“Are you talking about the one I fought tonight?” Mason tilted his head as he processed my words.
“Yeah.” I didn’t turn my gaze on him. Rather, I kept my eyes on her. “I’m assuming you’ve got something to do with that.”
“What? That shouldn’t be possible.” She placed her hand on her chest where her heart beat. “I’ve been diluting your blood and everything.”
Mason growled as he crossed his arms.
“Obviously not enough.” That had to be why that vampire at work had been stalking me. “Between him and the vampire that keeps visiting my work, I’d say more than one has already figured it out.”
“Only a very strong alpha’s blood would allow a vampire to distinguish the scent of the blood the way the we’ve been using it.” She pursed her lips and tapped her foot. “Which is impossible in your case seeing as you’ve never shifted.”
A quick intake of breath told me that Mason was piecing it all together. “It doesn’t matter if it should be possible or not.” He pushed off the counter and moved to stand beside me. “The fact is they are.”
“You do realize he’s going to cause you to have more of a struggle, right?” Rose arched her eyebrow so high it hid under her bangs. “First off, he has a strong wolf; and second, your two wolves are mates. Your wolf is going to want to come out.”
“Do you not think I realize that?” I had been desperate to get here. “The bond is forcing itself on us.”
“Have you two been fighting it?” Rose’s eyes landed on Mason. “I’m a little jealous that he’s yours.”
“Focus on those last two words you just said, and stop fucking with us.” He wrapped his arm around me. “You better stop using her blood. If something happens to her, there’s no telling what could happen to you.”
This wasn’t good. Why was he protecting me? He should be disgusted and not want to be near me. I needed him to realize the truth and walk away because I didn’t have the strength to fight it any longer. I was too weak and tired.
“Are you really threatening me right now?” Rose closed her eyes and shook her head. “After I just helped her.”
“I’m not sure that you are helping her if she has vampires hunting her down.” Mason’s fingers dug into my hip a little.
“And I just gave you more blood.” Mona and Kassie had been right. I should’ve never trusted the hag. Maybe the price was too high. “What are you going to do with it now that you know?”
“We still need it.” She huffed and straightened her shoulders. “Those vampires are attacking our covens.”
“What for?” I deserved to know now.
“That is official coven business and not something that I can openly discuss with you.” She huffed and tapped her foot on the ground. “But you’ve saved so many lives.”
“That’s great to know.” At this point, why did it matter whether she used my blood again? They were already targeting me. “All right, we’ve gotta get back before people start worrying about us.”
“I’m more than ready.” There was an edge to Mason’s tone.
He was pissed, and I understood.
“You have my number if you need me.” She grinned and motioned toward the door. “I’ll lock up after you.”
Mason took my hand and almost ran to the door. Granted, he had a good five inches on my five-foot-ten-inch self.
Once we took a step outside, I had expected him to drop my hand, but he didn’t. However, we walked in silence straight to his car. He opened the door for me and shut it, climbing inside the car within seconds.
I’d expected a ton of questions, but he remained silent as he drove, heading to God-knew-where. I wanted to ask where, but I was afraid to be the one to speak first. Not that I was scared of him, but I was, instead, terrified of his reaction.
We pulled into a section of town I’d never been to. We turned on a gravel road, and he continued on until we reached a small lake.
He stopped his car and got out.
Needing to figure out his thoughts, I opened the door and climbed out before he could reach my side.
He must have heard because he headed the five feet to the lake.
I followed behind him and stopped a few inches shy of him. I needed him to be the one who broke the silence.
A breeze picked up, blowing a few pieces of hair behind my shoulders. There was a little bit of a chill in the air now that we were getting to the end of September.
“It’s strange.” He kept his head facing forward, staring off at the lake. “I’m not sure whether I should feel pissed, relieved, or indifferent.”
“Indifferent?” That concerned me most of all, but it was what I needed. If he didn’t care, he would leave.
“Yeah, because it doesn’t matter.” He huffed and turned around to face me. “You’re it for me. There’s no turning back, and now I know you feel it too.”
“I do.” I bit my bottom lip and ran my hand through my hair. He wasn’t doing what I expected him too. He planned to stay, and I wasn’t sure that I could fight it any longer. Still, he had to know the truth. What he was getting himself into if he wasn’t the one to walk away. It was his call. “I was trying to end things with you before we kissed. There’s so much you don’t know.”
“At least it makes sense now. I thought I was going crazy. A wolf mating with a human is impossible. Now, I learn that you’re a wolf shifter who’s suppressing her own damn wolf with the help of a witch?” A humorless laugh barked out of him. “Damn, that sounds crazier out loud than it did in my head.”
“It does.” I blew out my breath. “There are things about me that you don’t know.”
“Then let me in.” He ran his
