[Danica’s POV]"Who?" I growled, beginning to move. "I don’t know your damn master!""Danica!" Mason hissed, as I barely dodged the rogue's claws as he grabbed for me. "Careful!""Yeah," I puffed, holding out a hand and extending my claws. "I’ll be careful."The simple act of extending some part of my wolf began to rouse the darkness within, but I worked to control it. I needed to be aware of this, that much I knew."How can you say you don’t know your own brother?" A new voice boomed from the direction the rogue had come from.Whirling around, I found myself facing off with a man that looked vaguely familiar but completely foreign as well."Brother?" I repeated, snapping my gaze from the man to Mason. "I have a brother?"Mason didn’t respond to my question, but the look of confusion and bafflement on his face was enough of an answer for me. It seemed that even he himself had no idea about this."You don’t remember me, dear sister?" The man pouted, while eyeing everyone that stood beh
[Desmond's POV]"I'm sooooo bored." I groan, turning over and looking at Armond. "Entertain me, will ya?""Why should I?" Armond snaps, puffing out his cheeks. "If you're so bored, go find Tim or Greg to beat up on.""Don't wanna."I let out a hmph as I gazed out at the sea and found myself drifting to Bryllie. Where was she and how was she doing? Things had grown dull since Alpha took her away."You're boring." I hiss, jumping up and wiping sand from my shorts. "I'm going to find Bryllie!"Word around town was that Alpha had taken her to the darklands to live with Luna while her memory was gone. "How you planning to do that?" Armond growled, beginning to follow me. "You don't know how to get to the darklands, and if we just disappear, our parents will kill us!""You don't have to come." I point out.I didn't ask Armond to join me, and frankly, I wasn't up for listening to his whining if he did."Like I'd let you go alone." Armond responded, giving a huff. "You can't seem to stay out
[Mason's POV]"Now, explain to me what you two are doing here."I stared at Armond and Desmond as they sheepishly sat in front of me. I couldn’t believe these two trouble-makers managed to come to the darklands. I would have to give them a proper punishment once we got back to the cove pack."It was all Desmond’s idea!" Armond hisses, pointing an accusatory finger at Desmond."You little..." Desmond growled, shooting Armond a glare. "What about bro code?"I hold back the urge to laugh at how much Desmond reminds me of myself as a child. Now isn’t the time for that. I needed to get these two back to where it was safe. Especially with Danica’s brother and the harpies on our trail."What’s going on?"Turning, I watch as Danica enters the room with Bryllie and Xavier."Desmond and Armond!" Bryllie’s excited voice shrieks as her eyes find the two boys. "Why are you here?"I wait as Bryllie disentangles herself from Danica and rushes towards her friends. I felt an odd pang rush through me a
[Danica’s POV]The room around me was quiet, and all that could be heard were the sounds of Bryllie breathing and Xavier cooing. I was rocking my son alone at the time, and my mind wandered to how it would feel to return to where I belonged.I knew that things would be fine since Mason would be with me, but I still felt anxiety flare again and again every time I couldn’t locate my memories."Mommy," Bryllie murmured, drawing me out of my head. "Do you hear that?""Hear what?"Standing up, I placed Xavier in his crib and crept towards the window. Just beyond the glass, I could make out an odd glow, but hadn’t thought much of it. However, now that I was listening intently, I could hear what sounded like many paws hitting the ground."Bryllie," I hissed, turning and rushing towards my daughter. "I need you to take Xavier and get to the safe room in the attic."By this point, I knew something wasn’t right and I wanted to make sure my children were safe before I went out to investigate."W
[Mason's POV]Rage rips through, spurring me to increase my strength as I fight to get through the barrier that is separating me from Danica. "LET HER GO!" I roared, managing to finally burst through."Gladly." Danica’s brother responds, opening his hand and allowing Danica to crumple to the floor. "But you’re too late." He continues while cackling madly.Though everything in me screams to attack him, my only concern is the woman laying on the ground at his feet."See you later, brother-in-law." Danica’s brother called before turning and diving through a window, followed by his men who hadn’t been killed."Don’t let them leave!" Dax called as the enemy disappeared from sight.The room around me exploded with motion, but I couldn’t focus on it. "Danica..." I murmured, kneeling down and pulling her into my arms. "Hey!"The injury on her stomach was already beginning to heal, but where it sat was turning a dark purple and looked almost festered. What the hell was this?"What’s wrong?"
[Mason's POV] I stared blankly ahead as Killian examined the marks that were now scattered about Danica's body. I just couldn’t seem to wrap my head around the grim reality right in front of me. How could this be possible and why couldn't I have protected her? She would still be here if I hadn't agreed to her assisting in the fight. "Could you help me?" Killian asked, drawing my attention from Danica. "Do what?" I ask numbly. "We need to take a count of the injured and fallen." Killian responded, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I…" I stopped as a knot began to build up in my throat. "I can’t..." A sob escapes me as reality finally hits. Danica is gone. My mate is gone. What am I supposed to do from here on out? "I’ll leave you to be alone." Killian murmured, clearly realizing that I needed some time. "I’ll go check on the kids and break the news." "Not yet!" I gasped, fixing my wild gaze on him. "Just... wait." When Bryllie was told, I wanted to be there. I couldn’t possibly
[Mason’s POV] The next day came much too quickly, and it was time to prepare to travel back in time. So far, I hadn’t told Bryllie about Danica’s passing, simply because I didn’t want to upset her if things could be changed. But as the time to leave her came closer, I found myself wondering if that was the best of ideas. Letting out a sigh, I began to make my way towards the room that Bryllie currently shared with Xavier. I wanted to see them, especially since I wasn’t sure what the future would hold once I completed the task that I set out to do. Many questions raced through my mind as I walked down the empty hall. Would I still be the father of these beautiful children once this was done? Would things be like they were before the harpies attacked? There were too many what-if’s and even though I knew I shouldn’t dwell, I couldn’t stop myself from doing just that. When I arrived at Bryllie and Xavier’s room, I found both of them still fast asleep. Although I was awake, the sun wa
[Mason's POV]I stood and stared into the glowing portal that Talon and the others had created. Despite telling myself everything would be okay, I couldn't stop the sense of dread that overcame me."You're wasting time." Talon snapped, stepping beside me. "I've already told you that your time is limited.""I got it." I sighed, bracing myself. Taking a deep breath, I dove forward into the portal. Immediately, bright balls of light began to swirl around me, growing closer and closer until they were encasing my body. It felt like my very flesh was being burned where they touched.Biting back the curses that wanted to escape, I endured until finally, the lights released me.When they cleared, I found myself standing on the all-too familiar training pitch of my packgrounds. It was scattered with bodies and feathers. It didn't take long for me to realize just when this was and spurring me into action.Up ahead, I could just make out Danica's light exploding from her wolf. Next to come wou