He must have realized I needed this moment because he didn’t come after me, leaving me to my thoughts.
My feelings were definitely different from this morning. Gone was the need to run and hide from him. While the grief for Jasmine was still there, a constant weight around my heart, he had convinced me we would be okay, and nothing had changed between us. I took great comfort in that and wrapped it around me like a warm, fluffy blanket, fresh out of the dryer. I took strength from knowing I wasn’t alone, and I would always have my strong wolf mate beside me. A contented sigh escaped my lips. The pain I was feeling would lessen over time. There were still matters to take care of and within the month—finally, our mating ritual.
In the few short hours since I’d been awake, I felt lighter and I knew I owed it all to Mason. When the man set out to prove a point, he never held back, and I was grateful once again for his devotion. He could’ve easily used his Alpha powers to command me to see sense. Maybe a lesser person would’ve, but not him. He always led with his heart when it came to me, never afraid to show just how deeply he felt. It was one of the many things I loved about him.
A cold breeze wafted over my skin, and I realized I couldn’t feel the sun anymore. I opened my eyes slowly, seeing it crest through the trees and I recognized time had passed. We’d pushed the limits of Devlin’s patience long enough, and standing up, I looked around for Mason.
He was reclining against a crop of rocks, catching the last of the sun’s rays before it dipped fully behind the tree line. He stole my breath with his masculine beauty, the way the light played off the golden tint of his skin. Moisture collected in my mouth as I waded my way over to him, careful not to disturb him. There weren’t many moments where he was able to just relax and I loved seeing the boyish look of peace covering his face.
Reaching up, I went to trail my fingers over his abdomen, wanting to see them tense when his hand whipped out and grabbed hold of my wrist.
“No you don’t, Darcy. No touching. We need to head back. I can feel everyone going crazy back at the house.”
For someone who should be moving, Mason lay still, his eyes closed. He could’ve been asleep if it wasn’t for the wide grin he was wearing. He lifted my hand to his mouth, gently kissing the back of it and slowly pulled himself into a sitting position.
My hungry eyes took in every move, and I was pretty sure I sighed.
“I love the way you move. Are you sure we have to go back straight away?” I tried to put a smolder in the look I gave him, but Mason was busy stretching out his muscles, looking around.
“I’m glad I brought you here. I like the idea that this is something special—just for us. I have lots of plans involving this place.” He smiled, wiggling his eyebrows at me.
He moved slowly, leisurely over to a pair of trees, looking behind it for something.
What are you looking for? I whispered mentally to him. Nothing. Not even an indication he’d heard me. Mason? I tried harder. It was like talking to myself.
Hey Mason, I think we should run away and raise cows and bunnies and all things rainbow and sunshine. I shouted mentally, focusing as hard as I could while sending images.
That made him pause. He slowly stopped, a look of curiosity on his face. “Rainbow cows dancing with bunnies in the sun? Something you want to share?”
I rolled my eyes at him. Obviously, whatever was happening with the mental connection between us, it was distorting things. I watched him look one more time around the trees before giving up and walking back over to me.
“I was trying to ask you what you were looking for, but I don’t think you were hearing me.” I laughed, folding my arms across my chest. This really was starting to irritate me because it shouldn’t be so difficult. Heck, a child could learn something this fundamentally simple, but I was struggling. It didn’t make sense. Mason’s thoughts came through loud and clear every time, just not mine.
He looked a little distracted. “I was trying to remember where I put some of my clothes I like to stash in cases of emergencies. As much as I love looking at you naked, I’m not too keen about flaunting your curves to everyone.”
“Especially Devlin, huh?” I interrupted with a wink.
Mason grumbled at my response. “Especially the vampire.” He slapped my butt as he passed me by, heading in the direction of the house. I stood there, still as a statue as the flaming heat in my bottom tingled. Dang that man, he knew what that did to me.
He paused and turned around, lifting his arm out to me. “Come on—back to reality.”
I reached out, taking his hand in mine and squeezed. He was already starting to resume the look of an Alpha.
People laughed at me whenever I said Mason had different looks. To them, he always appeared the same, but to me he had a softer, more playful side that he showed to very few. Then there was what I liked to call the don’t-mess-with-me look, where you could feel the leadership mantle he carried crackling in the air like magic. Both were sexy as hell, but when he added the mischievous smirk and wicked glint in his eyes, I was a goner.
We started walking, side by side in comfortable silence. It didn’t last for long, however, as he let out a full chuckle. I couldn’t help look and feel a warm tingly feeling in the bottom of my stomach. I loved watching him laugh.
“So, are you ever going to explain those images you sent me, or do I not want to know?”
I wouldn’t be surprised if he already knew what was going on—the man had a sixth sense when it came to me. I can’t count how many arguments I’ve tried to have with him where I said, “Why do I even bother telling you anything. You can just read my mind and find out!” Depending on what happened, I’d add a healthy foot stomp to my anger.
He was always gentle in his reply, calmly reminding me he would never purposely invade my privacy like that.
