My head was throbbing severely. It felt as if someone had taken a bat to it repeatedly.
"LUCY," Scar's ridiculously loud yell echoed inside my head and I winced in horrid pain.
"What?" I mumbled very softly.
"Oh my god, you're awake. Are you okay?" She asked, her panic obvious.
"What happened?" I asked, opening my eyes to find myself looking up at the white ceiling in the kitchen. For a moment stars danced in my vision and I had to blink a few times to make them disappear.
"I don't know. I heard you scream bloody murder and by the time I got here, you were out cold," Scar replied, helping me sit up.
It was then that I remembered why I had screamed. Forgetting the pain in my head, I quickly stood up. I don't know what possessed me but I was on a mission.
"Lucy?" Scar questioned as I raced to the door.
I ignored her and continued to open it. Mason stood on the other side. He had a look of confusion on his face as he held his arm up in a knocking position. Paying no attention to him, I rushed by and raced around the house. I had no idea where I was going and I could hear Scar calling my name but nothing could stop me. I saw him. It wasn't a dream, I saw him in the flesh. I knew he was there and he was in front of me. He was alive. I needed to find him.
"Lucille," Scar cries were farther but I didn't stop or reply.
My feet snapped the twigs and leaves as I raced through the woods. I was looking straight ahead but the body appeared so fast and out of nowhere, there was no possible way I could've stopped myself in time. In the time it took me to blink, I was running through empty space and then I was running into a hard chest. I cried out in pain as my sore head bounced against the hard surface. I would've fallen back if two strong arms weren't wrapped around my body, supporting me.
"Why'd you stop me?" I asked Mason.
"You were running to nothing," He replied back, looking guilty.
"How do you know? I saw him. I need know where he's going," I told him, only just realizing I was out of breath.
"There's nothing out here," Mason said, taking my face in his hands.
"How do you know?" I asked, trying to calm my racing heart.
"I just do," He said.
"But- but I," I stuttered as wet tears formed in my eyes.
"Come on," He said, lifting me up into his muscular arms. I laid my head against his chest, feeling immensely better. But thoughts were racing inside my head. I saw Austin. He was alive. I knew he was real. I knew I wasn't dreaming. So AJ wasn't lying. As I was in my own little world, I was suddenly knocked out of Mason's arms and to the ground. I immediately became aware of Mason's protective stance in front of me. I leaned over, frowning when I saw three unfamiliar men standing on front of us.
"What do you think you're doing?" Mason spat.
"Is that your mate Mason?" One of the men asked, grinning widely.
"You have five seconds to leave," Mason growled roughly.
"I think it's you who should be taking your own advice," Another guy stated just before falling to the ground. My eyes grew wide as saucers as I watched the three men transform into three large wolves all with dark mangy hair and cold empty eyes. Oh my god.
"Mason," My voice trembled in pure terror. For a moment everything stopped as he turned as locked his eyes onto me. He seemed to want to tell me something and he had a look on his face I couldn't figure out but I didn't have a chance before he turned around. I watched in confusion, shock, and terror as he began removing his clothes. Just as he got down to his underwear, he kneeled down. I heard cracking and growling sounds as his body began to shift and twist in all directions. Long dark hair began to grow from his body and soon enough he was standing on four legs with a long snout and pointy ears. Without looking back at me, he lunged in attack at the other wolves.
My mind was still processing what had just happened. Three men had just turned into large, angry wolves. Mason had just turned into a wolf. Not just any wolf, the midnight black one that was always in the vicinity. Collins voice rang in my head, "Can you feel him? He's here", "Since you chased me off last night." Mason had been the one chasing Collin the other night. And the other wolves that were with him that night were they his friends?
I was hyperventilating as my mind was making sense of the situation but I couldn't pass out. Oh how I wanted to but my body refused as I remained locked in place. Mason was fighting all three wolves but I couldn't tell who was winning. In one quick second Mason or his wolf's eyes turned their dark gaze on me but instead of the warm tingly sensations I was used to feeling, coldness ran through my body. I didn't know what would happen to Mason but I knew I had to leave. Standing up on wobbly knees, I began to walk back with my eyes still trained on the fight ahead. Mason had turned back around and none of the other wolves were watching me so I turned and took off. I had never run so hard and so fast in my entire life. I knew exactly where I was and in no time I saw the house in the distance. I sighed in relief as soon as I opened the front door and collapsed on the floor.
"What's wrong now?" Scar asked, exasperated.
"I-I-I-he... were-wolf," I stuttered, lost in words.
"Lucy," Scar immediately knew something wasn't right. She kneeled in front of me and as soon as she looked into my eyes, I was done. Hot, wet tears poured down my face and I couldn't stop them. My breathing was labored and I was balling. I was thankful Scar didn't say anything but lean forward to wrap her arms around me. I didn't know why I was crying. The door opened and a shirtless Mason came through. My eyes were blurred but I could see the fear on his face.
"Lucy, please don't-" He started but I interrupted him.
"Get away- fr-from me," I cried out, scooting out of Scar's arm and away from him.
"Lucy please," Mason pleaded desperately.
"No-no I don-don't want t-to hear it-it. I don't care. I w-want y-you gone. I n-never want to see you," I spluttered over my raging tears and pain.
"Please," Mason pleaded again.
"GO," I screamed, having had enough. I turned around and ran upstairs to my room. Just as I shut the door, it opened again. Mason stood in the doorway.
"Lucy, listen. I wanted to tell you, I just didn't know how to tell you without... this happening," he explained.
"I don't care," I replied, pressing my back against my window.
"Don't say that please. There's so much you don't understand," Mason said, advancing.
"It won't change anything. You're a werewolf. You kill people," I spat.
"I've never killed in my entire life. Never. And I would never hurt you. I can't change who I am, what I am," Mason told me. "Please don't shut me out."
"I can't do this," I whispered, biting my lip to keep the tears from coming.
"I need you," He pleaded, kneeling in front of me.
"Don't do this," I cried out, "I can't need you. I can't. I want you to leave me alone."
"That's what you truly want?" He asked me softly, keeping his hands fisted. I looked into his eyes but I couldn't stop myself. I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth but even after the word "yes" escaped my mouth and I saw the look of pure defeat that came over his face, I couldn't bring myself to take it back. As I watched him stand up and walk away without even a glance back, I felt like my heart breaking.
