Moon God Mates

Chapter 19

That’s... No, it can't be…

A wolf?

Yes, that is a wolf. A huge light gray wolf, and it’s standing right in front of me.

I try to move my legs, to run from it. I attempt to open my mouth to scream, but I can’t.

I am frozen.

I stand here in front of this massive wolf, in disbelief.

What are you doing Iris? RUN! I quickly look over at Luke and he doesn’t look surprised at all. My eyes dart back to the wolf.

Despite the fact that there's a huge bear-sized wolf in the place where Mason just stood, I find myself unable to tear my gaze away from it, instead of freaking out and screaming for my life.

This isn’t just any normal wolf; his stance alone shows his dominance, and its aura screams power. I can feel it in the air around him.

It is... magnificent, to say the least, but again, standing right where Mason just was. I am starting to worry about more than just my life.

I don't move but examine the ground around this wolf with my eyes; there are pieces of shredded clothes sprawled around the ground. Mason's clothes. My breath catches.

I thought I saw him turn into this thing... but that’s impossible.

Mason is not a werewolf. Werewolves are not real! This is not a movie. This is real life.

I let out a shaky breath; this is not real.

I place my hands on the sides of my head slowly, trying to calm my thoughts, but not trying to provoke this animal with any fast movements. Although the wolf’s eyes follow the movements of my hands, it doesn't move, and it doesn't look threatening.

I close my eyes, hoping that when I open them again, I will wake up from this crazy dream. Probably not the best idea given my current circumstance; but hey.

Please, don’t be afraid of me, Love.

There it is! That voice in my head again.

I open my eyes to find the wolf has moved closer and is now watching me with his daunting gray eyes.

Its body is on high alert, shaking almost, watching my every move as if it’s afraid I might run away.

When we make eye contact, I am hit with a familiar feeling, and I know exactly where Mason is.

It’s him. This wolf is Mason.

I felt it the second our eyes connected, falling into the comfort and protectiveness in them.

Cautiously, I take a step forward; I know he won’t hurt me. I reach my hand up to touch the top of the wolf’s head, and he lowers himself to let me. Dragging my fingers across his gray, velvety fur, I receive a purr in response. It’s strange to think that something so mighty and ferocious can be so... beautiful. But then again, it isn’t strange at all; because somehow, this ferocious animal is him. And everything about him is beautiful.

The wolf, or Mason, looks past my shoulder and lets out a low growl; almost like a warning. I turn to meet Luke, and everything suddenly clicks in my head. If Mason is a wolf, then Luke..?

“A-are you?” The words barely come out, from how dry my throat is, and I turn to face Luke.

“Yes, I’m a werewolf too. I’m sorry you had to find out this way.” He looks past me and gives Mason’s wolf the stink eye.

“You guys can just turn into,” I look back up at the wolf then back to Luke, “a wolf whenever you want?” I ask, “How? How does this happen? How is this possible? Were you bitten?”

“When we turn into our wolf counterpart, it is called shifting. Yes, we can control when we want to shift and are in complete control when we do, it’s like letting your conscious take control and all of your senses are heightened.” Luke sighs but then continues answering my questions, “The whole biting thing is a myth; you aren’t bitten, you are born like this. It's passed down from generations.”

Behind me, I hear cracking noises. I quickly turn around to see Mason shift back to his human form. I swear my jaw is on my floor from seeing him one minute as an animal and the next as a man. A very naked man. A wave of embarrassment colors my cheeks; he is glorious in all of his forms. I can’t look away. My eyes scan up and down his body, taking in every angle. From his strong, defiant jawline, his full pink lips, slightly perfect tanned skin, toned stomach, and V-line traveling straight down to his...

“Pros and cons to shifting,” Mason winks at me. I am on fire with embarrassment; he just caught me checking him out while he was nude!

"Con!" Luke exclaims as he tosses Mason his jeans, leaving him in the shorts he wore underneath. Talk about adding fuel to the fire. If Luke was angry before, he is livid now; he caught me checking out Mason too. Okay, bring the wolf back and end me now. How embarrassing.

“This must be a lot for you. Why don’t you have a seat?” Mason leads me back to the bench, “I can answer any questions you still have.”

I take a seat, still trying to process what the hell just happened; but the image of Mason’s six-pack keeps creeping back into my mind. What is wrong with me?

“You know what, Alpha?” Luke spits, “I can answer any questions Iris might have. What’s your interest in her anyhow, huh? Why are you here?” Mason keeps his composure, but I can feel it slipping, “That’s not your business, but I am glad you haven't forgotten. I am the Alpha. I can drag you out of here; right now.”

“I’d like to see you try,” Luke takes a defensive stance against Mason, but he doesn't move from my side.

The two continue to bicker back and forth while I try to put everything together. Alpha? Luke called Mason an Alpha. From what I know, an Alpha is the head of a werewolf pack. So that means Mason is the leader, but the leader of who? How many more werewolf shifters are there? How did he wind up with this position anyway? Luke said it was passed down, so Mason’s parents must have been wolves too. What does that make Luke? Are they from the same pack? I grew up with Luke; I knew his father, and... I almost throw up with the realization that hits me.

“STOP!” I jump off the bench. Both men quiet quickly. I look at Luke first, “Earlier when you said it’s passed down, what did you mean?” My whole body goes into panic mode. “Tell me that doesn't mean... I mean, my son, he is just a boy, he couldn't possibly be a… a…” I can’t even bring myself to say the word, but Luke doesn't answer me either; he stands there with his head hanging low. It is Mason who answers, “Yes, Iris. James is a young wolf. I smelled it on him the other day at the park.”

Luke finally holds his head up, and I can hear the hurt in his voice when he asks, “You have had this man around our son?”