Darkness Unleashed (28 page)

Left to their own devices, the humans in that house hadn’t stood a chance. We were the devil they didn’t know existed, the nightmares that walked among them.

Not all of us, but there were some who were. It was people like Mason, who took upon themselves the sins of the few and felt responsible for their actions.

As I pushed him backward onto the bed and quickly stripped my own clothes off, it was up to me to make sure that guilt didn’t crush him. Sex served many purposes. Straddling his hips, my hair falling around my shoulders, I peered down at him and Mason’s eyes softened. Darkness faded away as I began to move, setting a steady pace, his expression lost the jagged edges of burden.

He became less Alpha and more man.

His fingers gripped my hips, guiding me, helping me as pleasure took over. There was no more outside, only the safe haven we’d created within the confines of these four walls. Tension ebbed from his features, the hard lines around his mouth easing as his lips gave into the smile I cherished.

There would always be time for love—for those necessary moments that reminded us why we fought so hard.

“
Sweetheart,” he whispered, his voice cracking as he held my gaze. One word and it was as if an electrical current pulsed through me, opening up my senses and setting them on fire. Resting my hands over his chest, his heart beat wildly beneath my touch, matching my own.

It was tempting to fall forward, to taste his skin before capturing his mouth for a kiss that would guarantee the hastening of both our releases. Everything about him was like a drug—every stroke, every look, every inch of him addicting. But I didn’t alter from the course. We were both so close. Not just to the approaching sensation that would shatter me from the inside out, but to completely obliterating the remains of earlier.

Death was easier to process when you were drowning in the bliss of living.

I wasn’t sure who reached it first. It didn’t matter. All that was important was he’d needed something, needed me, and I’d willingly given it all. No holding back as he took over the tempo and drove us over the cliff together. He didn’t stop once the wave struck, either. As if he was beating back the demons tormenting him, he increased the intensity—our bodies colliding in a frenzy of complete surrender.

It took a while before either of us could think, let alone talk—Mason’s thoughts just as scrambled as mine through our connection. Still holding me in his arms, he rolled me to the side, stroking his fingers over my back, lightly. When his low chuckle filled the air, I knew he’d be okay.

“
I love you,” I murmured; content to lie this way forever.

“
Thank you,” he replied, sounding much more like himself than when he’d returned.

“
I think it was a team effort,” I laughed, snuggling a little closer.

“
That was all you.” Kissing the side of my head, Mason’s hand rose higher so his fingers could brush through my hair. “You always seem to know what I need.”

“
Love does that. I’m always going to want to be there for you, whenever and however you need me,” I answered.

“
Have I told you how grateful I am to have you as my mate? That you didn’t slam the door that day?” It never stopped being a source of amazement that we’d met because of a blind date my mother had set up. That wasn’t what the incredible part was, however. It was the fact we’d both had the exact same dream of the other the night before. Opening the door and seeing him standing there, it had been like Fate had stepped forward and declared us soul mates. We’d later found out Fate actually
had
intervened, Klothos to be exact, and despite facing the Heart and Death, we’d proven, without a doubt, we were meant to be mates.

No one could dispute it.

It was an absolute truth, something that no matter what the future brought, we could always draw strength from.

“
You have, but I never get tired of hearing it,” I teased back, enjoying the ease in his voice.

“
I love you, Darcy O’Connor. And I beg you to remember that over the next few days.”

It hadn’t taken long for the world to creep back in. “Is the Summit going to be that bad?”

“
Honestly? I don’t know. I’d hope that because of the topic we’ll be discussing, this would be a short meeting. We all know there’s danger looming, so it’s simply a matter of coming up with a plan of attack.”

“
But nothing’s ever simple, is it?” I asked, already suspecting the answer.

“
Where a group of powerful werewolves come together? No. I just need to believe they can place their ego aside long enough to not get into some pissing match. The last thing we need is to be reduced to fighting amongst ourselves.”

“
And that might happen?”

Mason let out a drawn out sigh and shrugged. “There’s always that possibility. For the most part, we’re at peace. I don’t know of any hostile feelings against anyone, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t start. Emotions are high and each Alpha will be acting in the best interest of his Pack. Some of them are already hotheaded. It’ll be our task to keep everyone calm so we can agree on a united front and return to our properties.”

“
You don’t think they’ll be upset that we’re holding the meeting here?” It was important for me to know what to expect, now that I was his mate. It wasn’t enough to just sit at the sidelines.

“
In the past, we would arrange it so it was at a neutral location and spread it around the country so each Alpha had a chance to host. But with the speed in which we need to come to a decision, there was no time. We can protect everyone better if they’re here at the house. With an increase of Enforcers in town, as well, this was the logical choice.” Everything sounded fine, but I knew Mason, and knew when it sounded like he was still worried.

“
But?” I asked, glancing up at him. Sure enough, he was wearing a frown.

“
I can’t help but think there’s something I’m missing. We’re on the cusp of war. It’s been declared and the first strike has been made. But all the players haven’t been revealed. It always makes me nervous when there are unknown variables in the equation. With our community hosting some of the most powerful leaders in the country, I’d feel a lot better if I could judge where the next assault will be coming from. I know Helena’s involved, but who is the Master? We know he’s vicious, and powerful, and has no problem leaving a trail of destruction, but that’s it. Are we dealing with a werewolf? Vampire? Fae? Witch?”

These were all good questions, ones I didn’t have the answers to. “We won’t know until he comes forward and reveals his identity.”

“
And until then, he’s an undetermined threat; which makes him incredibly dangerous.”

Smoothing out the lines that had surfaced on Mason’s brow, I wished I could somehow make this easier for him. “So, tell me what you need me to do at the meeting tomorrow night. Let’s focus on one problem at a time.”

