Danny above

Danny POV

Trist, Chen, his sons, and Julius are playing basketball on the playground at the boys' school. It's funny to see Julius moving around so fast in his wheelchair, the boys have problems keeping up with him.

Today's afternoon he turned out at my doorstep and asked me to go and pick Trist up with him and that's enough of sitting at home. He understands that I'm shaken after what happened with Brandon and that everybody is on my side. If he only knew the real reason I haven't stepped outside of my house for so many days.

I shiver at merely the thought of what happened when Brandon and I met after what had happened at the party. I left Chen's house early in the morning, leaving only the note on the table. I didn't want to face their pity and their worry, especially not Julius's. I know how bad are things between me and Brandon and that I have no way out of this.  have lived among werewolves long enough to know that breaking the bond between marked true mates is impossible. The problem is mainly Bruce. Seeing Brandon with Fiona made me realize that I simply don't care. I don't care about my mate, I don't love my mate, and don't want to be near my mate. But Brandon's wolf is another story. I may have a big resentment towards Brandon but I still care and feel pulled to Bruce.

These rare moments when everything seems okay between us are only because of Bruce, I feel his love, his attachment, and his pain when Brandon hurts me. And I'm also scared about him, if Brandon and I continue like that I fear that something terrible can happen to Bruce.

When I entered the house that morning I hoped that Brandon and I could at least try to talk and fix something, even the small part of our relationship. But just one glance at him and I knew that he wanted to hurt me.

"Was it fun to humiliate me!" he shouted, " I know you did it on purpose you jealous bitch!"

He shoved me onto the floor and started kicking me in the stomach, as always not touching my face. I didn't scream, as always I was just praying for it to be over as soon as possible. I literally could feel Bruce at that moment crying in despair, I was wondering how angry must be Brandon if he didn't feel his wolf suffering.

At one moment he grabbed me by my hair, pressed me to the wall, and started choking me. I didn't even try to fight him, I just wanted it all to finally be over, I've had enough.

Preston entered the house, saw us, and pulled Brandon away from me, I fell to the floor coughing hard as Preston was holding his son screaming for him to get a grip, finally, Brandon gave up and stormed out of the house, and that when my father-in-law looked at me.

His eyes were cold as if he was looking at something meaningless when he said:

"You are not to talk about it with anyone, do you understand? If the pack knows that Brandon was abusing his mate they will never trust him. And he will be an Alpha, I will not let you ruin it for him. No matter what, do you understand? Brandon will leave for some time and when he is back I'll see to it that he won't touch you ever again. But you will do your part too, Danny, you will be a mate he needs, you will comfort him and support him, and you will keep his wolf strong."

I think he saw in my eyes how much I didn't want to do it, so he kneeled in front of me and gently but firmly grabbed my chin, and even though I was scared of Brandon, at that very moment I was also scared of him.

"You are marked, Danny. You have no way out, if you weren't sure you shouldn't have let him mark you. Now is too late, it's done."

Brandon left that afternoon and I hasn't stepped out of the house for a week, waiting to be able to move again without hissing in pain and the bruising on my neck to faint enough so I would be able to cover it.

Natasha, Alyssa, and Julius called many times but I told them I'm not feeling well and needed some time alone, thanks Goddess they respected my request to be left alone.

The shame I feel is so overbearing. The shame of being something broken, something unlovable.

The same shame I had with Jordan. Every time he abused me I felt more ashamed, weak, and dirty. And I saw no way out, he could throw me and my father from the clan anytime he wanted. He was calling sexual favors a way to pay rent. I was a kid at that time, and I couldn't imagine living without the clan, that was all I knew. And my father kept repeating that it was now my duty to look after my family and that what couldn't be changed must be endured.

I just like that time once again I see no way out, I know I must endure.

The ball runs in my direction and I catch it, they are calling me to come and join. Julius's eyes are shining so brightly, I know he is happy and I don't want to spoil it either for him or me. I have three more weeks without Brandon and will enjoy it with those I care about.

We laugh, pass the ball, cheer, and jump. At one moment Julius pulls me into his lap, Trist is pushing his wheelchair around and we all laugh as crazy, especially when he throws us by accident on the grass. It reminds me of the peaceful time I had with my family. It seems so long ago.

At some point, I go with Trist to bring us some water and I notice that he seems nervous.

"Something wrong?" I ask.

"Mom called me this morning, she said she needs to meet with me today."

I gulp, since the pack members are forbidden to leave the pack territory alone Trist is usually meeting with his mother at the edge of it in the forest and I'm always present. Madison has already received the money she asked for and yet she didn't answer when I asked how long she intended to stay.

Trist seems happy that he can see her, as with every child, he is curious and wants to have a relationship with his mother and I must say that at least for now Madison's behavior is perfect. She seems to be interested in her son and yet I just can't shake off the feeling that something is fishy.

