Love in the Shadows - 31. Chapter 31: Feral Fight

Mason tumbled to the ground and clutched his chest. The pain was intense as blood seeped through his fingers. His mate had attacked him! Before Mason could stand, Vincent tackled him once again. Both hybrids scratched and bit, one more intensely than the other.

Need space! At the first opportunity, he kicked Vincent’s midsection. The white wolf flew a few yards and landed hard. Slow, warned Mason’s animal. Preparing for another wild charge, he took preemptive action.

Guilt riddled Mason. He was so caught up in the excitement of his mate becoming a wolf he forgot to instruct him about the wall. His father drilled it into him when he went through puberty. Because of their heightened instincts, every alpha possessed the barrier, but it required mindful attention. Soothing the savage instinct was required. Mason remembered thinking about the barrier before his shiftday. The year he obtained his wolf, he recalled how his own wall weakened over time. When it came time to break it, the water flowed peacefully, and his instinct became second nature.

But Vincent burst it immediately. The snarling hybrid was the result. I’m not even sure if he’s still in there. When Vincent rushed him again, Mason drove a knee into his mate’s ribs. As the feral wolf backpedaled, Mason advanced and swept its legs out. “Vincent, listen. It mate. Must control ins—”

Vincent lashed out with an ice-covered claw, forcing Mason to leap away. Fortunately, the rabid shifter was predictable, and Mason responded by tossing or tripping him. This is going nowhere. Mason took an offensive position. Careful not to use his claws, he hit Vincent’s midsection with palm strikes and punches. After the third successful landing, pointy shards protruded from the mage’s chest, nearly causing Mason to injure himself. Damn! At least he’s using more energy. Just need him to tire out.

Each interaction proved troublesome for Mason. The wild hybrid managed to dig his talons into Mason’s shoulder before being thrown across the yard. But Vincent landed safely, then sprinted at Cyrus. The bear was ready, and shot a short bolt of lightning using a finger. Vincent crumpled for a few seconds before trying again.

“No hurt mate,” Mason instructed.

“Not use much magic,” Cyrus countered, launching another bolt. “Need hold down. I stun, you grab.”

“Kay.” Waiting for the panda’s move, Mason readied himself. One of Cyrus’s hands glowed, and a bright orb manifested in his palm. “What that?”

The bear glanced at him, but did not respond. “Vincent get close, then I hit. You move in, got it?”

Mason nodded. He stepped away from Cyrus in order to distract Vincent. He’ll come to me, turn his back on Cyrus, then we’ll pin him down.

Vincent roared and ran at Mason. Just as Mason prepared to strike, his mate vanished in a cloud of black smoke. Fuck! He looked around for a second before feeling a sharp, burning sensation in his calf. Mason gritted his teeth and pivoted, landing a haymaker onto Vincent’s jaw. The white wolf stumbled, but quickly sought shelter in the shadows once more.

“Keep back to back, Mason,” Cyrus warned. “Eyes peeled.”

Agreeing, the pair scanned the yard, hoping Vincent would reappear. Dear gods, should he leave and find civilization. No… He’ll pop back up. The instinct would see us as a challenge.

When Vincent reappeared, Cyrus leaped, scorch lines marking the lawn. Electricity sparked around the bear as his orb connected. Vincent’s body flew and rolled, but before Mason could run, Cyrus growled. “Shift. You injured. I handle.”

Allowing the panda to take control of the fight, Mason focused on his leg. He performed a partial shift as Cyrus and Vincent clashed. Prodding his healed injury, he glanced behind and noticed Dave and Kaplan huddled together, ready to join in when needed. If Vinnie comes their way, they’ll need to attack together. Returning his attention to the fight, Cyrus was holding his own against the feral. The lightning mage shot just as Vincent emerged from the shadows.

Mason rejoined the fray, tackling Vincent to the ground. Pinning his shoulders, he struggled to keep his mate down. The gnashing maw slung strands of saliva across Mason’s face. “Vinnie! It me. It mate.” When the hybrid snarled again, he growled. “Vinnie, I know you in there. Embrace instinct. Control it!”

***

Wading through the rushing water, both of Vincent’s minds struggled. He could feel his body jostle and hit the ground, but he couldn’t see what was going on. All was black. Faintly hearing Mason’s yell, he questioned his wolf. Instinct? What does that mean?

Get now. Make sense.

Are you going to share with the fuckin’ class?

Wall had instinct behind. It help know things.

Vincent huffed. Okay, but what do we do now? We can’t control our body, so how do we control this?

Be one with? Like how I be with you? Try to calm it. Mate say embrace it.

