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Chapter 7

Mason's green eyes were a dark shade of green, much darker than the forest green they had been earlier in the day. If he was pissed earlier, then he was on the verge of a rampage now.

"Get away from her." His voice growled around already protruding canines.

The man released a string of profanities as he took Mason in. "Her mates here." He said quickly looking to his partner.

"Grab her and let's get going!" The woman snapped pushing him towards Danica.

A guttural growl erupted from Mason at the female rogues words. "Touch her and I will rip off the hand you do it with." He warned.

The rogues exchanged a glance amongst themselves as if debating on whether or not they should push it. Deciding it wasn't a good idea they turned to make a run for it.

"Oh no you don't." Mason was already making his way across the yard towards the fleeing rogues.

He lifted the man who he had reached first with ease and threw him onto the ground with all his might. A sickening crunch sounded as Danica was sure the man's back snapped from impact.

The female rogue had begun to attempt to change only to be caught by Mason. Grabbing her on either side of her head he twisted until she stopped moving altogether as her neck reached an awkward angle.

Releasing his hold Mason allowed her body to fall to the ground like a limp ragdoll.

Nausea attacked Danica in waves as she took in the scene. The woman was definitely dead, while the man was most likely paralyzed. And Mason had been the one to do this to them. Not to mention as he did it it seemed like it was no big deal to him at all.

Danica knew that the rogues needed to be dealt with, but she still couldn't quite accept easily taking any life.

Cupping her hands to her mouth she quickly crawled to a bush. There she let loose everything inside her. When her stomach was empty she continued to dry heave.

"You okay?" Mason's voice was just beside her the concern in it rocked her to her core. "Did they hurt you?"

"DON'T COME NEAR ME!" Danica screamed hurriedly scooting away. All she could see was Mason killing that woman again and again.

A look of confusion and hurt played on Mason's face at Danica's strong rejection.

"Hey,' he tried remaining in place. He had lifted his hands to show that he was harmless. "Try to calm down."

Calm down? How could she calm down? He just killed a human and paralyzed another in front of her!

"You... you're a murderer!" Danica wailed as tears began to fall from her eyes. Whether they were from fear or anger she wasn't sure. "You just easily killed someone!"

To prove her words she looked towards the lifeless woman still laying on her lawn. A new wave of nausea bubbled up as she did so.

Mason furrowed his brows in confusion. "They're not human." He pointed out. "They're rogues, death is the best thing for them."

Danica couldn't believe what she was hearing. In his world was killing such an easy thing to do?

"Murderer." Danica repeated while turning around to begin dry heaving once more.

Strong hands clamped her shoulders sending calming warmth down her arms. The dry heaves subsided allowing Danica to gasp for air as her muddled panic stricken mind began to work through what had just happened.

"They weren't humans." Mason's voice in her ear was so desperate it made her heart clench. "Please remember that Danica, they weren't human."

Weren't human... he was right they weren't human. Although the body laying on her lawn was human, she was still an insane bloodthirsty rogue, but did that make it any better? Maybe if she had grown up as he did it would, but for her it was still a life gone.

This wasn't the first time he killed one in front of her. The only difference in then and now was the fact the rogues were in human form instead of wolf. Would she have thought differently had the woman been a wolf? Probably not.

"The man." Danica squeaked out as she remembered the now paralyzed man laying a few feet away from them. "What are you going to do with him?"

Mason's hands that were still grasping her shoulders tightened a fraction. "I will be taking him back with me to question."

Danica considered, "you mean back to your pack?"

Mason chuckled, "if you're thinking the pack lives together in one spot you're wrong."

"You don't?" Danica asked as Mason continued laughing. "Stop laughing!"

"Sorry, sorry." Mason tried his best to sober. "No, we don't live in one giant pack. We leaders meet once a week to discuss any matters concerning the pack. Aside from that we live amongst humans to keep from drawing attention to ourselves."

So they weren't like a normal animal pack that lived together. Danica was seeing more and more that TV and movies were very wrong.

"What if there is an attack while your numbers are low?" She asked. She didn't think it was a ridiculous question given the fact she herself had already been attacked three times in a days span."

"About that..." Mason's lips turned in a frown as his eyebrows furrowed. "It isn't that common of occurrence for rogues to attack."

"What about other things?" Danica pushed. She needed a distraction from her manic thoughts.

"I told you we all live in peace." Mason reminded her. "For the most part we all keep to ourselves and stay in our designated territory. There's no reason to even come around one another except when the time comes to choose our new elders."

Danica wasn't so sure she believed his words, but as she knew nothing about this world she had no reason to argue it either.

"Will questioning that man constitute as an emergency for your pack?" She asked instead. "I mean won't they wonder how you came across him?"

Mason rubbed his chin as he considered. "I wanted to wait to announce to the pack that I had found my mate, their new Luna, but I guess given the circumstances I will have to do it sooner."

Announce to his pack about her? She hadn't even agreed to be with him yet.

"Hold on." Danica said quickly holding up her hands. "Could you not mention me? I haven't even agreed to anything."

"I told you that you couldn't avoid it forever. I know you feel the draw too." To make his point he placed his hand on Danicas cheek causing her to lean in closer to him. "See."

Feeling annoyed with herself Danica leaned back willingly pulling away from Mason's touch. "Don't do that! I told you to refrain from skinship!"

Chuckling Mason watched shook his head as Danica bristled. The look in his eyes said that he found her absolutely adorable.

The longer Mason stared at her the more self conscious she began to feel. Unable to take it anymore she shot up into a standing position placing her hands on her hips.

"If you're done you should take care of the mess on my lawn." She was in need of a way to escape from the aftermath of the rogue attack. "I don't want my adoptive mother seeing this."

Turning she began making her way back to the house after giving Mason his instructions.

"Good night!" Came his voice from behind her as her hand reached for the backdoor.

"Yep, night." She called waving a hand before disappearing into the house in front of her.

Once inside she leaned against the door and slid down. Her adrenaline had begun to wear off and the days happenings all crashed down on her now that she was alone.

Sitting on the cold tile of the kitchen floor Danica finally allowed herself to release the sobs that she had been holding back as the reality of her new life slowly closed in on her.

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