CHAPTER SEVENTEEN—So where’s Mason?

Mason Hart I gazed up at the starlit sky that blanketed my hometown, with the love of my life sleeping on my lap. It was the best feeling in the entire world. I had long given up on finding my Fianna and now look at us. It had been a tough road and there was much more that we needed to face, but I knew that with Freya by my side, we could achieve anything. I would not let anything happen to her and I would die trying to protect her. She is my world. My love. My everything. After carefully scooping up Freya, I gradually stood up, trying my hardest not to wake her. That was the most peaceful I had seen her in such a long time, and I didn't want to ruin it. I ascended, then took off into the sky and headed towards my mom's house. I flew for around ten minutes or so, slowing down each time that Freya began to stir. Eventually, I reached the house and lowered us down silently onto the grass, then descended before anyone could see me. I doubted that anyone was awake though, as it had to be around two in the morning by now.

I headed towards the front door and startled when my mom yanked it open. She looked so disappointed in me, but with a slight hint of relief that I had come back. I knew that she would be upset with me just disappearing the way I did, but I got caught up in the moment. As soon as Freya said that she loved me, our hunters' bond exploded inside me, and I couldn't control my ascension or my flames. I had to touch her. Be with her. We had to be one. I furrowed my brow and shook my head at my mom, then looked down at Freya, indicating that I didn't want to wake her up. As I approached the doorway, my mom stepped aside allowing me to enter the house. I took Freya straight upstairs to my bedroom and laid her on my bed. She instantly groaned a little then snuggled into the pillow. I positioned a blanket over her, then swept her hair out of her face. I stood there watching my angel sleep for a few minutes, then kissed her lips one last time and whispered, “Always on my mind, forever in my heart.”

I walked away from the bed and took one last look at my beautiful girl as I closed the bedroom door, before heading downstairs and into the living room.

“Hey mom, look I'm sorry for just taking off. I know how much it hurts you, but Freya and I had some things to discuss and…” I began to explain but my mom cut me off by running over to me and throwing her arms around me.

I stayed silent as she wept into my chest and gripped me tighter than I thought any human could grip someone else. Her weeping calmed and she sniffled a little. I squeezed her harder just to show that I really didn't mean to upset her, then kissed the top of her head.

“I'm sorry for being so emotional, Mason. It's just when you disappear like that, it brings back all those memories of when you and your dad left me,” she explained sadly.

I pushed my mom back slightly and took her face into my hands.

“Mom, I will never leave you like that again, but when I do leave, I promise I will always come back.” She hugged me again and I felt bad having to tell her that I was leaving again, but I had no choice. “Mom, I'm sorry but I do have to leave again,” I paused for a response.

“When?” She asked in a low whisper.

“Now, but I promise I will be back. I also need a favor.”

She stood back and looked up into my eyes, but I couldn't find the words. I just turned my head to look at the stairs.

“You need me to look after her, don't you? And I'm guessing you haven't told her that you're leaving?”

I looked back at my mom shocked that she knew exactly what I needed of her, she had her arms folded and a cross look on her face.

“There is something important I need to sort out back home and she won't understand. She wants to come with me, but I need her here. I need to know that she's looked after. She has been through so much recently. She lost both of her parents in the last few months, and I don't want her stressed out. I want her rested, loved and cared for, I…” I explained to my mom, but she cut me off before I could finish.

“Oh, dear God, that poor girl. No need to explain Mason, I get it. She needs time and a calm place to grieve. Charlie and I are going away tomorrow for the weekend, I'll cancel it and stay with, Freya. I'll keep her company and…” My mom went into her usual rambling mode.

I shook my head at her and replied, “Actually, you two still go. I'm sure she will enjoy the peace and quiet, then I should be back a few days after you are, if that's okay?” I asked politely, trying to make it sound as believable as possible.

I knew that Freya would hate me for leaving. She would also hate being here alone, but I couldn't risk her getting upset or angry and ascending or shifting, with my mom and Charlie around. This would be the best option and I would call her as much as I could. Oh God, she really is going to hate me. I am going to have a lot of making up to do once I fix this, I thought to myself.

“Oh yes of course, silly me, the poor girl barely knows us. I'm sure she will be grateful of the peace and quiet,” she replied.

I smiled at my mom and hugged her again.

“Thanks mom, I'm going to write her a note quickly. Then I best get going or I'll miss my bus.”

It's not like I could tell her that I was getting tired, and I might fall out of the sky while flying home, now, can I? We said our goodbyes and I left. I waited at the side of the house for a bit until I knew my mom had gone to bed, then walked back onto the streetlamp lit lawn and ascended. I flew up to my old bedroom window and peeked in. There she was, my gorgeous Freya, my sleeping angel, so peaceful and serene. I watched her for a while and whispered, “I love you.”