Not seeing many options, Vincent tried to find a sense of peace. He relaxed, much like how he did when meditating. Meanwhile, his body continued to thrash about. Focusing, Vincent noticed there was a momentary falter. It did something! Just need to keep at it. He felt the water’s tide lessen, and fewer jostling motions or pain from attacks came.

“Vincent,” Cyrus yelled. His voice was clearer than before. “Keep up!”

In an attempt to regain control of his body, Vincent tried to speak. “C… Cy…”

“Yes. Cy-rus. Can do!”

Vincent tried to pronounce the bear’s name, but after the next failed attempt, the instinct’s power returned. He was washed away again, and his senses dulled once more. The hybrid sprinted, then tumbled to the ground after being smacked. No! I need to regroup and try again.

He could hear Mason and Cyrus conversing, but everything was muffled. For several minutes, Vincent meditated, and together with his wolf, the feral instinct waned. He felt a pair of strong hands holding his body down. A familiar scent wafted: pine trees and cinnamon. Mace!

“Vincent! It mate. Listen,” Mason gruffed.

Desperate, Vincent thought aloud, Hey, instinct. You’re hurting our mate. Your mate. Relax, please? No one’s trying to hurt you. When his body’s muscles calmed, he took it as a sign to try speaking again. “M-m… mah.”

“That’s it. Mate. May-tuh.”

“May… May. T-t-t… Tuh.” Hearing his own voice in a demonic tone, Vincent held on as the instinct’s frustration boiled again. “Mate. Mate!” The water rushed around his minds, and collided inside his consciousness. Vincent then understood why he had such little control. His instinct was frightened, and all it knew was to fight and run. The convergence of thought, memory, and control was a tricklingly-slow process.

Vincent’s vision cleared, and he saw Mason’s hybrid towering over him. The amber eyes turned gold. “Mate. Need to calm. We friend. Bear friend, to—”

“No!” Vincent roared, infuriated at the mention of someone other than Mason. “No! Bear not mate!”

Despite his attempt to rise, Mason held him down. “Bear friend. Cyrus. Remember?”

Yes, Vincent thought. Cyrus. Big guy, wears a suit, turns into a panda. He’s a friend. He wouldn’t hurt us unless it was necessary.

His instinct buckled, and the memory of meeting the ursus replayed in his mind. “Cy… Cyrus.” Vincent peered over to see the panda hybrid. One of his fingers was glowing white with crackling electricity. “Cyrus.”

“Yes, Vincent,” Cyrus muttered. “Listen to mate. Be one with instinct.”

Vincent’s wolf whined. This hard! Focus hard…

We need to keep calm, bud. I’m starting to feel it seep into us. I think we’re doing it!

"I let go, Vinnie," Mason warned. "You stay calm. Sit, walk. Can control?"

Testing, Vincent managed to furl and unfurl his fingers without much trouble. His instinct was still tense, but Mason's touch soothed him. "T-try."

The pressure on his forearms lessened, and Mason stepped back. Free, Vincent hastily knelt, acting against his instinct’s will. No, we need to sit. Through constant reassurance, his body slowly sat on the ground. His eyes never stopped darting between the other two alphas. There was a lingering expectation that either of them could attack.

Mason held his claws out and slowly advanced. "No hurt, Vinnie. Trust you." The gray wolf sat cross-legged. "No threat. We mates. Feel bond in chest?"

Vincent's primal thoughts were confused as to Mason's submissive stance. He's trying to seem pacifistic. Just ignore Cyrus. C'mon… One foot in front of the other. He neared at an agonizingly slow pace. Inching closer, he caught Mason's scent in the breeze. The gray hybrid stayed in place without moving a muscle.

Neither of Vincent's minds dared to push too much out of fear. The last thing he wanted was to hurt Mason. When he was within inches, the white and blue speckled wolf sniffed his mate. He gained more control and was able to lower himself in front of Mason. "M-Mace. Mate."

Mason's irises flashed. "It good, Vinnie. Sit with me."

He didn't respond immediately, but Vincent managed to calm his body long enough to obey. There we go! See? The big, bad wolf won't hurt us. "Mace," he muttered. Vincent flinched when he heard his voice. "Voice… It deep."

"Hybrid voice. Think like human, but speak like wolf. It normal." Mason reached out. "You control, Pup?"

Shakily, Vincent's hand landed in Mason's. "Yes… No. Instinct strong. Hard."

"Stay, keep breathing. Soothe instinct."

Time was lost as Vincent rationalized with the beastly behavior. The water in his head sloshed from time to time, but Mason's rubbing thumb solved the issue. After what seemed like half an hour, Vincent felt the need to move. "Mace. Want stand. Think instinct good."

Holding his hand, Mason helped him to his feet. Once up, the gray wolf hugged him tightly. "Good. Worry for you."

