[Danica's POV]
Warm sunlight danced along my skin as I lunged beneath a large oak tree. For a while now, I had sat here enjoying the sight of Mason and Bryllie chasing butterflies while I relaxed due to my current condition.
Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to relish in the peace that had become my life. At least for the past eight years, anyway.
Since the war with the harpies and trolls, things were quiet and the damned traitorous creatures were nowhere to be found. Most days, I was happy that they stayed gone. In others, however, I couldn't stop the dread that overtook me.
Images of the battle that night and the torture I endured still haunted me. No amount of time changed that.
"Mommy!"
Shaking off my sudden sense of foreboding, I turned my gaze to Bryllie, who was running towards me. "Mommy, look!" She announced, holding a glowing blue flower for me.
"What's this?" I asked, taking the flower from her little fingers. "I've never seen a flower like this before. Mason? "
Flicking my gaze from Bryllie to Mason, I waited for him to respond.
As I took him in, I could feel my breath hitch and my pulse quicken. No matter how much time passed, I couldn't stop being amazed that such a strong and good-looking man could be all mine. Even to this day, I couldn't manage to keep my hands off of him. That was why I was currently as round as a basketball that had been inflated too much.
"I'm not sure either." Mason responded with a smirk.
Blushing, I realized he had caught me checking him out.
"Aren't you supposed to know all about this area?" I continued, getting up from my spot on the ground.
"Careful!" Mason hissed, rushing forward and wrapping his arms around my waist.
Instantly, waves of warmth raced through my veins, sending a thrill of pleasure to my core.
"Bryllie's here." He murmured, smelling my sudden arousal. "Try to control yourself."
"Oh, hush." I sighed, swatting at him as he easily dodged. "Don't we have that meeting with Ash and Nigel today?"
"Right." Mason huffed in disappointment. "I forgot."
"Are we visiting Grandpa Nigel?" Bryllie asked, perking up.
"You will be staying with Aunt Bella." I responded, patting Bryllie's head. "This is an adult meeting."
"Bah!" Bryllie pouted. "I am plenty grown!" To prove her point, she stood on her tiptoes, so her forehead came to my nose. "See, I'm almost as tall as you, mommy!"
Holding back a laugh, I simply shook my head.
"It doesn't work that way, sweetheart." Leaning forward, I kissed the top of her head. "You also shouldn't be too concerned with growing up too fast."
"But when I'm grown, you and daddy don't have to worry about the bad guys anymore." Bryllie insisted, causing my heart to flow painfully.
If I could help it, all danger would be eliminated by the time Bryllie took over the pack. I had no intention of letting her face another war.
"Just focus on playing and have no worries." I murmured.
Straightening myself, I turned my gaze to Mason, who was watching me with a frown. From the look in his forest green eyes, I knew he had heard my thoughts through our bond.
"Come on," I huffed, grabbing Bryllie's hand. "Let's get you to Aunt Bellas so Mommy and Daddy can finish with their meeting and get back to you."
For a moment, I thought Bryllie was going to argue, but after letting out a breath, she nodded and allowed me to lead her towards the packhouse.
After dropping Bryllie off with Bella, Mason and I began our journey to Nigel's cabin in the woods. Though Mason hadn't wanted me to come out of fear that it would stress me, I managed to convince him to let me tag along.
The ride was quiet. Mason didn't seem to want to disturb me with his thoughts, and I appreciated him giving me space.
Since leaving the packgrounds, my sense of foreboding continued to grow, and I could easily sense my wolf getting restless.
"Mason," I murmured, unable to hold back my worry. "Something feels off."
"Off?" Mason repeated, furrowing his brows as he pulled into Nigel's driveway. "What do you mean?"
"I'm not..."
I never got to finish my sentence as a large black bird with sharp teeth and glowing red eyes landed on the hood of Mason's jeep.
Tensing, I listened to loud thumping on the roof and knew it was more of these creatures.
"What the hell?" Mason growled, beginning to shift.
"No, don't move!" I hissed, grabbing Mason's shivering shoulder. "You can't just jump, we don't know how many there are!"
"I'll be fine." Mason assured me, placing an already clawed hand on my shoulder. "Just be good and stay put."
"But..."
Mason didn't bother waiting for my response. Instead, he was already launching himself out of the jeep while shifting to his wolf and tackling the black bird that was on his hood.
Gasping, I watched in horror as two more dove down from the trees above with their talons extended and ready to rip at Mason's skin.
I knew that Mason would jump me later for not listening, but I couldn't sit back and do nothing.
'Good girl.' Lizbeth purred as I began to open my door. 'Let's fight these bastards.'
