“Hey, it’s Rachel. I was on the phone with Mason when he heard something. He got scared and asked me to call you. I’ve already called 9-1-1.”
“Thank you. I’m headed that way already. I… I felt his need.”
“Youfeltit? Holy crap.”
“What?”
“No, nothing. We can discuss it later. Get to Mason, please. I’ll meet you there.”
She disconnected before I could say anything. I launchedmyself into the truck, praying it wouldn’t crap out on me. My fingers shook as I turned the key, but thankfully the engine rolled over on the first try. I threw it into gear and screeched out of the lot, heading for home. In the distance sirens wailed, but they couldn’t drown out Mason’s cries in my head, telling me he was scared, that he needed me.
That he didn’t want to die.
I think I broke the land speed record getting to our house. I jumped from the truck, leaving it parked in the middle of the road, and raced toward the yard. I threw open the gate into the back, and as I stepped through it. I swear my heart stopped.
Mase lay there, covered in blood, a rock from his garden next to him, also stained red. I knelt beside him and pulled him into my arms. He was limp and his body was cold. Anger seared through me.
Someone had entered our sanctuary and attacked Mason.
Someone would have to die.
Chapter Eighteen
Kip
Initially,the incessant beeping from the machines had grated on my nerves.
Now I was afraid they’d stop completely.
Mase had been in the hospital for nearly a week, hooked up to ventilators and so many machines about whose function I was clueless. The doctor explained everything to John, but I heard small bits of their conversation. Things like catastrophic skull fracture, bleeding on the brain, leakage, and other things I blotted out. All I could see was my lover lying so still in the bed, his eyes closed, his face ghastly white.
Come back to me, Mase.I know you’re in there somewhere.
They said that any wolf would have died from the damage. Mase being an Omega was the only thing that had saved him. The doctor told Mason’s folks that having me as his Dominant had given him the strength he needed to survive the calamitous wounds.
None of this went anywhere close to easing the rage burning inside me.
Someone had set out to murder Mase, and the thoughtmade me want to rip anyone who came near him limb from limb.
Each night I sat at his bedside, holding his hand, telling him all kinds of nonsensical things because I had no idea what to say. Our parents kept telling me to go home and get some rest, but I couldn’t. I needed to be by his side in case something happened.
He’s so still, so quiet.
It wasn’t the Mason I knew, but a pale echo of him.
Fiona had pulled me to the side on one visit. She explained to me how surprised she was that I’d felt Kip’s panic, because that meant our bond was strong. Probably stronger than he would have had with any wolf. She told me how grateful she was to me for being in her son’s life, and thanked me for guiding him. Speaking of which….
“I’morderingyou to get better, do you understand me?” I croaked, bringing his hand to my mouth and gently kissing his knuckles. “Ineedyou, Mase. Please come back to me.”
And the tears came then. With no one else around, I could give them free rein. I didn’t have to be stoic. I could be a grieving man who missed his Mase so. I would gladly trade places with him. Taking on his pain would be the absolute least I could do.
Sadly, that wasn’t an option open to me.
There’d been a constant string of visitors. John had come several times, telling me not to worry about work. My guys were handling things fine and they sent their regards. Our parents showed up every morning and stayed until late in the evening. Fiona looked as though she’d aged at least ten years as she sat at the bedside and cried. And as for my parents?
Man, I hadneverseen my dad so pissed off. He told me he would find out who’d hurt Mase and he’d deal with it. I told him no.
Whoever had done this was mine. I just needed Mase to wake up so I could focus on it.
