“And you don’t know, yet?” I couldn’t wrap my brain around it—the concept unheard of, at least to me.
“We have two running theories. One, Karl is simply a strong-minded human who can resist compulsion. It is possible, but not as common as you’d think. We also think he might somehow be descended from a powerful bloodline, but not realize it. He may even have dormant powers just waiting to be tapped into and released. Zane’s asked Vivien to test him.”
I couldn’t even begin to imagine what the detective was going through right now—the maelstrom of emotions as the ideals he’s believed fell away. Everything about how he viewed his neatly organized life had drastically altered.
“Do you think he’ll help us find the Master?” The more people searching for him, the better our chances were for finding Daniel and saving him.
“We’re still in the early stages, but I think he will. He’s a lot stronger than I gave him credit for. A lesser man would’ve snapped and cowered away after some of the things we’ve shown him. I shifted; and while he reeked of fear, he didn’t back away. He’s genuinely trying to adapt to this new knowledge.” Pride filled his words, along with a healthy dose of respect. The human detective had impressed him.
“Well, I don’t want to keep you from anything. I was just sitting here enjoying the feel of the warm air over my body.” While there was a slight chill, it felt blissful against the heat of my skin, creating the perfect balance of temperature.
Mason kissed the back of my hand, our fingers still entwined. “I’m good to stay a little longer. Truth be told, Zane’s got everything covered in there. I’d much rather spend these few minutes with you. There’s still so much to do—meet with the new members, check in with the rest of the Pack, and I start patrol duties in a few hours.”
“Then, by all means, sit a while and keep me company,” I teased, just grateful he was here by my side and safe. Maybe I could even convince him to take a short walk through the gardens to see what was blooming. That was one of the many reasons why I loved visiting Zane—that and his wacky sense of gardening humor. While most people chose to have their hedges trimmed conservatively, it wasn’t uncommon to find the bushes clipped into odd shapes. Some even made me blush, when viewed at certain angles. It wasn’t beyond him to display his taste for erotic sensuality out in the open for everyone to enjoy.
“Uncle Mason, Uncle Mason. I found you!!” A sweet, cherubic voice came flying around the corner, small dimpled legs pumping as fast as they could before young Macie threw herself at Mason, trusting that he’d catch her.
“Hello, sweetheart, are you by yourself?” Swooping her up in his arms, Mason stood and showered her face with kisses, much to her delight and girlish squeals. The friendship that had been forged between them was full of sweetness and adoration. It was difficult to watch the two and not believe that one day my mate would make an incredible father.
“Nope, Daddy’s coming, but he’s a slow poke. I heard you and didn’t want to wait.” With eyes filled with childlike love and honesty, she looked at Mason with full-blown hero worship. “Wanna play hide-and-go-seek with me?”
“He’s busy, honey.” It was Joshua, Macie’s father and faithful Pack member, who answered.
“No, he’s not. He’s sitting here with his true love, Darcy.” The way she now turned her gaze to me was nothing short of adorable. “They weren’t kissing, I promise.”
The tips of Joshua’s ears reddened. “Give him a quick hug and let’s leave them alone.”
Her bottom lip quivered as her expressive brown eyes widened with tears. “You don’t wanna play?”
I’d always had a hard time resisting her sweet, puppy dog eyes, and Mason was no different. “I’d love to. How about you hide, first, and I’ll come find you.”
“Make sure you count to twenty, Uncle Mason,” she reminded, excitedly. “Oh, and cover your eyes. Don’t cheat!”
Obeying his tiny charge, Mason grinned before placing his hand securely over the top of his face. When he began to count out loud, she shrieked with happiness and took off running.
“You don’t have to, Mason,” Joshua whispered, somewhat embarrassed. He knew his Alpha was neck deep in crap, the safety and future of the Mystic Wolves on the line. “It’s been hard keeping her inside. I think she feels the confinement of the house more keenly than us adults.”
