♥ THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. I LOVE YOU ALL DEARLY ♥

Chapter Forty

Part Two

With all the other guests dancing, it was only us still sitting at the table on the edge of the dance floor. Sara dropped down onto a chair, empty glasses in her hands and exhaustion finally taking over. "You look tired," Peter noted, "beautiful, but tired."   

She smiled, "It's worth it."   

I sat on Mason's lap, one of his arms around my waist and the other draped over my leg. Resting my head on his shoulder, I felt a kiss being pressed to my forehead before his lips moved against my skin. "Tired?" I nodded.   

"It's been a wonderful night, Sara." My mom said, "Everyone had such a good time." Alpha Tom raised his glass, "I agree." Standing from his chair, he held out his hand for Delilah to take. "Now I would like to dance with my beautiful mate." With a rosy tint to her cheeks, she stood and followed him on to the make shift dance floor. 

Turning in his chair to face Bella, Cole wiggled his brows. "How about a dance, hot stuff?" 

"I've got two left feet." 

He smirked, "You can stand on my shoes." 

"I'm not four." 

"I'd say you're a ten." He winked. 

Her head snapped towards him, "Really? You're trying to get me to dance with cheesy lines like that?" Slowly, her lips curved at the corners, a sly smile forming. "Is little Cole a virgin?" 

He choked on his drink, "What?"

Placing her hands over her heart, she cooed, "You are, aren't you? That's cute."

With a slack jaw and eyes wide he looked at Mason. "Dude, you weren't kidding about her biting my tail." Chuckling, Mason shook his head. "Man, this chick is killing me." Cole mumbled into his glass as he took a gulp of alcohol.

I leaned in to Bella, so I couldn't be overheard by the others, "Give him a break," I whispered, trying to suppress my giggling, "it's only a dance." 

Huffing out a breath, she stood up and tugged on the sleeve of his shirt, "Come on, loser." Mason and I laughed watching Cole almost trip over his own feet trying to get up quick enough. 

Emma and Ray also moved towards the dance floor, closely followed by the rest of our table. My laughter subsided into a wide smile when my eyes landed on Nicky. Standing from his chair and moving round the table, he looked at Mason. "Can I steal a dance with your mate?" 

For half a second, the hold Mason had on me tightened a little – no doubt due to his wolf – but he smiled and nodded. "I won't be long." I promised, pressing a kiss against his lips. 

With my hand in his Nicky twirled me into the middle of the dance floor, "Come on, Rainie," he laughed, pulling me into his body, "let's show these guys how dancing's really done."  

Throwing my head back with a heart laugh, Nicky spun me out at arm's reach before pulling me back to him and lifting his arm for me to twirl twice underneath.  

As the playlist of songs slowed so did our pace. "Did you enjoy the party?" I realized that even though he looked like he was having a good time, I had never actually asked him.  

"You sound just like a Luna," Nicky smirked, "I'm going to have to get used to that." 

Gratification swelled in my wolf's chest, "Yes, you are." 

After a few minutes of blissful music and dancing, he spoke again, "I hope Mason realizes how lucky he is, Rainie." Slightly moving back to look me in the eye, but still holding me in his arms, he continued, "He put you through a lot and I know he's trying to make up for it, but he should still feel pretty damn lucky to get a second chance."

"He does." I said, before adding after a second thought, "I think." 

Nicky chuckled, "Oh no he knows, he hasn't taken his eyes off you since we started dancing." 

Looking over Nicky's shoulder, there right in front of me, were two beautifully dark and dangerous, cerulean orbs burning into mine. Watching my every move and no doubt eyeing the way Nicky's hands sat on my hip and the small of my back. A blush swept its way over my cheeks. "I think he's a little jealous." I noted, smiling at how adorable he looked. 

Nicky laughed, "He's more than a little jealous Rainie; it's rolling off him. Even my wolf can feel it." 

A burning sense of pride warmed my chest as I smiled at my mate. You're having too much fun without me. The sensual voice filled my thoughts and the cute, pouted lips of his brought a wider smile to mine.

Of course I'm having fun, I told him, I'm dancing. 

