Chapter 19: Nineteen.

Shane had explained as much as he could to Daniel without breaking Sammy's trust. His questions began as soon as he was conscious and lasted till Abigail showed the beta away to take her mate to bed.

All through their conversation Shane had apologised profusely to Daniel, because sending him away was the worst thing he could have done in the circumstances. If he had known then, what he knew now he would have handled the whole thing differently.

Daniel appreciated that Sammy had certain abandonment issues from Shane's intel; but he couldn't help but be really pissed that his alpha was keeping secrets about his mate. It put more than a small strain on their friendship, and as such Shane didn't push Daniel further, and made it clear that he would be giving pretty much a free rein for him to handle it as he deemed fit.

As such, the following day Daniel turned up to volunteer, in the hopes of having a conversation with Sammy that didn't result in him being either, punched, deserted or shot. The thought made him smile, he adored how strong willed she was, and how she fought for herself, despite it being against him.

But, she wasn't there, and eventually he found out from Tom, she had called in sick, having gotten a chill while out looking for the escaped wolf.

Tom also didn't miss his opportunity to let Daniel know, Sammy wouldn't have had to hunt alone, had his idiotic friend not switched off her radio, and the wolf himself could have been returned safe.

Daniel had to work desperately hard not to roll his eyes, the wolf was perfectly fine, smirking away inside Daniel's mind at the ignorance of the human male.

So now he was stood outside Sammy's apartment, having been informed Susan reprimanded her for trying to stay in the trailer when she was sick instead of going home.

Taking a deep breath he knocked gently three times. He felt so awkward. Running through his head were all the things he wanted to say.

He was sorry he hid himself, but there are laws he has to follow to protect his kind. He really does love her, but respects that it will take her time to feel the same. He will never abandon her, not ever, it would destroy him to do so. He is happy to do whatever she needs to feel comfortable, even if that means being in his wolf form most of the time. He just wants to be in her life.

Even he thought he sounded desperate. Who was he kidding, he was desperate.

Everything he was struggling to formulate into actual conversation flew out his mind the moment Sammy opened the door, and he saw her.

Her nose was red, her throat swollen, eyes puffy, and her shoulders slumped.

She was actually sick. Part of Daniel believed it was just a ruse to avoid seeing him, but she was telling the truth, his mate was unwell.

"What is it, Daniel?" She asked half heartedly, in a voice that was so distorted from her own his wolf scowled lightly.

"I... I..." He didn't know what to say, she looked poorly, and he lost all ability to think rationally, he didn'tknow what to do.

Once they turned werewolves never got sick, and if the children did then their parents tended to them, he was clueless.

But, his mate was sick.

He had to help.

"What do I do?" He asked in a pleading voice desperately wanting to fix her.

But, Sammy thought he meant in regards to them and their relationship, and it annoyed her.

"I'm too tired to deal with this just now, Daniel." She said with a slight sway as a wave of dizziness hit her, "Please, just go home."

She closed the door before he could respond, and went to lie back down on her couch, covered in blankets and surrounded by tissues. Her head was thumping, and now her chest hurt and she wanted to cry. She hated being sick.

Sighing, she sipped on the hot lemon in front of her, it scalded her mouth, but the heat was good on her throat.

Then suddenly, before she had even put her cup back down, there was a whining and scratching sound coming from her front door. Curiosity got the better of her and she went over to it, placing her hand on the handle she froze.

"Daniel?" She asked suspiciously.

Suddenly there was a loud and ear piercing howl.

"Daniel, go home, I just want to sleep, please." She stated wearily.

But Daniel howled again, followed by a series of very loud and insistent barks, all while scratching on her door.

"Stop it!" She hissed through the wood.

Only to be met by a THUMP, as she assumed he had thrown himself at the blockade.

"Will you knock it off!" She said, knowing instinctively he could hear her.

Again he howled, louder this time, and Sammy could hear her neighbours beginning to open their doors.

This was the last thing she needed. Sammy opened her door to hear a flood of scathing voices, and to see Daniel bouncing on his paws while beginning to yip with excitement.

She scowled at him.

"Will you go away," she said on a cough.

"Miss Gray, I think he looks pretty set on coming in," came her elderly neighbour's voice.

Sammy smiled back, "Thanks, Mrs. Caldwell, but unfortunately he isn't actually mine. Just a random stray that has gotten too attached it seems."

Daniel growled at her comment, before butting his head against her stomach affectionately. Yipping when he pulled back, in an effort to prove her wrong.

"Dear, it seems like he sees it otherwise. You know, beautiful dogs like that, need looking after. I thought you were a vet. Shouldn't you at least try to help him" The older woman condescended, earning a murmuring of agreeing comments from the other neighbours who were there to watch the goings on.

Daniel promptly sat in front of Sammy, mimicking a dog as best he could, offering up a paw to get her attention, and cocking his head to the side.

Sammy sighed in defeat, "You are absolutely right, I'm just not thinking straight with this flu I've picked up." Sammy said with a forced smile. "First thing tomorrow, I will check him out properly, and as soon as I'm well enough, I'll neuter him, make sure he isn't adding any more strays into the populace."

Daniel made a strange choking noise at Sammy's threat, feeling suddenly light headed himself.

"I knew it would just be a misunderstanding," Mrs Caldwell replied happily, "You seem like such a good girl."

"What would I do without you to keep me on the straight and narrow?" Sammy croaked to the old woman, wincing because of her throat.

"Oh I don't know about all that," Sammy's neighbour replied, "But, you could always find that large handsome man that you had hanging around. Oh, the noises you two made, it reminds me of when I was a young woman myself, and there was this one time down by the lake near Armitage Farm. I was there with my late husband and I tell you, we could have rivalled you and your young man. The noises that man could draw out of me. Take it from me dear, do not let him get away. If he can make you scream like that, he is definitely a keeper."

Daniel yipped, whole heartedly agreeing with Mrs. Caldwell, while Sammy paled in utter humiliation.

She truly believed her throat infection may have just shifted to a stomach bug. She started coughing profusely, excusing herself and dragging Daniel inside by the scruff of his neck, while her other neighbours laughed under their breaths at her expense.

Closing the door, she rested her head on it lightly, feeling like she would pass out. She definitely wasn't well enough for this nonsense.

*Author's Note: Surely we have all met and been embarrassed by a Mrs. Caldwell? My great Aunt once told me her late husband could make her toes curl....🙈🙈🙈*