Vincent patted the hybrid's back. "Mate help." When they let go, he examined his new hands. They resembled his human ones, but the nails were talons. He looked down and studied the rest of himself. "Body weird. Big, tall…" Noticing his muzzle, he touched it. "Big mouth. Like wolf."

"Strong form. Best for alpha, for fight." Mason snorted. "Want meet friends?"

Hesitation returned. "Cyrus," he mumbled. Spotting the panda, he bared his teeth. Bear good, his wolf thought. "Want, but instinct no like."

Mason's arm wrapped around Vincent's shoulder. "I help. Walk with me?"

Nodding, they approached at a cautious pace. Vincent halted when the ursus was a few yards away. "No further."

Cyrus crossed his arms. "Vincent, good control. Impressive. Take alpha month to control instinct. You do well. Be proud."

Scowling, Vincent growledf. "I hurt you. Sorry."

"It okay. No help it. Go, take time to learn body. Learn walk and run."

With Mason's instruction, Vincent became accustomed to his natural gait. Just as he did with his four-legged form, he learned to run, pivot, and jump. Slower, but I can tell I'm much stronger. And I can still use my magic. This hybrid thing's pretty cool.

Like, his wolf commented. You use. I can?

Try it out, bud.

What impressed Vincent was the ability for either of his minds to assume control. He and Mason returned to Cyrus. After consoling his instinct, Vincent offered a handshake to the bear. "Thank you. You help mate."

Cyrus smiled and flashed his emerald irises. "No trouble. Need help, so I help." He pointed at Vincent's ankle. "What on right leg? Mark on fur."

Examining his leg, Vincent was confused. A lighter band of fur showed around his blue ankle. "Not know."

"Not know either," Mason admitted. "Never seen on wolf. Affinity mark?"

"No," Cyrus said. "I no have. Odd." He groaned, and his shoulders slumped. "Tired, need food." The panda turned to the two betas standing near the porch. "Kaplan. Need robe, can bring?"

Kaplan, still in his wolven form, woofed and shifted. Naked, he put on his pants, grabbed the blue robe, and met Cyrus halfway. "Is Vincent going to be okay?"

"Yes, he control hybrid. Issue with others, so keep distant. Vincent need tell instinct who you are. May take time."

"Understood. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more use, alpha."

Cyrus growled lowly. "No. I Cyrus, and no. You could be hurt. We had fight in control. Be back, must shift."

When Cyrus reached a nearby tree, Kaplan asked, "Cyrus? If I may l, why do you shift behind cover?"

"Have reason. Bear no want tell." From behind the tree, snaps echoed into the night. The man tied the robes strings and pocketed his hands. "Maybe one day, I'll tell you, Mr. Alvey. For now, I require food. Mason! Are you staying out here? There's a few pizzas left, and I intend to eat one myself."

Mason nodded. "Yes, for minute. Dave know where wallet is. Order more."

Dave shifted, clothed himself, and went inside with Cyrus. Kaplan slowly approached Vincent. Mason held Vincent's hand as he neared. "Calm mate. It Kaplan."

"I know," Vincent said, trembling. "Telling instinct, but he not know. Sorry, Kaplan. Stay, please."

The beta sat on the grass. "That's okay, Vincent. If it's better for you, I'll sit here until you're okay. So, Mason? Since he transformed into a hybrid, does the full moon still hold power over him? Can he turn back into a wolf, or even his human form?"

Mason shook his head. "Not know. Hang on, need shift." His bones crackled, and his form shrieked as the fur receded. He sighed and stretched. "Much better! Yeah, I got no clue, Kap. I'd ask Dad, but knowing him and Mom, they're probably in for the night. How about it, Pup? Want to try shifting?"

As Kaplan offered Mason his clothes, Vincent nodded. "Yes, but how do? Not know how shift. Only been forced."

"Right. Just picture the form you want to take in your head and feel the pull."

Leaning to one side, Vincent judged his mate's description. "Feel pull? Sound silly."

Mason playfully punched Vincent's arm. "Hey, you'll know what I'm talking about. Just try it."

Sighing, Vincent closed his eyes. Okay. Thinking about a wolf. Feel a pull… I don't—

Got! Feel pull, his wolf exclaimed.

Do you? I don't feel shit.

Yes, feel. Want shift.

Before his human mind could retort, Vincent's shoulders popped, and he grunted. There was pain during the transformation, but nothing compared to his first shift. It was dull and annoying, versus the excruciating agony. He landed on his front paws, and after a quick turn, he woofed, happy to be in a familiar form.

“Well, you can change from hybrid to wolf. That’s good news. Now, how about wolf to human?”

With a snort, Vincent thought of his human body. A trailing sensation ensued. Hey! I think I feel something.

Feel nothing.

