Pounce

Chapter 13

Mysteries

Mason

Mason worked hard that whole day. Something felt off for him. He could not put his finger on it. Something was wrong. Maybe his senses were a bit off. He was not sure.

He would figure it out sooner or later. He put himself into his work. Trying to keep his mind off of Hannah and Mimi. He was worried about them.

"Hi brother! Want to go to lunch?" Nathan offers coming into his place of work. That was odd even for Nathan to come see him at work.

"What is going on?" Mason demands to know.

"Come on. We can talk about it over lunch" Nathan offers.

"Alright..." Mason sighs. He clocks out. He heads off to lunch with Nathan. They go to the deli in town.

"What is going on?" Mason asks once they sit down at a table.

"Hannah?!" states Nathan.

"What about Hannah?" he asks.

"Paul is here" says Nathan.

"So who is Paul?" laughs Mason not putting two and two together.

"Her former brother in law is here from home visiting. He checked in the Inn today" says Nathan.

"So?" asks Mason.

"So, Hannah never told him where she was. Or where she worked. He showed up here. I don't trust him. Not at all" warns Nathan.

"You think he could be in on his brother's murder?" worries Mason.

"I don't know what to think. But I do not get a good vibe about this guy" warns Nathan.

"What do you want me to do about it?" worries Mason.

"You live next door. I don't. We both care about Hannah and Mimi. Right? It is our job to keep them safe. So watch over her" demands Nathan.

"I will do the best I can. But I can't always be there. You will have to help at work" warns Mason.

"I will do whatever it takes" vows Nathan.

Mason nods. Suddenly Hannah comes in the place with Paul at her side. Laughing and talking.

♥☆♥☆♥

"There he is" whispers Nathan.

"I see that" grumbles Mason.

"Hi guys!" Hannah greets them hello.

"We meet again! Hi there Nathan" Paul says shaking Nathan's hand. Nathan nods.

"This is my brother Mason" Nathan introduces the two. Paul shakes hands with Mason. Paul's blue eyes studied him coldly.

"Pleasure to meet you" Mason replies.

"Likewise. So I hear you are neighbors to Hannah here?" Paul asks him.

"Yes we are" says Mason.

"I hear there are wolfs around here? Crazy" Paul laughs.

"Bears to" giggles Hannah.

"I guess I should have brought my hunting gear" Paul chuckles.

"Hunting in these parts are prohibited. It is illegal. Unless you are protecting yourself" warns Mason.

"I was joking. Of course I would never hurt wild life" Paul remarks. Nathan nods.

So far Mason was not a fan of Paul.

"We have to be going. Nice to meet you gentlemen" Paul tells them before leading Hannah away from them. Paul was well dressed. He must have money. Mason did not. He was a simple guy. Had Carlos been wealthy as well?

"Something wrong brother?" Nathan asks him. Breaking his thoughts.

"No, I was just not caring for Paul. Something about him...."

"I don't like him either" agrees Nathan. Mason nods.

"Keep watch over him" warns Mason. Nathan nods.

"I will" he replies.

Hannah waves good-bye to them before heading out of the place with Paul. Mason hoped Paul was not shady. That nothing was going on. He only hoped. Later on the work day went by rather fast for him.

He noticed when he got home Paul was helping Hannah carry in groceries. He was already making himself at home around her. Was he trying to move in? Mason wondered what was going on.

♥☆♥☆♥

"Hello there neighbor!" Paul calls out to him as he waves at Mason.

"Hi" Mason replies as he goes back to cutting wood in his front yard.

"Wow sure is amazing out here" Paul tells him making small talk.

"Sure is" Mason says.

"I can see why my brother loved it out here. He always wanted to go out here" Paul remarks.

"That is what Hannah said" says Mason.

"So are you and Hannah close?" asks Paul curiously. So that was the deal. Paul wanted to see what was going on with him and Hannah. Paul was trying to weasel his way in her life.

"Oh we are getting to know each other. She works with my little brother" says Mason.

"Nathan?" Paul asks. He nods.

"Yes" Mason says.

"Paul? You coming in?" asks Hannah coming out of her home.

"Coming" Paul tells her with a smile. He hands her the last grocery bag.

"Hi Mason" Hannah greets him cheerfully.

"Hi there" he replies.

"What do you think? Of Paul?" asks Hannah.

