Moon God Mates

Chapter 25

IRIS’ POV:

Mason dismisses the group, leaving just me, him, and Luke at the cottage. Ellie is out front playing with James by the river. I stand at the window of the cottage, looking out at them. Luke is at my side, watching them too as they splash water back and forth at each other, but his focus is on Ellie, not our son.

“How old is she?” Luke turns to Mason, finding him at his other side. I don’t think I'm the only one who caught him watching Ellie.

Mason lets out a protective growl in response.

I can’t help the groan that slips from my lips, “You see? This is why I want to talk to you both. If we’re going to be working together, I need you two to get along.” I turn to Mason, who is hovering within arm's reach of me. “James didn’t ask for any of this. I won’t live our lives on the run, and we won’t live in hiding. That is not the life I want for my son.”

Mason doesn’t reply; instead, he walks to the glass cabinet in the corner of the room and pulls out a bottle of dark liquor; I can only assume it's whiskey. Then he takes two glasses and pours a generous amount into each. All the while, my eyes roam his frame. He is glorious; even his walk holds authority. His white button-up and jeans make him look more casual today, and I like it. I like seeing him at home in his environment.

He hands me the glass and the moment our fingers collide I feel a shock ignite my whole body. I quickly turn away from him to sit on the leather sofa, this is not the time Iris.

Mason follows me over and sits beside me, “I’m glad you decided to stay.” He says.

“Well, with your Alpha voice, I almost thought that I didn’t have a choice,” I joke; he chuckles, and then we lock eyes. What I want to tell him is that I want to stay, I feel better with him close. This feels like home. He feels like home.

“You’ll always have a choice, Love,” I get lost for a second until he breaks eye contact to look at Luke, who is still stuck on the two just outside of the window.

I clear my throat, and finally, Luke turns his attention to us. He still stands close enough to the window to see outside.

Even though I feel safe here, I didn’t consider the idea that Luke might not. He looks worried; it probably makes him feel better with James in sight.

I take a drink of the whiskey; the warm burning sensation goes slowly down my throat. I have never been a drinker, especially not whiskey. But I know it is one of Mason's favorites; secretly, I want to taste what he likes.

I scrunch up my face; yeah, this isn’t it. I set the glass down on the coaster on top of the table, not wanting to mess anything up in his place. I know that I won’t be able to afford it if I do; everything in this place is beautiful.

I can feel Mason watching me as he holds back a smile, clearly seeing my distaste for his drink.

I direct Luke first, “I understand your reasons for leaving a little more now, but that doesn’t give you a pardon. There is a lot you have to make up for. I only hope that protecting James is your priority and the only reason for coming back.” I want to shoot him down gently; there has always been a connection I feel with Luke, but I can’t deny the one that is burning beside me. I turn to meet him; his gray eyes watch me intently now.

“You’re not obligated to help us. It’s not your problem at all. I guess what I’m asking is; why? Why put yourself and your pack possibly at risk for helping us?” Mason sits there and swirls his whiskey in the glass, contemplating my question. Right when I think he is going to answer, Luke pushes forward, “It’s his job! As Alpha of the territory, he has a duty to protect the people within it.”

My heart slowly sinks; who am I kidding, it plummets. For some reason, I was hoping for a different answer, an answer maybe having to do with me. It burns, but that doesn’t matter; if the Moon pack is as highly ranked as everyone keeps saying, and they are willing to protect my son, then I will take all the help I can get.

Mason glares up at Luke, then back towards me, “Iris, I want to help. My only duty is to—” He is cut off when Luke runs out of the cottage towards the river.

I jump to my feet, alarms blaring in my head, James is at the river! I run fast enough to get ahead of Luke. I grab James into my arms right before Mason pulls the two of us behind him. Luke sees James safe in my arms before he takes a protective stance in front of Ellie; while she just watches him, looking a little dazed.

Three people emerge from behind the tree line. A tall muscular blonde with shoulder-length hair is the first one I notice; he holds the same authority that Mason gives off. I immediately know they are werewolves. I can feel it in the air around them, just as Mason showed me to decipher it on James earlier. The blonde is accompanied by a man, not too much shorter than him; and a woman. Both of them have brown hair and green eyes; the two look as though they are related.

“Jackson,” Mason calls as the blonde, Jackson, comes closer, while the two behind him follow. I don’t like the coldness I feel in his brown eyes. Something about him gives me shivers.

Mason steps up, stopping them halfway, which I am thankful for since the guy gives me the creeps.

“What are you doing here?” Mason asks.

“Just passing through on our way to a challenge. I was told you would have a party waiting for me once I returned.”

“Right, you should be on your way then. Good Luck.”

“We don't need luck.”

Mason moves to let Jackson pass but before he does, his eyes spot Ellie. “Still not of age yet, darling?” Luke growls towards Jackson. Ellie doesn’t look impressed by either of them. She rolls her eyes and starts walking up towards the main house. Jackson watches her go, before turning back to Luke.

“Ah, and who do we have here?” Jackson sniffs the air, “A Rogue? Well, that’s new,” his eyes land on me now, “And a human? Mason, what kind of pack are you running?” Mason glares at Jackson, who puts his hands up in surrender, “Fine, I’m going. Tell your brother that I would like to go big to introduce my two Omegas into the pack.” Jackson gestures to the two with him.

Omega? I am going to get lost in all of these werewolf terms.

☾☾☾

Luke, James, and I stay down by the river while Mason walks Jackson out of the territory. I could have sworn I saw a struggle in Mason's eyes. He doesn’t want to leave my side, just as much as I don't want him to. Or maybe my mind is finally going crazy. He is just helping us out of his Alpha duty.

“Nice, but this is how you do it.” Luke grabs a rock, throwing it at the water. It skips five times before sinking. He was always great at skipping rocks. It brings back memories of how Luke taught me that very thing years ago. I shake my head; I shouldn’t be thinking about the past. As soon as James gets the hang of rock skipping, Luke comes to take a seat next to me in the grass.

“How are you taking it all?” He asks, “I know, it’s a lot.”

“A lot?” I exasperate, “Try life-altering.”

“Yeah,” he laughs, giving me a full display of his perfect teeth and that perfect smile. I can’t look away.

“I am sorry for everything, Iris. I only want what’s best for you both.” He looks from me to James, “If staying here for now is what you want, then I’m staying with you. I won’t leave him again.”

“You mean that?” I ask, but I already know the answer the moment I look into his eyes; he means it.

We sit in peaceful silence, laughing now and then at the sight of James playing by the water.

“I had to leave, I wasn’t worthy of him; or of you.” He takes my hand in his, and I feel a pull to him that I cannot explain. Luke pauses as if he feels the same thing; then continues, “I am still not worthy, I am not sure that I will ever be, but I am trying. I will protect you both with my life. I promise.”

We share a smile as I pull my hand out of his embrace. I can’t understand the feeling, and I am not sure if I like it.

“He’s such a good-looking kid. I guess you can thank me for that,” Luke says with tall shoulders as we share a laugh. I hit him in the arm, “You’re not worthy at all,” I play, “his looks are all my doing.”

A throat clears behind us, “Mason sent me down. Jackson is gone; you should come up now,” Ellie says, standing as if she caught us doing something we shouldn’t have been.

“James?” I call, “Let’s go inside. Maybe you can show me your painting from earlier?” James jumps into my arms, and I start up the hill.

“I’ll meet you up there,” Luke calls behind me.

“Ellie, may I have a word?”