Chapter Two

"Danica,"  a gentle voice reached to her through the darkness.

She felt like she was floating as the darkness continued to hold her.  It was almost as if her body and conciousness were completely separate from one another.

Somehow she felt connected to the voice, not just on an emotional level, but on another level that was hard for Danica to quite fathom.

As she tried to determine just what that feeling was she could feel herself begin to fall.  As she fell she felt her mind and body reconnecting once more, before finally becoming one entity.

Now she could understand why she had the feeling of floating.  Two strong protective arms were carrying her.

Prying her eyes open she waited for her foggy vision to clear so she could see exactly who was holding her.  She could make out the outline of a strong chiseled jaw with dark stubble peppering it, then full lips that sat in a frown, followed by high cheekbones that sat underneath blazing green eyes that held an air of determination, and above all that golden messy locks that stuck up in tufts around his perfect face.

Gasping Danica began to struggle as she determined that it was Mason Thompson that was carrying her.

"Relax."  His deep voice rumbled near Danica's ear.  "I'm not going to hurt you."

It wasn't fear of being hurt that surged through Danica.  It was something so much more, it was an all consuming fire that scorched through her entire body from simply being touched by Mason.  The feeling wasn't  unpleasant, but it was something Danica couldn't understand and that not knowing terrified her.

"PUT ME DOWN!"  She was becoming desperate to be released. 

Frowning Mason stopped moving and gently placed Danica on her feet in front of him. 

The fire that had been running through Danica ceased to exist leaving her feeling cold and hollow. 

She tried to remember exactly what happened to lead to her being in Mason's arms to begin with. 

She remembered being at the party being a wall flower.  She remembered glowing red eyes watching her.  She remembered a large black wolf snarling at her, then....

"Y-you,"  She began pointing a shaking finger at Mason.  "YOU WERE A WOLF!"

Danica had began backing away as she reeled wondering if what she saw was real or if she was going crazy. 

"Danica, calm down."  Mason urged trying to come near her again.

"STAY BACK!"  Danica shrieked as her foot caught a root making her stumble.

A strong arm wrapped around her to right her balance once more sending fire raging through her.

"Don't touch me!"  She snapped jerking from his hold.  "What the hell are you?"

She narrowed her gaze on Mason who now looked hurt.  "Calm down first." 

"How can I remain calm, I must be going crazy?"  Danica sputtered.  "You were a wolf!  No, not a wolf, a werewolf!"  Her brows furrowed.  "But werewolves are just fictional creatures from books and movies."

Strong hands grabbed her shoulders, the fire from his touch permeated through her, forcing her to look to him once more. 

"Breath Danica."  He urged, "You aren't going crazy, and you weren't dreaming.  This is all very real."

Feeling almost manic Danica locked her gaze with Mason's as she tried to claw her way back to sanity.  Something about his deep green eyes soothed her as she stared unblinking into them.

"Have you calmed down?"  Mason asked sounding hopeful.

"I think so."  Danica responded taking a deep breath and then releasing it. 

Smiling Mason nodded.  "That's great."

Back to reality a sudden thought occurred for Danica.  "Mason, why are you concerning yourself with me?"

Mason Thompson was three years older than Danica and an extreme playboy.  He had been a senior when Danica was a freshmen in high school and anytime she would see him around the halls or on the quad he would be with a different girl.

Looking taken aback Mason frowned, "Do you not feel it?"  He asked his expression turning to confusion.

"Feel what?"  Danica asked now studying his face.  What was she supposed to be feeling?

Was he referring to the pleasant fire she felt pulse through her everytime Mason touched her?  Or the odd connection she felt to him when she looked into his eyes?

Frowning Mason touched Danica's cheek gingerly, the place he touched lit up in delight.  "I was wondering this when you were being attacked as well, but why didn't you change?"  Thinking on it he seemed to figure out the answer himself.  "You just turned eighteen."

"Change?"  Danica asked, the mania she felt before was beginning to return again.

"Woah there."  Mason whose eyes had widened when he realized her thoughts were drifting once more placed his other hand Danica's other cheek.

The surge of fire beginning to race through her face from his touch grounded her once more.

"Mason,"  her voice came out much too shaky.  "What's happening?"

Mason smiled, "how about we head back to that party of yours first.  I'm sure your friends are worried about you."

"Are you evading my question?"  Danica asked annoyance flaring.  "Don't you dare."

Mason's head tilted back as he let out a loud laugh.  "Don't worry, I'm not.  I just think you should at least tell them goodnight before we go somewhere to talk."

Unable to focus due to the heat running through her from Mason's touch Danica found herself obediently nodding. 

Satisfied Mason released his hold on her face allowing the cold empty feeling to fill her once more.

Whimpering she found herself reaching out a hand to grab hold of Mason's.  A sigh escaped her lips as again the warmth seared through her.

