Midnight River Shorts

Joshua and Mason

Joshua's POV

Bodies everywhere. All I can smell is blood. I tear into the Wolves attacking me. We're going to lose. I know this. But I have to fight if I want to live.

I lock eyes with a Wolf from my Pack I hadn't seen before. Mate. Oh, my Goddess, out of all the places to find my Mate, it's on a battlefield?

I watch in horror as a Wolf from Midnight River sinks its teeth into his neck and twists, killing him. Though we hadn't even gotten the chance to Bond, I felt it. The searing hot pain in my chest. I stumble forward.

No... No... NO! Elliot growls. My Wolf howls. We lost our Mate, right after finding him.

Elliot leaves me to shift alone, and I scream loudly, startling the Wolf I was fighting. My knees buckle, and he catches me. I look at his face, seeing his kind eyes, feeling his hand stroke through my hair. He says something, but I can't hear it.

"He's dead." I whisper. "He's dead."

He just looked at me sadly. His hand continued stroking my hair.

"Kill me." I beg him. "Please, just kill me."

He shakes his head sadly.

"Please!" I cry. "Please! I just found him and he's dead! Kill me!"

He shakes his head one more time, and that's all I see before the darkness comes.

Mason's POV

The Wolf I'm fighting from the Northern Mountain Pack suddenly stumbles forward. Shit. I know what this is. I shift immediately, ready to catch him.

He shifts into his human form, screaming, and collapses into my arms.

"Hey." I say quietly. "Hey, it's okay." I run my fingers through his hair, trying to soothe him. I gently take us down to the ground.

"He's dead." He whispers. "He's dead."

I look at this man sadly. I just continue to stroke his hair.

"Kill me." He begs me. "Please, just kill me."

I shake my head sadly.

"Please!" He cries. "Please! I just found him and he's dead! Kill me!"

He passes out in my arms. I stand, holding this poor man to my chest.

"Leave the dead, Mase." Jay growls as he passes me, two Wolves trailing behind him. I recognize them as Steven and Thomas. They had come early, to try and scout for us before we attacked.

"He's not dead." I snap. "His Mate just died."

"Oh." Jay looks at me surprised. "Then let's take him back."

We get back to the Pack and the man is put in the cells. He's still unconscious, so I don't know who he is. I take my shower and get to work.

"Mason! Jay!" Dad barks. "Go get the visitor in room 1A. His time's up."

"Yes, sir!" We bow our heads in respect and make our way to the room.

When the door opens the scent that wafts out stills me. I see the man from the battlefield sitting there with Parker and Dennis.

"MATE." He breathes.

"MATE." I gasp. I stumble forward and the man stands to catch me. "How... How is this possible?" I stammer.

"I don't know. And frankly, I don't care." He mutters before crashing his lips onto mine. The kiss is hungry and desperate. "I don't care how it's possible, just that it is. And I won't ever let my Mate be taken away from me again." He's looking sweetly into my eyes. "I couldn't bear it." His lower lip trembles, as does mine.

"I couldn't either." I whisper. "My name is Mason, by the way."

"I'm Joshua." He chuckles, running his fingers through my hair. "Parker is my little brother."

Our Mate is so handsome. My Wolf, Starr, purrs.

Yeah. I reply, grinning at my Mate.

"It's nice to meet you, Joshua." I smile at him.

"It's nice to meet you, Mason." He grins, before kissing me again.

You've got forty five minutes, Mase. Then he has to go back. Dennis links me.

Thank you, Beta. I reply respectfully.

"Dennis said we have forty five minutes before they take you back." I frown, then look up at him. "But I work in this block, so I can see you everyday until they free you."

"You think I'll be freed?" He looks at me shocked.

"Duh." I laugh. "You're my Mate. Midnight River isn't ruthless."

His tears run down his face again.

"Don't cry, Baby. Please." I whisper, wiping his tears away.

"I'm just happy." He kisses me sweetly again. "I thought I'd waste away after a few days. But..." He inhales deeply. "I found my Second Chance Mate... And you save me. Twice."

"I did, didn't I?" I chuckle.

"You absolutely did." He laughs, then kisses me again. "I'd do anything for you, Mason."

"I'd do anything for you, Josh." I grin and kiss him deeply.

The Moon Goddess has gifted me a Second Chance Mate. And I will protect him with my life.