Whatever Helena had done to him, the things I hadn’t been able to experience once our connection had crumbled, had reduced him to this. He was barely human, more wolf than he’d ever been in his entire life.
Someone needed to help him find his balance, again. Someone needed to help coax his wolf into submission so Mason could reclaim control. Each second he remained like this, each moment his wolf refused to relinquish its strong grip, my mate slipped away.
Remembering a time when I’d felt the same, I stepped closer.
“Careful,” Devlin warned, grabbing my arm and stopping me. “We’ve tried to settle him and he hasn’t responded.”
“But I’m his mate.” Not taking my gaze away from Mason, I calmed my nerves, finding my own center as I approached him, so he wouldn’t see me as a threat. “He’s not going to hurt me.”
“He’s not himself, though, Darcy,” Daniel answered. “I’ve never seen him this far gone before. I’m worried.”
“He’ll be okay. You guys brought him home safely and he’ll be okay.” And I believed every word I said. We’d come through too much to let this be what destroyed us.
“But at the moment, he isn’t. We might have rescued him from Helena and her thugs, but he’s in as much danger, now, as he was before. Maybe more.” Even though what Devlin said made sense, it still irritated me.
Keeping my body still, the cage a few small steps in front of me, I kept my tone flat, never breaking eye contact with Mason. “He’ll be okay,” I repeated, not willing to accept any other possibility. “I get what you’re saying, Devlin, but this is my mate we’re talking about, not some wild beast.”
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but at the moment, that’s exactly what he is. He’s not himself. I know you want to believe that he’ll snap out of it, but it might take days.” A hand rested lightly on my shoulder. “If ever, love. Be hopeful, by all means, but also be realistic.”
Closing my eyes, I struggled against what he was saying. I’d heard of situations like this where something had happened that broke both spirits—catapulting the person into pure, primal survival mode. When everything that made them human was stripped away, the results looked heartbreakingly like this.
Even though he was here, he wasn’t.
I would lose him if I didn’t act quickly. Coming closer, there had to be some way of soothing him.
“Darcy,” Devlin warned, again.
“Trust me,” I replied.
“I do. It’s Mason that I don’t trust. Not like this.”
I couldn’t let Devlin’s fear affect me. My husband had to see me for who I was—his mate. His.
“Darcy,” Daniel added. He must’ve realized there’d be no talking me out of it, because unlike Devlin, he understood exactly what was at stake. “Take your time. Slow and steady movements. Keep your features neutral, and whatever you do, don’t show weakness.”
I raised my hand tentatively, revealing a slight tremor that disappeared as I took in a deep, fortifying breath. I could do this. There was no need to fear the man I loved.
Mason had stopped trying to break free of the cage and stood rigid just beyond the bars in front of me. In wolf form, he was magnificent, his sleek body doing very little to conceal the power he contained. A low rumbling from the back of his throat filled the air as he watched me, the only warning sign as he waited to see whether I was friend or foe. There were no hurt feelings that he didn’t recognize me—everyone would remain the enemy until he settled. I knew this and accepted it.
“Now easy,” Daniel coaxed.
Devlin remained quiet, on alert in case he needed to act quickly. The combined tension we were giving off was incredible.
When Mason didn’t respond to my drawing closer, I took courage and stepped forward. Just as my fingers brushed lightly past the cage’s bars, he reacted, erupting into action, his powerfully built jaw snapping at my hand in an attempt to bite it off.
Despite the overwhelming urge to withdraw, I didn’t move a muscle.
“Stop!” I ordered, knowing Devlin was about to drag me backward and out of Mason’s reach. “I’m okay. He didn’t touch me.”
“It’s too soon. He’s too unpredictable,” Devlin answered. Without turning to look at him, I knew he didn’t like how close I still was to the cage.
“Sorry, Darcy, but I agree with him. I love Mason, but I know what his decision would be if he was here. We need to tranquilize him and get him into the cage downstairs. That way we can better help him,” Daniel added, the voice of reason.
