Chapter 54 Fifty-Four
"You okay?" Danica asked Mason as they returned to their room.
The sun outside had already begun to go down, indicating that soon the moon would rise and Danica would have to undergo the change from human to wolf. She had already begun to feel the flu-like symptoms that she had experienced during her previous attempts at changing, and with them came even more fear, but at the moment she was pushing that down due to her worry for Mason.
Turning, Mason gave Danica a smile as he placed his hand on her cheek. Using his thumb, he began to rub gentle circles across her skin, sending waves of warmth through her.
"You should worry about you and not about me." Mason said, smiling.
"Are you refusing my concern?" Danica asked, bristling.
Laughing Mason leaned in, kissing her. "Of course not, baby; I would never refuse my love's concern."
"Better not." Danica huffed.
Even though she wanted to be annoyed with Mason, she couldn't find it within her when he was touching her. The tingles and sensations his skin brought her erased any and all emotions that didn't involve love or passion.
"Are we going to the clearing in the woods?" Danica asked, trying to ignore the sudden flutter she felt below her belly button due to Mason's touch.
"I was thinking of sticking close to the pack grounds." Mason responded. "Just in case something does happen, it would be good to be near here."
Just in case something happened, Danica couldn't stop the sudden lump that formed in her throat at Mason's words. Even though he was acting like he had faith that things would be fine, it seemed that he wasn't fully convinced that they would be.
"Are you saying my worries are justifiable?" Danica said, slowly pulling away from Mason's touch.
"You can never be too safe." Mason couldn't hide the hurt that crossed his face at Danica's sudden refusal. "I told you that I would never let anything happen to you; this is just a precaution."
"Wouldn't that mean that if I do turn rogue, I could hurt members of your pack?" Danica asked now, feeling her heart begin to rapidly pound in her chest.
Moving forward, Mason placed a hand on either of Danica's cheeks. "Calm down, baby."
This time, Mason's soothing warmth didn't help Danica's worries; instead, the feeling just intensified them. As she began to realize something was wrong, she locked her terrified gaze with Mason's confused one.
"Help..." Danica gasped just as she felt pain tear through her.
Crumpling to the ground, Danica curled into a ball, trying to stop the feeling of her skin burning and ripping as she began to feel her bones breaking and beginning to contort into that of a wolf. Even though this was clearly supposed to happen, she couldn't grasp why it was happening before the full moon had even risen.
"Mason..." Danica whimpered as another round of pain surged through her.
"Hang in there." Mason urged as he bent down to pick Danica up so he could rush her to the healer. "You're going to be okay."
"Something's wrong." Danica rasped as she felt her body beginning to shift.
Caught off guard. Mason fell backwards as Danica's now-forming paws slashed out at him, nails extended. Letting out a howl of pain, she felt her face begin to shrink and elongate into a wolf's muzzle as the rest of her began to shift from human to wolf.
Whimpers escaped her as her body convulsed and twitched until, finally, the change was complete.
Panting Danica felt her consciousness drift as the dark being let out a proud howl. Biting down hard on Danica's human self, it yanked, throwing her harshly to the side as it took over entirely.
Standing, the dark being glared at Mason, who remained frozen in shock before snarling.
"Danica..." Mason said, reaching out a hand.
Snapping, the dark being let out a howl before turning and jumping, allowing itself to crash through a window, sending glass and wood flying as it landed on the grass outside. Feeling exhilarated, another howl escaped its lips before it began to run towards the woods.
"DANICA!"
Hearing Mason's yell from behind didn't stop the dark being from continuing to move forward. It found joy in the feeling of its new limbs extending and reaching as it quickened its pace, bolting into the trees and heading towards where its own kind would be waiting.
As the time for the change grew closer, the being could sense their presence more and more. Each time they would enticingly call out, beckoning it to join them, but because it was stuck in that damn girl's subconscious, it couldn't answer. But now that it was free, it could go to them and be one with them.
'No, you don't' Mason's voice echoed in the being's head, causing it to stumble and almost fall.
Snarling, it turned and prepared to attack the golden wolf that was making its way towards it.
'Stay away' The being snarled back through the mindlink it had with the golden wolf. 'This is my body now.'
'I'll be damned if you take her!' Mason growled as his aura intensified.
A bark that sounded similar to that of laughter erupted from the being's muzzle.
'I answer to no alpha.' it mocked, baring it's teeth. 'Back off, little alpha.'
'No,' Mason spat back as he moved forward.
Using all his strength, Mason jumped forward, baring his teeth. He knew that he couldn't bite down on the being as it would hurt Danica, but he needed to be able to subdue it.
'I SAID BACK OFF!' The being snapped as it moved forward, meeting Mason halfway.
'Danica....' Mason's voice called out, trying to draw her out. 'I know you're there.' He pleaded as he tackled the being to the ground. 'I need you to fight.'
'SHE IS GONE!' The being responded happily as it snapped at Mason's neck to free itself. 'GONE GONE GONE!'
Another bark of laughter escaped the being, catching Mason off guard enough to lift its paw and swipe at his chest. The feeling of skin ripping against its claws sent a wave of pleasure through the being as Mason jerked back.
Taking advantage, the being jumped up and pounced on Mason's back, sinking its teeth into his nape. It could feel skin tearing as blood began to seep into its mouth.
'Delicious.' The being cooed happily, pulling away and licking its chops. 'I want more!'
'Danica,' Mason tried again as the being began to circle him. 'Baby, you need to fight!'
'So cute.' The being mocked happily. 'I told you she's gone.'
Baring its teeth again, the being jumped forward, latching onto Mason's neck as it fought to tackle him to the ground. Despite the fact that the being was nothing more than a regular wolf, it had a power that even rivaled Mason's strength.
Shaking his body, Mason managed to loosen the being's hold, sending it flying into a tree trunk. Letting out a yelp of pain, the being jumped up and ran towards Mason once more, ready to kill.
'Please come back.' Mason pleaded as he began to fight off the being. 'Danica, FIGHT!'