I turned away from my love and flew off into the clear night's sky, worrying about what horrors awaited me at home.

***

Freya Rose I could hear birds chirping when I began to stir from my sleep. I had a huge smile on my face, and I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. With my eyes still closed, I reached my arms above my head to stretch. As I did, I began to yawn, and it felt amazing. I think that it might have just been the best night’s sleep I'd had in a very long time. It was a silent, peaceful and invigorating sleep, not like my usual disturbed sleep that was plagued with nightmares. Nightmares that were filled with vampires, werewolves, death and destruction. I turned over and reached out for Mason but all I got was a fistful of blanket. Wait, a blanket? The last thing I can remember was falling asleep on top of a mountain while Mason was stroking my hair. Where did the blanket come from? And why is the rock ledge so soft underneath my ass?

I jerked up and peeled my eyes open, but my vision was a little fuzzy. There was a blue glow all around me. I blinked a few times, and everything started to come into focus. Spiderman? I thought to myself.

“Yup that's Spiderman drapes alright, and rug, and duvet, and…” Mina began to list all the Spiderman objects she could spot in the room.

“Alright Mina I get it. We're in a young boy’s room, but the question is, whose room is it? And how the hell did we get here? Oh, and not to mention where the hell is, Mason?” I snapped at my wolf in a panic.

I looked down at myself and pulled the blanket away from my body and then let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully I wasn't naked.

“What are you asking me for? When you go all super hunter, Phoenix mode, it pushes me so far away, that I can't see, hear or smell anything. Not that I'm complaining, I'm glad of the fact that I don't have to barf every time you love birds go at it,” she whined and even threw in a few gags and chokes for good measure.

“Okay, okay, that's enough. You can stop now, I get your point,” I moaned at her while rolling my eyes. Sometimes she could be such a child. I understood why she felt that way though, wolves didn't particularly like hunters, with good reason. She also didn't share the connection to Mason that I did. She already had a mate and that was Tristan. So, I got where she was coming from. I was just grateful she was there supporting me. “Sorry Mina, I didn't know. Don't worry we will figure this out together.” I got out of the very small single bed and headed towards the window. Immediately I recognised my surroundings. “Mina, this is Mason's mom's house,” I spoke out loud to my wolf.

“Shhh! Someone's coming,” Mina replied, before falling silent.

I heard a delicate tap on the bedroom door, then a softly spoken man's voice, “Excuse me. Um…Miss Rose?” He called out.

“Yes? Come in,” I replied.

I felt silly telling who I assumed was Mr. Scott that it was okay to enter a room in his own house, but I did appreciate the gesture. I turned around just as the door opened and stood in the doorway was a tall and slim built man with dark pepper-gray hair that had begun to recede. He had a long thin nose that looked a little too long for his face, gray bushy eyebrows and deep laughter lines that framed his rich chocolate brown eyes. He wasn't what I would call a particularly handsome man, but he was far from ugly. He had a very sweet looking face and it felt like he was the type of man that was very loyal, trustworthy and kind.

“Good morning, I thought I heard someone moving around in here. Do you fancy some breakfast? I've made pancakes,” he said enthusiastically and with the biggest smile I'd ever seen.

It was impossible to say no to him. He was just so sweet and chirpy, and his smile was infectious. To be honest, I could have eaten the ass end of a scabby horse at that moment in time, I was absolutely starving. Before I had a chance to reply, my stomach growled, causing my cheeks to flush instantly with embarrassment. I hoped to God he hadn't heard it, but no such luck—he let out a gut splitting chuckle.

“Well, I will take that as a yes then. Follow me, I've been told I make the best pancakes in Alberta.” He smiled at me and turned around to stroll down the hallway. I ran to catch him up, then slowed down to a walk as I reached him. “That hungry huh?” He asked with another chuckle.

“I'm starving!” I replied honestly.

He turned around to face me and reached out his hand for me to shake.

“Hello starving, I'm Charlie. it's lovely to meet you.”

He winked at me when he shook my hand and I couldn't help but laugh, he was so goofy. To be honest, I missed laughing. So much had happened lately that I hadn't had a chance to just be silly. I did a curtsy and replied, “Nice to meet you too, Charlie.”

He turned back around and led me down the stairs and into the kitchen diner. The dining table was laid out like a feast. There were pancakes, cereal, fruit, three types of juice, toast, bacon and scrambled eggs. I just stood there staring at it all in awe.