“Let me try, again.” Not waiting for their refusal, I tuned them out and returned my focus to the dangerous wolf staring me down. “It’s me, Mason,” I crooned, my voice soft and non-threatening. “I’m so sorry you’re going through this; but you’re safe, now. There’s no more danger.” Again, I brought my hand to the bars, steeling my nerves in case he attacked. When he didn’t move, I took it as a good sign. “Tell your wolf it’s okay to step down. He’s done an amazing job protecting you, but I’m here, now. Let me take care of you.”
My fingers breached the cage and still he waited. Encouraged, I continued. “I love you. Together we’ll make Helena pay.” When Mason began growling, I inwardly chastised myself for bringing up his kidnappers. Changing tactics, I stopped trying to reach Mason and instead addressed his wolf. “Thank you for defending my mate. You honor us with your vigilance. You’ve brought him home to me, to his Pack. Release him so we can help our Alpha. Please.”
There was a slight flicker in his eyes as I gingerly touched his fur, the closest I’d been able to get to him so far. Just when I thought I’d reached him, that we’d connected, Mason sprung off his paws, his fangs bared as he attempted to rip my arm from the socket.
Blood trickled from where his teeth grazed my fingers. The only reason I still had my limb was because Devlin had acted so quickly, yanking me backward without one moment to spare.
“Damn it, Darcy. Do you believe me now? He needs more time!” he cursed, whirling me around so my back was finally turned against the cage. Muttering under his breath, he examined my hand, flipping it over back and forth until he was satisfied there was no lasting damage.
“It’s just a scratch.”
“I don’t care how you downplay this. You won’t go near him, again, until I know he’s not going to hurt you,” Devlin said angrily.
“You’re not my boss, Uncle,” I retorted stubbornly. “We don’t have the luxury of waiting.” Pointing at the cage, my voice cracked with emotion. “That wolf in there is my mate. He’s suffering and if it means I need to play a game of chicken with him until I can comfort him enough to shift, then that’s what I’ll do. This is what it means being married to an Alpha, hell, to a Pack. It comes with risks. But until I know he’s out of danger, I’m not going to idly stand by and finger my pearls like some helpless female.”
“You need to think of your own safety, as well.”
“He is mine.” Those three words held all the truth I needed.
Devlin stood still as he studied my features, weighing his options and the likelihood of me listening to him. I’d never stood up to him like this before, but the odds had never been so painfully stacked like this, either. I wasn’t the little girl he’d watched over growing up. I wasn’t the awkward teenager who cleaved to the strength of her vampire best friend.
I was mated to the Mystic Wolves’ Alpha.
Even deeper, I was a strong-minded woman who knew that despite what challenges came her way, she had what it took to not only face them, but also overcome them. There was no obstacle big enough that I would shy away from.
I’d gone through the refiner’s fire and survived.
I was no victim, and I refused to cower.
“Damn it, Darcy,” Devlin uttered.
“This is no different from any other test we’ve faced. Help me help my husband. That’s what I need.”
“Fine, but do it from inside. He needs to be sedated. Once we get him secured,
then we’ll do whatever it takes to bring him back. Deal?” I knew what a compromise this was from my uncle. After swearing a blood oath with his sister on her deathbed, there was nothing more important than making sure I was protected. Even though the situation worried him, I didn’t push him.
Nodding, I offered him a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
“If that’s the plan, let me go get the tranquilizer gun,” Daniel interjected, giving Mason one last glance. “I know he’ll be a lot more comfortable in the bigger cage.”
That wasn’t what I was worried about. I’d felt the effects of the drugs Helena had given him through our connection and it made me feel sick at the idea we were about to pump him full of more. His wolf’s problem was that he was agitated, not sure of who he could trust. By injecting him, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t view us as a threat, also.
