11. Mason

Chapter eleven

Mason

A s we left the medical wing, I wanted to ram my fist into the walls. Camille was being short-sighted. She needed all the help she could get. Instead, her instincts had gone the other way. Closing ranks, shutting down all outsiders. Part of me understood it. They'd just had their whole world ripped away. Michael dead, Shya taken. Outsiders had done that, and they needed to protect what was left right now before they faced the world again. But that didn't help my mate. She was out there, in Tristan's hands, and the best chance of getting her back was if we worked together.

A figure was waiting for us by the door, and for a moment, I flashed back to Michael standing there, waiting to tell me to leave Shya alone.

This person was no Michael, though. While they shared a similar tall and lean build, this man possessed none of the distinct presence that set Michael apart. His dark blond hair was meticulously styled, not a single strand out of place, and his blue eyes held a calculating intensity that seemed to evaluate everything they fell upon. He stood with an air of unwavering authority, his posture rigid and controlled, as if he had been trained to maintain a perfect stance at all times. I had a feeling that this could only be Edmond D'Estry, Shya's fiancé.

His smile, though perfectly practiced, didn't reach his eyes when he said, "Mason Shaw, I presume. I'm Edmond D'Estry, Shya's intended mate."

"I know who you are," I growled.

Edmond's expression hardened. "Yes, I imagine you do. I'm here to let you know that the Bridgetown Pack appreciates your concern for our Alpha family, but we do not require further assistance. This is a matter for our Pack to handle internally."

I stepped forward, my anger rising. Had he been listening to my conversation with Camille, or had he come to that conclusion himself? Either way, I didn't have time for his diplomatic double-speak. I valued straight-talkers in my business and my life.

"What you're trying to say, Edmond, if you stop pussyfooting around, is that you want me to back off. You intend to find Shya yourself."

There was that smile again, polite and perfect, even when his eyes remained hard. "I can see why Shya likes you. You must seem like a shiny new toy to her, rough around the edges, telling it like it is. It's different from what she's used to. Unfortunately, some of us have to live in this world, have to understand the nuances of politics and diplomacy, and apply them to complex situations such as this one. I'm sure she has enjoyed your company while it lasted, but Shya is our Alpha-in-waiting and as such, once she is found by us, she will need to elevate her mind once again."

"And now you're calling me stupid, and I'm guessing you're hoping that I'm too dumb to realize it."

His smile widened, like I was a puppy who'd just learned a new trick. "No, I was very much hoping you'd realize it. It's more satisfying that way. I just want to be very clear. Shya is a member of the Bridgetown Pack, and as such, her safety and well-being are my top priority. I will personally lead the hunt for her and bring my future mate home."

"Shya is not your mate," I growled. "She belongs to me."

Edmond's eyes flashed, a hint of possessiveness in his gaze. "Shya and I are promised to each other, Mason. Our union is what's best for the Pack, and I will not let anyone, least of all a coarse, boorish outsider, interfere with that."

I'd had enough. First Camille, now this fucker. All their posturing was pointless. Finding Shya was the only thing any of them should be working on.

I moved, slamming Edmond against the wall, my forearm crushing his windpipe. "Shya is out there, in the hands of that fucker, Tristan. That's all that matters. You're wasting time with your fucking games."

He pushed against me. I didn't budge.

Derek placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm and grounding. "Mason, don't do something you'll regret."

I kept my focus solely on Edmond. "Understand the nuance in this: I'm going to get my mate and kill Tristan. Try to stop me, and I'll kill you, too."

Edmond's eyes narrowed as he choked out, "Leave, Mason. The Bridgetown Pack … will handle this. Your presence … here … is no longer welcome."

I released Edmond, letting him crumple to the ground. I turned to Derek, my anger so close to the surface now. "We're wasting time here."

Derek nodded, and we headed for the SUV.

"Can you believe that guy?" I fumed. "And that's who Michael and Camille want her to mate with!"

Derek's face was grim. "They just lost their Alpha, and they're trying to protect what's left of their Pack."

I scoffed, my frustration mounting with each step. "By shutting out people who can help them find Shya? It's bullshit, Derek, and you know it."

"I know," Derek replied, his voice calm and measured. "So, how do you want to play this? You want to march back in there and start a war? I'll be right behind you, Mase, if that's what you want to do."

