“I agree. I just wanted you to know that even though it might feel that way, if he’d had a choice tonight, he’d have stayed with you. You’re his whole world, Darcy.”
My lips curled into a soft smile. “I appreciate you saying that. It doesn’t stop me from believing I acted like an utter basket case, but thank you.”
“Want to know what I think?”
“If you’re going to make some sarcastic comment about me needing chocolate, save it.” I stared at him hard.
“Come on, I’m capable of being sincere. Not everything that comes out of my mouth is a joke.”
“Only most of it, huh?”
“I’d say two-thirds; but seriously, what I was going to say was you need to cut yourself some slack. You’ve been through a lot and it’s only been a few days. Sure, it’s not fun having a complete meltdown in front of others. The last thing you’d want is to look like you’re one straight jacket shy of a psych ward—“
“Gee, thanks,” I muttered under my breath.
Daniel laughed. “You’re welcome. My point is . . . I’m pretty sure Mason understands. He’ll come back and you guys will kiss and make-up. Everything will be forgotten and you’ll both live happily ever after.”
I snorted. “I didn’t take you for someone who believed in fairytales.”
“I used to. You know . . . when I thought Jasmine and me . . .” He coughed, a flimsy attempt at camouflaging the way his voice suddenly cracked. “Anyway, I started doubting it until I watched the way you and Mason conquer every obstacle placed in front of you. You guys are meant to be—the perfect couple. Now, excuse me while I find where my man card is because that sounded dangerously sappy and sentimental.”
I rested my hand over his quickly, causing him to look up. “You’re fine. Your manhood is intact.” Sometimes it was hard to remember that beneath the joking exterior, Daniel had a good heart and was capable of being serious.
Rubbing the side of his scruffed chin, he appeared somewhat embarrassed before he winked. “It’ll be our little secret.”
My fingers tapped the side of my bottle as I debated making a confession of my own. “Then how about I make us even?” I took another mouthful of beer—whether for fortification or courage, I wasn’t quite sure. “I’m scared. Real scared.”
That got his attention. “About what? The conversion? From what everyone’s saying, it was successful.”
“I know, but that’s exactly why. Look at how excited Mason and Devlin were after my evaluations, how confident they were that things would go back to normal. They have this faith in me that’s a little daunting to live up to.”
“It’s well placed, though. Even I agree with them. I’ve known you for a while now, and I’ve seen you overcome some incredible odds.”
“That’s what I mean,” I exclaimed. “It leaves no room for mistakes . . . for failure.”
“Is that what you think you are because you lost your temper, tonight? That just makes you human.”
“But I’m not, am I? I’m now this rare thing … a hybrid of werewolf and vampire. A creature who is dual predator—one that makes most people go insane when they risk the process. Do you see the kind of pressure that places on my shoulders? There is no room for error. No room for outbursts. Just this afternoon, I slipped up when drinking from Devlin and, once again, he had to remind me the importance of constantly being vigilant.” The words seemed to flow out—the floodgates I’d kept everything behind suddenly bursting open. “I feel like I can’t breathe.”
Leaning forward, Daniel placed his beer on the coffee table and turned in his seat so he could face me. “You’re forgetting something else that’s important.”
“See, I can’t even have this conversation right!”
“Relax. Seriously, you need to stop being so hard on yourself. Yes, things have changed and with them comes greater responsibility; but, and I want you to listen closely to this, you’re also human. Don’t ever underestimate that part of you. So many people get caught up in the supernatural gifts that come from being a werewolf or vampire that they overlook the balancing affect their humanity brings to the table. It helps govern your choices and is a moral compass. It softens the wrathfulness and savagery of the others. Don’t ever doubt it, Darcy. That is where your true strength lies.”
Tears formed in my eyes. “I just don’t want to be weak. I’m so scared of screwing up and disappointing everyone that it feels like my head will explode.”
“Or you fall apart and start saying things you don’t mean,” Daniel added, a gentle reminder of what started this entire conversation.
“Yeah.” I wiped my cheek and let out a shaky breath. “I want to be a better person.”
“You already are, though.”
“A better person doesn’t snap peoples’ heads off and act like a selfish brat.”
“True; but a good person who’s recovering from a life-altering event sometimes does.”
I let out a tired laugh. “Sounds like you’re making excuses for me.”
“Just being honest and trying to show you a different perspective. It’s easy to beat ourselves up and blow things out of proportion when all we see is the madness inside our head.” When I flinched at his choice of word, he grimaced. “Sorry, you know what I mean.”
“I know. I guess it still scares me how close I came to truly losing everything.”
“In this case, the risk was worth it.” Daniel didn’t realize how true his words were. “Have you shared any of this with Mason?”
“No,” I confessed, chewing on my bottom lip. “I’d thought about it, but he looked so relieved that I was feeling better.”
“I’m sure you already know this, but hiding it from him is just going to make him worry. He sees you struggling and acting different and it’s going to raise a whole bunch of questions in his mind.”
“Has he said anything to you?” I asked, curious to see if Mason had.
“He hasn’t; but I know him. If I was in his shoes, I’d be watching you closely, waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’m a lot more skeptical than him, but when we love, we love hard.”