“I want to try one more time.” Quickly glancing at both of them, an idea had begun formulating in my mind.
“No,” Devlin answered.
“I promise. If this doesn’t work, then we’ll do it your way. I think I know how to reach him.” Kicking of my shoes, I began to undress.
“You’re going to shift,” Daniel said, realizing my intentions.
“Maybe if I approach him as my wolf, he won’t be so aggressive. I can also reform our mental connection easier. If I can talk inside his mind, I can see how bad it is.” There was no time for modesty as I unbuttoned the top of my jeans and removed them.
With his back to me, Devlin waited as I finally slipped out of my underwear, completely naked. “I can’t say this enough . . . be careful.”
“This will work. I know it.” Nodding to Daniel, I took in a deep breath, signaling for my wolf to come forward. She’d been patiently watching from inside, eager to do whatever she could, grateful for her chance to do her part. During the mating ceremony, her spirit had bonded with Mason’s and it was agony for her to witness his pain.
The change came swiftly, the smoothest ever, and I dropped to the ground as my body changed and gave way to a more familiar shape and fur. With no time to recover from the magic’s toll, I padded over to the cage, rising up on my hind legs so Mason could see me better.
It was different communicating like this—easier even. Without words, body language was key; and paired with the scent of Pack, it removed all the distractions that came with being human. This was who we were at our most fundamental level—beneath the aggression of our natures and the primal tendencies that struggled to dominate. We were creatures of loyalty and beauty. We loved—fiercely. We protected—constantly. It was ingrained into the very fabric of our souls, and it was with this feeling in my heart that I dove through our fragile pathway, letting my unswerving dedication to Mason heal the damage inflicted.
He was so angry. The fury that swirled and batted against me was overwhelming. Everywhere I turned, I sensed chaos mingled with an insatiable thirst for retribution. I didn’t shrink away from his memories as I silently witnessed his suffering at the cruel hands of others. Even as my heart threatened to shatter, knowing he’d been forced to endure this, I refused to retreat.
Boldly, I linked my mind with his so that even though it was over, he wouldn’t have to deal with it alone. My strength became his. My love cradled his. My willingness to stand by him as he relived each horror, reminded him we were one.
Always and forever.
There was no need to act or to scramble. There was no need to convince or cajole his wolf into submission. The only thing that was important in that moment was letting him know he didn’t have to face his demons by himself.
Just as Mason had shown my wolf in the aftermath of Jasmine’s death that he was there to keep me safe, I offered him that same devotion, now.
A small click echoed in my ear, the sound of the cage door being opened. I’d been so focused on connecting with Mason that I had missed the precise second when something changed in Mason’s appearance, a sign that he was slowly releasing his pent up hostility.
Looking outward, his wolf hadn’t moved, but the rigidness had softened. The low growl that had been the constant noise filling the air had faded and a sadness filled his eyes.
Dropping to the ground again, I quickly trotted over to Daniel who stood at the cage door, carefully opening it to let me in. There was no need for caution, however. Even though he’d yet to shift back, the danger had passed.
There was no hesitation as I approached my mate, brushing the length of my body against his, allowing the contact to soothe him. Nudging him with my nose, I rubbed my scent over him, removing the stench of Helena so that all he could smell was me.
This was what he needed. This would bring him back to me.
Darcy? A soft voice floated through our pathway. Despite the ferocity of his anger, it was that whisper of Mason that broke through the turmoil.
I’m here, I answered, relieved to finally hear him.
Crumpling to the ground where he stood, Mason fell quiet as shock took over. He didn’t need to say anything else. He was safe and now he could finish healing. He was resilient and he’d pull through this. Whatever he needed, he would get.
Lying down beside him, he trembled for a few more minutes before he slipped into sleep, the warmth of my body pressed against him.
Talking would wait until later.
He was home.
Chapter Nineteen
Mason
There was no doubt in my mind that the woman lying asleep in my arms had saved me.
