me by the arm, quickly dragging me inside. I come face to face with an omega, who I assume must be Bree. "Hey, Bree, right? Where's Dani?!" I ask turning to him. "Behind you Sophia." He crosses his arms and makes a gesture with a tilt of his head. I turn around to see the sick girl standing there, sniffling.

"Hi Soph, long time no see..." her lower lip trembles as she slowly bursts breaks down vulnerably. I gasp as my heart breaks at the sight of my best friend. "Dani?!" I splutter in shock. She nods as tears start flowing down her cheeks. I rush to my best friend's side immediately to hold her as she cries, feeling myself start to shed a few of my own. My heart sinks and my stomach ties itself in knots. I can't believe this is the Dani I used to know.

Bree's POV:

Dani pulls Sophia inside and I can see her trying to place me when she notices me standing there. Her shock is palpable when I tell her Dani's is the brittle looking girl behind her.

Which, I can't blame her for as I had a very similar reaction myself a few years ago when I had caught her that night sneaking back up to the packhouse attic all battered and bruised. Now come to think of it, I must ask her sometime how she got out that night as she has since told me how she was locked in the attic. Hmm...

Snapping out of my thought, I calmly watch as Sophia stares at Dani in disbelief. She has blonde hair and emerald green eyes, she is quite attractive. Once they part from their hug, I take the opportunity to hug Dani gently myself and get back to business. "Huh hmm, right let's get to it. Dani? Let's run through your story between you and Kayla. Sophia, you should take a seat" I gesture to the sofa. And so, Dani and Kayla begin telling their story once more to Sophia, who wanted to cry with disgust and anger.

After that, Dani and Kayla explain the plan to her and her wolf, Andrea as she surfaces. They're to gather any small sentimental items they can't leave behind and practical things like a water bottle, a change of clothes, a hairbrush etc. They have five hours before they have to meet in the clearing. Dani asks me if I can handle the responsibility of showing Sophia how to get there.

Of course, I accept the task and bow my head in respect to Dani, confusing Sophia. "Yes Alpha, as you wish. We will be careful I-" Sophia interrupts me in confusion. "Alpha? Am I missing something here? Pease give me the rest of the context" she says with a pleading look between Dani and I. "When I turn sixteen, Kayla has been given the ability to make me an Alpha of my own pack and I have asked Bree here, to be my Beta. He said yes and he seems to already be addressing me as his Alpha. Bree is very calm, intelligent and kind. His wolf Dale is very protective, observant and deeply respectful of my status to be. So, between all those amazing traits, Kayla and I have no doubt that they are both the best and only choice as our Beta, and we are honoured to call him our friend" Dani smiles at me, Kayla's eyes flashing to show the sincerity in her little speech.

I blush slightly as she speaks so highly of me and Dale growls lowly, puffing his chest out in appreciation. Sophia grins at me. "Oh wow, can I be in your pack Dani? Please?" she inquires, Andrea fronting with her. "Of course, Soph" Dani replies with a smile. Andrea instantly takes control, getting onto one knee and bowing to Dani and Kayla with her neck bared. "Thank you Alpha" Dani giggles like she did to me as Kayla accepts their submission.

Sophia slowly stands and turns to me. She bows her head low before looking me in the eyes as Andrea speaks. "Beta, I am grateful to you both" I smile, Dale taking over to quickly accept her submission, grinning at the unofficial title.