A second later, his torturously dangerous one sided smirk lifted his lips. So you'll have more fun, he drew his words out slowly as he stood from his chair and and began to make his way through the dancing couples and straight towards us. If you were to dance, his words lingered again as he took the final steps closer to us, with your mate, he finished as he came to a stop behind Nicky.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to take my girl back, Alpha." His eyes never left mine as he side stepped Nicky and took my hand. 

Nicky laughed, "Of course." His shoulders shaking with a chuckle, he winked at me, mouthing a 'told you so' before disappearing into the crowded dance floor.      

Winding his strong arms around me and pulling me into an embrace that filled me with a feeling of love and safety, Mason lowered his head and placed a soft kiss against the tip of my nose. My smile was filled with happiness as I followed his movements and lifted myself onto the tips of my toes softly pressing my lips to his nose. He flashed me a full, perfect smile and slowly began weaving us around in circles through the other couples. 

As the song slowed, so did we. Following the soft music that filled our ears, our feet took on new movements. This time, we kept to our own small spot on the floor and slowly swayed back and forth in time with the melodic beat.      

With the low sound in my ear of Mason humming along to the song, I found myself smiling with complete happiness. I closed my eyes and let my mind drift off into a wonderland.

Picturing the tower of romance novels stacked in the corner of my room, my mind flicked through the imaginary pages of each book, the characters coming to life through the blackness of my closed eyes. I read countless tales of true love conquering any difference the characters had, their lives being told through words that played with my emotions and hit parts of me that only books could. I remember wishing it was my life I was reading. That in some parallel universe, in some deep part of my imagination, I was the girl in the book and the guy I fell in love with, gave me his heart in return for mine. 

Now, feeling body heat warming my skin, the deep hum mixed together with the beat of the song drifting through my ears and the tight, loving brace I was wrapped in, I realized my tale, my words and my characters were here. My novel was Mason. 

Finally opening my eyes, my imaginary pages become my reality as I looked up at him. "I love you." The heavy emotion in my voice was something I couldn't hide. 

"I love you too, Rain." 

We were lost in each other, but our moment was quickly ruined. 

Mason's attention had drifted away from me to something behind me. Turning my head, my eyes wandered across the different faces and as far as I could see, they were too busy to be paying us any attention. Who was he looking at? I turned back to Mason, "Is everything ok?"

"Hmm?" As if remembering I was there, his eyes flashed to mine with a look of panic hidden in them. "Yeah, Jake wants me to meet him in the house." I didn't believe him.

Something about the sound of his voice and the way he was looking at me told me he was lying.   "Is something wrong?" 

He shook his head, "No, everything's fine, he just wants to check something over with me." I knew his tight smile was forced, though his voice was a little stronger now, more sure of his answer. 

My eyes were firmly on his as I took a small step back, keeping a hold on his hand. "Okay, I'll come with you." 

"No," he cupped my cheek in the palm of his hand, "it won't take long, stay here and have fun." He kissed my lips, "I'll be back soon, I promise." Before I had a chance to argue, he left a lasting kiss on my lips before dropping my hand and leaving me standing, watching him to walk away.      

My instincts to follow him were halted. "Where's the love sick puppy going?" Bella threw her arm over my shoulder, keeping me in place. I could smell the fresh scent of alcohol on her breath. "Whatever. I'll take full advantage of having you to myself." Grabbing hold of my hand, she tugged me backwards. "Emma!" She called out over the music, motioning her hand for her to come to us. "Come on." 

"Bella—" I had started to say I needed to speak with Mason, but there was no point telling her why, she was too drunk to understand. Instead I was dragged across the dance floor until we reached a very merry Emma who was draining the last of her champagne. 

"It's time for a girl's only dance, Ems." 

Emma squealed, "Finally, stupid guys taking all our time." Her sentence was interrupted with the odd hiccup and giggle. How much had they drank? I could feel a warm tingle inside my stomach, but I certainly hadn't had as much as they had. "Rainie?" She cooed, slurring the 'e'. 

I blinked, "Hmm?" 

"Are-" hiccup "you-" hiccup "okay?" hiccup. She and Bella stood staring at me, both swaying slightly to the beat of the music. 