Nodding, I started removing my clothes. I would need something to change into when this was finished and didn't want to ruin my comfy maternity clothes.
'Hurry up.'
I rolled my eyes at the impatience that dripped from Lizbeth's words. It had been quite some time since we really got to fight. The last time was during the battle between the trolls and harpies. Eight years had passed since then, and I hoped that I wasn't rusty. Not that I stopped training, but since becoming pregnant, I wasn't allowed.
'Our baby will be fine.' Lizbeth assured me as a surge of worry rushed through me. 'Our pup is strong.'
'Alright. Time to fight. '
[Danica's POV]A low snarl escaped my lips as I began the process of shifting. To the left, I could make out Mason fighting off three of the creatures. To my right, I could see four more preparing to attack.'Not today.' I smirked, giving a howl.Lunging forward, I bared my teeth at the first creature to notice me. It let out a shriek while diving towards me.I managed to grab it by the throat just before it hit me.Biting down, I felt the skin tear as another shriek escaped it.'I told you to stay put!' Mason's voice boomed in my head.Whoops, it seemed he was finished with his fight and had spotted me.Flingin
[Danica's POV]"Come inside and have a seat first." Nigel instructed, grabbing my arm. "You shouldn't have even came."Rolling my eyes, I let Nigel lead me into their unusually messy cabin. I found myself wishing that they would stop treating me like I was fragile as I took a seat in the recliner."Why did you bring her?" Nigel asked Mason once I was situated. "Are you that ready for her to give birth?""I have a few more weeks." I huffed, trying to hide my annoyance. "All of you need to stop babying me."Three separate sets of eyes shot at me as I spoke, sending another wave of annoyance through me."Dammit," I growled. "If you keep this up, I'm going back to the packgrounds alone."
[Mason's POV]I turned my angry gaze towards Nigel and Ash. Those two were aware of Danica being close to giving birth. Why the hell did they bring up something that could cause her to feel extreme emotion?"You don't have... " I began, but stopped as Danica shook her head.Looking up, she gave a smile and shook her head, sending her long, dark curls cascading around her overly plump breasts."Thank you for this." She said, looking at Nigel and Ash. "Would it be okay if I took this home and read it?""Of course." Nigel responded. "It is yours to do with what you will. Just don't forget to let us know if you find anything about the wolves that we may be dealing with. ""Why didn't you look for yourself?
[Danica's POV]February 2nd, 1979The Day It All Began...Papa Mackie woke me up early that morning, claiming that there was someplace we were to visit.At only ten, I didn't think much of it. So, I got up and quickly dressed as the excitement of the trip rushed through me.I wasn't the only child to be picked for this trip, Sanders and Rosette were chosen to go as well.Once we were all finished getting ready, Papa Mackie loaded us into a carriage that was waiting outside the orphanage. Once inside, we began our journey.I vaguely remember the way now, but I remember going deep through the forest leading far away from the small town we lived in. We continu
[Danica's POV]Disbelief rolled through me as I blankly stared at the spot where Bryllie had just been."Danica, look out!"A gasp escaped me as Mason's warm, strong body slammed into mine, pushing me out of the way just in time to avoid having the quickly crumbling roof fall on top of me."We need to go." Mason growled, getting to his feet."But..." I whispered. "Bryllie...""We will find her." Mason insisted, yanking me to my feet. "But if we
[Danica's POV]I searched around the quickly crumbling building for the source of energy that was drawing me. I didn't know what it was or what I was looking for, but dammit, it was like a siren's call.Extending my senses, I tried to determine the direction of the energy.'That way.' I muttered, shooting past a falling piece of roof, easily dodging it before it came crashing into my back.What I was looking for was just up ahead, and if I could just reach it, I could get the hell out of this crashing building.
[Danica's POV]I woke up to find myself in a strange room with a soft glow illuminating me. I was on a large white bed with fluffy pillows and a down comforter, but my wrists were cuffed to the headboard.There were barred windows on either side of me that allowed me to see figures roaming about."Hey!" I called, hoping one was close enough to hear. "Someone! Let me go!"Despite the urge to struggle, I remained calm. I needed to consider the innocent child in my stomach. Any wrong move could be detrimental to it.
[Mason's POV]All the lights were on when I arrived at Nigel’s shack in the middle of the forest. I didn’t bother knocking as I kicked in his door, startling both him and Ash."What?" Nigel huffed, beginning to stand."I need your help, old man." I growled, storming forward."What has gotten into you?" Nigel demanded, as I grabbed the neck of his shirt. "Where have your manners gone?""How do you locate someone when you don’t know where they are?" I demanded, ignoring his question.