The last thing I remembered before passing out had been a permeating sense of peace that broke through the turmoil churning within me. Once my wolf had taken over, there was no reclaiming control. He’d seized every part of me and refused to submit. It hadn’t helped that I wasn’t in a position to exert my authority—the damage done by Helena taking its toll.
I’d been injured before. I’d faced that kind of force, but never to that extent. I’d assumed brutality was brutality—regardless of who and what was done. If anything, this had taught me that evil wore many faces, and that there were levels of depravity I’d never known existed. It was a lesson in reality, one that changed the way I would forever view the world.
I’d wanted to know what Darcy had endured going through her conversion—wishing there was some way we could’ve shared the experience, simply so I could understand better. She’d talked about the struggle she felt trying to dominate her blood thirst and the way her hunger could be unpredictable.
With her finally herself, it had been tempting to try and talk about Amber and the possession. I’d always believed that talking through things made them better—that by shedding light on the darkness, the chances for overcoming it with good grew. That first night, I’d wanted to shake her, beg her to let me in so I could carry some of her burden.
I now understood why she’d chosen, instead, to cleave to the moment of clarity she’d been granted. Lurking in the shadows of depression and despair was easier. It helped fuel the anger and righteous indignation. It would keep the focus razor-sharp until justice was delivered and paid in full.
Being positive—choosing to keep a level head, instead, and maintaining what could be controlled might seem like an impossible task, but I finally saw why that was the path she’d decided to walk.
I didn’t know if I had the strength of character to do it. Even now, my wolf howled and clawed for supremacy, furious at being supplanted before obtaining the vengeance we both wanted.
If left in my wolf form, that task would involve more blood than I’d ever spilled. It would require a depth of savagery that had always seemed beyond reach. It would twist me, unleashing the kind of darkness from which I might not ever recover.
That wasn’t me. Every male werewolf had the capacity for such ruthlessness. As an Alpha, I’d always felt I straddled a fence where with just one wrong move; I’d become someone different. It was why I always strove to govern the Pack fairly. Why I carefully guarded that part of me that kept me more human than b
east. Others didn’t care and claimed it was who they were.
I was a good man; and because of Darcy, I remained one.
No, my wolf resented the fact I hadn’t let him take care of our enemies. By shutting him out and taking over, I would still crush those who had attacked me and put my loved ones at risk, but I would do it without losing myself.
For my mate, I would strive to remember who I was and be the man she believed I was. I wouldn’t let this scar me.
But, there was no doubt in my mind, whatsoever. Despite the calmness I kept myself wrapped in, I would never forget this.
Helena would answer for what she’d done, and with my last breath, I would hunt the Master down and destroy him.
Punishment would still be served.
I dealt in absolutes, and this was a certainty—an undeniable truth.
Stirring in my arms, I traced my thumb lightly over Darcy’s cheekbone, thanking God for the gift of my wife. I knew she’d have questions when she awoke, everyone would. I vaguely remembered being rescued, the sight of Devlin and Daniel’s faces as they discovered me hanging from the dungeon wall, battered and bruised, left for dead.
It was a testimony to my ability to heal that I was even breathing. Not wanting to move and disturb Darcy, I could feel the stiffness in my muscles and tenderness in my fingers, and knew in another few days, I would be back to full strength.
I had worried so much about my hands after Devlin described how they looked when they found me. Just the thought of never being able to hold my mate again, of not being able to take her hand in mine or entwine our fingers together, was more devastating than the pain.
I never realized how many times I touched her until those opportunities were threatened. I remembered each tender caress, those stolen seconds as she passed by and I couldn’t help but reach out. I’d lost count of how many times she’d be talking or laughing, and I’d cup her cheek or stroke her cheek lightly, like I was doing now.
Out of everything Helena did, that had been the cruelest and she’d known it. She’d gloated about stealing away something precious, hoping that Darcy would still love a cripple, because that’s what she was leaving behind.
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