“No need to apologize,” Mason answered between announcing each number, somewhat peeking through his fingers. “Her happiness is important and, truth be told, I welcome the fun diversion.”
When I cocked my eyebrow, he chuckled. “Not that I wasn’t enjoying a few quiet moments with my wife.”
Shaking my head, I joined in the laughter. “Nice save, babe.”
“Well, I appreciate it. You know how much she looks up to you. She’ll always remember how her Alpha was her friend and made time for her.” Gazing around for his daughter, Joshua added. “You’ve got maybe five minutes before she’ll start yelling instructions at you. She doesn’t wait very well.”
“She’s impatient, just like the rest of us.” I smiled.
Mason dropped his hands, his grin dropping slightly as he nodded. “Can I ask you a question? And please, feel free to speak openly.”
“Sure.” The question had intrigued him.
“How is everyone handling this transition? I know they wish to please me, but I know how difficult this has to be on the Pack. While some lost their home from the fire, many of you lived separately and away from Pack property. I’m mindful of the strain this has placed on you all.”
“Honestly? I’m a little surprised how well things are going. I expected tempers to already be flaring; but the general consensus is they will do whatever it takes to support you. You’ve asked them to come, and they trust you.”
Joshua’s admission lifted the small weight from my chest and I could see it had the same affect on Mason.
“And the new members? The ones I claimed from the Silver Canyon Pack?”
“That’s another pleasant surprise. I’ve seen what happens when a Pack dissolves into another when their Alpha is killed; and in this case, there is a genuine desire to fit in and make friends. Ross, I think that’s his name, he’s made it his personal mission to smooth the way.”
That definitely surprised me. “You said Ross?” I glanced at Mason and didn’t need my connection to tell me what he was feeling.
He felt relief. Relief that his judgment call to forgive, rather than punish, had paid off. Once again, his belief in not following the violent, controlling methods used in the past by former Alphas, had proven he could still rule successfully and fairly.
“Good. I was hoping your answer would be something along those lines. It definitely helps knowing, and it’s one less thing to worry about. If things change, don’t hesitate to tell me, though,” he added.
“Will do. Like I said, we’ll do whatever you ask of us.”
“I was going to wait until later to call a meeting with everyone, but feel free to share this. Work has already begun in rebuilding the Pack house. As much as it hurt that it happened, the fire was actually a blessing because I’ve arranged for the structure to be expanded so more rooms and suites are available. It’s given me the chance to create the perfect home for us all.”
We loved having members live with us—generating that close family feeling that strengthened us. While Mason’s confession was news to me, it didn’t lessen my excitement.
“How long do you think we’ll need to stay here?” It was a good question, one that dwelled on everyone’s minds.
“I’ve ordered the construction crew to work as quickly and safely as possible; but it mostly rests on how soon we can resolve the conflict with the Master. We’re still no closer to finding where he’s hiding, and he still possesses Daniel.” Mason’s voice tightened over the mention of his best friend.
“I know there isn’t much I can do, but I pledge my aide to you. My skill set might not be grounded in defense and figh
ting, but I’m a quick study.”
Gripping Joshua’s shoulder firmly, Mason nodded his head as a sign of respect. “I know, and I appreciate your offer. Trust me when I say I will ask if something arises. For right now, the best way you can serve me is to watch out for your Pack brothers and sisters. Help them weather this storm. Continue to be my mouthpiece when I’m unable to comfort those in need.”
“Uncle Mason! Have you finished counting? You’re s’posed to say ‘ready or not here I come!’ . . . did you forget?”
With a smile that shone, Mason didn’t skip a beat. “I would never forget you, sweetheart. I just finished.” Then, yelling out the words, he excused himself from our small group to go search for her.
“He’ll make a remarkable father,” Joshua said, eyeing me knowingly.
