Chapter 27: Twenty-seven.

Once Sammy was walking down the drive way, her tears flowed freely and she wished more than anything she had chosen the sneakers instead of the stupid sandals after all. Not to mention how cold she was; a cocktail dress was not suitable attire for anyone, walking outdoors in December.

The house wasn't even out of sight when, Daniel caught up to her; he stopped his truck in front of her, deliberately blocking her path and leaned over to open her door.

"You're going to freeze, get in," he stated, desperately wanting to take care of his mate.

Sammy took a deep breath, but ultimately shook her head.

"I can't, I can't get in there and sit still. I need to be moving, Daniel. I..." Her voice broke, and Daniel nodded.

Sammy was struggling, reliving her worst moment in life; when she found her Mom having killed herself, and then her father abandoning her in full knowledge of what was going on, that was hard enough to even think about. But, to relive it all in front of a room full of strangers, the reality of that degradation was crushing her. She needed to escape it all, it was just too much.

Daniel pulled his truck forward and to the side of the road, before getting out. Walking around the front he closed the passenger side door, then opened the back.

When he re-emerged he had a blanket in his hands and a pair of boots.

"They're Abigail's, she wont mind." He said handing the footwear to Sammy.

Sammy looked at the shoes that were two sizes too large and realised she didn't care, anything that got her feet out of the chill was welcome. She put her feet inside, relishing the fleece lining on her frozen toes. As soon as she was upright again, Daniel draped the woolen blanket around her.

Sammy frowned, "Did you raid the house on your way out?" She asked with a smirk, recognising the blanket from the drawing room couch.

Daniel shrugged, "You didn't think you could have naturally got this much of a head start, did you?"

Sammy laughed, leaning into him, she needed their normalcy.

"Thank you," she whispered, wobbling slightly, as he held her close.

"Always," Daniel sighed, stiffening when he saw who was approaching.

"What do you want?" He called out, positioning Sammy between himself and the open door of the truck.

"My sister," came the reply as Henry jogged to catch up with them.

Sammy sighed, "Well you found me, so now what?" She asked plainly, too emotionally drained to put on any type of facade.

"I want to know if you're alright?" Henry asked, stopping at the back of Daniel's truck to give them space, "And, to apologise."

Sammy scoffed, "No, I damn well am not alright, and to be honest, unless you knew all this time, then you have nothing to apologise for."

Henry smirked, he couldn't help it, though he wish he had, when Daniel frowned.

"You sound like Grams. She always cuts straight to the point as well, doesn't take anyone's shit," Henry smiled, "And I wasn't apologising for Dad, I was apologising to both of you for my behaviour in there. My wolf, wanted me to protect you, and I didn't understand why, it put me on edge.

But, I get it now, and I'm sorry I offended you."

Daniel nodded gruffly, but Sammy wasn't so ready to accept Henry's words, despite the sincerity in them, there was something else he wasn't saying.

"And why was it then?" She asked, hopping onto the rear passenger seat, where Daniel had pulled out the blanket.

Sammy leaned the side of her head on the head rest, while Daniel stood proactively between her legs as they hung outside.

Henry scrubbed his face, before answering. Then he just decided to spit it out, "Because you are not just pack, you are family, Sammy. Family that we let down."

"Excuse me, pack?" Growled Daniel, offended.

Henry smirked at the irate beta, "Yes, pack. She is the only daughter of my father, the alpha of Dark Lake. She has the blood of fifteen generations of Alpha's in her veins. She is part of my pack. I have read Shane's reports, what do you think she doesn't bend to his authority, and constantly challenging him. She is an Alpha, even without a wolf, and she belongs in my pack. "

"You mean Daddy's, pack," Daniel corrected him sarcastically, ignoring everything else. He wouldn't give any credit to a theory that put Sammy under the power of someone else.

"No. I mean mine," he sighed, "Martin Gray will be put to death for his actions. We both know it, Beta. As the next in line, even without my mate, I will take over his title, and position."

Daniel turned to Sammy, "Are you alright?" He asked, worried this news would upset her.

In truth, Sammy's head was swimming. She had learned and experienced so much in the last day, that she was struggling to think straight.

There was only one thing she knew.

"Honestly, I don't care, Daniel. Sorry, Henry, I know he was a good father to you, but that man died a long time ago in my mind. My heart wont be grieving twice." She shrugged. "Daniel, please just take me home? I think I just need peace and quiet after all." She added.

"Okay," Daniel nodded, dropping a kiss on her head, and reaching to help her out the truck.

"Sorry, that won't be happening," Henry interrupted as Sammy's feet touched the ground. "You see as Sammy's Alpha, I'm stating she is coming back home, where she can be with her real family, and hopefully heal."

Sammy felt a niggle inside her, but as much as it wanted her to agree with Henry, it was weak.

"No." She stated, unaffected by Henry's command. "I'm going home, where I feel safe, and with someone who I trust."

Daniel felt his insides come alive, Sammy trusted him. He couldn't hide the smug smile on his face, as she refused her brother.

"Sammy, I just want a chance to get to know you? Sebastian will feel the same," Henry argued, annoyed at his sister's easy deflection of his command.

"Who?" She asked, moving to the front of the truck, with Daniel close at her back.

"My... Our brother. When he finds out about this, he will want to kill Dad himself. He always hated him anyway." Henry stated, walking forward to het closer to them.

"Oh," Sammy answered, vaguely remembering two boys, the only time she had seen Henry before. "Then bring him here, we can get coffee, compare emotional scars. See whose run deeper. I bet I'll win," she challenged, closing the door behind her without a further comment.

Henry sighed loudly.

Daniel stared at him.

"I'm not moving till you start walking away," he stated, standing sentinel at Sammy's door.

"Fine, fine," Henry called out, moving away, with his hands up in surrender.

He watched as Daniel got in the truck and began driving. A small frown plastered across his face.

He was too busy to relocate just now, but Sebastian could come and keep an eye on her. He would probably relish the break from their hunt, especially now their father had sealed his own fate.

Over the years they had discovered Martin Gray was having multiple affairs. The mate bond always causing their Mom to look the other way despite the numerous women they could smell on him.

Henry and Sebastian couldn't stop their mother's pain, but their sister hadn't been marked yet; so maybe there was still time to save her from the corruptions that lie within the bonds of mating.

*Author's Note: I can't believe I'm saying this... There will be a sequel. This was not my intention, this was supposed to be a nice short story, but my imagination has run away with me... again. So keep an eye on Facebook, @BethanyRiverWrites for details about "Oops, My Baby Daddy's a Werewolf"*