Attack At The Cabin

[Danica's POV]

Warm sunlight danced along my skin as I lunged beneath a large oak tree. For a while now, I had sat here enjoying the sight of Mason and Bryllie chasing butterflies while I relaxed due to my current condition.

Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to relish in the peace that had become my life. At least for the past eight years, anyway.

Since the war with the harpies and trolls, things were quiet and the damned traitorous creatures were nowhere to be found. Most days, I was happy that they stayed gone. In others, however, I couldn't stop the dread that overtook me.

Images of the battle that night and the torture I endured still haunted me. No amount of time changed that.

"Mommy!"

Shaking off my sudden sense of foreboding, I turned my gaze to Bryllie, who was running towards me. "Mommy, look!" She announced, holding a glowing blue flower for me.

"What's this?" I asked, taking the flower from her little fingers. "I've never seen a flower like this before. Mason? "

Flicking my gaze from Bryllie to Mason, I waited for him to respond.

As I took him in, I could feel my breath hitch and my pulse quicken. No matter how much time passed, I couldn't stop being amazed that such a strong and good-looking man could be all mine. Even to this day, I couldn't manage to keep my hands off of him. That was why I was currently as round as a basketball that had been inflated too much.

"I'm not sure either." Mason responded with a smirk. 

Blushing, I realized he had caught me checking him out.

"Aren't you supposed to know all about this area?" I continued, getting up from my spot on the ground.

"Careful!" Mason hissed, rushing forward and wrapping his arms around my waist.

Instantly, waves of warmth raced through my veins, sending a thrill of pleasure to my core.

"Bryllie's here." He murmured, smelling my sudden arousal. "Try to control yourself."

"Oh, hush." I sighed, swatting at him as he easily dodged. "Don't we have that meeting with Ash and Nigel today?"

"Right." Mason huffed in disappointment. "I forgot."

"Are we visiting Grandpa Nigel?" Bryllie asked, perking up.

"You will be staying with Aunt Bella." I responded, patting Bryllie's head. "This is an adult meeting."

"Bah!" Bryllie pouted. "I am plenty grown!" To prove her point, she stood on her tiptoes, so her forehead came to my nose. "See, I'm almost as tall as you, mommy!"

Holding back a laugh, I simply shook my head.

"It doesn't work that way, sweetheart." Leaning forward, I kissed the top of her head. "You also shouldn't be too concerned with growing up too fast."

"But when I'm grown, you and daddy don't have to worry about the bad guys anymore." Bryllie insisted, causing my heart to flow painfully.

If I could help it, all danger would be eliminated by the time Bryllie took over the pack. I had no intention of letting her face another war.

"Just focus on playing and have no worries." I murmured.

Straightening myself, I turned my gaze to Mason, who was watching me with a frown. From the look in his forest green eyes, I knew he had heard my thoughts through our bond.

"Come on," I huffed, grabbing Bryllie's hand. "Let's get you to Aunt Bellas so Mommy and Daddy can finish with their meeting and get back to you."

For a moment, I thought Bryllie was going to argue, but after letting out a breath, she nodded and allowed me to lead her towards the packhouse.

After dropping Bryllie off with Bella, Mason and I began our journey to Nigel's cabin in the woods. Though Mason hadn't wanted me to come out of fear that it would stress me, I managed to convince him to let me tag along.

The ride was quiet. Mason didn't seem to want to disturb me with his thoughts, and I appreciated him giving me space.

Since leaving the packgrounds, my sense of foreboding continued to grow, and I could easily sense my wolf getting restless.

"Mason," I murmured, unable to hold back my worry. "Something feels off."

"Off?" Mason repeated, furrowing his brows as he pulled into Nigel's driveway. "What do you mean?"

"I'm not..."

I never got to finish my sentence as a large black bird with sharp teeth and glowing red eyes landed on the hood of Mason's jeep.

Tensing, I listened to loud thumping on the roof and knew it was more of these creatures.

"What the hell?" Mason growled, beginning to shift.

"No, don't move!" I hissed, grabbing Mason's shivering shoulder. "You can't just jump, we don't know how many there are!"

"I'll be fine." Mason assured me, placing an already clawed hand on my shoulder. "Just be good and stay put."

"But..."

Mason didn't bother waiting for my response. Instead, he was already launching himself out of the jeep while shifting to his wolf and tackling the black bird that was on his hood.

Gasping, I watched in horror as two more dove down from the trees above with their talons extended and ready to rip at Mason's skin.

I knew that Mason would jump me later for not listening, but I couldn't sit back and do nothing.

'Good girl.' Lizbeth purred as I began to open my door. 'Let's fight these bastards.'

Nodding, I started removing my clothes. I would need something to change into when this was finished and didn't want to ruin my comfy maternity clothes.

'Hurry up.'

I rolled my eyes at the impatience that dripped from Lizbeth's words. It had been quite some time since we really got to fight. The last time was during the battle between the trolls and harpies. Eight years had passed since then, and I hoped that I wasn't rusty. Not that I stopped training, but since becoming pregnant, I wasn't allowed.

'Our baby will be fine.' Lizbeth assured me as a surge of worry rushed through me. 'Our pup is strong.'

'Alright. Time to fight. '