📎A/N. Hello my lovelies... I hope you have enjoyed the journey so far. 

As some of you may be aware, Masked started on Wattpad and late last year was published out into the wide world. The final version differs in a couple of places to the original draft, but overall it has stayed true to the original intent and story line.

In 2016 Masked won a Watty. You could have pushed me over with a feather... I was that surprised.

To top this off, earlier this month (August) Masked won Third Place for Best First Book in the RWNZ Koru Competition. This is the Romance Writers of New Zealand competition for published works.

I am so very grateful for readers such as yourselves that give writers like me the courage to bring our stories to life. Without a platform like Wattpad, Masked would never have seen the light of day.

As warning, this is the last chapter, and is rather long. 

Thank you, and take care,

❤M.

PS. Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter @mnjgreenhill as well as like my Facebook page to get updates on what I am currently working on.

❧ ⚛ ✺ ≋ ≋ ≋ ≋ ≋ ✺ ⚛ ❧

Nederland, Colorado, 4 Days later

Daniel collapsed in the chair, placed his elbows on his desk, and rested his head in his hands. A combination of relief and trepidation flooded him. He wasn't sure whether to be happy, sad, or worried. He let out a long exhale. They were finally home. Home where he could keep Parker safe and out of Elise's line of sight. Whether he could keep her out of the FBI, Homeland Security, and the CDC's line of sight was another issue entirely.

A warmth spread through his veins, and the corners of his mouth twitched. Even in her weakened state Parker was feisty. She had argued with him right up until they got on the air ambulance, and the doctor had sedated her. He couldn't understand why she thought she was putting him out, and that she should be returning to Portland, not Nederland. She belonged here with him. Where else would she possibly go?

He sat back in his chair and glanced at the door. Perhaps he should check on her?

Growling for not trusting the others, he resisted the urge. She was in good hands. Alice and his sister were tending to her and would stay until he caught up with the pressing issues that had been awaiting his return. Not that Parker would know he wasn't sitting vigil with them. She was still sedated, and it could take hours before she woke up.

He rubbed the back of his neck and refocused. Now that Parker was safe, his mind returned to a more daunting task. He had the unenviable responsibility of planning ceremonies for those who had lost their lives in the battle at Middlemarch. His chest tightened, and he struggled with the grief that was sweeping through his and Morgan's pack. Their fallen had died heroes. While Elise had gotten away, she no longer had an army behind her. Without them she was crippled. Their sacrifice had given his race a reprieve, but it would not be a long one. She was out there waiting to strike again.

Daniel was on the phone when Simon walked into his office later that afternoon. He motioned for him to take a seat. "I'll see what I can do about getting an additional supply of morphine to you." He paused. "I have to warn you, it won't be pretty."

He ended the call and rubbed the back of his neck. "That was the alpha from the Ethiopian pack in Wisconsin. There's a pack member with the disease. They have no doctor, and it's their first case."

Even though they had stopped the online sales, and the food had been removed from the stores, they would still need to contend with those who had already become infected.

"I'll ship out a supply of morphine straight away," Simon said. He surveyed Daniel's office. It still hadn't been repaired from when Daniel was informed of Parker's abduction. Simon tapped the destroyed laser printer with his foot. "You don't do things by half, do you?"

Daniel snorted. "Well, how would you react if your mate was taken from you?"

Simon's smile vanished, and his head snapped up. He cocked his head, and his brows knitted together. "Wait. What? Mate?" A look of disbelief registered before it turned to confusion. "But you said... I thought that..."

Daniel held up a hand to silence his stuttering friend. "I believe I may owe you an apology."

Simon sank down on the couch and shook his head. "May? Do you have any idea what I had to go through to make sure Elise's daughter stayed away from you? I think she's under the impression I'm completely insane."

"Things were moving a little too quickly, and there wasn't time to let you know the truth."

Simon leaned back on the leather seat and a wide smile spread across his face, something that had been missing since Kyle's death. "The alpha's found his mate. The alpha's found his mate."

"Shut up." Daniel glanced at the door. "No one knows yet—just you and Alpha Bergman."

"Oh." Simon's wicked grin gave Daniel a measure of discomfort. "That means you haven't told Parker?"

"And just when do you think that conversation was possible, considering what she has just been through? Keep it to yourself."

Simon chuckled. "You're worried that she is going to reject you."

His chest tightened.

"You are... Mind you..." Simon winked. "Why she would want an overbearing, bad-tempered Werewolf as a mate is beyond me. You're quite right to be concerned."

