Chapter 6

Mason opened the back door and held it for me as I slipped into the car. He slipped in right after but it gave me time to take in our surroundings.

The car was bigger on the inside and had a barrier to separate the front seat and the back seat. Mason slid right up next to me, before he even shut the door Misa started driving. He cussed and pulled the door closed as she lurched forward and sped through the woods. I clutched the seat tightly.

"Are we gonna survive this?"

"She won't kill us but she might destroy my favorite car."

"Your favorite car?" I asked with a grin and raised eyebrows.

"Don't look at me like that. This car has privacy, it's fast and has a lot of space."

"No no, I get it I swear."

"No you don't! I can hear the laugh in your voice."

He practically whined as he said it which made my smile even harder to hide. I took one look at his embarrassed face and busted out laughing. To my surprise he laughed too. I almost missed it when he reached forward. I didn't flinch away because of how light the moment seemed. He cupped my face in his hand and placed on hand on my thigh.

"Don't laugh at me little mate," he said with a grin.

He looked so normal and happy. His hair was messy and hanging in his face and he was grinning so purely that I could hardly breathe. We paused, our breaths mingling. He leaned back and away from me but didn't remove his hand from my thigh as we continued to talk.

It was a stupid and pointless conversation but I guess that was what was great about it. I was so lost in the conversation I didn't notice that we came to a stop. The car door next to me busted open, making me jump.

"Are you two getting our or what? You've been in here so long I figured you two decided to please the moon goddess by giving her more pups-"

An object went flying past my head from behind me and flew straight into Misa's face. She recoiled and began laughing hysterically. I knew my face was bright red and I was already embarrassed enough so I grabbed Misa's hand and jumped out of the car. It was pitch black outside and the pack was asleep so it was quiet on the way through the pack house.

I stopped next to the room I was put in earlier but I could still smell Mason and Ophelia's scents mixed in there. I turned desperately to Misa who was already looking angry.

"Come Amora, you can stay in my room until they finish preparing your room."

"your room?" I asked as I left Mason at the door and linked arms with Misa.

I glanced back at him once as he opened the door and walked in. From the scent of the room alone I knew she was still in there. Probably asleep from all they did. I cringed and continued down the hall, half expecting to feel the uncomfortable heat. It never came.

Misa's room was in the center of the pack house. Unlike the regular wolves who stayed in the village the alpha, beta, new members and other important members of the pack stayed in the pack house and Misa, the beta of the pack, and Mason all stayed in the center.

Misa entered her room first and the smell of her and another wolf who I assumed was her mate hit me. I sniffed the air and she looked back and smiled.

"My mate is in another room for the night. He has work to do and will be up late so he won't be here tonight so I can sleep."

I nodded and smiled. It was just a strong smell of them being together. Most wolves mated smell grew stronger the more they loved each other. I savored that smell as we laid down in her bed. I had never once let myself believe I would ever get that. And now I didn't know what I believed. He had slept with another female, but that was after I told him I didn't want him. And now I didn't know. I had felt different in the car. He wasn't the cold alpha I knew. He was kind. He listened and he spoke to me. He didn't push me to speak or do anything I didn't want to do and even now that I was laying in bed, I didn't feel that uncomfortable heat, just a nice warmth.

Misa soon began softly snoring. I on the other hand couldn't sleep. I was exhausted and needed rest but I just wouldn't fall asleep. I tossed and turned and listened to Misa's soft snores but nothing worked. I started getting hot again. It wasn't the same heat from before but I was overheating quickly.

I sat up suddenly and stepped out of the bed. I was sweating and breathing hard. The harder I tried to sleep the hotter I got, Mason had to be sleeping with another wolf. I needed air again and the cool night to sooth me. I stepped out of the room quickly. I wasn't quiet when I closed the door because from what I had seen, Misa was a hard sleeper. I barely made it a step before someone from a room over busted out of their room and grabbed my arm.

"Luna?"

I turned and immediately caught the smell of Misa's mate.

"Are you okay? What are you doing in Misa's room?" He asked quickly, dropping his hand from my arm.

"I was staying with her for the night until my room was ready. I can't sleep though I need to go- Why are you here?"

"My apologies Luna! I'm Emerson the beta of the pack and Misa's mate."

"Way to bury the lead Misa." I muttered under my breath.

His smile was pure and happy when I said her name.

"Again I'm sorry Luna. Are you okay?"

"Yes I'm just a bit hot. I think I need to go outside for a minute."

His head cocked in confusion but he still smiled.

"You don't know whats happening?"

"I think Masons with another female."

"I'm sorry you know what that feels like at all. Mason is an idiot sometimes."

"It's fine really. I'm gonna go okay?"

"Alright good night Luna, be safe."

With that said he retreated back into his room.