That’s interesting. You can feel the shift to wolf, and I the one to human. Alright, I think we mastered the concept of shifting. Let’s try turning back into a human. I doubt we can since the moon is still up. Focusing, he followed the pull toward his bipedal self, but no transformation came. He opened his eyes and whined. Nope. Stuck as wolf for the night.

“That’s okay, Vinnie.” Mason knelt and ruffled his coat. “Did you want to head inside? Food shouldn’t take too long to get here.”

Huffing, Vincent trotted to the door. Mason let him in, and his paws clacked on the kitchen tile. He found Cyrus and Dave in the living room, and Vincent was quick to lick the panda’s hand. “Ah, our four-legged friend returns. No need for thanks, Mr. Bolton. It was quite an exciting moment. It’s not often a newly-shifted alpha goes berserk. The experience is worth its weight in gold. Besides, I think it’s best for us to keep your hybrid a secret, especially from Tierney, wouldn’t you say?”

Vincent snorted, finding Cyrus’s devious mind funny. Yeah! I almost forgot about our trip to New York. Ty won’t know what hit him! Could you imagine if we went into the shadows, then pop back out as a hybrid?

That sneaky. I like.

Cyrus giggled. “I can smell a conniving plot from a mile away. Kaplan, I trust you can keep a secret?”

The beta nervously smiled. “As long as Alpha Scott doesn’t ask me.”

“Excellent. The leftovers should be warmed up, and Mr. Triggs said more is on the way shortly.”

Mason sat in his recliner, and Vincent chose to curl up at his feet. Exhaustion hit. Jeez, where did this come from?

We shift, once to hybrid, his wolf explained. Enough to tire. Make hungry. Look at mate and bear. Leaning up, he noticed Cyrus sitting with Kaplan. The panda briefly glanced and waved with curling fingers. The drooping eyelids showcased the man’s tiredness. See?

Damn, you’re right. How haven’t we collapsed yet?

Full moon? It give power.

Makes sense to me.

Dave came in with the reheated pizza, split evenly between three plates. Then, when the doorbell rang, he handed the driver their tip and took the boxes. “Dave,” Mason mumbled, “go ahead and give everyone a box. No need to waste time with more plates.”

Slices were devoured by all, and one by one, the boxes were placed aside, or in the kitchen. When Kaplan nodded off, he leaned on Cyrus. The bear smiled and stroked the beta’s head. It wasn’t long until everyone heard the lawyer’s quiet snore. All eyes fell to Cyrus as he gingerly lifted Kaplan into his arms and barely whispered, “Good night, everyone. I shall see you in the morning.”

The alpha carried the sleeping man toward the guest room, and Vincent was curious to know how their night would play out. Kap said Cyrus wasn’t the intimate type. So… are they just going to sleep?

Not know. Too tired. Go sleep. The wolf nudged his mate’s thigh.

Mason scratched behind Vincent’s ears. “Gettin’ tired, Pup? I think it’s about bedtime. Just tonight, you can sleep in the bed.”

Vincent’s tail wagged. He’s letting the wolf sleep in the bed? Best boyfriend ever.

“Happy shiftday, Vin,” Dave slurred, clearly sleepy as well. He was heading toward the linen closet while Mason led the way to the bedroom.

Following along, Vincent hopped onto the mattress as Mason shed his clothes. “It’s your special day, but we don’t sleep in bed as wolves. Too much fur.”

Vincent circled his side of the bed before inching closer to his mate. Once Mason was under the covers, he licked the man’s hand.

“I love you so much, Vinnie. Not that I don’t like your wolf, but I can’t wait to see you as a human again.”

Within moments, Mason was snoring. Vincent felt the warmth he was giving off, so he went to the foot of the bed, laid down near Mason’s blanketed feet, and reveled in the day’s events. He couldn’t remember when he fell asleep.

***

Rolling over in bed, Mason grumbled and flipped his pillow. He nearly fell back to sleep when his face hit the cool fabric. Fuck me. Can’t they make a pillow that stays cold? Sleepily, he opened his eyes to notice a naked Vincent curled up at the foot of the bed.

He glanced at the closed blinds to see red sunlight peeking through. He shifted in the middle of sleeping. Huh. Mason rubbed a hand over Vincent’s ass cheek. “Get up here, you crazy wolf. You’re going to get cold.”

Vincent stirred, looked at the bathroom door, then smacked his lips. “Wh…Wuh time’s it?”

“Who cares,” Mason uttered, unfurling the blanket. “We’re off work, and I’m about to hold my mate.”

The smaller alpha groaned and slid underneath the comforter, taking his coveted little-spoon spot. “I’m goin’ back to sleep…”

Mason barely chuckled before nuzzling Vincent’s neck.