Moon God Mates

Chapter 24

MASON’S POV:

A Hunter.

No, she said, a royal Hunter.

I haven’t heard of the existence of a royal hunter for years. The last royal was a man, more of a myth because no one was ever able to prove he was still alive.

I am confused; Why couldn’t I sense that Ana was at least a hunter? Hunters are lethal to werewolves; this feels like some sick joke, with me being mated to one.

I do a double-take, looking Iris up and down again, searching for any sign I might have missed. The white sundress she’s wearing, stopping just above her knees, makes her look even more innocent, especially with the rosiness of her cheeks when she looks my way.

She had no clue. The second our eyes meet, I realize I didn't miss a thing. This girl is made for me, she is the girl of my dreams; Hunter or not. I know she is not here to hurt me or my pack. She is afraid right now, and all I want to do is console her.

“How much of that did you hear?” Ana blocks our path, pulling Iris behind her. I growl protectively at the sight of her hand pulling my mate away from me. Ana looks between Iris and me with a confused look. But she doesn’t have time to ask before Luke speaks, clearly annoyed, “You’re in a house full of werewolves; how much do you think we heard!?”

The two start bickering back and forth, while I process the situation.

My mate; my big hazel-eyed goddess has Hunter blood running through her veins. She is too sweet; too gentle to hurt or hunt anyone at all. But maybe that is the fire I have sensed in her all along.

“Hold on, you’re going to tell me that you got a Hunter pregnant!?” Cole jumps into Ana and Luke’s argument, yelling at Luke.

“I didn’t know she was a Hunter when I first met her. I only found out afterward. Besides, it’s none of your business!” Luke argues.

“That seems to be your answer to everything, ‘I didn’t know,’” Cole mimics, and Luke takes a defensive stance.

“Stop!” The authority in my voice silences everyone. I am tired of their childish bullshit. They are arguing so loudly that I am sure the rest of the pack will be up in no time to see what is going on.

“We don’t need to talk about this here. Meet me in the cottage down by the river.”

“Eeek, you have a cottage too!?” Ana shrieks as I turn in search of Lucian; he has to know more about this.

☾☾☾

Down at the cottage, my mother's office, attached to the main room, still sits untouched; bookshelves filled to the brim and papers laid across the desk. Her Luna ring rests in a small velvet box, right in the center of it all. I close the door quietly and leave it undisturbed.

Everyone is gathered in the small family room. Cole, Luke, and Ana occupy the brown leather couch in the middle of the cottage. Lucian stands behind it, while Iris sits in my mother's rocking chair, cradling James in her arms as he sleeps. The sight of her in that chair warms my heart, and she probably has no idea why. That was my mother's favorite spot.

I turn away from Iris to avoid being pulled in; this isn’t the time. Everyone watches me with expectant eyes; I need to get to the bottom of this. I owe it to my mate and her son. I need to protect them.

“Lucian,” I address him first, “Tell me what you know about royal hunters.” I had briefed him on everything during our journey down to the cottage. I trust him with my life; he is also my most knowledgeable and experienced warrior. He lived in town with my father and the pack at the same time as the last known Royal Hunter.

“As most of us know, the Royal Family were hunted and killed. The last we heard, they only left behind a son; but no one had heard from or seen him in years. Though you’d never know if you did.” He steps forward, standing between us all now. “Royal hunters can hide their scent; that’s why they are so lethal to their prey.” He shoots a glance at Iris, then turns back to me. “As for the boy, he is a mix of werewolf; so I’m assuming the werewolf gene wouldn’t allow his scent to be masked.”

“You’re assuming?” Luke questions.

Lucian continues, “Yes, I am assuming. This has never happened before, so there is just no way of knowing for sure until he transitions and breaks the spell that masks him now.” He glances between Luke and Iris. “You guys have created something the world has never seen, and that can be scary to people. You see, a werewolf and a royal hunter alone are deadly; by combining them, you guys have potentially created the most lethal being alive.”

I watch as Iris’ grip on James tightens, and I catch myself wishing I could ease some of her fear. Before I know it, I'm standing behind her with my hand on her shoulder; the shock runs up my arm instantly, and I feel Iris relax a bit. Luke’s glare doesn’t bother me at all.