A deep growl burst from his chest, and he clenched his fists.

Simon raised his hands in submission, but he was still smiling. "Settle, Cujo." He cocked his head to one side. "In some weird way, I think that we all accepted her as second alpha a long time ago." He commenced chanting again, a grin from ear to ear as he sang. "The alpha's got a mate, the alpha's got a mate."

"What are you—a child?"

He dismissed his beta and went back to work. Simon hummed the chant the entire way down the corridor, his off-key ditty wafting through Daniel's open door.

I think Joséphine might have been correct. There definitely is something not right with that Werewolf.

Simon had only been gone a few moments when Daniel's phone rang.

He raised an eyebrow at the caller display before answering. "She hasn't been here long, and you're already checking up on me."

There was a pause before Morgan spoke. "We have a problem."

The grim way in which Morgan uttered the simple phrase had Daniel's shoulders tensing. "I'm listening."

"Fridericks is gone."

Daniel's brows knitted together. "What do you mean he's gone?" Hans Fridericks had been left in Morgan's custody—pending a decision by the Alliance on what to do with him.

"The house we were keeping him in was attacked early this morning." Morgan's voice turned hard. "I have two dead, and a third severely wounded."

Daniel's hand clenched the phone. "Fuck! How did that bitch find him?"

"That's what we are still trying to unravel. Do you think they're headed to the estate?"

"No." He was confident that the estate was the last place she would return to, especially after blowing it up. "The FBI will have the place overrun by now. She's too smart to risk it. The more important question is, what is she up to now? There's got to be a reason she came back for him."

"It can't be Wildfire. We know about it, and so do the Humans. More importantly, we are all putting measures in place to stop our race from being exposed. What I don't understand is that only the Council and a select few from our packs knew we had him. Even less knew where he was being held."

Morgan's statement hung in the air like heavy rain clouds before a storm. Dark and foreboding.

"We have a traitor."

***

Oh God, my head. A dull pulsating beat thumped against Parker's skull. She opened her eyes, only to shut them again. Where the hell am I?

When she pried them open again, she realized she was no longer in the hospital. A moment later the fog cleared. She was in her bedroom in Nederland. She had little time to adjust before Alice and Jessica hovered over her.

Alice smiled. "Hey sleepy head. It's about time you woke up."

Jessica pouted as she squeezed Parker's hand. "You frightened the living daylights out of us. Don't ever do that again."

Alice moved to the medical equipment and picked up the blood pressure cuff. Jessica skirted over to allow her space.

Alice wrapped the cuff around Parker's arm. "You need to keep the oxygen on for a few more days. Your lungs are still not at full capacity, and the trip knocked them around a bit."

Parker's stomach clenched. While a part of her knew Daniel was livid with her for going to the CDC, and most probably wanted nothing to do with her, another small part wished for him to be there.

"BP's good." Alice placed the end of a stethoscope against Parker's back and listened to her lungs. "After breakfast, we'll help you wash, change your bandages, and get you up for a few minutes. We need to build your strength slowly."

"You know you don't need to put yourself out," Parker said.

Alice stared at the end of the stethoscope in her hand, and her shoulders sagged. "I'm not. It's nice to have a patient that isn't going to die on me for a change."

Jessica giggled and clapped her hands. "And we get to have some girl time while you recover, so it's a win-win."

The day flew by. Between her enforced naps, Jessica and Alice insisted on staying with her. She enjoyed the company, but she couldn't help the feeling that Daniel didn't trust her. By the end of the day, she was convinced her two friends had turned into her jailors on Daniel's instructions.

She was relieved when they finally left, and she had some time to herself. So much had happened, it was difficult to separate her emotions from her pain. Her only enjoyment was when Alice and Jessica brought her out to the patio for some afternoon fresh air. She was sick of confined spaces after the prison and then the hospital.

While the evening sun battled to stay above the horizon, Parker relaxed in the recliner and admired the brilliant shades of red and orange emblazoned across the sky. Her solitude was short-lived. Daniel exited the house and headed in her direction.

"I see Mandy and her friends have visited."

Parker's stomach fluttered. Without realizing it, she had been looking forward to seeing him. She glanced at the multitude of get-well pictures and artwork strewn on the table and smiled. "Yes, they were quite sure that bright paintings and drawings would heal me instantly."

Daniel crouched down to eye level and reached for her hand. "Sorry, I've been scarce today. Some pressing matters couldn't wait."

"Don't apologize. You have more important things to worry about than me. Besides, your pit-bulls are quite capable of making sure I don't get into trouble."