The thought of Mason had me wanting to tell them that I couldn't stay, that I had to go and speak to him, but the look on their faces had me changing my answer. "Yeah, let's have our girl's only dance." I smiled and put all thoughts of Mason to the back of my mind. Maybe he was needed by Jake, maybe I had jumped to the wrong conclusion. Using that answer as my reasoning, I grabbed three glasses of champagne and handed one to Bella and Emma.    

With all three of us linked by our hands, we danced and laughed until our feet and throats were sore. After a while Nicky and Ray had joined us, twirling us in and out of each other and taking turns to pick each of us up, spinning us around in the air. 

The music continued to play and the alcohol was quickly being drained. I had to stable the dizzy spin in my head and stomach by clutching on to Ray. "Maybe I've had too much champagne." I giggled. 

"Watch yourself Luna," he laughed, "Mason's not going to be too happy if you're drunk tonight." The wink he gave me told me exactly what kind of innuendo he was making. Playfully pushing him away, I opened my mouth, but was silenced when my eyes landed on the figure behind him. Confusion took over my thoughts, "Who's that with Mason?" I didn't notice he had come back. Why hadn't he come over?  

Looking back over his shoulder, Ray moved his head to try and get a better view through the dancing couples. "Jude." He seemed just as confused as I was. "When did he get here?"

Stepping out of Ray's hold and ignoring him calling out my name, I crossed the dance floor, my heels clicking heavily against the wood, until I was standing in front of them both. Jude, with his back still to me, hadn't noticed me yet, but Mason was staring straight at me. 

"Well if it isn't my best friend who never bothered showing up to my announcement ceremony." I had expected him to turn, but he didn't. "It's really kind of you to show up." Sarcasm dripped from my words.  

"Baby," I could hear the warning tone from Mason, but I ignored it. I was too angry to listen to anything anyone had to say. 

"Did you have something better to do? Busy with your friends? No, of course not because they were all here celebrating with us." 

He still hadn't turned to face me, but his head fell as a heavy sigh fell from his mouth. That only served to further annoy me. "Oh I'm sorry, is it an inconvenience to you that I'm hurt and upset?" 

Mason took a step forward, "Rain," This time his tone was a lot sterner than it had been a second ago. Now he wasn't giving me the option to listen. "Please leave it." 

"Leave it?!" I was even more confused now. "You're defending him?" I was too caught up in how angry and hurt I felt to recognize the look he gave me. My curled fists were shaking at my sides, "Fine, I'll leave it and you," I jabbed my finger in Jude's back, "can get the hell out of this house as soon as you tell me what was better than being here celebrating with your best friend? Hmm, what the hell could be more important than that?" 

With another sigh - his shoulders dropping even more - he slowly turned to face me. I gasped, my hands covering my mouth and I stared, eyes wide and horrified, at him.

"Rainie—"   Mason cut him off, "Not here." Stepping around Jude, he moved my hands away from my face and held them tight in his. 

"Wait," Jude reached out and grabbed Mason's sleeve stopping him from moving any further, "There's not enough time Mason, they're coming."

My heart sped up. They? "The Redbloods?"   

Unlike me, Mason didn't seem to care to know who Jude was talking about, or maybe he already knew. Either way, neither of them gave me an answer. Mason's already dominating presence was only made stronger as he took a step towards Jude, his grip on my hand tightening and his jaw tensed. "You told them about tonight?"

"Of course I didn't." He looked offended. "I wouldn't do that to any of you, especially her." I wasn't sure who he was referring to and I didn't have time to ask as he looked away from Mason and to me. "I'm sorry, pretty girl."

I silenced him by reaching up and cupping his bruised face with my hand. "Tell me what happened, Jude." My gaze wandered over his swollen eyes, a clear sign of a broken cheek bone, the bloodied slice running the length of his right cheek and his split, swollen lips. "Who did this to you?" All the anger I had in me had vanished at the sight of his broken appearance. He looked tired and defeated. Whatever he was fighting, he was giving up.  

"That doesn't matter right now; you need to get out of here, Rainie." He took a step towards me, but quickly retreated when a growl rumbled from somewhere deep in Mason's chest. "I promise I'll explain everything when I can."

