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He had been certain that he’d look up and see a bunch of horrified faces staring back at him, but that wasn’t the case. Most looked sad.
“Anyway, when the alpha found out about what I had done, entering people’s dreams like I had … Well, let’s just say the punishment was swift and severe. I was beaten and shunned by my family, by the pack.”
“How awful,” someone said as a few gasps sounded in the crowd.
“What does this have to do with our husbands?” Dorothy asked.
“I got a text today from my old pack. A threatening text. I think they are behind this rash of disappearances,” Mason explained.
“But why now? Why are they threatening you after all these years?” one of the missing worker’s wives asked.
“I honestly couldn’t figure it out when I first got the text. But now that I’ve had some time to think about it, I’m almost positive it’s because I’ve found my mate, and they want to make sure that I don’t pass on mygift,” he said. “They are attacking my pack and me, hoping that I’ll abandon my mate and run.” It was the only conclusion he could come up with. Why else would they choose now to come after him? To try to destroy his life?
“And are you going to run, or are you going to stay and fight? Choosing your pack and mate?” Dorothy asked.
Mason’s heart thumped so hard in his chest that it sounded like someone beating on a drum. He felt his wolf surge forward, his eyes glowing. His beast wanted control. He wanted to reassure his pack that he would not run. Mason fought the urge to shift, but it was getting harder with each passing second.
“I’m done running,” he growled and gave up the fight with his wolf. He allowed his animal to surge forward and assume control of their body and mind. His pack needed their alpha, and he would not deny them in their time of need.
TWENTY
“Ishould have figured this out sooner. I feel like such a damn fool.” Jane buried her head in her hands, wanting to avoid eye contact with Gerri.
“Honey, don’t feel that way. I’m sure Mason thought he was being cute. And really, it was very sweet of him. He wasn’t doing it to be mean or to try to trick you. Most shifters aren’t like that. From what I understand, you kept turning him down, and he wanted to find a way to be near you. He was drawn to you by the mating connection,” Gerri explained.
“I don’t even know what that means.” She let out a weak laugh. She didn’t know if she should be hurt, flattered, or pissed beyond belief that Mason had shown up in his wolf form at her house to sucker her into letting him in.
“It means that shifters are different from humans when it comes to dating and romance. What you may think of as creepy stalker behavior from a normal man that’s the way it works in our world. Once a shifter finds his mate, his life is no longer his own.
“As Mason has written on this card, his heart beats for you. That is the absolute truth and the simplest explanation as to what you mean to him. He lives his life now for you and only you. You are his life, his future. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do to show you how much he loves you. To protect and keep you safe from those who would use you to harm him.”
“But he tricked me into feeling for this poor lost dog.” Jane tried to wrap her head around the whole situation. “Wait a minute! Did you set me up?” Jane gasped.
“I … I,” Gerri stammered.
“You did! Even after I asked you to leave me out of your dating agency.” Now she was pissed. She had specifically asked Gerri to stay out of her romance and dating life, or lack thereof. Gerri had been her friend for as long as she could remember, and she had never once shown her disrespect by ignoring her wishes.
“It’s not like that. I didn’t go out and actively look for someone for you. Mason had heard about my services and showed up on my doorstep as a client.”
“So you sent him knocking on my door? Nice!” Jane tried and failed to keep the anger out of her voice. She was seething at her friend.
“No.”
“How did you even know that I’m his supposed mate?” Jane asked.
“I just know these things. I can’t explain it,” Gerri said.
“That doesn’t make it true,” Jane shouted.
“Honey, whether you like it or not, it is the truth. I have never lied to you and wouldn’t start now. You know that. You know me. How long have we been friends?” Gerri asked, placing a comforting hand on Jane’s shoulder.
Jane shrugged it off. “I’m beginning to think we’ve been friends too long. I think you should go.”
“Jane …” Gerri pleaded with her.
“Just go. I need to think about all of this.”
Jane watched as Gerri grabbed her coffee and her purse and turned to leave. She was so damn mad that smoke could’ve come out of her ears. How could Gerri have done that to her? Gerri had known she didn’t want to date anyone. That she wasn’t looking for any sort of a relationship. Yet, one of her best friends had set her up.
