Belinda Boring - The Mystic Wolves

I felt her respond to the idea and stubbornly acknowledge that maybe Mason was right. She still needed a little convincing though. She wasn’t going to hand over anything just yet.

I didn’t understand the hesitancy. He was a good man and wolf. I’d seen Mason in action and so had my wolf. What she was waiting for was beyond me.

I looked at him again-trying to share what was happening and got up to sit on my haunches as he quickly pulled away. His body began to shimmer and pulse.

He was changing. It was one of those blink and you miss it kind of deals. One minute Mason was sitting there, and the next a magnificent wolf.

I would never tire of looking at him-if there was ever the poster child for werewolves, Mason was it. All sleek curves and muscles, he was the color of midnight, perfect for blending into the darkness.

His black fur was immaculate and covered every inch of his perfectly formed body. With strong legs and finely tuned agility, he was a lethal predator and competition to all who crossed his path.

And he was all mine.

With a quick shake, he padded over and prodded me with his nose. When I didn’t move and tilted my head in question, he nudged me again. Let her look, a voice echoed in my mind and I understood. If my wolf was going to release control, she needed to see and approve of who would also be protecting me.

I jumped up onto my paws, pushing at my stubborn wolf and showed her Mason’s wolf. Even she couldn’t deny he was glorious, and I begged for her to take a closer look.

Standing at attention, waiting for inspection, Mason’s wolf didn’t flinch as I began to nip and poke at him. Rubbing my body against his, energy emanated off of him, and caused my own to sizzle from the contact. Energy like that meant only one thing-power and lots of it.

My wolf nodded at the feel of it and approached the front of our mate. Without warning, she growled and barked at him, baring her fangs as she set back in a pounce like stance. She was preparing to attack. I screamed for her to stop. We don’t attack our mates, but she wouldn’t listen.

He stood stoically, never flinching as she launched at him. Landing on top of him, he let my body pin him to the ground as my wolf snarled and snapped. She was provoking an attack on purpose, wanting to see his reaction.

A rough tongue whipped out, licking the side of my snout. Seconds later, Mason’s wolf tilted his head and bared his throat-a sign of submission. Instantly, the fighting instinct fled, and I began to change. Mason had passed her test.

It took only moments before I felt myself being scooped up into strong arms. Mason’s scent wafted over me, and I couldn’t help taking in a deep breath. After all I’d been through, it spoke of comfort, and I wanted to submerge myself in it.

Everything was quiet except for the sound of our breathing, still slightly labored from our changes. For a moment, it was as if everything was okay and then the crushing weight of reality bore down and threatened to bury me alive.

“Oh my gosh, Mason. Jasmine…” I couldn’t finish my sentence as a sob ripped from me. It was impossible to hold back the barrage of emotions washing over me as tears streamed down my face.

Over and over I cried. He gently rocked me back and forth, not speaking a word as he joined me in my grief. My sadness knew no end, and I felt like I was drowning as the events of the night replayed themselves in my mind.

“Oh no, Mason. I ripped him to shreds!” Vomit forced itself up my throat, and I was barely able to pull myself free before it violently erupted out of my mouth. I could feel my hair being held back as my stomach emptied itself. I continued to heave even though there was nothing left-like I was trying to purge the events from my body.

When I finally settled, I wiped the back of my hand over my face and glanced back at Mason. He looked haggard, the worry and strain of tonight clearly written on his expression. Love shone from his eyes, as well as deep anguish over the death of his sister.

“Take me home please. I want to go to sleep so when I wake up I can say this was all a dream. That’s what this is right, it’s just a dream?” I begged for him to lie to me, to tell me anything but the truth.

“We’ll talk about it when you wake up, okay? Here, let me help you.” Scooping under my legs, Mason tenderly lifted me into his arms again. “Sleep Darcy, you’re safe. I have you now.”

My wolf howled in agreement, and I felt my body slowly begin to relax. Hesitating for a moment, I closed my eyes, and it wasn’t long before the blessed blanket of sleep embraced me. My last thought, Please, let this be a dream.

A deafening blast broke the silence and dragged me screaming through the choking darkness. Gasping for breath, frantically seeking for something to cling to, I faltered for a moment when I found the space beside me empty. I struggled to focus, my hands restlessly moving about, but there was nothing. That’s when the terror began to pull me back under.

Flashes of images, so shocking, fired rapidly at me. They were jumbled at first, but slowly they began to make sense ,and it came with a gut wrenching pain that stole my breath. Suddenly, my ears were filled with the fury laden howl of a wolf. My wolf . She was furious and in no way consolable. The nightmare had triggered memories in her also.

My heart raced, beating hard against my chest ,and I let out a strangled whimper as I fought to regain control. Closing my eyes, I tried to block out the thoughts bombarding me as the events of the night began to replay themselves. Without realizing, I started to rock back and forth.

Jasmine. Beautiful, sweet, perfect Jasmine. Gone, and it was all my fault. It was my stubborn pride-thinking I could protect us, which had led to the fateful encounter. It was because of my inability to act that I couldn’t stop him from stealing her from me.

Bile rose in my throat, bringing with it a taste that caused my wolf to suddenly stop her howling. A new feeling surged through me, one of triumph and a strong sense of retribution. She was pleased with her part in the evening, and I couldn’t help the shudders overtaking my body as I connected the unique flavor filling my mouth.

Flesh and blood. His . I couldn’t hide away from the small sense of satisfaction I felt. Even though I hadn’t been able to take care of it, she had. She’d taken a firm hold of the situation, pushed me into the background, and hunted the monster down. Without mercy. Without hesitation.

Tearing him limb from limb until he was unrecognizable, she refused to give back control, adamant she was the only way to keep us safe. Looking down at my body as it nestled under piles of soft, warm blankets, I strained to remember how I managed to convince her to release me.

A name whispered in my mind, and my muscles instantly relaxed as if the mere mention of him was enough to ease the tension. Mason . He had come, and his help had restored me. He’d seen the devastation, how I’d failed him, and still he had patiently been there.

Shame pounded into me. How could I possibly look him in the eye again, knowing I cost him his beloved sister? Sure, he brought me back, but it was more from the duty of being the Alpha, and I doubted he would still want to mate with me.

Just the idea of never completing the bond stirred up fear and an agony so acute, tears began to stream down my face. I pulled my knees up into my chest and hugged them, continuing my steady rocking.

What am I going to do?

Thoughts raced through my mind and I could feel the hysteria building. The nightmare had finally released me from its grip, but now a new one, a world without Jasmine, Mason, and my pack began to take shape, and it was by far the most terrifying.