“We didn't know what you liked to eat, so we made everything,” Sadie announced when she entered the room.

“You didn't have to go to all of this trouble for me. I would have been fine with toast or cereal, honestly,” I replied.

“Nonsense, it was no trouble at all. It's not often that we get to cook for guests, or should I say, family? Future Mrs. Hart,” Charlie said with pure excitement.

He pulled out a chair for me and ushered for me to sit. I took my seat and he sat down beside me, reached for his paper and began reading it.

“Would you like coffee or tea, Freya?” Sadie asked while getting some mugs out of the cupboard.

“Coffee please,” I replied politely.

“Milk, two sugars, right?”

I nodded my head in agreement. She smiled and began making the coffee.

“Please help yourself, don't be shy,” Charlie said while pointing to all the food on the table.

“Thank you.”

I took two pancakes and placed them on my plate, then loaded them up with fruit and drizzled honey all over the top. I cut a piece of my pancake and I knew it was probably too big, but I didn't care, I was starving. I opened my mouth and shoved that beast in. It was difficult, but I managed to squeeze it all in.

“How're the pancakes?” Charlie asked while staring right at me, with excited anticipation of my answer. My eyes grew wide, and my stretched-out cheeks blushed. I tried my best to chew the huge amount of food that I'd just shoved into my mouth, without having it fall out all over the place. I must have looked like a chubby little hamster with its food pouches filled to the brim. “They’re the best right?” He asked with an exaggerated nod of his head.

“Um-hm,” I managed to mumble between chews.

I threw in an enthusiastic head nod to emphasize how good they were. I was so embarrassed. I must have looked like a right hot mess. But I couldn't help it, because he was right, those were the best damn pancakes I had ever tasted. I finally managed to chew my food down enough to swallow it, just as Sadie placed my coffee onto the table.

“Thank you, Sadie. Um, so where's Mason?” I asked her as she sat down at the table. I began to cut another piece of pancake, while Sadie looked at Charlie with a worried expression. He instantly put down his paper and emulated the same worried look. “What is it? Has something happened?” I asked in a panic while dropping my knife and fork onto the table.

Sadie stood up from the table and walked over to the kitchen, opened up one of the kitchen drawers and pulled out a note.

“He's gone, Freya. Coward just left a note,” Mina snarled inside my head.

I didn't have the patience for her judgmental attitude, so I pushed her out of my mind again, and focused on Sadie. I watched her as she strode back from the kitchen and sat down at the table. I could tell that she didn't want to let me down or upset me, by the sad look on her face and the way she clutched the note to her chest.

“Please don't be mad at him. He really does love you more than he's ever loved anyone. He just wants to sort some stuff out at home without you worrying. You know, after what you've been through…” She trailed off as she realized I was holding my hand out for the note. I guessed that the look on my face was angrier than I had intended it to be, because she quickly handed me the note then said, “Charlie and I are going away for the weekend, so we need to be leaving soon…” I stayed quiet and continued to look at the note and concentrated on my breathing. I was trying my hardest to stop myself from ascending or shifting, my anger was building and building fast. I couldn't believe that Mason had just left me here without saying a damn word. “Unless you want us to stay, of course? We can always cancel and keep you company,” Sadie said softly as she slid her hand across the table and placed it on my arm.

I continued to concentrate on my breathing, I didn't mean to be rude, but I really couldn't speak at that point. If I did start talking, I don't think I could have controlled myself any longer. I managed to shake my head letting her know that I didn't want her to cancel her trip. Luckily that was enough, and she tapped my arm gently.

“Well, in that case, I want you to make yourself at home. There is more than enough food, so please help yourself. Mason left you some money on the coffee table in the living room, he thought you might want to go shopping for some new clothes or something…Um, and our numbers on the fridge. I'm so sorry we have to rush off but…” She was quickly cut off by Charlie who had gone to fetch their bags from the living room.

“Sadie, you're rambling again. Stop fussing woman. I'm sure if Freya needs anything she will call us, won't you?” He asked me.

I still hadn't taken my eyes off of Mason's note or spoken a word, I just nodded my head as I stared at the paper. Sadie went to say something else, but Charlie called her name softly and she began to leave. Suddenly I felt her arms embrace me.

“I am so happy that Mason has finally found you, please don't hold this against him, he can't help it. Sometimes he's thoughtless like his father. But I know he loves you with all his heart. Do you know that you're the only girl he's ever brought home?” She said sweetly.

And with that said she kissed me on my cheek, then they both left to go on their trip. Leaving me all alone in an empty house, with Mason's note clutched in my hands and a rage so strong that I could no longer keep it contained.