Chapter 25 Twenty-Five
Gasping for air, Danica pulled herself away from Mason's embrace.
"What do you think you're doing?" She demanded as her face flushed a bright pink. "Your pack members are sick, and you're sitting here trying to sexually harass me!"
Chuckling Mason just shrugged and said, "I didn't see you putting up much of a fight just now."
Bristling Danica tried to come up with an argument but was having a hard time doing so. Mason was right; she hadn't fought him, and not only did she not fight him, she actually responded to his advance.
The mate bond was definitely growing stronger by the day, and soon she didn't think that she would be able to withstand it at all.
"Putting that aside, we need to focus on your sick pack members," Danica tried, changing the subject.
"Right," Mason muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I'm supposed to be meeting with the medics soon to discuss whether or not they have figured anything out."
"Can I come with you?" Danica asked. She wanted to see if her assumption about the rogues being involved was right.
"Do you really want to risk it?" Mason asked, furrowing his brows. "What if what they have is contagious, then what are you going to do?"
"I don't care," Danica announced defiantly.
"Then let's go," Mason sighed.
Nodding, Danica allowed herself to be led out of the office by Mason and out into the much too rainy world.
Many pack members were still rushing around in panic as they passed, causing Danica's bad feelings to increase much more. If the pack was panicking this much due to illness, then what would happen if the illness was in fact contagious? Would that destroy the harmony of the entire pack?
Shaking her head, Danica tried to rid herself of the negative thoughts that were beginning to build. At a time like this, she needed to remain positive even if it seemed like there was no hope; at least that was what Martha had always taught her.
Her heart gave a tiny squeeze at the thought of her adoptive mother. She hadn't seen her since she started her training and wondered how she was doing without her.
"We're here," Mason announced as they stopped in front of a large brick building. "Since we weren't sure if the illness was contagious, we decided to keep the sick separate."
"Makes sense," Danica murmured, staring up at the building in front of them. "What is this building used for anyway?"
"Back in the day, it was the hospital for the pack," Mason explained, squinting up at the building. "That was a long time ago when the war between the packs and the rogues was happening."
"Hmmmm," Danica thought, considering Mason's words. "So, this isn't the first time that the rogues have come together to attack?"
Mason shook his head and said, "No, but it has been a very long time since that happened."
"Could it be some type of normal occurrence then?" If it was a recurring thing, then maybe they could come up with a plan to avoid this happening again.
"Who knows," Mason responded with a shrug as he began making his way into the building. "Come on," he puffed, motioning for Danica to follow him.
Inside, the building smelled of stale air, and dust lay around the floors and walls. It was clear that the building hadn't been used in quite some time, and Danica couldn't help but wonder why medics would bring sick patients into conditions like this.
From up ahead, she could hear muffled noises that grew louder as they rounded a corner.
"What's that?" Danica asked, unable to control her curiosity.
"You'll see in just a minute." Mason responded.
It was easy for Danica to see that Mason was having a hard time hiding his emotions over the situation at hand. As they grew closer, his grip on her hand tightened, and his lips pressed together.
It wasn't until they rounded another corner that Danica realized exactly why he was so wound up. Directly in front of them was a hall filled with rooms, and from inside the rooms the sounds of howling and nails scratching against the metal doors could be heard.
Stepping forward, Danica peered into one of the rooms to find a ginger wolf pacing back and forth while blood and saliva dripped from its muzzle onto the ground.
As it noticed it was being watched, it turned its crazed, bleeding eyes to look at Danica before lunging at the door.
With a yelp, Danica quickly backed away as the wolf made an impact, causing a loud bang to reverberate throughout the hallway.
"It's best if you don't irritate them further," said a man that Danica hadn't noticed before.
"Sorry, it wasn't intentional," Danica apologized, taking in the man.
He wore a white coat and carried a clipboard filled with writing.
"I'm Doctor Williams," The man introduced himself as Danica continued to examine him.
"How's the situation?" Mason asked as he wrapped an arm possessively around Danica.
Frowning Dr. Williams shook his head and said, "They aren't getting any better; if anything, they are beginning to get worse."
"Have you been able to figure out what is wrong with them?" Mason pushed as his grip on Danica tightened.
"Not yet; I have some friends coming in later today to help me with this," Dr. Williams admitted.
Nodding, Mason looked around the area with a sour look. Danica could easily sense his unease and found herself wishing there was something she could do to help him feel better.
"Doctor," she said suddenly. "Could this possibly be caused by the rogue attack?"
"What do you mean?" Dr. Williams asked, looking confused by her question.
"I mean, could they have possibly been infected with something and then, in turn, infected those who attacked them in return?" Even if Dr. Williams and Mason thought it was impossible, Danica couldn't shake the idea that that was the rogue's intention all along.
"I'm not sure." Dr. Williams responded, furrowing his brows, "But if that is the case, we will find out soon enough."
"Okay."
Although Danica wanted to say more, she was aware that right now wasn't the time given the stress both the doctor and Mason were feeling.
Turning her attention back to the rooms around her, she remained in place as Mason and the doctor stepped to the side to talk about the conditions of the patients.
All around her, she continued to hear the sounds of whimpering and scratching as the wolves attempted again and again to break free of the rooms they were confined in. The sound caused Danica's heart to clench painfully as she continued to listen.
Closing her eyes, she tried to calm her mind and her heart; this too was something she needed to become accustomed to if she ever wanted to be a suitable Luna. She couldn't continue to shy away and avoid hard situations anymore. Opening her eyes once more, she fixed her gaze on the hallway ahead. This too would pass, and until it did, she would be the strength that Mason and his pack needed.