My request did the trick in reining in his worry. Smiling at my gesture, he grabbed my fingers and kissed the ends of them. “There will be a brief ceremony in the beginning, where each Alpha will come forward and declare his intentions. We’ll have a fire burning where tokens will be thrown in, usually something to honor those who have passed since the last time we gathered.”

“
So something for Jasmine,” I whispered, my mind already thinking of something suitable.

“
And Nathan,” Mason added.

That was a name I hadn’t expected him to speak, especially after his betrayal at Amber’s trial. No one had seen the relationship between Nathan and Mason’s ex-girlfriend coming, so when he’d stepped forward and declared his love for the treacherous bitch, it had hurt Mason deeply. Later, when he shifted and attacked me after my challenge with Amber, Mason had been forced to retaliate in protection, killing his Pack brother and friend.

“
He was still Pack, even if he forgot toward the end.”

Nodding, I didn’t disagree with his decision. “What about Christina? She wasn’t Pack, but she died in its defense.”

“
I’ll talk to Devlin and see what he thinks will be a proper tribute.” I loved that he didn’t hesitate at the mention of her name. “You survived that battle with Julian because of her bravery. Wolf or not, she’s Pack to me.”

“
Let me call Devlin, okay? I want to discuss something with him, anyway.”

This caused Mason to loosen his embrace; giving me room to move so I could rest on my elbow. “Something you not telling me?” he asked, curious.

“
Nothing’s wrong, I want to be prepared is all.” When he continued to stare at me quizzically, I sat completely up, instantly missing his body warmth. “I’m just worried if something does happen at the gathering, if blood is spilled, what it could possibly mean for me.”

An understanding lit Mason’s eyes first before spreading across his face. “Your hunger.”

“
I’ve done pretty good at keeping it under control since our last run together and the attack outside the building when you were taken. But other than that, it hasn’t really been tested. I don’t want to be overly confident and say I’m perfectly fine. I’m still freshly converted; and when it hits me, it hits me hard. The last thing we need is discussions to unravel because I decide that one of our guests looks like dinner.” Trying to make light of the seriousness, I laughed, but Mason wasn’t buying it.

“
I think it’s definitely wise to be aware of the possibilities, but I have faith in you, sweetheart. You’ll also have me, Daniel, and Wade there, just in case.”

“
I’d rather be there knowing I’m not a potential disaster waiting to explode.” Finally breaking eye contact, my gaze dropped to my lap where I fidgeted. “I don’t want to be the reason everything breaks down. Too much is on the line as it is. Maybe . . . maybe it might be safer for me to remain in the house, away from the meeting.”

“
No,” Mason answered quickly. “It’s imperative you’re there, standing beside me. The Master isn’t the only thing bringing the Alpha’s here. They know about the fight with Julian and your conversion. They are every bit as curious to see you, to see for themselves what kind of threat you could be to them in the future.”

“
Me?” Taken aback, I hadn’t expected this.

“
You needed permission from Zane to be saved, Darcy. Other cases where dual predator natures were put into one body resulted in madness, often sending the person on violent killing sprees before the Enforcers could step in and eliminate them. It’s rare to have someone survive, so they’re going to wonder what that means. Especially considering you’re my mate. Without meaning to, you made me even more powerful than anything I could have done to establish myself.”

The reality of who I’d become never stopped sending me into a tailspin. At the time, I’d solely been interested in surviving. The ramifications for my decision, made in desperation, continued to unfold. “They see me as an equal threat to the Master?” I whispered, horrified as the thought surfaced.

“
Unfortunately, I know some of them are thinking it. They’ll also be watching to see whether there’s any weakness between us. If they think they have a way to undermine our relationship, they’ll take advantage of it so they can rise in power themselves. It’s not anything personal. It’s a strategy to ensure their own survival. With your recent brush with being possessed, I can’t stress enough about how important it is that you’re not only there, but we show a united front, no vulnerability.”

Covering my mouth, I closed my eyes in an attempt to still my sudden riot of nerves. “I think I’m going to be sick.” Just when I didn’t think the stakes could be raised any higher, I fully realized the scope of this Summit.

“
Look at me,” Mason gently ordered, tipping my chin up slightly with his finger. “You have nothing to worry about. You will dazzle them with your strength and poise, showing them what I see in you every day. You are no threat to them. You are my greatest joy. The only thing they’ll each be leaving with when they go home, is how incredibly lucky I am to be mated with a beautiful wolf with the heart of a warrior.”

“
You always know the right things to say,” I blushed, feeling my anxiety simmer down from the boil it had erupted into.

“
I simply state the truth.” Gathering me back into his arms, the rest of my concerns fell away. “I’ll be there, by your side, through it all. Remember, it’s you and me, together, against the world.”

“
Then bring on tomorrow,” I laughed, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt.

Mason might have faith in my ability to control my vampire nature, but I wasn’t quite there yet.

“
Call your Uncle, though. See what he suggests,” Mason whispered into my hair as he kissed it. Letting me go so we could both get out of bed, he hadn’t had to see my thoughts through our connection. He knew me too well.

“
Love you.” I smiled, reaching for my clothes.

“
Love you, too. Talk with him, and then come find me in the office. We’ll do whatever it takes to get you through this.”

Come what may, his promise was something I never doubted.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Mason

So far everything had run according to schedule.

Standing in front of my peers, Alpha’s in their own rights, I was beginning to think my worry had been all for nothing. As each group arrived throughout the day and came to pay their respects, the general consensus was they were eager to prevent the Master from gaining any more power than he’d already claimed.

Alliances were strengthened, but things often said behind closed doors had a tendency to change when it came to openly declaring them. True to my belief, Thorn had failed to show, confirming his statement that he’d rather see the Pack system burn in hell before he ever lifted a finger to help.