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Chapter 56

I stirred when I felt someone next to move, making me slowly open my eyes. I was met with Mason's chest. I scrubbed my eyes when I noticed it was still dark outside but snapped my head up when I heard Mason whimper. A soft, low whimper. My eyes widened once I laid eyes on his face.

His face was red and sweaty, so was the rest of his body. He kept whimpering and growling lowly, making me sit up and stare at him in confusion. I placed my hand on his arm which calmed him for a moment before he started moving in his sleep. His head shook as tears fell down from his face.

"Mason?" I whispered, shaking him. "Wake up."

He was having a nightmare.

The sight in front of me broke my heart. He looked broken. Never have I seen Mason like this. He was crying in his sleep, something I never witnessed before. I shook him more and my heart fell to my stomach when he whimpered again.

"Mom," he said so softly that I barely heard. My brows furrowed and I tightened my arms around him as his breathing rate increased.

"Mason. Wake up," I spoke. His eyes shot open and his body jolted from the bed. His eyes were wide and his breathing rate was fast. I rubbed his back with my hands in an attempt to calm him down. He took in a deep breath and closed his eyes. Once he looked at me, my breath was caught in my throat.

He was crying.

Tears streamed down his face and right then and there, he looked like a broken child. Not some strong Alpha that could kill without remorse. He looked like a child that was broken, a child who needed a hug. And that's what I did. I pulled him in for a hug without a second thought. His arms automatically wrapped around my waist as he cried on my shoulder.

My arms tightened around him as he let out a loud cry, making me close my eyes to prevent the tears from falling. His crying was the saddest thing I ever witnessed. It broke my heart. I ran a hand through his hair and whispered soothing words into his ear.

"Shh.." I whispered, kissing his forehead. "It's ok."

He nodded his head and pulled away from me. He looked down at his hands with a shameful expression. I frowned and wiped the wet tears from his cheek, holding his face in my hands.

"Mason.." I breathed out, placing a soft kiss on his lips. "What happened? Was it a bad dream?" Mason looked up at me with watery, red eyes. His eyes held loneliness in them, which made me want to hug him to my chest and tell him everything was going to be ok.

He hesitantly nodded his head. "Yes," he whispered. "A bad dream." I sighed out and nodded my head. I knew that that wasn't the only thing but decided to not question it. He seemed like he didn't want to talk about it and I wasn't going to push him to explain if he didn't want to.

But the word he muttered in his sleep kept roaming my head.

Mom?

I guess whatever happened in his past scarred him. When I was a kid, I heard stories that he killed his parents but I knew better than to listen to them. You never know what's hidden deep in someone's heart that no one else knows. I knew that once the time was right, I'd ask him about it but clearly right now, the time wasn't right.

"It's ok. I'm right here," I whispered. He nodded his head and pulled me to him, digging his nose in my hair, inhaling my scent. He let out a long breath and that's when I noticed his breathing rate was back to normal. I smiled softly down at him as he placed his head on my breast, closing his eyes.

I ran a hand through his hair, playing with them. He opened his eyes and stared up at me. The loneliness in his eyes disappeared and was replaced with love. I smiled down at him and he inhaled my scent one more time before closing his eyes.

"I love you," he whispered, tightening his hold on my waist.

"I love you too." I kissed the top of his head. He inhaled my scent one more time before I felt his breath even out, indicating that he was asleep. I softly touched his cheek and kissed his lips, before lying him on the bed. I pulled the covers over him and laid next to him, snuggling my face in his chest.

Inhaling his scent, I closed my eyes and wrapped an arm around his body before I fell asleep.

Opening my eyes, I was met with dark, mesmerizing orbs staring back at me. Automatically, I smiled. His lips turned up in a half smiled and he pulled me towards him, kissing me on my lips. Mason soon pulled away and stared at me with loving eyes.

"Morning," he spoke, lazily, lingering another kiss on my lips.

"Good morning," I whispered, wrapping my arms around his neck. "How do you feel?" I asked.

He smiled softly and nodded his head. "I feel much better."

