Moon God Mates

Chapter 14

MASON’S POV:

Are you going to tell me about the girl from last night? What was that anyway? A date?

My brother's voice slips through my mind as he sends me his link. We are running through the forest in our wolf form. A lone Rogue jumps in our path growling viciously at me. I latch my teeth onto its throat and rip it out before leaving its lifeless body on the ground behind us.

Now, Cole? You want to talk about this now!?

The warm blood still drips from my wolf's mouth.

Now is as good of a time as any.

Lucian's wolf scuffs a laugh at the look I send Cole's way. We are on our way to the Gray Bloods Territory. It borders the south of my territory, and Alpha Jackson's pack is the closest to ours and the human town. Well he was the closest to us.

I clear my head of the thoughts; they don't matter now. I finished the Rogues off fast enough, and I will do the same to Jackson. I just want to get this over with. I won't allow anyone else to take over the Moon Pack; they are my family, my responsibility. Besides, the faster this is over, the faster I can move on—with her, Iris. I made a promise to tell her the truth, and I plan to do that for her and her son.

We arrive sooner than expected, and that heavy feeling in my gut rises again. I've never thought I would be here, facing Jackson. Not only is Jackson one of the few Alphas I trust, but he was my friend. We trained together and grew together. If anyone has a chance at defeating me in a duel, it's him.

And wouldn't that just be bad luck? Right when I decide to accept her, accept us, and give my pack a Luna, I am killed in a stupid challenge against one of my “friends.” I scoff; I am not scared. I knew the role of Alpha when I took it on; this was bound to happen, but not here, not with Jackson and not after I found her. So, I am confused.

There is no reason for Jackson to want my pack and territory. At first, I thought maybe he wanted to expand, but that can't be it. Yeah, Jackson is twisted in his way, but territory and power were never something he desired. If it was, his pack would be ranked a hell of a lot higher than it is. He doesn't have the numbers; the Gray Blood is a small pack. Years ago, more than half were wiped out by an ancient Vampire Clan, but he has never wanted to grow his numbers either.

Jackson's trust didn't come easy; he has only ever wanted vengeance on the Clan who killed his family. His lifelong vendetta is to find the clan responsible, and he would stop at nothing to do that. The Gray Bloods torture and hold anyone they believe has information on where to find the clan. They are ruthless, almost as ruthless as the Pack that killed my mother, but only seek out those involved with their pack murders; and that has nothing to do with me or why he would challenge me.

Jackson emerges from the packhouse just as we stroll up to the house, the anger in his brown eyes evident. He is pissed, and I'm not sure why. I should be the only one mad; after all, he's the one who called for this stupid challenge.

I step into the makeshift boxing ring just outside the Gray Blood’s packhouse, crack my neck, and meet Jackson's glare. I am not backing down. I can't back down, not when my pack and Iris are waiting for me.

Jackson doesn’t cower at my anger, not that I expected him to. We are a lot alike in that way. We do not give a s**t about how tough an opponent is; a challenge is a challenge. Only one of us will make it out of this.

“Are you ready for this?” Cole comes up behind me, massaging my shoulders like this is a boxing match. I shrug him off, “Just another challenger.” I lie because I know this one is different. I am getting ready to kill my closest ally and only friend outside of my pack, and he is going to make me work for it.

Jackson gets in the ring with his infamous death glare; what the hell is his problem? Does he hate me that much? He has never shown it before. I ignore the way he is looking at me, take off my black t-shirt and toss it to Cole. “Let's get this s**t over with,” I say before turning back to meet Jackson in the middle of the ring.

I can practically feel the anger between the two of us, and it is f*****g bullshit. “It’s not too late to back down.” I look at Jackson, and he scoffs.

“When will it be enough for you, huh? You just have to have it all, don’t you!?”

His words give me a momentary pause, “What the hell are you talking about?”

“You know damn well what I’m talking about, Mason. You’re power-hungry, but I’m not going down without a fight. Let’s do this!” In the blink of an eye, Jackson shifts right in front of me; his wolf is inching closer to me, but I am still struck by his words. What the hell does he mean I am power-hungry? We are only here because of him!

I do not have enough time to answer my questions when Jackson’s white wolf lunges at me; it is huge, but mine is bigger. I shift into wolf form tearing out of my jeans. Dodging all of Jackson’s advances, his words circle in my head. How am I power-hungry? My distracted mind gives Jackson the advantage he needs; he lunges, sinking his teeth into my shoulder. My wolf kicks him off with its hind legs and pounces on top of him, biting at him. I know this is my chance; I keep biting until his wolf lets out a yelp. His throat is in clear view, one bite, and I can end this.

My wolf pauses; something Jackson said to me doesn’t sit right. I shift back, stepping away from Jackson's injured wolf. Jackson follows suit in shifting, just as Gray Moon pack members run up to help him while Cole comes to my side. We're both bleeding.

“What the hell was that? You had him. You will not get a chance like that again on Jackson!” Cole pushes me, before examining my shoulder.

I ignore him and keep my eyes on the man lying on the floor. I could have finished him off, but I honestly never wanted to; not without answers at least.

“What do you mean I’m power-hungry? You called this challenge and quite frankly Jackson, I’m surprised.” I inch closer to him as I speak; I just need to know why; then I can finish the job. Jackson and I are both young; unmated Alphas. Being challenged is nothing new to us. I guess that's why I never expected it from him; we are the same, he and I.

"I called the challenge!? My Beta informed me that you wanted to challenge me for the Gray Moon pack! Why the hell would I challenge you?”

I pause, anger lacing my voice while Cole appears at my side. “Cole!” I shout. “Who was it that came and announced Jackson’s challenge!?”

“The Omega of the Gray Bloods, his Omega, Maya, I believe her name…”

“MAYA!” Jackson’s voice radiates off the trees surrounding us, cutting Cole off. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a figure making a move for the forest.

Shifting mid-air with Jackson following suit, I pounce on the small copper wolf, ready to tear her to shreds. The wolf shifts back beneath me. “Please, he said he would kill me if I didn’t set you both up! Please!” she begs.

The tall, slender brunette under me seems familiar, but I can’t figure out where I know her from. Jackson and I shift back simultaneously; my body is still holding the Omega down. “Please, Alpha, I didn’t have a choice!” she turns her pleading eyes on him.

“Who made you do this, Maya?” Jackson stalks up to her. I have always admired how calm Jackson always seems, but I know it was just the calm before his storm. “I... I can’t.” The girl is shaking under me, she knows how deadly her Alpha is.

“I said who?” Jackson's voice is louder and more eerie now as I move and let him take the lead. It is his Omega after all. Does his pack have no respect? Would they set their Alpha up for a challenge he might not survive?

Jackson continues interrogating Maya, and I can’t help but wonder why someone would do this...

Unless…

Someone needs us distracted to get into my territory. They would have to pass through the Gray Bloods to get into mine. With both Alphas distracted and pack members worrying about their Alphas, now is the only chance they would get.

I shift my hand into claws, and with one swipe, I slit Maya’s throat. She wasn’t going to tell us anything, and I know a quick death is a lot better than what Jackson’s torture room has in store for her.

Jackson starts yelling orders behind me, having caught on to what I am thinking; someone set us up to cross our borders.

But who? I look down at the red blood on my hand; that’s when it hits me. Maya was the girl in the red dress that my mate walked in on me with.

How long has this person infiltrated our packs, and what the hell is their goal?

We have to get back to the packhouse now!

I mind link Cole and Lucian, nodding an understanding to Jackson. We shift and dash back towards our territory, my blood running cold.

What the hell am I going to find?