26. Shya

Chapter twenty-six

Shya

C onsciousness returned slowly, my senses awakening one by one. First came the smell, the sharp, sterile scent of disinfectant that could only mean a hospital. Then the sound filtered in, the steady beep and hum of machines. Pain came next, a dull, throbbing ache that seemed to radiate through my entire body.

I struggled to open my eyes, my lids heavy as lead. Fragmented memories flashed through my mind. Tristan's face. The news that my father was dead. Running, desperate to get away. The fall over the waterfall. I tried to piece it together, but my thoughts were hazy, slipping away like wet pebbles.

My Pack bonds were back. I could feel them flowing into me but I couldn't make sense of any of it.

Finally, my eyes fluttered open, the harsh fluorescent light making me squint. There was a face hovering above mine. I blinked and it swam into focus.

"Mason?" My voice came out as a raspy whisper.

"Here." He passed me a glass of water with a straw. I took a small sip, the cool water harsh against my throat.

I tried again. "What are you doing here?" Actually, hold on; that was not the question. "What am I doing here? Where is here exactly?" I asked, looking around the room. It was a standard hospital room with a bed, a cabinet, a tray table on wheels. There were two doors, one I was guessing that led to a bathroom. But this wasn't the medical wing at Bridgetown.

"What do you remember?" Mason asked gently as his thumb stroked my cheek. I closed my eyes at his touch. I was surprised by how safe it made me feel. How comforted I was just by him being here.

Before I could answer, the door to the corridor swung open, and Derek walked in.

"Shya, you're awake," Derek said, relief evident in his voice. He strode over to the bed, his eyes darting between Mason and me. "How're you feeling?"

I shrugged, then winced as the movement sent a jolt of pain through my body. "Like I jumped off a waterfall. Oh wait, I did."

Derek exchanged a look with Mason. "Well, that would explain some of your injuries. What's the last thing you remember?"

I frowned, trying to piece together the fragmented memories. "Jumping. I knew I couldn't let Tristan find me, knew I wouldn't let him take me back there. The water seemed like the best option at the time."

Mason's whole body tensed. He understood what I was saying. "Shya—"

"Don't, Mason. I'd make the same choice again. I won't let Tristan have me. Not again."

Rage filled his face. "You won't ever have to worry about that, princess. He will never get his hands on you again."

For a moment, his control, always so tightly leashed, slipped. His presence expanded and filled the entire room. I felt the weight of his power, the barely contained fury that simmered beneath the surface. It should have scared me. But it didn't. All I felt was safe. Protected.

Derek cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "Do you remember anything else? Anything about Tristan, about where he is or his plans?"

"I … I was held in a camp. Tris …Tristan, he said I was his fated mate, and I believed him. The things I said … Oh, Mason, the things I thought! I was going to go through with the mating ceremony, and I was happy!" A wave of disgust and horror swept through me. "I was happy, Mason. He made me think I was happy."

Mason reached out and gently swiped away the tears running down my face. When did I start crying? "There was a witch; I'm sure there was a witch. They came into my dreams, chanting. Every night, they were there. Until all I could hear was the chanting. Over and over." I was rambling now, and I knew it, but I couldn't seem to stop. "I think they did something to my head. My wolf. She shut herself away. I couldn't feel her anymore. But she came back at the end."

I felt inside for her, but she was gone again.

What the fuck was going on?

"She's gone again, Mason," I heard the desperation in my own voice. "Why? What if she's gone? Like, really gone?"

Mason gathered me into his arms. "Hush, princess. It's okay. Your wolf will come back, I promise. There is no witch spell that can separate you permanently from your wolf. Maybe this is just a lingering effect from the spell. If so, she'll come back again."

I pushed against his chest so I could look at his face as another memory crashed into me. "I heard something at the camp. They said … they said my dad was dead. Please tell me they were wrong, Mason. Please." I curled my fists in his shirt, begging now, but I could see the answer in his eyes, could feel it in my Pack bonds. "No, no, no! You're wrong! It has to be some mistake."

"I'm so sorry, Shya."

I started sobbing and sank into his chest. I cried until I couldn't cry anymore. I don't know how long it took, but after I was done, I fell asleep, my head resting on Mason's shoulder.

When I next woke up, awareness came slowly again, the remnants of sleep still clinging to me. I was warm and comfortable, the pain from earlier now a dull ache. It didn't take long to realize I wasn't alone in the hospital bed. Strong arms were wrapped around me, holding me securely against a solid chest. Mason.

I kept my eyes closed, not wanting to shatter this moment of peace. I knew Mason and Derek would want to talk about what happened with Tristan, would want to tell me about my dad, and I wasn't ready for that. I wanted to forget, to pretend, even if just for a little while, that none of it had happened.

My thoughts drifted, and I found myself thinking of Mason and his wolf. Had my dream about him been real? Or was it just a fantasy made up by my mind to try to get me through the ordeal? I could ask him, but how would I even start? "So hey, did you come into my dreams, guide me to a river, and give me the most amazing orgasm I'd ever had?"