"That's good," I said in a thankful voice. I sat up and looked down at him. "Are you hungry?" I asked, standing up. He sat up and nodded.

"Yes," Mason responded, about to stand up. I frowned and walked up to him, pushing at his chest softly so he could lay down. He raised a brow at me and I only offered him a pointed look.

"Lay down and don't get up," I ordered him. "You need to rest. Sam specifically told me."

Mason frowned and grabbed onto my hand. "You were bitten. So you should rest too," Mason argued, making me shake my head.

"Sam was able to retract the venom out of my system, so I'm perfectly fine," I explained, smiling down at him and kissing his lips. "You're the one who was injected with silver so you need to rest. I'll go make breakfast then come back." Mason's frown deepened and he looked at me then sighed.

"Fine, but hurry up. I don't want you away from me," he whispered, lowly. His words brought a smile to my face and I leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on his soft lips. I pulled away and laid my forehead against his, looking into his beautiful eyes.

"Don't worry. I'll be right back," I told him with a reassuring smile on my face. He nodded and that's when I turned around.

"Wait," he spoke. I turned around and raised a brow.

"Yeah?"

"Whose shirt is that for?" He questioned, pointing at the shirt I was wearing. I looked down and that's when I realized that I was still wearing Ameer's shirt. I still didn't change. I looked back at Mason and it looked like he just realized that too. His eyes were dark and he didn't look too pleased that I was in another male's shirt.

I smiled softly at him and shrugged my shoulders. "This is for Ameer," I replied. His eyes darkened and he sat up, glaring at the shirt.

"Who's Ameer?" He growled. I rolled my eyes and walked up to him, pushing at his chest so he was lying down on the bed.

"He's one of the new pack warriors that arrived here three days ago," I answered, looking back at the shirt then at a frowning Mason. "He let me wear it yesterday when we're were attacked because I shifted into my wolf and had no clothes."

Mason's eyes narrowed and his chest rumbled. He didn't look too happy. He nodded and pointed at his closet. "Wear something from my clothes," he murmured. I raised a brow and shook my head.

"I'm going to my room to change anyway," I told him. His eyes roamed down my body before he looked at my eyes. He growled and shook his head.

"You're not going outside like that. Just change into my clothes then go to your room and change," he ordered. I glanced down at the shirt then at his closet before nodding my head. "I'm going to have to move her stuff to my room," Mason muttered to himself, making my eyes widen. He looked at me and smiled sheepishly at me, his hard features fully disappearing.

I rolled my eyes but smiled a goofy smile. I walked to his closet and pulled out the smallest shirt I could find and some sports shorts. I shrugged my shoulders and walked to his bathroom.

I guess these will do.

I changed into his close, smiling because his scent was all over them. I inhaled his scent and sighed out in satisfaction. I looked at the mirror and cringed at my sight. I just hope I don't run into someone. They'd surely think differently if they saw me in Mason's clothes.

I shook my head and walked out of the bathroom. Mason's eyes widened once he laid eyes on me and smiled. "You look good in my clothes," he murmured, his eyes darkening with lust. I smiled at that and walked towards his bedroom door.

"I'll be back," I spoke and opened the door, walking out of his room. I sighed out in relief as I noticed that there weren't any pack members in the hallway. Surely if someone saw me, they'd think I was walking the walk of shame. I shook my head and ran to my room.

As soon as I was inside, I let out a deep breath. I ran to my closet and grabbed some clothes and ran to the bathroom. As soon as I was done doing my business, brushing my teeth, washing my face, and wearing my clothes, I ran out of my bedroom and down the stairs, towards the kitchen.

As soon as I was in front of the kitchen doors, I pushed them open and walked in. I was greeted by Anna, Ameer, and some other pack members who greeted me with a nod. I smiled at them and walked towards Anna with a smile. Ameer smiled from ear to ear and pulled me in for a side hug because of the cup of coffee that was in his hands.

"How's my favorite neighbor doing?" He asked, smiling down at me. I returned the smile and nodded.

"I'm good."