“It gets a little scary how quiet you are at times. But there are moments when you think so dang loud, you’re shouting,” he added with a grin.
Seemed the key to my connection was doing it without forcing it, because whenever I tried to purposely send something, it got lost or mixed up.
I sighed heavily, hoping I’d be able to figure it out. Something told me things were about to get even more crazy, and I needed to know I could rely on it.
“Mason, why doesn’t our connection always work?” I blurted out as we continued walking. “Sometimes it’s crystal clear, I hear you and you hear me, but there are other times when it’s like talking to a brick wall. It scares me that if I ever need you like last night, it will fail again.”
He seemed to take his time responding as he searched for an answer to ease my anxiety. “I’m not sure what’s happening, but I agree we need to figure out why so we can fix it. It might be related to our mating ritual being incomplete, but my gut tells me it’s something else.”
“My gut tells me something is wrong with me. I’m broken and it worries me because it makes me feel like I’m less of a wolf. I grew up hearing about how wonderful the link between mates is and watching others enjoy their silent conversations. What if we never have that?”
“You’re not broken, Darcy. But if it helps, when this business with Devlin and the vampire blood is resolved, I’ll send for Vivien and see if she knows anything. You can’t be the only wolf this has happened to. We’ll get to the bottom of it, babe.”
I loved Vivien. She was the leader of the local witch coven everyone went to when they had questions—her magic undeniably powerful. She was an incredible wealth of knowledge on all things supernatural, fully versed in all kinds of myths and legends. If there was anyone who could solve this, it was her.
“I hope so because it was terrifying last night when I tried talking and I didn’t know if you were going to come. I felt so alone and helpless. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t arrived when you did.” I stopped dead in my tracks, a hint of curiosity in my voice. “Actually, how did you know we needed you? One minute I couldn’t sense you and then there you were.?
??
Mason stroked his hand through his hair, causing it to spike a little and make it look messy. A look of anger flashed in his eyes and it was now his turn to pace.
“I can’t begin to describe how frustrating it was. One moment I was in the kitchen cooking you a surprise dinner, and next this overwhelming sense of urgency and fear coursed through me. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced, and frankly, I never want to again. I could feel my wolf banging against my skin like a fierce warrior ready to fight, his howl like a battle cry in my ears. I had no way of knowing what it meant, just that it was from you and you were terrified. I almost ripped Daniel to shreds when he walked into the room, I was that feral. I wasn’t getting any words or clear sentences—just a lot of emotions. It wasn’t until I stopped and focused that I started getting images. That’s when all hell broke loose.”
I rubbed the side of my arms, as if warding off the cold, and walked into Mason’s embrace. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.
I knew he hated feeling helpless and this must’ve been extremely painful. It would’ve gone against every instinct he had—wanting to rush out and protect me, but not having any directions.
“It took Daniel a few minutes and a level head to help me see reason again. Darcy, I’ve always been able to keep calm in a crisis. It’s what makes me a formidable opponent and great Alpha. But seeing images of a gun and feeling your fear, it almost drove me insane.”
“All the more reason for us to figure out what’s happening with the connection, right?” I felt him nod against the top of my head.
“We finally decided to jump in the car and patrol the streets between here and the store, trusting you’d keep to your usual route. I had Daniel and the boys come with me and sent the others to circle around in case we missed you. I could feel the change in emotions when you shifted and your wolf took over. She’s amazing, Darcy, truly. I’ve never felt such sheer determination and courage. It was only then I was able to relax and think clearly.”
“I don’t know what I would’ve done without her, Mason. I can’t help wondering if I had let her out sooner, would everything have turned out differently. Jasmine would be here and.”
He lifted my chin and tilted my head back. “Shhh. We’re not going through that again, remember? What happened, happened and all the “what if’s” in the world won’t change it. Focus on the fact that you survived and were able to bring Gary to justice for Jasmine. She can rest easy now.”
“How can you do that?” I asked skeptically.
“Do what?” Mason replied as his brows furrowed.
“Talk about Jasmine’s death as if it doesn’t hurt.”
Suddenly his hand flashed, becoming wolf-like before quickly changing back to human. I looked at it stunned because although I knew he had the power to partially change, I’d never seen him lose control like that. Staring up into his face, it still held a wolfish quality with his mouth turned into a snarl, revealing razor sharp fangs. His eyes blazed with a fury that made me stagger back slightly from their intensity.
The air sizzled with electricity and magic. Our surroundings suddenly became frightfully quiet as if all the animals and birds sensed the immediate danger.
The strain on his face was painfully visible as I watched him struggle to control his change. It caused my own wolf to howl and chomp as she pushed to join her mate. I’d never felt anything so severe and concentrated from him before and it broke my heart.
All this time, he’d focused on me, making sure I was okay with what happened and all the while he was dying inside. I pushed out my senses and almost crumpled under the bombardment of excruciating pain and grief. Tears began to streak down my cheek again as I watched my beloved Mason battle for his sanity.
Chapter Nine