As we finally make it back into Everleigh's room, we see Aiden finishing tightening everything on the chair. I sigh in relief as he smiles at me and turns it around to me. "Thank you," I whisper as I ease myself down into the seat. He nods his head. "So we are waiting on the paint, which should be here in about an hour or so."
"Do you want us to put things together or just wait for the paint?" Aiden asks as he plops down on the floor beside Brandon.
"We'll wait for the paint and go from there. But while we wait, I was thinking of seeing if Emma wanted to come over. If I'm feeling this way because Mason is gone, I'm sure she's feeling something very similar right now. It'd be good to see her right now."
"You want me to go call her?" Aiden asks. I nod my head and smile at him. "I'll be right back," he mumbles as gets back up from the floor.
I look to Brandon to see him studying me closely. "What?" I ask with a small chuckle.
"When was the last time you saw your mom?" he hesitantly asks.
I sigh and shake my head slightly.
"I've talked to her here and there, but I haven't seen her face-to-face in a while." The guilt floods me but I still can't seem to push past my distrust for her. When we've talked, I can tell she's trying. She's adjusted well into the pack and Mason has even started giving her jobs here and there instead of her just staying around the pack house. "I just… I don't know, I can't seem to trust her. I get she's trying and I love that she's doing that, but even after hearing her story, after knowing what she went through with my father, I can't stop seeing her face when she told me to leave."
"If you didn't want her here, why make Mason give her a room at the pack house?" he asks carefully. "He could have sent her to another territory or somewhere else."
"Because even if I don't trust her right now, it doesn't mean I want her to leave." I watch his head cock to the side in confusion and I sigh. "She's still my mother," I whisper as I feel the burn in the back of my throat. When everything is done, when Mason is back, maybe I can make the first move to try and mend what is left of our relationship.
Maybe.
"Look, I know it's not my place to pry, but to give you my two cents, I think you should see her. Small things at first, maybe just inviting her to dinner. You say she's still your mother, maybe it's time to let her start being that again."
I know he's right, and that his advice is sound.
Thankfully, before I have time to really think about what Brandon said, Aiden comes back in. I raise my eyebrows at him but am surprised to see Emma and Randy already behind him. I smile from my seat and move to get up.
"Oh, don't you get up, dear," Emma scolds as she moves further into the room. She bends and wraps her arms around me tightly. I rest my head against her shoulder and relax into her hold. "I remember how much being pregnant can take out of a person, so don't go out of your way for us."
"I was just having Aiden call you to see if you wanted to come over," I say as she pulls away and moves aside. "Hi, Randy."
"Hi, gorgeous," his voice rumbles as he moves to hug me as well. "We were already on our way over to check on you when Aiden called. With Mason being gone, we thought maybe you'd want some company to take your mind off things."
I smile softly and do my best to not let my worry show on my face. My mate may be gone, but their son is gone as well. What I'm feeling is very similar to what they are feeling. Only I'm hoping this feeling in my gut is just me being paranoid.
"Is this going to be the baby's room?" Emma asks, pulling me from my dark thoughts. I smile and nod my head. "We had Mason's room close to ours when he was born, but I admit he didn't spend much time in his room when he was little. I wanted him close to me, no matter how much Randy wanted me to himself for just a few hours." Her chuckle fills the room and I notice Randy shaking his head as he leans against the wall.
"How are you feeling?" she asks as she glances down at my belly. I reach over and grab her hand so she can feel where my sweet girl is already moving. Her eyes widen, as does her smile, as she feels the movement. "Oh, I remember those days. Are you still nauseous or anything?"
"No, not really. There are a few times here and there, but nowhere near as bad as when we first found out."
"Oh, you're lucky then. I was sick the entire time I was carrying Mason," she sighs with a shake of her head. "As much as I loved feeling him move around, I was ready for him to be out of me so I could actually eat what I wanted without puking my guts up."
"I don't think she was as ready for him to be out of her as I was," Randy pipes up. I glance over at him, his eyes the same color as his sons. My heart jerks in my chest. "It's never easy seeing your mate go through something like that, but to see it on a regular basis is even worse."
I notice Brandon stiffen as his eyes go dull as he stares at the wall behind us. I feel awful. Here I am feeling bad about not having Mason with me when he left barely six hours ago when Brandon has had no idea about Mary's whereabouts or conditions for months. I open my mouth to try and change the subject when another feeling consumes me.
My gut twists into knots as my wolf moves deeper into my mind.
This can't be just normal worry.
I open my mouth to change the subject just as the phone in Mason's office starts ringing. I glance around the room and move to stand up. Brandon moves quickly and helps me to my feet before following after me. I know the odds that this is Mason calling are slim to none, but that phone doesn't ring often if Mason isn't here - which is kind of strange honestly but that's not the point. My hopes rise slightly at the thought of hearing my mate's voice.
