The Mystic Wolves

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

I stretched out to touch him, my fingers tingling from the energy pulsating off his skin. I caressed him and cooed softly, trying to help him find his balance.

He fought a little against my attempts, but gradually, we were able to calm the savageness of his beast to the point where he was completely human. He stood there, angry and defeated, his head hung low with his fists clenching slightly. He was still on edge, but nowhere near as volatile. Had he decided to leave earlier, I shuddered to think the damage he would've done to anyone foolish enough to get in his way.

I stooped a little to catch his gaze, sweeping the strands of his hair away from his eyes. This man was just so magnificent, and I wanted nothing more than to take this from him. It was only now, as we stood in silence, I realized the full weight of his responsibilities as Alpha, and what astonishing strength it took him to maintain his calm façade. It also made me wonder just how much he hid from the world—or even me.

"Talk to me, Mason. Please." I took him by the hand and lifted it to my heart. "Let me in." I stared in amazement as a solitary tear streaked down his cheek. His eyes were rapidly filling, and I watched as he fought to clamp down hard on his emotions and push out a stoic expression.

"Don't you dare try to hide yourself from me. Talk to me. Yell, rage and cry. Anything but shut me out!" I released his hand and placed my own on his chest. I could feel the violent pounding of his heart and the deep sobs that were churning inside. He was ready to explode and with what we were about to face, I knew he couldn't afford to lose this battle.

Had I not been standing so close, I would've missed his whispered reply. "I'm a failure."

The sound of despair and anguish was soul crushing and sent my mind reeling.

"What?" The idea was so beyond my understanding. Here stood the most courageous man I'd ever been blessed to know. He was so selfless, putting everyone's needs before his own, making himself available to help anyone who needed him. I'd seen a few Alphas up close during my life and none of them came close to the kind of integrity and honor Mason showed. He went far beyond, seeing his role as more than just a job, but a calling. He was fair, honest, and loyal to a fault. You couldn't look at him and doubt he gave everything. How he thought he was a failure stumped me.

"I thought you accepted there was nothing more you could've done, that the true villain was Gary. Or was it just a line to calm me?" I asked, not caring that I was throwing his words back at him.

Mason drew in a deep breath, as if trying to pull his thoughts from the air. "I'm just waiting for my heart to catch up, Darcy. That's all."

"Then we'll talk about it. Tell me what's happening here." I gently tapped his chest again. "And don't say 'nothing' because this doesn't feel like everything is fine."

More tears began to stream down his cheeks, and he raised his fist to rub them away. "No, we need to get back and take care of business." He put steel into his voice and went to move me, but I refused to budge.

"Oh no, you don't. You wanted to talk so we're not going anywhere until I know you're okay." I added a stern edge to my voice. "Don't make me order you."

He snorted loudly at that. "With what authority, Darcy? Last time I checked, I was the Alpha here."

"The if-you-don't-talk-you'll-spend-an-eternity-sleeping-on-the-couch kind of authority, Your Royal Grouchy Pants." I slapped his bare chest for emphasis. "Don't be a jerk, you know what I mean."

That earned me a small soft smile and it warmed me. "I can't afford to go into this right now. We'll deal with it later." He moved again to pull me toward the house.