“I have no doubt.” I didn’t add that I already had my suspicions it might happen sooner, rather than later. While we hadn’t had the opportunity to fully enjoy our honeymoon because of how tumultuous our lives had become, it only took one time for a miracle to happen.
We’d had more than a few passionate moments; and while I wasn’t completely sure whether I could get pregnant now that I had vampiric traits, it didn’t stop the hope from growing in my heart. It was too early to be certain, but I was starting to notice certain changes happening within my body.
Keeping it a secret was killing me.
But telling him, and being wrong, would kill me even quicker.
“You okay? You look a little pale.” Joshua’s hand steadied my elbow as I suddenly became light-headed. “Should I get Mason?” His lips parted to call his daughter and Alpha back, but I shook my head.
“Actually, I think what I need is to find something to eat.” Which was code for I needed blood in my system as soon as possible. “How about you join in on the fun and I’ll be back?”
He looked uncertain, but something in his expression told me he understood what was happening. Pack members had responded positively to my becoming part-vampire and, out of respect to me, were mindful about my privacy over my feeding habits.
“You sure?” Indecision warred within him. He was just like Mason—ingrained to protect the females around him—especially when that female was the mate to his Alpha.
“I promise. I won’t be too long. Besides, you need to have a little fun, as well.” I winked, already retreating toward the mansion. Waving goodbye, Joshua headed in the opposite direction, and based on the loud shriek that followed, it seemed Mason had found his little hide-and-seeker.
****
Something brushed across my mind, waking me up from the wonderful dream I was having. Mason’s side of the bed was empty, but that didn’t alarm me—he’d warned me before I’d drifted off into contented sleep that he’d be helping with the patrols later that evening.
After playing a few games with Macie, earlier, her father had mercifully taken his daughter by the hand, and told her to say her goodbyes. The sky had darkened, and it was almost time for dinner.
Although she was reluctant to let go of her vise-grip on Mason, Macie had raced back into the mansion in search of her mother, full of stories about the fun she’d had.
Watching him play with her had stirred up all kinds of feelings—ones that didn’t involve fear, worry, or the type of drama we were enmeshed in.
Mason found me as I was cleaning up after my snack. A few whispered words in his ear about the type of games I was eager to play with him and the trip to our bedroom was made with breakneck-speed.
We were insatiable for each other and afterward; I was exhausted from an epic bout of lovemaking. I’d curled up into him and fallen asleep. Now I was awake, my stomach grumbling, making me wonder whether he’d eaten, either.
A quick glance at the clock told me there was plenty of time to pay him a surprise visit bearing edible gifts before I met up with Asher for a lesson in blood lust control. It had surprised me when he’d offered to arrange the training session, thinking Devlin or Vlad would be the one to do it.
I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth, however. Asher was an incredible Enforcer, so I considered myself fortunate to have him as my teacher tonight. Just one small side trip to see Mason and I could devote all my focus to whatever task he’d prepared.
Padding into the bathroom to check my reflection, I smoothed over my hair before pulling it back into a high ponytail. Everything else looked okay, so after a quick reassuring smile and you-can-do-this pep talk, I left our suite, descending the stairs down to the kitchen.
Zane kept it pretty well stocked and I was curious to see what meals his staff had cooked for everyone. When he’d told us we could have whatever we wanted, at whatever hour we chose, he wasn’t kidding. There’d been nights, before we had become semi-permanent guests, when I’d escape to the large kitchen in search of a bowl of cereal and found members devouring delicious slices of roast beef with all the fixings.
As my mouth watered over the thought, I almost missed the flash of anger that shot through my connection with Mason. I was used to random emotions trickling through our link, so I instantly dismissed it.
Werewolves were emotional creatures. We felt things strongly. Being Alpha, Mason experienced the same thing—sometimes more heightened than most.
When his anger evolved into a deeper rage, I paused mid-step, unable to ignore what he was feeling, anymore. Whatever it was, sparked my curiosity; but I adamantly kept my distance. We’d made a non-interference pact when our mating bond fixed the problems we’d previously experienced with our psychic connection, and I hesitated to break it, no matter how badly I wanted to know what was going on with him.
