Chapter 26 Twenty-Six
When Mason returned from his talk with Dr. Williams, his face was devoid of color. It was obvious that whatever the doctor had told him had seriously shaken him.
Not sure how to go about asking what exactly had been said, Danica instead grabbed Mason's hand. She hoped that the sensations she sent to him would help soothe him as much as they soothed her.
Sighing, Mason pulled her into a hug, burying his face in her neck. And if it weren't for the fact that the arms that wrapped tightly around her were shaking, it would have been a sweet moment.
"That bad?" she asked cautiously as she wrapped her arms around Mason's waist.
"Something like that," Mason murmured as his arms tightened their hold.
"What did he say?"
Danica wasn't sure if Mason was going to tell her, but it never hurt to ask.
Lifting his head, Mason looked into her eyes.
"Dr. Williams thinks they may have the Rage Virus."
"Rage Virus?" Danica asked, not sure if she heard right.
"Yeah, he isn't one hundred percent at this time, but their symptoms fit," Mason explained, his face turning grim.
"So what will happen now?"
Although Danica had an idea, she wanted to have it confirmed for her.
"The whole pack will have to quarantine for at least a week."
One whole week, they would all be stuck in the barracks for a week. What was worse, the full moon was fast approaching once more as well.
"What about me?" Danica whispered as fear began to grip her heart. "I can't be stuck in a room with Abigail and Sophia for one week, the full moon..."
Mason seemed to consider, "Then you will just have to stay with me."
"Wait, why you?" There was no way she could be in a room alone with Mason for a week, no way.
"Because I know about your condition and I can help you through it," Mason responded. "What, are you that against being alone with me for a week?"
"It isn't that." It was that, but Danica would never admit it. "I just think it wouldn't be the best of ideas."
"Then what is it?" Mason was making it clear he wasn't going to let go of this.
"Nothing; I will stay with you for a week," Danica conceded, deflating.
Smiling from ear to ear, Mason hugged Danica closer to him. "Don't worry, I won't do anything you don't want me to do."
"Sure," Danica grumbled. It wasn't necessarily him that she was worried about, but her own growing feelings. She was already fighting the bond with all her might, and now she was going to be stuck with him for a week. "That's what I'm afraid of."
The next day, Danica found herself standing in front of Mason's door with a backpack slung over her shoulder. She had packed all her essentials for the week and was as ready as she could possibly be. Despite telling herself that this was no big deal, Danica couldn't control the flutters that were going on in her heart.
"I'm here," she called through the door. "Can I come in?"
"Come on in!" Mason's voice came from the other side.
Taking a long, deep breath, Danica obliged and entered the room.
Mason's room was emaculately clean compared to the last time she had been there; it was almost like he had gone out of his way to impress her. But that couldn't be the case, right?
"Should I just sit my stuff down anywhere?" Danica asked, looking around uncomfortably.
"Go ahead."
Mason had already made his way back to his desk and seemed to be distracted.
"Any updates?" Danica asked, coming up to see what Mason was looking at.
Leaning back, Mason allowed a sigh to escape him: "You were right; the rogues purposely infected my warriors."
Thinking that that may have been the case was one thing entirely compared to hearing it coming straight from Mason's mouth now. The rogues had played dirty, and many were about to suffer because of it. How could something like this even be happening?
"For now, all we can do is wait and see if anyone else has been infected." Mason's voice sounded so tired as he spoke.
"Have you slept at all since yesterday?"
"Hhhhmmmm."
Sighing Danica made her way over. "You should try to get some sleep."
"I'm okay," Mason murmured, already falling asleep.
"Right, you're doing great."
Rolling her eyes Danica helped Mason out of his chair so she could get him to lay down on the bed.
"I'm not tired," Mason argued, trying to remain awake.
"Stop being stubborn," Danica snapped, pushing Mason down on the bed.
Turning, she began to make her way over to the chair he had once occupied, only to have her wrist grabbed.
"What are you doing?" Danica demanded, turning to face Mason, who had a weird expression on his face.
"Come lay with me," Mason murmured, his voice filled with hesitance. "I won't do anything."
Feeling her heart flutter, Danica took in what Mason had just asked her. He wanted her to come lay down with him. But what good would that do? After what had happened the day before, she wasn't quite sure if she could remain calm while lying down beside him.
"You're talking crazy from lack of sleep," Danica said, trying to argue Mason's request.
"I'm not," Mason insisted, tugging lightly.
Stumbling Danica found herself in Mason's lap before she could process what was happening.
In one fluid motion, he was wrapping his arms around her waist, restricting her from even attempting to run away.
"Mason, let go." Danica was trying to remain calm, but the close proximity was doing things to her heart. She needed to break free quickly; otherwise...
"I won't," Mason whispered, beginning to act like a spoiled child as he nuzzled his head into Danica's neck. "I only want to hold you; that's it."
"You're tired and don't know what you're doing," Danica argued, trying to pry Mason's arms from around her. "Now let me go."
"Just stay like this, please."
Stopping her attempts at breaking free, Danica took in Mason's appearance. He truly did look like he had been through the ringer and could break at any moment.
Would it hurt her to allow him to cuddle her to sleep? She didn't think it would, especially with his current condition.
She had sworn to be his strength, and trying to run away from him wasn't doing that.
Taking a deep breath, Danica made a decision that she hoped she wouldn't regret. "Just this once, got it?"
She would allow Mason to hold her so he could sleep, but after this one time, it couldn't happen again. Although she had basically agreed to be his Luna, she still didn't want to rush anything; after all, she and Mason barely even knew each other.
It had only been a little over three weeks since they met, and so much had been happening that they hadn't had much time together. Given the current circumstances, all she could offer him was a shoulder to lie on, at least for now.