Nope. That wasn't a conversation I was ever having with Mason. But not knowing was gnawing at me. I wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't anymore. The doubt scared the shit out of me. If I couldn't trust my own thoughts, what could I trust?

"Princess?" Mason's voice was soft in my ear. "You awake?"

I sighed, realizing I couldn't hide from him forever. I was a Pack princess, and my dad had taught me better. I had to face my problems head-on, no matter how much I wanted to run from them.

I opened my eyes and tried to sit up. Pain lanced through my body, making me gasp. Mason sat up with me, his hands gentle as he helped me into a sitting position. "Careful."

I nodded, gritting my teeth against the pain. "Where are we?"

"It's a human hospital," Mason explained. "Your arm was broken, along with six ribs. You had some internal injuries. You'll feel better after you Shift."

I nodded, trying to ignore the twist of fear in my gut at the mention of my wolf. What if she didn't come back? What if whatever Tristan did to me had driven her away for good?

I pushed the thought away. I couldn't dwell on that now. There were more pressing things to deal with.

I looked at Mason, steeling myself for the conversation I knew was coming. "Okay. Tell me everything."

By the time Mason had finished, I'd cried so much I didn't think there was any water left in my body. Now, I felt completely numb. Part of me thought that maybe that was a good thing.

Mason tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "We'll get revenge for your father."

I nodded.

Mason frowned and then opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Derek walked in with a tall, bearded man and a petite female werewolf with a scowl on her face. I was guessing Milly. And the other … My nose wrinkled. Bear Shifter. I narrowed my eyes at him. This must be AJ. A spark of anger rose in my chest before fizzling out.

"You attacked my brother," I said, but there was no heat to my words. Maybe there were no more emotions left in me.

Mason's frown deepened as AJ crossed his arms and nodded once. "I did. And for that, I'm sorry. How is the boy?"

"I don't know. He's just lost his dad, and I've been missing for …" I glanced up at Mason.

"Five weeks."

Five weeks? Was that all? It felt so much longer.

"Right. So, he's not exactly getting all the breaks right now."

AJ tilted his head and studied me for a moment. "I'm sorry about your father. He was a good man, a good leader."

My breath caught and tears welled up. Okay, so I wasn't totally numb.

Mason slid his hand around my shoulders, and I took a deep breath. I could do this.

"Thank you. And thank you, both of you, for helping Mason and Derek. I understand that they wouldn't have found me if it hadn't been for your help."

AJ nodded. "I know you've been through a lot, but I have to ask, did you see or hear anything about my mate in the camp?"

I wished I had better news for him. "I'm sorry. I was kept away from the main camp and was alone most of the time. I didn't see any other captives when I was there."

AJ's face flashed with disappointment then he lowered his head, looking at the floor while his hand rubbed the back of his neck.

Milly shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting around the room. Mason had said she wasn't used to being around people, especially other wolves. When her stare landed on me, there was a curious glint in her eye.

"Were they telling the truth?" She jerked her head toward Derek and Mason. "Are you really a Pack princess?" she asked, her voice quiet.

I nodded. "Yes. Or at least, I was. Before …" I trailed off, not wanting to think about my father.

Milly seemed to study me for a moment. "And you're in line to be Pack Alpha?"

"With my father gone, my mother will be the sole Alpha until she and I decide when it would be best for me to take over. I would have to be mated first, though. It's better for a pair to rule; they work together to balance each other out, to do what's best for the whole Pack."

A strange expression crossed her face, a mix of awe and disbelief. "And you'll get to make decisions for the whole Pack? For real?"

I realized that for her, the idea of a female being in a position of power equal to males was probably a new concept.

I nodded. "Most Packs are run equally by the Alpha pair."

There was something in her eyes, a look; it took me a moment to realize it was hope and desire before she shut it down.

"It's still a Pack, though. I've had enough of those, especially after Tristan."

I scoffed. "Yeah, well, Tristan is a fuck—"

Pain lanced through my head at the mention of Tristan, and I winced. Mason's hand was immediately curled around the back of my neck, steadying me.

"What's wrong?" he asked, concern etched in his features.

I gritted my teeth, waiting for the pain to subside. "I don't know. I was just thinking about Tristan, about how much I hate him …" The pain intensified, stealing my breath.

Milly‘s face darkened. "It‘s the witch. It's one of their spells. You won't be able to think bad thoughts about him, not without it hurting."

Bile crept up my throat. Just how much had Tristan and his witch messed with my mind?

"Can it be broken?" Mason asked, his voice tight.

Milly shrugged. "I know nothing about witches. I stay away from them more than I keep clear of wolves."

It was all too much. Tristan, my dad, my mother losing her mate, my brothers their father, and now this. Tristan had had a witch rummaging inside my mind, manipulating my thoughts and feelings. It might not be physical, but it was rape all the same. I curled into a ball.

"Shya?" Mason whispered.

"Take me home, Mason. Please, just take me home."