Chapter 24 Twenty-Four
Danica watched as men heaved large wolf carcasses into a fire blazing brightly in the middle of the training grounds.
It hadn't taken much time for Mason's pack members to kill the rogues that had been brave enough to attack on their grounds. With no other way to get rid of the bodies, they settled on burning them.
From what Danica had seen, they came across as way too easy to kill, and something about the whole situation felt very off to her. Despite her pointing this out to Mason, he insisted that nothing was wrong and she was simply being paranoid.
Even though she couldn't argue with his logic, she still couldn't shake the sense of foreboding that she was beginning to feel.
"You don't have to stay and watch this," Mason said, placing a jacket around Danica's shoulders.
"I'm alright," Danica muttered, keeping her gaze fixed on the fire ahead.
"Are you sure?" Mason pushed. It was clear that he wasn't buying her act.
Turning, Danica smiled and said, "I've got to get used to this type of stuff eventually."
Mason opened his mouth to speak, only to shut it again. It was easy enough to tell that there was a mental struggle going on within him.
"If you insist," he finally sighed.
Even though the scene before her left her feeling sick, Danica had begun to accept that this was now her life. She couldn't keep running away whenever things got hard. She needed to strengthen her mind and harden her heart if she ever wanted to get anywhere.
"The last of the rogues have been burned," Chris, who had just arrived, announced, drawing Danica's attention to him. "What is your next order?"
Mason considered, "I think it's about time we got a hunting party together."
"Hunting party?" Danica asked, "You mean you're going to hunt nearby rogues?"
Mason nodded.
"They became brave enough to attack on pack lands. They can't be taken lightly anymore."
"Are you sure about this Alpha?" Chris asked, looking shocked. "What if there's a much larger group of them?"
"Do you really think there is reason to be afraid of them?" Mason demanded.
"No...." Chris responded, looking uncomfortable.
"I think..." Danica chimed in, causing two sets of eyes to fix on her. "That we shouldn't just jump into this."
"What do you mean?" Chris looked like he was genuinely curious.
"Don't you feel that it was too easy to take down the rogues that attacked tonight?" Danica pointed out, turning her eyes to the fire where the bodies still burned. "Could it possibly be some type of trap?"
Furrowing his brows, Chris considered.
"What do you mean?"
"Yes, please do tell what you mean," Mason said, eyeing Danica.
"I don't know," Danica admitted sheepishly. "I just think there was something more to that attack, that's all. We should all be on our guard for the time being."
Considering Danica's words, the two men grew quiet; no one spoke again as all three sets of eyes watched the rogues burn to nothing but ash.
The next day came with a bang, in the literal sense, as a storm woke Danica from her slumber. After being up for most of the night thinking about the rogue attack, she hadn't fallen asleep until the sun had begun to rise, and now she was being woken up by a thunderstorm.
Groaning, she pryed her eyes open and tried to see what time it was.
Her alarm clock read ten after noon, indicating that she had gotten maybe five or six hours of sleep. As she began to fully wake up, she decided to get out of bed and go find Mason.
The hallway outside of her dorm room was pure chaos as Danica stepped out. People were rushing around in panic and not paying attention to where they were going.
"What's going on?" Danica asked, grabbing ahold of a girl she vaguely recognized.
The girl looked at her with wide eyes and said, "You haven't heard?" The way she spoke made it seem as if Danica should have been well aware. "There's been an outbreak of illness."
"Illness?" Danica stammered.
What kind of illness could possibly have everyone in such a panic?
"A few of the warriors woke up running high fevers and then started bleeding from their gums and noses," she continued. "The medics are currently looking at them but can't quite place what is going on."
"Thanks," Danica said as she let go of the girl, allowing her to hurry along her way.
Quickly turning, Danica rushed towards Mason's office in hopes that he would be there. Her bad feelings from the rogue attack resurfaced, and she felt that this sudden illness appearing had something to do with it.
When she reached her destination, she pushed her way in to find Mason hunched over his desk, rubbing his temples.
"What's going on?" Danica demanded in the way of greeting.
Looking up, Mason met her gaze and said, "Nothing for you to be concerned with."
"Cut the crap," Danica snapped, crossing her arms.
Sighing, Mason pinched the bridge of his nose.
"We've got about eight men sick and in quarantine right now," he began. "We aren't sure if what they have is contagious or what exactly caused it."
"Is this the rogues doing?" Danica asked, voicing her concern. "Could this have been their intention?"
"Are you suggesting that the rogues have not only begun to ban together, but now they are using chemical warfare?" Mason sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I just find that really hard to believe."
"Then how else do you explain this sudden occurrence?"
Even if Mason was unwilling to accept it, Danica knew deep down that this had been the rogue's plan.
"Give the medics time to try to figure out what is going on before we draw any conclusions." Mason's voice had a note of finality to it.
Bristling Danica stormed forward, slamming her palms on Mason's desk.
"Why are you being so stubborn?"
"I could say the same for you," Mason countered. "Please, just let me handle this."
As much as she didn't want to be concerned with what was going on, she couldn't help it. Seeing Mason there looking so exhausted tugged at her heartstrings, and she couldn't stop the need to try to help shoulder his burden.
"Isn't this what I'm supposed to help with?" She whispered, fixing Mason with a defiant gaze.
"What are you talking about?" Mason sounded so tired that it hurt Danica's heart.
"As your future Luna, isn't it my job to help you with pack issues?" Danica went on. "Let me help you shoulder some of this."
"Is this your way of saying you accept me?" A spark could be seen forming in Mason's eyes at Danica's proclamation.
"Don't push it," Danica said quickly. "I just can't stand to see you under so much pressure."
Smiling Mason Stood up from his desk.
"How can I not push it when you just all but admitted that you accept me?"
"Woah, woah." Danica had begun backing up to avoid Mason's advance. "This isn't the time."
"Of course it is."
Mason had managed to fully close the distance between them and was wrapping his arms around Danica's waist. A tiny gasp escaped her lips as he pulled her to him. Before she knew what was happening, he was ducking his head, and his lips were finding hers.
Fireworks—that was the only way Danica could describe the sensation that she got from Mason kissing her. She could feel her whole being become alight with fire as their mouths moved as one and their tongues danced.
In the end, this was what the mate bond was all about, and as the sensations grew Danica found herself having a hard time continuing to fight it.