He looked around for his sister and Alice.

"I sent them both home. They don't need to wait on me hand and foot. I've had my meds, Alice has confirmed my blood pressure is almost back to normal, and my oxygen levels are improving."

Daniel arched a brow. "So I heard."

His unwavering gaze made her uncomfortable. She couldn't shake the questions that had been plaguing her over-active imagination all day.

Why had he insisted on her returning to his pack grounds?

Why was he adamant that she couldn't return home, or remain in hospital as per the doctor's wishes?

She knew he was angry with her for involving the CDC. Did he trust her so little that he thought she would put his entire race in danger—put her friends at risk? She was crushed to think he had so little faith in her. She would do anything to protect those she loved. They may not be blood, but they were definitely family.

Daniel leaned closer, and he gazed up and down her body. "Are you all right? You look upset."

Parker tensed. Without her special tea, he would be able to pick up on her stray emotions. "I'm fine, just a little tired."

Daniel stood and handed her the small oxygen tank. "Come on, let's get you inside."

He scooped her up, strode through the house, and deposited her in bed. "Have a nap, I'll get something sorted for your dinner."

"What? You cook?" she said. "You can't even make coffee."

Daniel raised a brow. "I'll have you know my outdoor grilling skills are superb."

Worried he might expect her to eat a heavy meal, she said, "I don't think that I could possibly eat anything like that right now."

"I know. That's why Gail is making dinner for you tonight. She's done some Googling, and apparently chicken soup is supposed to make an ill person feel better." Daniel's expression reflected his skepticism on the subject.

She managed a laugh, then grimaced.

Shit, how long are my ribs going to hurt.

Daniel leaned over the bed and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before leaving the room.

Stunned by his action, she stared at the closed door, the feel of his lips imprinted on her skin.

Control yourself, idiot, he's just making sure I can't do anything to endanger the pack.

Despite her belief to the contrary, she fell asleep soon after he left. When she woke, it was to discover Daniel in the chair nearest the bed.

"How long have you been sitting there?"

He shrugged. "Not long."

Parker frowned. "You know you don't have to keep tabs on me all the time. I'm not going anywhere, and if you are worried about me speaking to anyone, don't. I would never betray any of you."

Daniel's forehead creased. "What are you talking about?"

She sighed. "You know what I am talking about. Don't act like you don't."

Instead of replying, Daniel stood up. "I'm going to get your dinner."

Parker stifled the tears that threatened. I knew it. He doesn't trust me. He would not see how crushed she was by his words. This was something she needed to cope with on her own. The sooner she got better, the sooner she could go home and try to get some semblance of her life back.

She wasn't left alone for long. Daniel returned with a tray of food. He helped her up, moved the mobile table across the bed, and placed a bowl on it.

"How is it?"

"Superb, although I think Gail will be disappointed in the morning when I wake up and I'm still looking like this."

Daniel laughed. "Yes, well, we aren't accustomed to the Human condition. The fact that it's going to take you weeks, rather than hours or days to heal, takes a little getting used to."

Parker sighed. "Well, this Human can't wait to get back to normal. The inactivity is already driving me nuts."

"Finish your dinner. Clara tells me you play a mean game of Poker—let's see if we can keep you occupied trying to beat me." Daniel reached into the top drawer and pulled out an unopened pack of playing cards. He smiled. "Oh, and don't think you can cheat. Clara has already filled me in on your tells."

Parker shifted in her bed and struggled to come to terms with his incessant need to ensure she couldn't cause any trouble. "You know, you don't need to babysit me all day and night. I'm sure you have better things to do."

Daniel cocked his head. "Are you scared of losing? Is that the problem?"

"Those are fighting words, mister." Parker scoffed. "Five card draw—Jacks or better to open."

The next few hours passed in a happy blur. She couldn't remember the last time she had enjoyed something as simple as playing a game of cards.

She yawned and Daniel laid down his cards in mid-hand. "I think that's it for me. Besides, Alice has left strict instructions that you need a full night's sleep."

He stood up and cleared away the deck.

She brought the cards close to her face to take a better look and frowned. She was holding a full house and couldn't believe the game was going to end before she won the round. "You just don't want to lose to me anymore."

Daniel crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at her, his mouth a thin line, and his face stern.

She conceded and passed her cards across to him. "Fine then, sleep."

Daniel sat down on the small armchair near the bed and arranged himself the best he could.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to sleep."

"On that chair?"

Daniel nodded.

"What's wrong with your room?"

"Nothing, but if you need anything during the night, I'll be right here."