“Well, s**t, now imagine the kid having Alpha blood; now wouldn’t that be…” Luke elbows Cole in the chest to silence him. “Watch it, asshole,” Cole growls. I shoot them both a warning look, while Ana rolls her eyes.

“Can’t we just cast another spell to mask him after he transitions?” Iris finally speaks; to everyone else, she sounds normal, but I can feel her fear and nervousness.

“That’s not how it works,” Ellie interjects from the doorway.

“Great! Are we just telling the whole f*****g world now!?” Ana shoots Ellie a dirty look, while Luke watches her for a beat too long. I don’t like the way he's looking at her.

“Chill, Barbie,” Ana retorts, “I saw you guys walk down here, and Mason doesn’t let just anyone into the cottage; so I thought it might be important. Besides, you can trust me, and I might be able to shed some light on the situation.” She steals glances at Luke when she speaks, which is weird; it's as if she's trying to remember if they've met before.

Iris looks up at me with a questioning look. “Ellie is a hybrid like James; only she’s a mix of witch and werewolf, with her witch part being stronger,” I explain to her.

Ellie enters, closing the door behind her, and kneels at the wooden coffee table in the center of us all. Running her fingers across it, I know she is thinking about her mother. This is where our mothers came every day while we trained out by the river, and we don’t come down here often. This was their sanctuary.

Ellie looks around at everyone. “I’m guessing that everyone here is picking up his werewolf scent?” Everyone but Iris nods in unison.

I lean down and whisper to Iris, “Do you sense anything in his presence? Like a power or scent that isn’t normal?” I rub James' hair from his forehead.

Iris looks down at James like she hates herself for not realizing it sooner. “I feel an energy or power I guess that I don’t usually sense with other kids his age.”

“There you go,” I smile before we both turn back to Ellie.

“The spell is already breaking. See, my mother tried to hide me the same way. Hybrids aren’t widely accepted because people are afraid to accept what they don’t understand. I’m not nearly as much of a threat as James could be; a witch is easy to come by, but a hunter is not.”

“He’s not a threat; he’s just a boy,” Iris retorts.

“We know that,” Ellie says, “but no one else will see it that way. Some people might even see him as a weapon.” The room grows silent.

“This pack has always protected me, and there is no doubt we can protect him too,” Ellie says, setting a loving hand on James’ leg. I appreciate her, and I would protect her no matter what, just like I will do for Iris and James.

“We don’t need a pack to protect him. I can protect my son!” Luke stands from his seat. “Iris, I told you that I have a place we can go to. There is a boundary that I had a witch set around the house; we will be safe there!”

“I can knock your little boundary down in five seconds.” Ellie shoots the comment to Luke while Cole whistles low.

“Iris, we can run and just keep running. I know it’s not ideal, but we will be okay if we just stay together! That was the plan all along!” Ana tells Iris.

Cole butts in, “What safer place is there than our packhouse!? If you’ve all forgotten, the Moon pack is the highest-ranked pack there is. Who would cross us!?”

Everyone bickers back and forth until I have finally had enough. “You’re staying here. All of you!” I look around the room, daring for someone to object. “If anyone wants a role in his protection, then you will stay here to serve it.”

“You’re not my Alpha!” Luke yells, anger dripping off of each word.

Suddenly, the thought of letting Cole kick his ass doesn’t seem so bad. “That’s about enough-”

“I’d like to stay,” the room freezes; shock covers everyone’s face, and eyes focus on Iris. Did she just say what I think she said? “If that’s okay?” She looks up at me. Finally, something that comes easily; I was expecting a fight, maybe even having to tie her to the packhouse to prevent her from leaving. But she wants to stay here. I give her a knowing nod.

“Of course, you can stay, Love.”

“James turns five in a few days,” she smiles up at me before addressing the group, “We are staying here, just until we know what we’re dealing with. I can’t explain it, but I feel safe here, and James likes it here. Everywhere else, I feel like I don’t know anymore.” She looks between Ana and Luke as guilt crosses their faces.

“But I’d like to talk to you both first; alone.” She looks up at me and then over at Luke. Her face for the first time is unreadable. I knew her wanting to stay was too easy.