On the Run

Chapter Fifteen

I could feel the motion of the truck slowing. Through gritted teeth I warned, “Don’t stop. Keep driving.”

“Bethenny, we should stop for just a minute,” his voice becoming a low growl.

All I wanted was to be able to be held while I released everything I was feeling, but if we slowed down for even a minute, we might not make it across the border in time. Placing my hand over his chest, I could feel his heart pounding fast. “We can’t do this now,” I shut him down.

Guilt struck me immediately for speaking to him so harshly. Mason had only shown kindness and compassion towards me and my daughter. The low growl vibrated in his chest, showed the irritation he felt. It was selfish of me to drop that information on him and then refuse to talk about it, but I couldn’t bear to say it out loud. This child growing inside me could be any number of men from the pack. The thought brought the bile back up in my throat. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that,” I tried to explain.

It was a pathetic apology. No matter what I was going through, taking my feelings out on Mason was wrong. By doing that to him, I was acting just like Colby. He didn’t deserve to deal with all my baggage. After spending nearly a decade of my life with someone so hateful and mean-spirited, had I become just as abusive in nature?

Mason reached out for my hand, placing his large fingers in between mine. “I might not like it, but I understand,” he tried to ease my conscience. “I have no idea what they did to you after they made me go home each night. I should have fought harder to stay. I should have realized something was suspicious.”

His eyes lingered on mine for just a moment before he turned his attention back to the road in front of us. “At least the one behind it all is dead,” I commented.

Bringing my hand to his lips, Mason kissed the back of my hand. “If I had to do it a thousand times, I’d still make the same decision,” he said tenderly. “As long as I’m breathing, I will protect you and all of our children. I love you.”

I smiled contentedly at him and told him, “I love you too.”

My body sank into the seat and I finally noticed how weary my body was. “Why don’t you get some rest? I’ll wake you up if there’s any news over the radio,” Mason assured me.

I nodded wearily in response, suddenly too tired to even speak. I shifted in my seat until I found a position comfortable enough to sleep in an upright position. I sat facing Mason with my knees pulled up to my chest, resting my weight against the back of the seat with my jacket balled up under my neck. I watched him as he drove the truck down the dark country road. My eyes got heavier with each blink, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him. The muscles in his arms, contracting and stretching with his every movement, his chest rising and falling with his every breath. Bringing my thoughts to a happier place as I drifted off to sleep.

The forest was filled with the musical chirps of birds in the trees as the sun peaked through the leaves, warming my body. The particles of pollen dancing in the air were visible through the beams of light that broke through the canopy above. I could see Mason in the distance. He looked so handsome, his dark hair was being rustled by the gentle breeze, occasionally obstructing his smoldering stare. His mouth was moving but I couldn’t make out the words. I pushed myself up off the ground but when I tried to go to him my feet were rooted to the ground.

Mason waved his arms trying to get my attention, the urgency in his expression was unmistakable. I struggled to move my feet, but they were truly stuck. It finally occurred to me to look at my feet to find out why I couldn’t go to my mate. They had been swallowed up by roots, the roots were climbing higher up my legs. My hands tore at the roots but they just grew thicker and stronger, their hold on me was unbreakable.

Looking up, I searched for Mason. I called out for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. Turning my attention back to the roots keeping me in place like chains, I began to claw at the ground. Maybe if I dig them up, they’ll stop, I thought.

In my peripheral vision I could see Mason again. Now, a dark, hooded figure approached him from behind. I tried to scream but I couldn’t even conjure up a whisper. Mason waved at our children playing behind me in the distance. I tried to scream to them to run, but again my voice failed me. The figure loomed closer and closer, pulling a long dagger from what appeared to be a cloak. “Mason!” I screamed, my voice finally producing sound.

The air was filled with an ear-splitting shriek. I tried to cover them with my ears to stop the sound, but it did little to stifle the awful shrieking. The figure raised a long, slender arm before driving the dagger into Mason’s back. Blood spotted the front of his white button-up shirt, quickly spreading, spilling down his stomach. “No!” I screamed, as I finally broke free from the roots binding me.



When I woke, I was covered in a cold sweat and reaching out for my dying mate. I dropped my hands quickly, embarrassed that I did not realize I was dreaming initially. “It’s okay, I’m here,” Mason’s voice soothed me. “Did you have a nightmare?”

“Ye-yeah,” my hoarse voice cracking from the dryness in my throat.

The sun still had yet to rise, letting me know we still had an hour or more left of our journey. Mason handed me a water bottle, and I happily drank from it. The coolness of the water soothed my throat, leaving me with a refreshed feeling despite not being able to brush my teeth. Looking to the backseat, I found both children still sleeping peacefully. “Thank you,” I said, handing the water bottle back to Mason. “Have you heard any more communication over the radio?”