I refused to accept that. With deep gashes dripping blood and a burning fear in his eyes, whatever was going on was being explained now. "I'll leave when I know what the hell is going on. Mason?" I turned to him for answers, but I knew better than to expect them. 

I could see the battle going on inside of him, he wanted to tell me, but not until we were away from whatever was coming. "Jude's right, little kitten. We need to leave." 

This time I didn't argue. There was a different look in his eye. One I had never seen before. Mason had always been so confident and fearless, but right now he looked unsure and scared. He looked completely lost. I nodded, "We need to warn everyone."

"No."

"There isn't time." Jude and Mason said at the same time. 

What? "Of course there's time. If, whatever it is that's coming here is going to hurt people we have to tell them. What do you want to do, just leave them here?"

"They're trained for this," Mason said. "you're not ready." 

The moment I had processed what he had said, I knew exactly who was coming. "I'm staying. I'm Beta."

"No you're not, Rainie." Jude spoke up. "You're a Luna now." 

I turned and scowled at him, I didn't need reminding of pack formalities. "Whether I'm Luna of the Harbor Pack or Beta of the Shadow Pack, I'm fighting against the Redbloods with everyone else." 

"It isn't just the Redbloods Rainie." Jude said. 

"What do you mean?" I asked, "Have another pack joined them?" It wasn't likely. As far as I knew, the Redbloods were the most hated pack. Their brutality wasn't something to be admired or desired. 

He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. "I wanted to tell you, I really did, but I couldn't. You wouldn't look at me the same once you found out, you'd hate me." He let his eyes fall to the ground between us and a heavy feeling of shame hung in the air. "I can't stand here and tell you that I regret what I did because I don't and I never could, but it doesn't change who I am. I'm still the Jude who flirted with you in class that day." His words brought back a fond memory of the first time we met. "He ruined her, he wouldn't stop until he destroyed her and I couldn't let that happen. I was all she had and I had to honor my father."

Even though his words were a riddle to me, I knew I was right to feel scared. Not of Jude, but of whoever was coming for us and for their reasons. From somewhere inside I sensed he was talking about the darkest part of his past, something he had kept from everyone. I remember when I found out that his mother was a wolf and his father was human. He barely spoke about either of them. Even after he had taken me to the Harbor House when his mom had been beaten, he refused to speak about her more than he had to. There was more to Jude than he would ever share and I had a feeling that whatever his secret was, it had something to do with the Redbloods.   

A menacing growl leaving Mason's lips stilled any thoughts in my head. "That's enough." I wasn't the only one who flinched at his harsh tone, fear flashed across Jude's eyes as he took a step back. 

Spinning on my heels, I came face to face with a very angry guy who was not only quickly losing his temper, but also the battle with his wolf. "Mason, you can't protect me from everything!" My voice was louder than I wanted it to be. "Keeping things from me isn't going to keep me safe, it's going to put me in even more danger. I need to know what's happening and I want you to tell me what the hell is going on right now." 

Over the sound of the music, a slow, but loud and deliberate clap made its way to my ears. Mason's brows furrowed as he looked over my head, trying to see who it was. 

"Holy shit." Mason was breathless, his eyes were wide and his face had paled. 

"Mason?" I closed the distance between us in an attempt to gain his attention, but it was useless. He couldn't hear me. With a surge of panic, I cupped his face in my hands. "Mason, look at me." He looked horrified. Every feature took on a different appearance. He was scared and I didn't know why. I had no idea what was going on. "Please look at me." His breathing was heavy and his tensed body started to shake uncontrollably. "Mason, please." 

He never moved.

His eyes remained wide with fear – with shock – staring at something behind me. I looked again, but nothing caught my eye. As the song slowly came to an end, the slow clap gained everyone's attention.

The applause quickened and suddenly a figure came into view. A ripple of gasps and strangled screams tore through the crowd and with no music, the shock and fear from everyone was carried off into the emptiness of the forest around us. 

"I believe I owe my congratulations to the happy couple." I didn't recognize the voice. It was bitter, yet filled with amusement. A cold chill ran down my spine. I had no idea why the stranger's voice gave me a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach, but it did. 

He stood tall and proud, confidence pouring from his presence. With the garden being lit by hanging lanterns and fairy lights, I was able to see his features. In his early fifties, he was