Chapter 34

Kieran

"Excuse me." Mason and I pulled away from each other sheepishly to see his mom in the doorway of the hospital room. "Kieran, can we have a turn."
"Of course. Well. That's up to Mason I mean." I slid off the edge of the bed trying not to be embarrassed.
"Hi mom." Mason looked a bit anxious. "I'm... Sorry." I was confused what he had to be sorry for and looked at Chancy, her husband, Roger had appeared behind her and they had strained looks on their faces.
"Mason." Her voice cracked and I felt a pang of guilt. Mason lifted his arms and both of his parents swiftly went to him, hugging one another all at once. I stepped back feeling intrusive for being there but I didn't want to leave Mason's room.
"Why did you go alone?" His father asked heavily. "I don't know... I actually don't know." He was crying. My heart dropped abandoning my happiness from moments before.
Oh fuck.

I was being strangled by an invisible force, I'd thought I was out of tears but fresh ones sprang up.
Now I understood what he was apologizing for, he broke their pack rules. What the fuck, Mason? I felt weak. Why did he go to talk alone after I'd warned him that Cedric would fight dirty? I was wrecked, the memory of what I'd seen in the woods threatened to come to me and I shoved it away urgently.
"I'm so sorry, mom. Please, dad. Will you forgive me?" I saw Mason's shoulders tremble. I was pretty sure I hadn't taken a breath for a whole minute.
"We forgive you Mason, we love you so much. Never do this again." Mason's dad was rubbing his shoulders to comfort him, his mom was still hugging him. I hated to think what they were feeling.

Mason's four siblings whose name's I still didn't know entered the room as if they'd been listening outside for their cue. His sister, Lilac? went up to hug him as his mom stepped back. She whispered close to his ear but I still heard what she said,
"I take back what I said about your boyfriend." Mason laughed shakily but his sister's cheeks were wet and she didn't laugh with him. Whatever she'd said about me I'm sure I deserved, it made me like her.
When she stepped back the oldesest brother took her place while the other two stayed back waiting patiently for their turns, he held out a hand and Mason took it, pulling him into a brotherly hug. I thought it was less touching than the other's hugs, but when Mason let go his brother didn't and I realized I'd been wrong. "You're my little brother..." His voice was thick, "You're killing me, Mase. Who can I fight? Not this guy. I'm still pissed though." He straightened and shook his head, "Maybe I'll fight you, idiot."
"Sure, we can fight anytime." Mason said with a smile.

I came back to myself as a strange feeling washed over me, a sort of grief but different than the grief I'd been feeling these past weeks without Mason.
My brother's time for change was up, he would never have the chance to redeem himself, we'd never reconcile, never heal. He was what he'd become in finality. Permanently.
I'd done that. I didn't regret what I did. But I deeply regretted what he'd done, I regretted the choices that I didn't even make.
I couldn't watch anymore for fear I'd cry all over again, and I didn't want his family thinking I regretted protecting Mason.
"I'm going to give you guys a minute." I said hurriedly as I walked out of the room. I wanted some space but there in the hallway was my father, and when I looked in his eyes I saw my own feelings mirrored back.

My mouth twisted at the painful emotions, he reached out and put an arm across my shoulders. We stood together in silence feeling the same things. My head drooped to the ground.
I was...So glad that Cedric was gone. I was proud, in a way, that I'd killed him for what he did to Mason, who didn't deserve any of Cedric's demented hate. But I was also ashamed and horrified. Grief for what could have been different was there right alongside that gratefulness.

Later in the night Mason had drifted into some much needed sleep, he was expected to be sent home the next day. Chancy and I had both asked to stay though. She was in a guest recliner sleeping as well, but for my part I was kept awake. I felt the desire to sleep, I knew it would be a relief for my mind, but my body was too jittery. I wished I had my sketchbook.

I looked around, found a pen that was left behind and a piece of paper with hospital crap on one side. I turned it over and did a scrappy sketch with the pen, nothing impressive sure but it helped me relax. Some time passed with me feeling calm.
I finished the drawing to see I'd sketched Mason's mom, hugging him with their cheeks pressed together. She had a protective look in her eye gazing over Mason's shoulder. I liked it. I initialed it and put it on the tray next to Mason's bed. Then I stood by him.
He was sleeping with his mouth open, drooling and contorted in the bed. I smiled and touched his curly hair softly. Being close to him I felt my chest ache in a good way, I loved him so much. His life was precious to me, I'd protected it.

I was his again but he was always mine. I knelt down and tucked my head into my folded arms on the edge of the bed, somehow by instinct Mason's hand moved to my head. A wave of comfort knocked me out.

I woke to Mason tickling my nose. It was still dark.
"Kieran, your fucking knees are going to be destroyed. Also, is this a good way to rest your broken ribs?"
I gazed up at him contentedly, his eyes were soft. Life was too good for me. I reached up to stroke his cheek but winced in sudden pain. Dammit, he was right, my body was stiff and achy, I tried to stand but my knees were locked and I kind of crumpled to the ground rolling to my side with a groan. I heard Mason laughing softly as I squeezed my eyes shut trying to stretch my legs slowly. The touch of strong hands on my arm startled me, it was Mason, in his hospital gown, with an iv still in him, knelt down trying to pull me up.