“If you’re heading to grab something to eat, I’d hurry. A little birdy told me Margaret cooked a feast fit for a king tonight, so you know what that means.” Appearing from one of the rooms, Devlin walked beside me, his stride matching mine.
“There’ll be nothing left over once Daniel’s finished.” I laughed, not realizing my slip-up until it was too late. “Oops, sorry. It’s still a little difficult remembering he’s not here.”
“It’s natural to forget. He was such an integral part of your life.”
“Is, Devlin. Is.”
It was his turn to blush. “I stand corrected.”
“Any news on that front? Any fresh leads about where the Master is?” Once again, hope surged through me. I was just like Mason—we refused to believe all hope was lost.
“Nothing that’s panned out. Sorry. We get a lot of anonymous tips, but they all lead to nothing. Don’t worry, though. We’ll find him.”
Devlin’s words, as comforting as they were, faded away as the anger Mason was feeling through our connection was sharply replaced by disbelief and horror. Gasping, there was only a second to register what he was seeing as I was pulled into his mind.
Turning on my heel, I hadn’t even taken a step when the air was rent by the agonizing howl of an enraged wolf.
Mason’s howl.
A long, rage filled scream that blasted through me with enough force to knock me backward.
“Mason!” I yelled, steadying myself, ignoring Devlin’s attempt to help. All thoughts of food evaporated.
On and on he howled—a ballad of complete devastation and shock.
“Darcy, wait!” Devlin called out, but I was gone, racing toward the sound that broke my heart and turned my blood cold.
Chapter Fourteen
Mason
I couldn’t help smiling to myself. Amidst all the drama that filled today, Darcy had managed to strip the countless thoughts about strategy and war away, giving me a blessed few hours where all that mattered was me and her.
It was a shame that we had to steal moments to be together, but it didn’t make them any less glorious. Even a minute in her arms, her body beneath my touch, kept me going.
That was especially important right now, because the last place I wanted to be was outside walking a specific path around the perimeter of Zane’s compound. While the cool
night’s breeze across my face felt like heaven, it paled in comparison to the place I’d reluctantly left—the king-size bed Darcy and I shared.
She’d been all soft curves and pliant willingness, knowing that what I needed most was to find solace in the one thing that never failed to ground me. It went beyond that, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find deep, gratifying pleasure in burying myself in her—in her body, her mind, her soul.
Running my fingers through my hair, I tried not to think of what I was missing. Sometimes duty trumped the demands of my body.
“Anything out of the ordinary?” I asked, coming up to one of the vampire guards currently standing at his post. I might not like being away from my wife, but at least I had the freedom to move about. Remaining in one place for hours at a time would drive me crazy. I would do it if asked, but thankfully, Zane understood my need to be more active.
“No, sir,” came his polite response. The seasoned vampire nodded grimly, his neatly trimmed black hair giving him a military appearance. “It’s been quiet.”
Any other time that would’ve been a good thing. It meant that there was no imminent threat on the horizon and, for the most part, things were peaceful.
But these weren’t peaceful times. Quiet was much more dangerous because it was in that lack of noise that the Master could lurk, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and catch us by surprise.
That’s why Devlin had stressed, over and over again, the importance of maintaining a high level of vigilance. All it took was a single second, a lowered guard, and BAM—silence was deadly.
“Okay, let me know if you sense anything suspicious. I’ll be back this way in another twenty to thirty minutes,” I replied, already moving on, my gaze scanning back and forth over my surroundings. Everything seemed all right, but I couldn’t rely on my assumptions. Not when the shadows could be hiding more than just empty space.
My phone buzzed against my thigh from my pocket, the sensation causing my heart to race.
Last Wolf Standing (#7, The Mystic Wolves) Page 13
