Moon God Mates

Chapter 20

MASON’S POV:

Iris is standing here in a daze, and I wish there was more I could do. I know it is a lot to take in; if only I were able to explain it with just the two of us. I stare at Luke, showing him my fury: what a way to make this about himself again.

“Yes, I was around James. What is the problem? At least one of us was.” I throw the jab. I know I'm an asshole the second the words leave my mouth, but jealousy is burning inside of me.

What makes him think I don’t have a right to be around my mate and her son? James is every part of me that Iris is now. Just because he stole her virtue and had a child with her doesn’t mean he is anything to her anymore. He lost that chance long ago when he left Iris and James here; alone and defenseless. She has proven she doesn’t need him, she doesn’t need anyone to take care of her. But now that I am here, and now that I know her, I can only pray that she allows me to.

“I left to keep them both safe! If you don’t remember correctly, you and your filthy pack are the reason I had to leave. Why are you bothering with her anyway?” I hit a nerve by how Luke is huffing and puffing.

“Your lifestyle is why you and your father had to leave. You can call us filthy all you want, but who’s the one who hunts humans? You’re a murderer, Luke. Every wolf around knows it.” I state plainly, tired of arguing back and forth.

I look at Iris who has gone silent. She is moving her lips, but I can't hear her. I can, however, feel how overwhelmed she is right now. I step towards her cautiously, unsure if she is still mad at me and I don't want to push. Luke steps in front of me. This guy just won't stop, will he?

“You didn’t answer my question. What the hell does an Alpha want with a human?” he pushes, “What do you want with Iris!?”

“Get out of my way.” I growl.

Who does he think he is standing in the way of me comforting my mate?

“Not until you answer me! What do you want with her and my son!?”

My patience is slipping, but Iris is here. I don’t want her to think I can’t control my anger.

“Why don’t you answer my question first? What were you thinking, having a child with someone who isn’t YOUR mate?”

“How do you know she’s not my mate? You don’t know anything about us!” The veins in Luke's forehead are bulging out so hard I can swear they will pop at any moment.

I shake my head; I know she is not his mate because she is mine. Wolves don’t have two mates; that's impossible.

Iris is standing behind him, still in a daze. I can't read her expression because she is looking down at the ground but I can feel something is wrong. I don’t give a s**t what this asshole is saying. I know I need to get to her. If it weren’t for my mate standing right behind him, I would rip him in two. Luke is still shouting when my whole world stops at the sound of her in my head.

Mason, I don’t feel so...

Iris linked me. She was able to reach our bond and send a mind link. I don't have time to revel in how proud I am of her because I see her knees go weak. I throw Luke out of my way and catch her head in my hands just in time. Her body is limp, but she is still breathing. “Iris?” I call her to no avail. I pull her closer into my arms, and Luke is kneeling on the other side of her.

“Oh my God. What did you do!?” he accuses me.

Is he serious? I look up at him with fury in my eyes, “Fighting is not helping!” I shut him up, “Now, put her on my back!” I shift before Luke has a chance to object, and he slowly climbs onto my back with Iris in his hands. I take off towards the packhouse.

☾☾☾

“Move so I can kill him where he stands!?” Cole shouts as we stand in the living room with most of my pack warriors. Luke is leaning on the wall casually near the door like he isn't the reason my pack is upset right now.

“He won’t cause any trouble and he is not staying long.” I hate that I have to defend the d**k, but I will do it for her. He is the father of her child and this is Iris’ decision to make. I can't take it away from her. How would I know that I am her choice if I did?

The living room erupts in all different voices sharing their opinions.

“This is our territory!”

“We can't let his kind back here, Alpha.”

“He is dangerous.”

“He can not be trusted!”

I hate arguing with my pack; we are as powerful as we are because of our communication and view on things. We work as a team, and bringing Luke here feels like I am going against them.

I cannot explain why I have brought Luke here because I have not given my pack the truth about who Iris is to me. I don’t want to give them false hope on a Luna if Iris is not willing to become one. Iris deserves to adjust to this life; not be thrown into it. I want her to want me, to want us and this but on her terms.

I squint my eyes sensing the headache coming on while I let my members vent their frustrations. Sometimes it's better to patiently hear everyone out, so I do.

“Who are you to question our Alpha!?” Lucian speaks, quieting the group. “We are only as strong as our Alpha, don’t you dare question him now!” The group bows their heads to me in a silent apology before I give a nod of dismissal.

I grab onto Lucian's arm as he passes by me and give him a questioning look. Why did he stop them? I did not need him to step in. Lucian’s eyes meet mine, and he says, “I apologize for overstepping, Alpha.” He bows before looking back up, “If she is what I suspect, take care of her. I am happy for you, and I will stand with you, no matter what.” Lucian pats me on the back as he exits. I watch him go; his broad shoulders held high, and his gray hair slicked back. He reminds me so much of my father. I have always admired his wisdom. Lucian knows she is my mate. That’s why he spoke up for me against the pack.

My emotions are all out of whack; because I'm threading in all new territory; the pack is in the dark, and I don't know if Iris is okay.

I have to ensure that she is okay. I make my way to the staircase leading up to the medical room where I left Iris with Ellie. There isn't another healer in the world I would trust. Ellie is young, but as a witch with extensive medical training at the pack hospital, there isn't a soul I would trust more with Iris’ health. It's only an added bonus that El is my pack sister. She is someone I know I can trust wholeheartedly with my mate. I stop short when Luke blocks my way, his eyes filled with hate.

“Iris is your mate, isn’t she?”

I don’t even try to hide the pride in my answer.

“Yes, she is.”

Some part of me expects a fight, but I don't get that. Luke stumbles back, his knees meeting the couch before he drops onto it. I wait for him to protest, for him to argue, for him to say anything at all, yet he doesn’t. So I walk away continuing up. Halfway up the staircase, Luke shouts to me, “If you care about her,” I stop at the sound of his voice, “let her choose her fate; not the fate the Moon God has chosen for her.” I turn around surprised by what he is asking of me. “Let her choose who she wants to be with; you or me. Without the pressure of knowing about the mate bond!”