I shook my head, my mind racing with thoughts of Shya and the danger she was in. "I don't care about their politics or their power plays. All I care about is finding Shya and bringing her home."

"Then let's find her."

And just like that, my anger, so big and wild up to now, focused down to a laser point. I had a mission. I had a target. It was time to go hunting.

As we approached the car, I heard footsteps behind us. I turned to see Henry and Tucker striding toward us.

"Mason, wait!" Henry called out as I slowed. "I wanted to say sorry about my mom. She's just … she's not thinking straight."

I sighed and put a hand on his shoulder. He didn't need to hear my thoughts about his mom right now. "She's going through a lot."

"I know, but we need help. We should be reaching out to our allies, not sending them away. That's why my parents cultivated relationships with other Packs. So that they'd be there in times of need."

"Grief affects people in different ways, Henry," Derek said. "She'll come around. She just needs some time."

Tucker shook his head, his little face scrunched up in anger. "We don't have time! I'm gonna find the asshole myself. He has to pay for hurting our family."

I looked at Tucker, really looked at him. He was like a tiny missile ready to go off. Someone had come into his territory, attacked his family, murdered his dad, and taken his sister. His wolf would be demanding retribution. He was a born Alpha, and if I didn't try to shut this down now, Shya's brother was likely to get himself killed.

I had to take him seriously and not sugar-coat it. "Tucker, you need to stay here and keep your mom safe. Your Pack has been hit hard. It won't just be Tristan who is circling now. You'll have threats inside and outside the Pack to deal with. Any enemies you have be wondering if you are down and out, and they're going to test to see how weak you are. You're going to be needed here to show everyone that the Alpha family is not prey, that you're still strong, still capable. Let me find Tristan and make him pay for what he's done. I'll bring Shya home."

Tucker's eyes flashed with a fierce determination as he took in what I was saying. Then he lifted his chin. "You'd better find her. I know where you live, and I've been saving up all my spitballs!"

I didn't smile even though I wanted to. Instead, I nodded solemnly. "I swear to you both, I will find Shya or die trying."

Tucker kept his eyes on mine for a long moment before saying, "Okay. Go find my sister."

I jerked my chin at Henry, then Derek and I got in the car.

We didn't get very far. As Derek pulled out of the Alpha House driveway and started down the road, a small figure darted in front of us, arms outstretched. Derek slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching against the asphalt.

It was a girl, probably no more than twelve years old. She wore a faded blue denim jacket over a bright yellow T-shirt with a cartoon sunflower on the front. A small, colorful bracelet adorned her left wrist, its beads catching the light as she moved. She stood defiantly in the middle of the road, her long brown hair whipping around her face in the evening breeze.

"What the hell?" Derek muttered, but I was already getting out of the car.

"You're Mason Shaw," she announced, her voice clear and unwavering, before I could say anything.

"That's right. Do I know you?"

She smelled human, but I didn't recognize her. The girl shook her head, her eyes never leaving mine. "No, but I know you. You're going to find Shya."

I raised an eyebrow. "And how do you know that?"

"Because you think you're her mate, and that's what proper mates are supposed to do," she said firmly. "So, if you were thinking of not finding her, I'm telling you, no, ordering you, to go find her."

This was sounding eerily familiar. I narrowed my eyes at her. "Are you friends with Tucker?"

She narrowed her eyes right back at me. "Who I'm friends with is no concern of yours. You need to focus on finding Shya."

I blinked. Seriously, who the hell was this girl? Did everyone in Bridgetown have supersonic hearing?

Her expression softened for a moment. "Please. Shya is … she's important. To me. To my mom. To all of us. You're the best chance we have to bring her back."

"She's important to me, too. I promise you, I'm going to do everything in my power to bring Shya home."

She nodded, seemingly satisfied with my response. "Alright then. But I'm warning you, if you don't, you'll have me to answer to. And I can make a hell of a lot more spitballs than Tucker."

I inhaled. She definitely smelled human but if she was, there was no way she could have heard my conversation with Tucker. Which opened up a whole load of questions that I didn't have time for right now. "I'll bear that in mind."

I got back into the car, my resolve stronger than ever. Derek gave me a questioning look.

"Looks like we've got another set of marching orders," I said, my voice filled with grim determination. "Let's go find my girl."