It was exactly like I’d feared. Even though Mason hadn’t confronted me, I’m sure he’d missed none of my slip-ups or mood swings. “I don’t want to make him think I’m broken.”
Daniel laughed as he shook his head. “What is it with you girls thinking something about you is wrong? This can be easily fixed by being upfront and honest with him. A problem shared is a problem halved and all that.”
Rolling my eyes, it was my turn to chuckle. “Has anyone told you how sexist you sound, Daniel?”
“Nope, only how sexy I am,” he fired back, smugly.
The infusion of humor served its purpose, however. As much as I hated disturbing Mason with my neurotic insecurities, I also knew my silence would make things worse. “I’ll talk to him.”
“Good girl.” Daniel smiled, patting my knee affectionately. “And anytime you want to talk, I’m here. I’m sure I can muster up some more dazzling pearls of wisdom.”
“You’re so generous.” I snorted. I was already starting to feel better.
“What can I say? I’m a keeper.” Sensing the moment had passed, he picked up the remote and switched the channel over to football, again. “Shall we see if they’ve realized they’re actually in a game, yet?”
Considering the offer, I shook my head, stifling a yawn. “Tempting, but I think I’m going to head to bed. Thanks for the talk.”
“Anytime, your Highness.” He smirked, returning to his usual self.
“It’s like that, huh?”
“Just keeping it real. Sweet dreams.” Winking, he picked up his beer bottle and finished it.
“Night.” Wandering through the house, I had a lot to think about; surprisingly, much was from what Daniel had said. He’d been right about Mason worrying and I couldn’t have that.
Slipping into my bedroom, my mind was made up. I’d stay awake and confess everything when he re
turned.
Here was hoping he didn’t decide I truly was crazy.
Chapter Nineteen
Mason
The lights were off when I came through the front door, the house eerily quiet.
As a Pack, members were invited to live on property, but many elected to live in Woodside Hollow and neighboring towns. The Mystic Wolves territory was vast and had some of the most beautiful woodlands in the entire country to enjoy; and even though many didn’t live here, they still spent time here and were welcome to come and go as they pleased.
That was how I chose to run things—an open door policy. I wanted us to feel like a family. I’d seen how life was when the Alpha ruled with an iron fist and I was a big believer that loyalty and respect was earned by first giving it. There were times when I’d had to step in and make hard decisions, but each person knew they could trust my judgment.
Padding softly through the house, I was surprised not to find Daniel up, sprawled out on the couch, hanging out with the guys, watching TV. Maybe it was just as well, because the closer I got to my bedroom, the more anxious I felt. Darcy would probably still be upset and hurt—it had killed me to leave her and go out with Devlin tonight, but my hands were tied. He’d finally exhausted his questions with Morgan and released her.
That was one scary woman. If I was Devlin, I definitely wouldn’t turn my back on the pissed off witch anytime soon.
I wasn’t sure what to expect as my hand rested on the doorknob to our room. Anger, I could deal with. Her tears would utterly destroy me. Resting my ear to the wooden surface, I knew it was cowardly, but there wasn’t any sound coming from inside. I’d been gone long enough that she might be asleep, giving me plenty of time to figure out how to make it up to her.
The room was dark and it took me a few seconds to adjust to the lack of light. Instantly warning bells exploded and my instincts kicked into overload. While there hadn’t been any telltale noise to signal danger, the coppery smell assaulting my senses did.
Blood; and not just a few drops.
I couldn’t see anything, but the way the air seemed coated with its odor, all fear of facing Darcy quickly evaporated.
It wasn’t her anger that I dreaded.
It was what lay hidden in the shadows. It was the sinking feeling of what I might find once I flipped the switch—the truth exposed.
Nothing good could come from this.
Primed to go on the offensive and face the threat, I scanned the room the instant it lit up. Vomit rose in my throat and I steeled my legs to keep me standing.
The room was drenched in blood, the offensive red fluid everywhere. It didn’t matter where I looked—the carpet, bed, furniture—something disastrous had occurred here, crimson splatters were high up the walls.
My wolf surged to the surface and I barely kept him from pushing through and taking over.
“Darcy!” I yelled, not seeing her anywhere. My mind scrambled, analyzing the scene while quietly praying, begging, that somehow she’d been spared from this. Maybe she was with her mother, turning to someone she trusted to confide in. But amidst the information overload, a louder voice rose inside my head.
What if she’s done this?
Regardless of how guilty and angry the thought made me, there was an even deeper part that couldn’t shake the possibility she was responsible. Devlin and I had talked about her outbursts, shared our concerns. I’d convinced myself she just needed more time, but what if?
It was that what if that threatened to consume me.
No one replied. “Sweetheart, if you’re here, say something. If you’re hurt, tell me. If you’ve done something, we can figure it out together. I promise, everything will be okay.” I stepped into the room, moving deeper inside. There was a squelching noise; and looking down, the carpet was soaked with blood. There was too much for just one body.
A massacre had happened here.
