After reading the letter, M’s hands started to tremble as a deep scowl marked his face.
“This can’t be true… This is not true!”
“I know you would feel that way, and that’s why I need you to try and contact her. Try again,” V requested worriedly.
M focused all his might, energy, belief, and thoughts on the one and only woman who had managed to ever surprise him… amaze him…
Made him feel…
And he finally connected.
Alexia! Alexia, where the hell are you!?
M felt how his link found her, how she was hearing him for a moment. He felt her disgust, her nausea, the dizziness and disorientation, and for a moment too, he felt the belladonna cocktail that was given to her.
His eyes got blurry, not only from the drug; but for the confirmation of what he feared. He felt his brawny body shaking, his anger rising and heating his chiseled chest, becoming almost an uncontrollable rage.
“Alex, I beg you, please answer me,” Ma’Heron whispered, almost going insane at the worst-case scenarios going through his thoughts.
* * *
She heard the voice of her handsome ebony-haired man in her head, right when the blurry image of a hateful black-haired male covered in soft, red fabric – who was lying by her side got off the bed to remove the flimsy crimson clothing from his body.
Alexia closed her eyes for a moment, focusing on not letting her tears fall, as she cut the voice of the one, she loved the most by closing the mindlink with her husband and mate, Ma’Heron Denar.
I’m sorry, love. It doesn’t make sense that we both go through this.
* * *
M internally rejoiced for a moment upon feeling her and then… Silence.
All the sensations he had from her disappeared suddenly, and he somehow knew what was happening. His mate closed the link with him only for one reason… She would do that, only to protect him.
“What happened?” Aaron asked M, as he saw the way his bro’s facial expression suddenly changed.
V also spoke up, “Did she finally connect with you? What did she say?”
Unknown to them, right then and there upon realizing what she was protecting him from – the well-renowned Gamma infamous for his very collected, almost coldhearted logic – lost absolute control of himself. Ma’Heron stood in silence only for a second…
And then released a long and heartrending bellow of fury, frustration, and realization.
“NOOOOOOOOO!!! ALEXIAAAAAAAA!!!”
Lyon surfaced almost immediately. M then instantaneously merged-shift to his humanoid wolf’s huge, vicious, and dangerous form. His enraged roar filled the room, along with his monstrous werewolf body.
“DAMN! HOLD HIM!” Vince yelled while Aaron and he shifted as well to try and control their pack’s Gamma.
Bren! We need to sedate him! The Beta mindlinked, knowing that M’s assistant was always preparing many special natural mixtures, especially his tranquilizers, which were usually placed inside ever-ready syringes.
Bren hurriedly moved towards the three shifted and struggling men while inserting the needle into M’s muscled thigh. Good thing he always used syringes that can pierce strong werewolf skin.
As the Gamma slowly collapsed to his knees as he returned to his human form, he managed to speak his thoughts… his fears… out loud…
“He has her, V… And I think he… he has… he has… oh goddess… have mercy… no…”
Vince kneeled beside his friend, so he could reassure him properly, “We don’t know that for sure, M. Let’s hope not.
For now, rest.”
Even as the Alpha tried to calm him down, he knew that the possibility of Ma’Heron’s wife going through what he thought she was going through was very high. And M could read it on his superior’s face.
“He said… in the call… for her sake… he hopes… you… res… ponds…”
The natural and very powerful mixture that Brenner, the part-time spy, and who many called M’s new right hand had prepared, has now taken full effect. After V and Aaron dressed up in robes that were stored handily in V’s office, they wrapped him in one of these and took him to the hospital wing.
A few more minutes later, the naked, broken man had now fallen into a deep, uneasy sleep in one of the hospital rooms. And yes, fallen, as if consumed by the darkness of a very deep hole that threatened to consume him…
And during that time, Ma’Heron dreamed of the past. In Ma’Heron’s dreams…
“Ragdoll Club, huh? I guess this is the place,” M said aloud, still remembering how he managed to get himself to that seedy-looking club. Just yesterday, he wasn’t even thinking of going here, to be honest. Anyone who knew him would understand why…
***
He was sweaty, shirtless, and was wearing one of the pack’s practice shorts which were very thin and a bit tight.
Well, for someone with his “size”, it was quite snug even if he was completely “soft” but it didn’t bother him that much.
They usually put them on after a sparring session, since they also shift during hand-to-hand combat, so they don’t walk naked around the whole packhouse while they’re on their way back to their apartments. Even with these simple clothes, his impressively sculpted, muscled body, made females – and even males – turn to see him as he passed.
Yet his mind was completely lost in thought…
Still thinking of her, I see. Lyon started teasing him.
“Let’s not start, okay? I’ve had enough of that shit. Besides, you saw the way she took the fact that we were mates. She kicked my ass, and that’s not exactly encouraging…”
But she didn’t call the guards. You’re a high-ranking member of this pack, M, come on! And aren’t you well-known for being analytical? Use your brain a little. Think!
“Lyon, there’s nothing to think about. Sure, there might be a pull, but not because I find her attractive. I haven’t even seen her face. There is no reason for me to go head over heels for her. And I can assure you that she thinks the same of me.”
Oh, does she? You know her so well now?
Ma’Heron walked in silence for a moment, as he walked by the mailboxes at the packhouse, like he usually does every morning. Of course, he took this chance to take a peek into a few of them. He fished out one particular envelope with a scent, he suddenly remembered.
“Well, well, well… What is this?”
I can smell her scent on it, so whatever it is, we’re reading and doing it, M.
“You’re gonna get us killed, with this ‘mate’ thing, Lyon.”
I’ll take the blame then… Go on and read it, OK?