Chapter 192: Chapter 192
Mason POV
I pick the most secluded parking spot at the motel and jump out.
“Stay here,” I say, looking at Elara. “I’ll get us rooms. If anyone sees or smells you, they’ll kick us out before I even get the keys.
I run to the reception and order three rooms from the old man who reeks of whiskey and cigarettes.
While I wait, I peek through the window, ensuring nobody looks this way before slipping behind a pillar and taking out my phone. My fingers are trembling as I turn on my phone, dial Asher’s number and listen to the phone ringing.
“Finally,” Asher scoffs when he answers. “I’ve called you like fifty times already, but your phone was off.”
“Well, what did you expect?” I snap. “What do you think will happen when my brothers hear us plotting?”
“I assume you got out alive?” Asher asks, changing the subject.
“Yeah,” I sigh. “Are you okay?”
“I’m out of Constantine, if that’s what you’re asking,” he groans. “But I feel like shit. Why didn’t you tell me that potion has such vicious side effects? I’ve been puking my guts out.”
“Because I didn’t know,” I reply. “I’m sorry.”
“Whatever,” he huffs. “I’m done helping you, Mason.”
“No!” I hiss. “You can’t do this to me. Not now.”
“Dude, I’m sorry,” he replies. “But you’ve seen those things. I’m not sticking around for them to find me or my family. We’re leaving first thing in the morning.”
“You’re overreacting,” I try to calm him down. “They’re not looking for you. They’re looking for my brothers.”
“Until they found the guard I killed, sniffed around and put two and two together,” he huffs. “Besides, the Council won’t stop after they found the twin alphas. They have no reason to because they have those beasts. They have the weapons for total domination, and our rogue towns will be first in line. If you have a singular working braincell, you’ll get out, too.”
“Asher, please,” I beg. “Just go to the Council one more time, and tell them ...”
“Fuck, no,” he snaps, cutting me off. “You’re on your own. I’m not sacrificing my family and myself for your woman or birthright. I wish you the best, man, but lose my number.”
And with that, he disconnects the call. I immediately call him again, but it goes straight to voicemail.
Fuck!
I grab the keys and storm towards my truck, trying to control my temper. Maybe I should rethink my strategy. Asher has a point about the test subjects. They are far too dangerous to toy with. They will kill Elara simply because she is Kane and Axel’s mate.
I am going to try one more time to convince Elara to run away with me and the kids. If she chooses her mates again, I will open her eyes for her and make her face reality.
Elara POV
I am wrapped in a motel towel, sitting on the floor between Axel’s legs while he rubs my hair dry. My mates and I took thorough showers, and now we are all gathered in our room while Mason is out buying supplies.
I am glad Mason volunteered to do the shopping. His mood was dark and sour since we arrived here, and our day was bad enough. I have no energy left to deal with his moods.
The silence in the motel room is deafening as Mindy, Maxim, and Monroe stare at us after we told them everything. Even Maxim, who is gravely injured, is a shade paler.
“So, if the Council caught you, you could’ve been one of those things?” Mindy gapes at me.
“If I survived the testing, yes,” I reply honestly. “That’s why we must destroy the facility before anything else.”
“I’m in,” Monroe nods.
“But first we need a pack doctor,” Mindy says in a tiny voice, taking Maxim’s hand. “He needs one.”
“I know,” I agree softly. Taking Maxim to a hospital would be a waste of time and would expose us. “We might find one in a rogue town. I’ll ask Mason.”
“Ask me what?” Mason asks, entering our room with his arms full of bags.
“Does Stillwood have a pack doctor?” I look at him, trying to pinpoint his mood, but he seems to be just as pissed off as when he left.
“Yeah,” he replies, smiling. “Doctor Smith. But he doesn’t do house calls. We’ll have to go to him.”
“Don’t worry, Mindy,” Mason says softly, and I frown when he gently touches his shoulder.
What the fuck? A second ago, he was still brooding; now he is all caring and sensitive.
“We’ll go first thing in the morning,” I say sympathetically, pushing my thoughts aside. Mindy matters now, not him.
“We can’t all go,” Mason says firmly. “We’ll draw too much attention. Elara and I will take him.”
“I refuse to leave his side,” Mindy protests, her bottom lip quivering.
“It’s not safe,” Mason shakes his head adamantly.
“Oh, come on, Mason,” I reason with him. “One more person won’t make a difference. Besides, it’d be good for Maxim to have his mate with him.”
“Fine,” he grunts, turns around and storms out.
“Geez, what’s with him?” Monroe asks as the door slams shut. “It’s not like Mindy asked for the moon and stars.”
“Don’t mind him,” Kane snorts. “He’s unpredictable and childish. You’ll get used to it.”
“I think he’s up to something,” I mind link Kane and Mason. “Ever noticed how he’s all sugar and rainbows when things go his way, and a thunderstorm when it doesn’t?”
“You might be right,” Axel replies. “Why is it so important to him that we don’t go to Stillwood?”
“I don’t know,” I sigh, and smile at Mindy when she curiously looks at us.
“Don’t worry, Mindy,” I reassure her. “I lived in Stillwood. We’ll be all right.”
“Okay,” she whimpers, and I lean against Axel’s knee, praying that I did not lie to her just now.