"Mason, you crazy bastard get back in your bed!"
"God, you're so rude! It's my turn, let me help you." I sat up with Mason's help but stubbornly swatted him away after that. I thought about kissing him but remembered his mom was still there and I looked over to see her watching us, curled up in her chair. Cringe.

When Mason was discharged in the afternoon he insisted I go home with him. His mom must have been feeling soft because she let me. Lots of werewolves I'd never seen came to greet Mason when he got home. None of them greeted me, few looked at me. I felt the familiar wave of unease at being around them all, but like the sunlight, I was starting to be able to ignore it.

The family made him go straight to bed to rest and wait for diner but as soon as we were alone he actually dragged me onto the bed to lay with him. Of course I can't say I was upset. We were craving to reconnect after the time apart and I didn't have any intention of disappointing him.
"Don't ever leave me again, Kieran. Please." He sounded more fragile than before, we were curled up facing eachother, our foreheads pressed together.
"I'll never stop being sorry, Mason." I held his face in my hands and kissed him.

We both knew I'd have to leave in the morning, surely all the wolves would be grudgingly going to bed feeling the prickling agitation of my presence, I didn't give a fuck about them, I'm way too selfish. Mason did give a fuck however, he tried to say we should go to our shed but I convinced him he needed a proper bed and deserved one night of selfishness.
It wasn't that hard.

Liam

I lay in bed staring at the ceiling with a deep frown. Moonlight was cast on the wall emphasized by a cool breeze coming through my open window, it was a perfectly calm and beautiful night, yet here I was unable to sleep. Restless from the prominent aggrevation of my heightened senses, warning me of danger. Mason's damn boyfriend was giving me a headache.

I knew it was just paranoid thoughts but my instincts were going crazy. The trauma by proxy of what had happened to Mason just the night before made it easy to fill my head with conspiracies of the vampire. I imagined him waiting in the dark for all of us to fall asleep. Imagined him creepily watching my brother, vulnerable as he slept off his wounds. My skin was absolutely crawling.

The only thing to do was go see for myself, like getting out of bed to check if the stove is off. It was the only thing I could think of that might allow me to relax and get some rest.

I crept quietly down the hallway of bedrooms to Mason's door. I listened in the dark for a long time outside, when I only heard long deep breathing from inside I was finally ready to peek. I softly turned the knob and smoothly opened the door, my vision was already adjusted to the dark so I stepped into the door frame without hesitating. My eyes darted around the room looking for where the vampire was but I didn't see his silhouette in any corners or chairs.
Maybe he's behind me.
I startled myself and looked back but no one was there. Could he be wandering the house?
I took another step forward to check on Mason in his bed. I blinked, at first not comprehending what I saw.
There were two bodies in the bed, sleeping peacefully side by side, holding hands next to their faces. One was the vampire.
Oh.

I immediately felt foolish but also confused. He looked to be really asleep. I hadn't known that was possible.
Of course they would be cuddling, they're literally normal boyfriends, what the hell is wrong with me?
I slipped out the door quickly but closed it slowly, then turned to go back to my room and nearly jumped out of my human skin. There in the hallway was almost a dozen others from our pack staring at me.

I winced waiting to be chastised but when one of them did speak up they surprised me.
"Well? What is it doing?" One of the girls asked with her arms folded. I chuckled quietly and scratched my head.
"He's uh, sleeping. In the bed."
"No he's not, he must be pretending."
"Nah." I shrugged. "You can see for yourselves but, I think he's really asleep." They looked back at me as if deciding whether or not to take my word for it.
"Are they... You know. Decent?" Another wolf asked.
"Yeah." I looked down feeling embarrassed.

A couple of the wolves walked up to the door and peeked in for themselves. But eventually we all had to admit. There was no danger. Actually the vampire was the one who was in danger really. He was literally alone and asleep in a den of suspicious wolves. How was he the one able to sleep?

Kieran

In the morning I said goodbye to Mason, I really did have to leave. Truthfully I hadn't eaten in almost a week and my hunger was becoming painful. I told Mason casually that I was going to leave before the rest of the house woke up so that I could eat and he had actually tried to suggest I bite him.

I made a dramatic strangled shriek and stared at him with my mouth open. When he only looked back innocently I felt a bit angry at him.
"Mason," I said slowly, "you're genuinely the stupidest motherfucker I know."
"What? I missed it." He blushed a little.
"You have just had several blood transfusions... Your family is here, probably watching me secretly right now waiting for me to do something suspicious. Oh also, I don't fucking want to and I'm way too hungry!"
"Why?" His eyes narrowed.
"None of your business," I tsked as I gathered my things.
"Are you actually mad at me?" He asked with surprise.
"Yes! I'm pissed at you because I love you and you have virtually no survival instincts." He laughed as I stomped out the door.
"I love you too." He called after me.