He took a sip of his coffee and shoved the cup in my face, making me frown. "Want some coffee?" He asked, grinning down at me.

I shook my head. "No thanks-"

"Ha! Too bad. It's all mine," he caught me off, making me roll my eyes. He laughed as I glared at him and he took another sip at his coffee. "I don't share."

"I wasn't asking you to," I muttered and walked up to Anna. Ameer walked behind me and placed his arm over my shoulder.

"I'm kidding with you. Here," he said and placed the cup of coffee in front of my face for the second time today. "I'll share with you and you only. Only because we're best friends. By the way, I got the friendship bracelets. There in my room. But I call dibs on the pink bracelet. You'll get the blue one." He grinned down at me. I laughed and shook my head.

"No thanks, Ameer." I chuckled, talking about the coffee. He shrugged his shoulders and took another sip of his coffee.

"Oh well. More for me," he murmured before smiling then chugging everything down his throat. I rolled my eyes and turned over to Anna, smiling at her.

"Hi, Anna."

She smiled at me and nodded her head in respect. "Hello, Luna," she greeted, making my brows furrow.

"Please. Just Tiana," I told her. Her eyes widened and she nodded, smiling at me. "Can you please make Mason and me something for breakfast? Since you know, I don't know how to cook." I smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of my neck. She chuckled and nodded.

"Of course."

Anna turned around, grabbing some stuff from the fridge and cabinets before she started with breakfast. I glanced at Ameer to see him making more coffee. I raised a brow at him, questioningly.

"Didn't you already drink coffee?" I asked. He looked at me and grinned.

"I'm addicted. I need at least two cups of coffee in the morning," he responded.

I nodded, smiling at him.

"No wonder you're so hyper," I muttered, sure that he heard. He laughed, shrugging his shoulders. I looked behind me once I heard the kitchen doors open. I smiled once I saw Crystal walking towards me with a smile on her face.

"Tiana," she greeted, pulling me in for a hug. "How are you?" I pulled away, looking at her.

"Hey, Crystal. I'm fine. How about you?" I questioned.

She nodded. "I'm great," she responded then looked at Anna. "John wants something for breakfast. Can you make something for him?" Anna nodded.

"Yes, of course. I'm making something for the Alpha so I'll give you some too," she replied.

"Thanks, Anna." She kissed her cheek then turned to me. We talked for a while until Anna was done. Once she was fully finished, she placed the food on trays and handed them over to us. We grabbed them and thanked her before we walked out of the kitchen together.

We were walking down the hall when we saw Mason running down the stairs and out the packhouse. My eyes widened and I looked at Crystal with confusion.

He's supposed to be in bed. What is he doing?

"Mason," I yelled, speed walking after him with Crystal behind me. "Where are you going?" Mason didn't stop and I huffed out before placing the tray of food on a table and ran after him. Crystal did the same and ran behind me. We walked out of the packhouse and I looked around for any signs of Mason. I spotted him in a distance with a group of men that I've never seen before.

I furrowed my brows and speed-walked towards him to give him a piece of my mind when I stopped dead in my track, completely shocked at who I saw in front of me. My breath was caught in my throat and my eyes widened severally. I felt my heartbeat aggressively against my rib cage. Crystal stopped beside me and stared at me weirdly. She raised her brow in confusion as I stared at the man in front of me.

"Tiana, what's wrong?" Crystal questioned, placing her hand on my arm. I glanced at her before I brought my stare back to the man in front of me who was looking at me with wide eyes that held shock in them. Eyes that were reflecting my own.

"Tiana?" He whispered, moving a step closer to me. I opened my mouth but no words fell out. I felt a lump in my throat as a lonely tear slipped out of my eyes.

"Zander?" I whispered shocked, my voice cracking. He took another step closer to me as Mason looked at me with questioning eyes. Crystal's eyes widened and her mouth hung open.

"Zander?" She whispered then whipped her head towards me while staring at me with confused eyes. "Zander? As in your first mate? I thought he was dead."

I held in my breath as I turned to look at the person who I thought was long gone and forever out of my life.

"I thought so too."

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