"Paul? He is okay" Mason says softly. He did not want to worry her when he did not know of everything that was going on yet. No sense in worrying her over nothing.

"Okay? Mason something wrong? Something I should know about?" Hannah asks him looking worried. He sighs.

"Nothing okay? No worries" he lies. He smiles. She nods.

"Hannah? Coming in?" calls Paul.

"Coming Paul" says Hannah. She heads in the house. He goes back to cutting wood.

♥☆♥☆♥ 

He made himself a nice dinner before the midnight hour came around.

Got his water bowl out. Prepared things for his wolfing hour came. Paul did not know who he was messing with. He better watch himself around Mason and his brother!

Midnight chimed on his clock on the wall.

His teeth grew. Ached. Fur came all over himself. He cried in pain as he changed. Transforming.

His clothing shed to the floor. He made a break for it outside. Chased around. Playing in the snow. He wondered if Nathan was going to meet him out there. He checked around Hannah and Mimi's home hoping to see Hannah in wolf form.

Someone was over beside her bedroom window. Wearing a mask. Peaking in! He had to save her! His heart began to pound as the person watched her. She was getting ready for bed. The perve was getting a good view of her. Mason felt his teeth begin to growl. He could not control his actions.

"What the hell? What is out there?" calls out the man in fear.

He turns around. Mason could not see who the coward was. He was wearing a black ski mask to cover his face. He had a gun in his other hand!

"Get back! You hear me? I have a gun! I am not afraid to use it!" warns the man who shook with fear as Mason came inching closer to him.

♥☆♥☆♥ 

Mason growls. Showing his teeth.

"Don't make me! I will shoot you!" warns the man again as he points the gun right at Mason now. Mason leaps at the man. Knocking him and the gun to the ground. Mason growls tearing the man's shirt. The man takes his mask off. PAUL!

"Get off! Get off me!" Paul demands in fear. He manages to reach for his gun before Mason could stop him.

With shaky hands Paul aims the gun at Mason. They struggle in a battle. A gun shot rings out when it was fired. Another rings out. Mason feels a sting shoot in his shoulder. He yelps in pain falling to the ground. He was bleeding!

"I warned you! s**t! I am not supposed to shoot animals! You made me! You came after me!" Paul yells.

"Is someone there? Mason? Nathan?" Hannah calls out suddenly. Paul looks to see her come over. He takes off before he is charged with shooting an animal.

"Is someone out there? Hello?" calls out Hannah.

Mason was in to much pain to move to her. He whimpers so she might hear him. She soon spots him laying there in pain.

♥☆♥☆♥

"Fearless! What happened! Who did this to you! Oh lord! You poor baby! Come here" she gasps as she kneels down to the ground beside him. She scoops him up in her arms. She struggles her hardest to lift him up without harming him even more! She carries him inside her place. Laying him down on the couch. She covers his wound trying to stop the bleeding.

"You have to be alright" she worries. "I have to get you help"

"You saved my life. It is my turn to save yours" she tells him.

"Mason? Please answer! Fearless is here! He is hurt!" she leaves him a message on the phone. Little did she know Mason was right there. She tries to call his brother next. No answer.

"I can't reach anyone" cries Hannah with worry. She pets his head. "Poor baby" she coos. He winces in pain. She calls the local vet. They come rushing out.

"What is this? A wild wolf?" the vet tells her.

"No not wild. My neighbor raised him. He is harmless. He saved me. He was shot by someone. Please help" begs Hannah. "I will pay. Whatever the cost"

"Alright" sighs the lady. She gets to work. She puts Mason to sleep on meds. Begins to get the bullet out of his shoulder successfully.

"Got it" the lady tells Hannah.

"Thank god" says Hannah. The lady patches up the wound.

"Keep watch over this one. We need to find out who is shooting our wild life out here. They need to be placed behind bars" warns the vet.

"I will" Hannah agrees before the vet leaves.

"Poor Fearless. You will be just fine. I will take care of you" vows Hannah as she kneels down beside Fearless rubbing the top of his head lovingly.

He rested after getting patched up. Mason forgot the it was past the midnight hour. Right before Hannah's very eyes Fearless transforms into Mason. A very naked but wounded Mason.

"What the hell...how is this possible? Mason?" gasps Hannah as she shakes reaching out to place a blanket over a sleeping Mason.

♥☆♥☆♥☆♥☆♥☆♥☆♥