Page 6 of Mason

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair.When he looks up, I know it's not going to be good.

Chapter Seven

Hex

"WetookdownErebusIndustries, but it appears some of their research survived.Nefarious has been trying to hunt down whoever is using it for some time now."

"But we burned it down.There were no survivors.All the research and samples they'd been collecting were destroyed."

"You should know better than to trust a corrupt institution like that kept everything secure.They'd probably been infiltrated by a double-agent on the staff siphoning off data and resources to sell to the highest bidder.Who knows where the information got to before we destroyed the research facility."

I scrub a hand down my face, trying to keep the memories of my torture from haunting me, then look at the cork again."Whoever is using the research now has been creating all kinds of things like this serum.There's an underground market for it – humans that find out about the paranormal.Some of them want to control it.Some of them fancy themselves Hunters, even though they have no clue what Hunters actually do.The stories I could tell you."I shudder, thinking of the innocent lives lost and the unfortunate souls who have been trapped in their beast forms to be house pets or experimented on.Not to mention how many people have been harmed by the misuse of witch blood, like mine."They're going by Enigma now.We're uncertain whether that refers to a singular person, or an entire organization.It could be either."

Mason says nothing, but I can feel his anger.He thought this chapter of our lives was closed.And I never bothered to update him on it.I didn't want him to think I was trying to pressure him into spending more time with me or manipulating him into upholding our mate bond.Besides, he walked away.It was no longer his business.

Finally, the lid on his control blows."You mean to tell me, all this time, you've been in danger of them discovering you and dragging you back to be slowly bled to death!"

Mason's eyes have the glow about them that says his wolf is peeking out.I thought he was mad because I didn't tell him they were still out there, but what he's actually angry about is that I put myself in danger.For a few moments, it feels good to know he's finally feeling our bond, which makes him a tad possessive, but then my own anger hits.

"Don't yell at me.You're the one who walked away," I say, standing so he's not towering over me."You left me!"I shove Mason in the chest, but it barely budges him."You don't get to be mad about me being in danger.You abandoned me, and my Nefarious brothers picked up the pieces.They did what you wouldn't.They kept me safe."I close my mouth before anymore of the hurt can come out.I don't want to completely lose control and say something I can't take back.Besides, us arguing isn't going to find Kory.He's more important than my hurt feelings.

"I have to go," Mason says.

And there goes the last bit of control I was clinging to.

"Of course you do.Leaving is what you're good at."

Mason looks into my eyes for a few more seconds, then turns and walks out the door.

Chapter Eight

Mason

Idon'tblameHexfor feeling the way he does, but that doesn't take the sting out of his words.If he'd let me finish what I was saying, he'd know I meant I needed to leave to cool off and get my head on straight.My wolf is on overload.It's like the alignment of the mate bond opened a dam and all the things that were previously muted have come flooding in.I need to run off some of the excess energy.Maybe by the time I get back, Hex will have cooled off and we can have a productive conversation.I won't leave him on his own again.I'll eventually have to go back to the pack house, but I'll take him and Kory with me.

Removing my clothes, I hang them over a tree branch to collect when I get back, then shift to my wolf.Giving him the reins, I let him run and observe the world through his eyes.Things are easier to deal with in this form.My wolf doesn't get tangled up in the complexity of thoughts that trips up the human part of me so often.

After an indeterminate amount of time, my wolf brings us to a stop by a stream.Once he's hydrated, the wolf plops down to rest.In the middle of listening to the sounds of the forest around us, I hear the sound of Hex's bike fire up.My wolf is off like a shot, streaking back toward the cabin.We can't let Hex leave, not without making things right.

When I get back to the cabin, I know I'm too late.Shifting back to my human form, I dig my phone out of my pants pocket from where they hang on the tree branch, and call Hex's phone, but it won't connect.He's fucking blocked my number.

I've got to find him, but my only mode of transportation is in my wolf form, which means I'll have to leave my clothes, wallet, keys, and phone behind.Then it hits me.Cipher.I'll call him and have him talk to Hex.Maybe he can talk my mate down.I pace while I wait for the call to connect, praying Cipher hasn't blocked me, too.

"You've got a pair, calling me after everything you've put Hex through," he says in lieu of a greeting.

"It's a misunderstanding.I swear.I can explain."

"I don't think he wants to hear it right now.He needs to focus on finding his mate.The one that actually wants him."

The call disconnects and I try to call Cipher back, but he's blocked me now as well.

"Fuck!"I scream into the setting sun as my world tumbles down around me.

Chapter Nine

Kory

Afterdaysofbeingtrapped in the cramped cage, it feels good to stretch my legs; but it's humiliating to be doing it inside one of those plastic hamster balls.When Rudy dosed me with whatever drugs he had back at my cabin, I thought I'd be able to shift back and escape once they wore off, but then Elmer slapped some kind of enchanted collar on me and I'm still stuck here in my mouse form.I've lost track of time.A week could have passed for all I know.Time feels different as a mouse.