Beside her Mason smiled from ear to ear showing his dazzlingly white teeth.

Hand in hand Danica and Mason began making their way through the woods together.  Although the atmosphere should have been awkward given the fact they were basically strangers it was comfortable and almost easy being together, as if this was where they both belonged.

"Mates."  Mason murmured as if reading Danica's thoughts.

Turning her head Danica furrowed her brow, "What did you say?"

"Mates."  Mason repeated once more.

Stopping Danica to Mason now.  "What are you talking about?"

"I know you feel it."  As if to show what he was referring to he lifted their entwined hands.  "The fire, the connection."  He continued.  "You're my mate, my Luna."

Frowning Danica pulled her hand from Mason's allowing the empty coldness to consume her.  "This is all so much to take in."

"Slowly."  Mason said simply.   "I will explain everything to you slowly."

Nodding her head Danica began walking again, this time she didn't grab Mason's hand instead choosing to wrap her arms around herself.

When they found their way back into the clearing the party was in full swing.  A large fire blazed in the center of the already drunk party goers lighting the sky with a red glow.

"Shall we?"  Mason asked motioning towards the crowd.

"I guess."  Danica responded taking a deep breath.

Together they made their way into the crowd earning them odd stares as people took them in.  Danica wasn't sure if it was due to the fact Mason was with her, or if it was due to the fact he wore nothing but sweatpants.  Either way all the attention he was drawing towards her was making her extremely uncomfortable.

Excusing herself she rushed away to go find Amy or Heather.

She managed to find Amy first flirting with a guy Danica vaguely remembered named Donald beside the keg.  Her face was flushed from one too many drinks and she had a case of the giggles as Donald whispered something in her ear.

Moving forward she grabbed Amy by her arm and smiled at Donald.  "Can I borrow her for a minute?"  She asked him sweetly.

"I'll be right back." Amy assured him with a wink before allowing Danica to pull her away.

Once they were far enough away from others earshot Danica stopped and turned her attention to her drunken friend.

"What's up?  Amy asked squinting.  "You ok?"

Danica nodded, "I'm fine, just not feeling too well."  She lied.  "I think I'm going to go ahead and head home."

At her words Amy began to pout.  "But this party is for you."

Danica smiled as she stopped the laugh that threatened to escape.  This party definitely had nothing to do with her, almost everyone that was there didn't even really know who she was.

"I'm sure no one will miss me."  Danica said instead smiling.  "I will call you tomorrow ok?"

Amy opened her mouth to say something, but Danica had already begun to move.

All she could think was she needed to get home.  She needed to get home and curl up in her bed.

Her home was dark when she arrived home.  It seemed her adoptive mother had already headed to bed for the evening.

Thanking her lucky stars she began to make her way through the white gate that surrounded their home only to be stopped by a hand grabbing her wrist.

She didn't need to turn and see who it was due to the warmth she felt surging throughout her arm.

"Why'd you leave all on your own?"  Mason's voice asked from behind her.

"Did you follow me this whole time?"  She countered.

"Of course I did, what if another rogue tried to hurt you?"  Mason responded.

Danica turned to look at him.  "Rogue?"

"Have you not been taught anything?"  He sounded truly baffled.

"I truly have no idea about anything that you are saying."  She started trying to keep calm.  "People shifting from wolf to human is something that should only exist in movies and books."  As she said the words she even thought she was sounding crazier.  "I don't want any part of whatever world you live in.  I'm just a normal person."

It was Mason's turn to look confused.  "Normal person?"  He said the word like he couldn't quite understand it.  "Danica Robinson, you are anything but a normal person."

Danica couldn't quite understand what Mason was getting at.  "How am I not normal?  I'm a normal soon to be college freshmen, how am I any different from anyone else out there?"

Mason furrowed his brows as he studied Danica's face as if looking for any sign that she was joking.

"Are you not aware of it?"  He asked leaning closer.

Danica took an involuntary step backwards to create more distance between her and Mason.  She knew if he touched her and that fire pulsed through her again she wouldn't be able to think straight.

"Not aware of what?"  Danica asked crossing her arms across her chest.  "What am I supposed to be aware of?"

"Danica, you are a wolf just like me."  Mason said fully closing the distance between them as Danica's back connected with the white gate behind her.  "How is it possible you aren't aware?"

Eyes widening Danica shook her head in refusal.  "How could I possibly be a wolf?  I don't shift during the full moon."  She insisted a hysterical laugh escaping her once more.

"We shift for the first time during the full moon after our eighteenth birthday."  Mason explained placing his hands on the gate behind Danica so she was trapped in front of him.  "The next full moon is three days from now.  That will be when your first change will be."

Completely losing all shreds of sanity Danica broke into hysterical laughter as Mason's words ripped her normal world into teeny tiny pieces.