Parker rolled her eyes. "Don't be silly, I'll be okay. You can't sleep in that chair."

"I did last night. It's not as uncomfortable as it looks." Daniel reached over and turned off the lamp. "Now go to sleep. Alice will have my head if you don't get a full eight hours."

She lay in the dark and gazed at the ceiling. When Daniel moved, yet again, to find a comfortable position she let out an irritated tsk. She couldn't listen to the insistent rustle of him moving around in the chair. She reached out with her good arm and turned on the lamp. "Oh, for Christ sakes. If you insist on staying here all night, you may as well sleep in the bed. It's big enough to fit a small army."

"No. I'm fine here."

Parker exhaled. "Daniel, just get in. I need some sleep, and I am not going to get any with you perched on that goddam chair."

They began a staring match, each one waiting for the other to give in.

Parker, who had pushed herself up off the pillow to turn on the lights, was starting to feel the strain on her ribs. A sharp ache radiated down her chest and legs, and she cried out.

Daniel was at her side before her body hit the pillow.

He sank to his knees beside the bed. "Are you okay? What's the matter? Should I get Alice?"

"It's alright," she said through gritted teeth. "I just shouldn't have sat that way."

She took calming breaths and focused on bringing the pain within tolerable levels. Once the agony had subsided, she turned to Daniel. "Now, are you going to get in, or do I have to tell Alice that you argued with an invalid?"

Grunting, Daniel got up and made his way to the other side of the bed. He sat down and bent over to take his shoes off. Then, to Parker's dismay, began to disrobe. He removed both his jeans and shirt, and stood barefoot, dressed only in boxers.

"What are you doing?" Her voice came out in a high-pitched squeak.

Daniel grinned and proceeded to get between the sheets "What? You're lucky I kept these on. I normally sleep without them."

Parker was at a loss for words. Even in her state, she could appreciate the Adonis that had materialized and was now resting in the bed beside her. If her face wasn't already colored with bruises, it would be fifteen shades of beetroot about now.

Daniel turned off the lights and lay in the dark.

He turned on his side and faced her. She was too scared to move, and not sure what to say, or what to feel. How was she going to sleep with him so close?

Daniel broke the silence. "When you were there, did Matheo ever... I mean, did he ever try to..."

"No," she said quietly. "No, he threatened to, but you got there before he had a chance to carry it out."

Daniel exhaled as if he'd been holding his breath.

She turned her head to look at him. He was so close. Even in the dark she made out his strong features. Right now, he was staring directly at her.

"I never thanked you for coming to get me," she said.

From out of the darkness, his hand reached for hers. "I'm only sorry we didn't get there earlier."

They lapsed into silence. Unable to meet his penetrating gaze, Parker looked up at the ceiling.

"You have the gene." His voice was quiet, almost inaudible.

"Pardon?"

"The dormant wolf gene. You have it."

What did that mean, aside from making her susceptible to the Wildfire disease? She chose to make no comment. Her body gave way to the bliss of slumber a short time later, and her mind foggily registered that her hand was still entwined with his.

The following week proceeded in the same manner as the first day. Alice and Jessica took turns at making sure she was taking her medication and adhering to their strict guidelines. During the day, Daniel worked tirelessly and continued to monitor the hospitals as the Wildfire disease spread into the Human world. At the same time, he ensured they kept any further outbreak contained within the Werewolf community. Rather than travel to Denver to handle the pack's construction business, he conducted whatever he could from home. Anything that required him to leave the compound was postponed.

Daniel's late afternoons and evenings were spent with her.

The only exception was the ceremony to honor their dead pack members. She was adamant she had to attend.

The funeral was worse than Parker could have imagined. Not only did it bring back the raw wounds from losing her cousin and Beth, but she was consumed by the fact that Kyle and the others lost their lives while coming to save her. Guilt so overwhelmed her that she struggled to breathe throughout the wake and the ceremony.

She prepared herself for the hostility she would undoubtedly face. After all, she was the reason they were dead. What she wasn't prepared for was all the support. Each time someone approached, it was to thank her for finding Elise's compound and putting a stop to her reign of terror. They were aware that she was behind the CDC's decision to remove the tainted food, but also what she had been prepared to do to safeguard not only their pack, but their entire race.

By mid-week, her lungs were almost back to full capacity, and she was able to get rid of the oxygen bottle. Now she was free to wander and was no longer restricted to bed. Her arm, ribs, and other injuries would take a lot longer to heal.