Trist begged me not to tell Julius, he is convinced that his father will make it impossible for the two of them to see each other as soon as he finds out about them. But except that I have my own, very selfish reason not to tell Julius the truth. He suffered because of her and I don't want him to suffer again and maybe, just maybe I'm jealous. No matter what happened between them they are true mates. I wonder what I fear more, that Madison didn't change or that she did, and she is here to try building her family again, with Julius in it.

"Why so suddenly and so late?" I ask him and says he has no idea.

"She didn't say, but she insisted it must be today. Danny please, please" he begs and I know I won't be able to say no to him no matter what. If I say no he will go anyway so it's safer to go with him.

Julius POV

I bust through the door to the infirmary, no one is crazy enough to stop me. All gathered here look at me but I don't see anyone but her.

My nostrils move but I don't sense anything, her scent has changed, drastically. But I know it's her, although she's changed too, I still know it's her and blind fury pumps in my veins.

"Julius no!" Alyssa screams but I'm fast as I move close to Madison grab her by her neck and shove her to the ground, failing off my wheelchair in the process.

Drake does nothing, last time I was so close to killing her he pushed so strongly against me that I couldn't have done it. This time he doesn't care as I squeeze my hand harder and Madison is struggling to breathe trying to pry my hand off of her throat.

I feel somebody's arms wrapped around my chest and I know that's Danny, suddenly all my fury is gone, only tiredness and sadness remain.

"Let her go, Julius, you are going to kill her" he whispers gently and I listen.

Madison is coughing and Alyssa is checking on her, as I let Danny hold me tight to his chest. My eyes look for Trist and I see him pressed into the wall. He looks at me sacred like hell, and my chest tightens painfully knowing he is scared of me. Of hatred and rage I've just presented.

The door gets open again, Natasha enters and quickly assesses the situation.

"Is she alright?" she asks Alyssa but is looking at Madison.

"Yes, she will live"

"Ok, Chen put her in the cell, but I don't allow any harsh treatment," she says as Trist starts begging her to let his mother go.

"I'm sorry it's all my fault, but I mean no harm, I only wanted to see my son," Madison manages to say before she is taken away.

I watch her as she passes me and my fist clenches. She cries and just like years ago she looks at me hurt and pleading but this time it doesn't work, this time I don't care, I don't care anymore.

"Who will start speaking?" Natasha asks and a warrior Trevor, who is standing close to her answers:

"Danny came to me today and asked about the timing and route of patrols this evening and I told him. When I and my unit were close to the west borderline I heard a struggle and screams for help and we followed and found a rogue fighting Trist, who was protecting Danny and Madison. The rogue is dead now, we took all of them to the packhouse and I mindlinked you Alpha, and Julius, that Trist and Danny were attacked."

I got stiffened hearing it but before I have time to ask anything from Danny, Trist starts crying:

"It was my fault! She said she was in trouble and needed to leave for some time and I screamed that I wanted her to stay, and that rogue emerged through the forest. I shifted and tried to protect her but couldn't. It was all me, it's not her fault. Please don't hurt her, please"

I free myself from Danny's hands and make a move toward my boy but he moves away slightly and I see the fear on his face, I bite my lips and stop my movement. Natasha goes in the direction of Trist and hugs him as he tells us everything that has happened since he met his mother.

How she approached him, how they started meeting regularly, and how she needed money which was finally resolved with Danny's help.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask looking at him.

"Because at first, I was sure she would disappear after I gave her the sum she had needed and..."

"It was my fault" Trist interrupts still sobbing "I was begging him not to tell, I wanted to see her again and again. I knew you wouldn't be happy about that. I was scared you would force her to leave, like before."

I sit with my back on the wall as Danny stands up, Alyssa doesn't say anything, and Trist keeps sobbing.

"What happened today?" Natasha asks Danny.

"Trist has been usually meeting with his mother at the edge of the borderline and I was always present, there was no problem until today. Madison insisted that Trist meet with her and he told me she was nervous so I made sure that the patrols would be close enough to us to help in case of danger. That rogue came from the woods, Trist shifted and tried to protect me and his mother."

"What exactly Madison said?"

"That she can't stay here any longer, she must leave for some time, because it will be safer for everybody."

Natasha takes a big breath after the moment of silence.

"Trist I promise not to hurt your mother, but for now you will go back to your house one of the warriors will escort you, now!"

He protests but cannot disobey Alpha no matter what, after the door close after him I look at Natasha and spit:

"She can't stay here, I will not have it no matter what!"

"And what about Trist? She is his mother and she wasn't the one to attack him."

I feel anger raising in my veins;

"Have you forgotten that it was because of her that my brother and your mate are dead!"

What exactly happened with Julius's brother will be revealed in the next chapter

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