Delphine was angry; she felt insulted. When the doors to her prison were opened and the guards came to take her out, she was happy but also scared. She didn’t even have the chance to fully stand her ground before she was dragged back to the dungeon. Lila had come to see her the moment she saw Delphine being dragged back to the dungeon. “I know I haven’t had a proper bath for days now, but I can’t smell that bad. I mean,” she looked at Lila. “Do I smell so bad?”
“No, you don’t,” Lila said. “Honestly, I don’t know why Alpha Damien acted like that. Did he look angry?”
“Angry? I didn’t even get to see his face. I had hardly stepped into the room before he ordered that I be sent back to the dungeon,” she scoffed. “Does he think this is some palace and I love being here? I hate this place.”
Lila gave her a pitying smile. “I’m sorry. Alpha Damien just got back yesterday, I mean, only he knows why he sent you away. But Alpha Damien is a good man, he’ll ask that you be let out soon.”
“I hope so, Lil, because I don’t want to be here anymore. I want to go home.”
“Home?” Lila raised a questioning eyebrow. “Wait, I thought you said you don’t know your home?”
Delphine’s eyes widened, realizing what she had just said. “I mean… yes, I don’t know my home. But I hope to find it. Who knows, my family is probably looking for me already.”
“Your family? Bluey, have you been lying? You do remember, right?”
Delphine didn’t say anything; there was no need to lie anymore. “If you were in my shoes, you would have done the same, Lila. I mean…I’m still here in this dungeon, right? I just saw the sun for the first time in how many days now? I couldn’t reveal my identity when I didn’t know who you guys were.”
“I understand Bluey, you don’t have to explain yourself. So, will you now tell me your real name or do you prefer I call you Bluey?”
“It’s Delphine, though, I really do like the name Bluey,” Delphine chuckled.
“Nice to meet you, Delphine. I really don’t know why the Alpha sent you back here, but I’ll speak to Daciana to plead with him on your behalf.
After Lila left, Delphine recoiled back into her thoughts. There was something that had been bothering her ever since she heard the Alpha speak. It’s been days so she didn’t think much about it, but it was the voice of the same man from her dreams, the one who had called out her name.
Delphine wondered if he knew who she was; she thought it couldn’t be a coincidence that she met him just days after he appeared in her dream. She didn’t say it to Lila, but she believed the reason the Alpha had sent her out was for a deeper reason than just anger. She knew because she hadn’t even seen his face, but his voice alone was enough to cause much effect. It was the type she had never felt before; she couldn’t put words to define it, she didn’t understand it, and that made her really confused and angry.
~
“Your mate? Bluey is your mate?” Luca asked in disbelief. “Are you serious? How crazy is it that the stray we found just a few days before your arrival turns out to be your mate.”
“I just felt it, Luca, this is not possible. I didn’t see this coming, Luca. Do you think she hates me? I mean, we just met and… I shouldn’t have sent her away like that, I mean… fuck, I’m not ready for this.”
“Calm down, Damien, I’ve never seen you like this.”
“Of course not, Luca. You’re right, I mean. I should go…I don’t even know what to do right now. But Luca, you can’t tell anyone.”
“Tell anyone?”
“Yes, you can’t tell anyone that girl is my mate. Not my parents, not Rain, not Daciana, no one.” Before Luca could speak, Damien continued. “I also need you to do something for me.”
“Sure, what is it?”
Damien looked unsure and hesitant to speak, but it was quickly wiped away with a determined look. “Take her out?”
“Kill her? No, Damien, that’s not—”
“No, I mean just to get her out of this park, I don’t want to see her again.”
“She’s your mate, Damien, you can’t send your mate away. Dude, do you know how happy I would be to come across my mate and you want to send yours—”
“You heard me, Luca!” Damien commanded, getting up, not giving Luca another look, he began to walk out of the room. “I’m going to bed.”
~
Delphine was awoken from her sleep by the sound of the door unlocking. She was surprised by this because Lila always came back in the morning, and since the sun wasn’t out yet, she wondered who else would be entering what she called her prison.
She sat up quickly, hopeful, maybe the Alpha had changed his mind. It was a young man who walked in, with the aid of the lantern Lila had left with her before she left for the night; she was able to see his face, but not define it. “Who are you?” She got up quickly. “Did the Alpha send you? Am I free?”
“Yes, you are. I’m Luca, the Beta of this pack, and Alpha Damien has requested I let you go.”
Delphine frowned; she was happy that they were letting her go but would have preferred if they had let her out during the day, but she didn’t mention this. “Okay,” she said slowly.
“Come with me, don’t make a single noise.”
~
Delphine hadn’t moved from the spot she stood when Luca left her, just outside the border of the pack. She wasn’t crazy not to know how crazy it was to wander alone at night; the horrors of the things that could happen kept her glued to her spot. She decided she would sleep there for the night, and the next morning she would find her way.
The clap of the thunder made her aware of the current weather situation. “Great, just great,” she muttered. Pulling her knees closer to her chest, she hugged herself, waiting for the worst to come.
“Girl? Mate?” At first, Delphine thought she had imagined the voice, but then it was followed by the name Lila had given her. “Bluey!”
“Eh?” She sat up.
“Bluey!” Delphine jumped up to her feet.
“I’m here?” She called back, unsure of what to answer.
Hurried steps followed after her reply, and soon a dark figure stood just a stone's throw away. Damien let out a sigh of relief when he saw her. He couldn’t believe it, but he felt like he was going too crazy if he couldn’t find her.
“I recognize your voice, who are you? Did they send you to get me back? If they did, tell them I won’t come,” she fired immediately.
“Would you at least let me speak, before you throw questions?” Damien said, and she looked away from him. “First of all, I want to apologize. The news just took me aback, and it was the last thing I expected, and I didn’t know how to react. I—”
“You’re sorry? I don’t even know who you are, why are you apologizing to me?”
He frowned. “What do you mean you don’t know who I am? I’m your mate.”
Delphine choked on her spite. “Sorry, but did you just say you’re my mate?” Not waiting for him to give a reply, she continued. “That’s impossible, I can’t have a mate.”
“I know you are angry that I kicked you out, but I apologize.”
“Kicked me out? You’re Alpha Damien?” She already knew that, but she hoped if she saw how clueless she was, he would leave her alone.
At this point, Damien was very confused. He didn’t know if Delphine was playing a game because of what he did earlier, but it did hurt that she refused to acknowledge him as her mate. “Will you please follow me back to the pack? It’s going to rain anytime soon, and you don’t want to be out in the cold.”
Delphine took a step back. “No, thank you. I’ll find my way—my way home. You don’t have to worry about me, and you don’t have to worry about me.” She began walking away. “I can find my way.”
“Where are you going?”
“Somewhere far away from you, and this woods, somewhere very—Hey! What are you doing, let go of me! I said let go.”
“You are a stubborn one, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know who you are, and I’m not your mate. This is an abuse against my…my rights. Put me down at this moment!”
Damien rolled his eyes, ignoring her; he proceeded to head back to the camp. Sooner or later, she would accept the fact that he was her mate.