My gaze caught a flash of skin behind the bed, and cautiously moving toward it, I discovered a severed arm. Gritting my teeth, the hair on the back of my neck rose, I crouched beside it. I knew who this belonged to, the sensible wedding band immediately recognizable. A piece of my mother in law was protruding out from under the bed.
“Darcy,” I said; this time louder, with more force. She was in trouble. I didn’t know what happened while I’d been gone, but one thing was certain—she’d let her thirst and hunger get out of control. I hated the new feeling swirling inside me, the emotion foreign and totally unacceptable.
Fear. I was afraid of my mate and terrified for her. Unless I found Darcy quickly, this would get much, much worse.
“Answer me, damn it,” I commanded, layering my words with Alpha authority. I didn’t know what game she was playing—whether she was so far gone she couldn’t be reached, or if she was scared—but this had to end. Standing up, I thought I spotted her.
Lynn’s lifeless body lay discarded against the wall, a look of sheer horror plastered across her face. My heart clenched seeing her.
How could this have happened?
Two other bodies were crammed under the king size bed, cruelly hidden. I couldn’t tell who they were, but it was their blood making my stomach nauseous.
I strode toward the closet, checking to see if she was hiding amongst our clothes. She wasn’t, but the crumpled, drained body of April was. One of the youngest pack members, her neck had been snapped. That wasn’t the only damage inflicted, however. Multiple gashes and skin punctures marred her skin—dried crusted blood revealed a feeding frenzy. The sight was an insult, a tragic waste of life.
My temper boiled. It was difficult to believe that Darcy was the cause of this. Closing the doors, I moved toward the bathroom, thinking she might be hiding in there.
A strangled cry erupted as I gripped onto the doorframe to prevent myself from falling when my knees buckled. Daniel’s lifeless eyes stared back at me from where he lay propped up in the tub like a gruesome party favor. My best friend, brother, someone who was as important to me as any family could be. Grief slammed through me knowing that Darcy had done this.
There was no point in trying to convince myself otherwise. It didn’t matter what reason she shared. She’d desecrated the sanctity of our home. I didn’t know what the future now held in store for us. The idea of my wife being a brutal killer hadn’t been something I’d considered. She definitely needed help; and the second I found her, she’d get it from inside the silver cage downstairs.
“Darcy,” I whispered, the word coming out strangled and guttural.
“You’re home.”
“What have you done?” All thoughts of apprehending her fled the moment I turned around. The front of her shirt was caked with blood, the offending substance dried around her mouth and over her chin. She looked nothing like the woman I loved. There was a restless wildness dancing in her eyes as her lips curled into a sadistic grin.
This wasn’t my Darcy.
This was a monster, some vile creature that had savagely possessed my wife.
“I was hungry,” she shrugged like it was no big deal. In the space of an evening, it was as if she’d lost her conscience. “Maybe next time I tell you I want you to stay home, you will.”
“You did this because you were angry at me?” I took an involuntary step back. I couldn’t help her. My body’s natural reaction was to create some kind of distance between us as my mind struggled to comprehend what I was seeing.
“Yes. This is your fault, Mason. All these deaths—” She grinned as she peered around me to Daniel. The callousness sickened me. “They could’ve been avoided.”
This was my worst nightmare—each one of the worries I’d worked so hard to ignore, all realized in one disturbing series of moments.
“We need to get you help.” Common sense took over and I forced myself to block out everything but what I needed to do. I reached for her. “We need to call Devlin.”
Darcy’s features hardened. “I don’t think so. I’ve been thinking and I’ve decided I
don’t want to be the good, obedient girl anymore. I’ve been so busy trying to be someone I’m not.”
“And you think this is who you are?” I gripped her arm, ready to drag her body downstairs, if needed. “You are not a murderer. At least you weren’t.”
She moved quickly, her two hands thumping against my chest and sending me tripping. My shoe caught on something, causing me to slip. It was another body. Wade.
My heart hurt seeing another close friend and pack brother dead, his face bloodied with thick gashes clawed into this face. Wade had moved to Woodside Hollow with his family in his teens and we’d become fast friends.
It was hard to believe Darcy was responsible for killing so many people we loved.
“You don’t own me, Mason O’Connor. You don’t dictate what I do.” The menace in her voice was chilling.
“I never said I did, sweetheart.” I needed to get her out of here. If I removed her from the sight and smell of all this carnage, maybe she’d be easier to reason with. Right now, she was in full vampire mode, her fangs still descended. “Please, let me help you.”
“No,” she answered angrily. She stepped forward, her fists clenched by her side.
She left me no other choice. Steeling myself, I tightened my muscles and prepared to launch at her. With her new strength, she’d be closely matched to my own, but I was banking on her still being unsure of how to use it. I’d spent a lifetime honing my agility, years of training to handle any threat. “Yes. As your Alpha, I command you.”
I watched as my order skimmed over her, observed as she fought against it. “You. Are. Not. My. Boss.”
Horror filled me as she transformed before my eyes. She seemed to flicker in my vision—one second Darcy, the next something else. There was no time to waste. Darcy needed to be neutralized. There was no point holding on to the feelings I had for her, or my need to protect her. They wouldn’t save her from herself.
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