I hear footsteps behind me as we head down the stairs and to the office. Thankfully, it's still ringing when I make it to the room. I settle into Mason's chair behind his desk and reach for the phone. "Hello?" I ask quickly but I keep my voice firm in case it isn't Mason on the other side of this call. I'm hoping I've hidden my worry, but I highly doubt I've done a good job of that.
"Why do you sound so worried, Red?" the voice that always sends shivers down my spine asks from the other end. I relax into the chair as a lump forms in my throat. Just hearing his voice…
"Oh, Mason," I whisper out. Brandon sits down on the sofa and watches me closely. Randy followed us into the office and I can see his features relax knowing his son is on the call. I look around for Emma and Aiden, but neither of them followed us into the office. I focus back on the call and say, "I was hoping it was you. I wanted to hear your voice so badly." I rest my other hand on my bump and finally take a deep breath for the first time since before he left.
Randy nods at me before heading out the door. Brandon moves to follow him but I ask before he can go, "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to go find Aiden and see if he and Emma are still doing stuff in the nursery. Maybe I can be of some help," he explains as he leaves the room. He closes the door behind him, giving me and Mason some privacy.
"So I see you did put those two to work with the baby stuff?" Mason chuckles softly. My heart clenches at the sound. God, he's only been gone for six hours and I already miss him so much. "I miss you, Red. I can't wait for this all to be over so I can hold you in my arms again."
I close my eyes and sigh at the thought of his strong arms around me. "I wish you were here, Mason. Where are you at now? Are you close to their territory? I know it took me a day of nonstop running to get here, but since you are taking cars for part of the way and I've seen how fast all of you drive, I'd imagine that you're close."
"We're right on the outskirts of their territory now. We just got here about ten minutes ago. We're far enough that those patrolling won't see us or catch our scents. We've got scouts looking around to see the best way we can get in, so I'll have to wait for them to get back before I make any decisions."
The attack is about to happen. As much as I hate my old pack for what they're doing to me and my pack, I still know there are innocent people there just stuck following the orders of a sick asshole. Some of those people don't know any better.
"Mason, I know you have to do what you have to do, and I know I shouldn't be worried about people from another pack, but I am. There are people there who don't want this. I know there is. There is no way I was the only one who saw how bad everything was there."
"Hey, I promised you I would make sure there were as few casualties as possible. I will do my best to keep this less bloody for both sides involved. I only want Robert and Dylan dead, that's all. If they're gone, then the pack can hopefully start over. I'm not out to destroy Blue Bloods, just to keep our pack safe."
"I love you, Mason," I whisper through my new tears. I close my eyes and picture him right now. He's no doubt smiling into his phone. He always seems to smile when I tell him I love him, as I tend to do when he tells me. All the more reason for me to say it.
"I love you too, Alaina." I hear some voices followed by Mason's sigh. "I have to go now; the scouts are back. I will let you know as soon as this is over and I'm on my way back to you. tell the guards to keep an eye out for one of the cars to come back before the others. As soon as I find Mary, I'm sending her straight back home where she belongs."
"Be safe," I urge, my voice breaking. "I love you."
"I'll see you soon, my love," he replies softly before the line goes dead. I sit in his office just staring off into space for who knows how long. I don't want to leave this spot. I want to just sit here until he calls again saying that he's on his way home. My mate is headed into a fight that could go horribly wrong. My gut clenches.
I lose track of time sitting there doing the worst thing possible right now: thinking of how everything could go badly right now. My mind isn't just on Mason but every single member of my pack. Those fighting and those who are doing exactly what I'm doing right now. Worrying.
I stand up from the chair and leave the office. Sitting here like this will do nothing but drive me crazy with worry. I can hear Brandon and Aiden bickering back and forth upstairs as they fiddle with something, but I no longer hear Randy and Emma.
'Is Emma and Randy still here?' I mindlink Brandon.
'No, they went home a couple of hours ago. They said they'd come back later after things had settled down a little bit.'
I nod my head as I head towards the front door. The guards outside turn to me and bow their heads. There are a few more out here than there were before. Randy no doubt had more people come around.
"Luna, is there something we can do for you?"
I nod my head slowly. "Mason called. The attack has already started. He said to keep an eye out for one of our cars to come back before the others. Let me know the second it arrives. I will come back out here," I explain as calmly as I can. I need to act strong right now, even if I'm not feeling strong. The members here are depending on me right now and if I show how worried I am, it could start an unnecessary panic within the pack and that's not what needs to happen right now.
"Yes, Luna." I nod again and turn to head upstairs to Brandon and Aiden. When I'm halfway up the stairs, a sharp pain shoots through my chest. I clutch the railing with one hand and my chest with the others. I try to take a deep breath but another pain - this time more intense - shoots through my chest again. I can't stop the yell as my legs buckle beneath me. "Luna!" I vaguely hear the same voice yell from behind me, but I can't focus on anything but the pain. I feel as if my heart is tearing into a million pieces and I can't breathe.
I feel like I'm dying.
And I can't shake the feeling that this has something to do with Mason.