I sighed and walked past it, dragging my hand along the wall. I wasn't walking the way to the woods but instead a way I hadn't been before. I didn't know why but I found myself next to a kitchen and was oddly cooler than before. I let my wolf lead me through the pack house as long as I had relief from the feverish heat.

I finally stumbled into the kitchen and steadied myself on the wall. I heard noises from inside the kitchen so I followed them. I didn't want to run into anyone and have to explain why I looked like I had a fever but I needed someone to help me and I knew the heat lessened the further into the kitchen I got.

I stumbled into another section of the kitchen and noticed the sink first. I needed water badly. Then I noticed another person getting water and putting it into two different cups. My vision trailed up the arm and to Masons face.

He was there and he wasn't sleeping with another female. So why was I so hot? He looked tired and was feverish too. His hand pressed against the counter as the other lifted a cup to his mouth. He chugged the water and set it down.

I stepped back but his eyes flew to me before I could retreat. Somehow the fact the heat wasn't from Ophelia calmed me down a bit. He reached out the second cup of water to me. I stepped forward and took it. I drank it quickly and looked back at him.

"Whats going on?" I asked, looking at his disheveled figure.

"I'm getting sick and it's affecting you."

"How did you get this sick this quickly?" I asked taking a step towards him. I reached up and touched his forehead which was burning up, he leaned into the touch, I knew it wasn't his choice, it was the mate bond demanding more connection between us.

"It cause of me sleeping with Ophelia, the mate bond is making me sick because of it," he gritted out. "It was stupid. I'm sorry for causing this."

I dropped my hand and filled up another cup with water.

"Where is your room?"

He pointed down the hall. I grabbed his wrist and lead him down the hall and used my sense of smell to figure out which room was his. He just followed after me as we walked. I finally stopped at a room that smelled strongly of him and only him. I swung open the door and lead him in. The room was huge. I ignored everything else and led him to the bed. I pushed him down on it and placed the water next to him on his desk.

He didn't object as I tugged at his shirt. I pulled it off easily and threw it to the floor. I pushed him to lay down and got up. I didn't know how to do much but I could take care of a sick or hurt person easily.

I walked into his bathroom and grabbed a rag. I wet it and walked back out. The heat on me eased as I placed it on his head. He groaned and leaned back into the pillow.

"Relax. It's fine."

I ran my fingers through his hair to sooth him and spoke softly to him. His eyes became visibly heavy and I knew he was going to drift off soon. I stood up off the bed and stroke his hair a last time before stepping back. Before I could make it a few steps away he grabbed my wrist.

"Please stay until I sleep...I know it's my fault and I messed up but it hurts."

I nodded and walked around the bed so I had more space. I sat down next to him and pulled his head into my lap. I continued to play with his hair as he calmed back down.

"Thank you Amora," he whispered.

I didn't respond until I knew he was fully asleep.

"I just did what I've always wanted someone to do for me everytime I got an infection from one of my wounds," I paused and looked down at his sleeping face. It was so soft and kind compared to his cold demeanor around other people. "I want this to work Mason. I want to see the good in you. I want you to prove to me that your not cruel and you actually want me. I want to have a mate. I want to go slow and not rush into things, to know you and not just want you. Please let us have that real love between mates I've come to know. I forgive you for Ophelia if you forgive me for the things I said."

I leaned back against the head board behind me and continued to play with his hair. I didn't expect a reply. He was asleep after all. Or so I thought.

"Is that really what you want little mate?"

I froze. He looked up at me. I placed my hand on his cheek. His look didn't waver. His hand came up to grab the wrist of my hand on his face.

"I know you thought I was asleep. Please be honest with me. I don't want to force you to be with me but I don't know what you want. I need you to tell me."

I brushed a loose strand of hair away from his face and nodded.

"Everyone says you are so cruel and evil. But nothing you have shown me has been cruel of evil. You've treated me better than anyone in my life has including my family in the short time we've been together."

He shifted to look back ahead.

"No, I have been cruel. I slept with Ophelia. She hurt you and I slept with her. I was angry and I did something unforgivable."

"You didn't know she hurt me. Misa told me you didn't see the bruises."

"I shouldn't have done it regardless. I didn't know for sure if it would affect you and I did it anyway. I was prepared to deal with the consequences, I didn't want to drag you into it though."

"As I said, I'll forgive you for Ophelia if you forgive me for what I said and just...try. I don't believe your the cruel alpha for no reason. I keep hearing you and Misa speak about lies. Just explain it to me. And give me time to know you and not just the mate bond that holds us together."

I didn't wait for a response because I didn't need one and he knew it. I leaned back and continued to stroke his hair. Sparks ignited on my hands for a long while as I waited for him to sleep. In the end when he finally fell asleep I didn't want to risk waking him so I didn't move. I knew I would fall asleep too but in that moment it didn't matter. I drifted off while his head was still on my lap and that's how I woke up.