Most of all she looked forward to her evenings. An unspoken pattern emerged during the week, and solidified a fundamental and unconscious change to their relationship. Once Daniel finished work, he would seek her out, and they would sit and talk until dinner time—often discussing pack matters or the ongoing search for Elise. Sometimes Daniel sought her counsel for the best way to approach pack issues that had arisen during the day.

He continued to sleep in the room with her, and she insisted he sleep on the bed, rather than in the chair.

Soon his being in bed beside her felt natural, and neither put up an argument. Often, she would wake up during the night to discover that his wolf had taken over and sat vigil over her. During these moments, she would reach out, and he would creep closer, edging his way nearer to her until his frame was flush with her body. She would bury her hand in his fur and gently stroke him as he lay beside her. She would fall asleep with the relaxing, steady inhales and exhales from his massive, warm body.

Though she physically healed, her emotional well-being deteriorated. She lived in fear, thinking that the bubble would burst at any moment, and she would have to wake up and begin her life without Daniel. Each time he walked into the room her heart would beat a little bit faster. It was the small things, his attentiveness when asking her opinion, or his anticipation of her needs as she healed.

With the knowledge this would all come to an end, she imprinted these snippets of her days to memory. In her darkest moments, when she needed something to hold on to, she would recall these moments, but she had to stop the fantasy. It had gone on too long. If it were possible, she was falling deeper and deeper in love with a man who felt nothing but guilt for her injuries at the hands of Matheo. A man who no longer trusted her for going behind his back.

The anguish grew each time she saw Jessica and Ray or Alice and John together. The deep bond they experienced was something she was desperate to have with Daniel.

In her manic state, the thought of him with another woman made her physically ill. She was jealous of a woman she hadn't even met, but she couldn't forget that his mate was somewhere out there. He was becoming as essential to her as life itself. In the end, this made her decide to leave before she was no longer able to function.

She spent the entire day psyching herself up for the confrontation that would sever their contact. She needed to convince him that she wouldn't put them at risk.

At dinner, she readied herself.

It's now or never.

"I'm feeling much better. Alice said I could go back to work next week," she said. "Provided I only type with one hand, of course."

Daniel barely acknowledged her.

"In fact, I thought I'd book a flight for this weekend—that way I can settle in before the week starts."

"You aren't well enough to travel."

Irritated that Daniel was again trying to tell her what to do, she said, "I am, and I can't stay here forever. I need to get back to my life and my business. There are people who depend on me."

"They are coping without you."

Her anger simmered just below the surface. He was being dismissive, which only further aggravated her. "Yes, but for how long? Their projects will finish soon, and I need to get more contracts through the door for them."

Daniel frowned. "You could move your business to Boulder or Denver. It doesn't need to be in Portland, and after speaking with a few of them, I think the majority of your team would make the move. I've even scouted a few locations that might suit you."

"You what?" Parker stood. "Why would you go behind my back like that?" She picked up her half-eaten meal, stormed to the kitchen bench, and dumped the dinner plate in the sink. "Besides, I'm not moving anywhere. Morgan and Clara are near me. What the hell would I do in Boulder?"

Daniel jumped up from his chair. "You wouldn't be living in Boulder. You would be here. With me!"

She flinched at the sudden increase in volume.

"Don't be ridiculous." She clenched her fists. "I can't keep taking advantage of your hospitality, and at some point, you are going to have to trust me."

Daniel's nostrils flared. "What the hell are you talking about? I do trust you."

"Then why are you so adamant I stay here?"

She was standing, fists clenched and anger seeping out of every pore. It did not escape her that their stance mimicked each other. Their eyes blazed, and fury exploded in the air.

His face was dark as his voice rose to full volume. "Because my mate is supposed to be by my side, not half a country away!"

She yelled back at him. "You aren't the boss of me. And you certainly have no right to tell me what I can and can't do."

His words finally registered and she stopped dead in her tracks.

Mate? What mate?

She cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, what did you just say?"

"You heard me."

Parker sat down on the nearest chair, but jumped up again. Thinking better of it, she sat back down. She stood up, yet again. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words emerged.

Daniel crossed the short distance between them. His anger abated, he cupped her chin in his hand, and tilted her face up. A hint of a smile touched his lips, though laced with doubt and insecurity. "I never knew how alone I was until you charged into my life and turned it upside down."

His voice, like a smooth wine, spread warmth and hope through her body.

"Make no mistake, you are my mate."

She stood transfixed, and still unable to utter a word. This must be a dream that she was going to wake from, a dream that she would relive for the rest of her life.

His eyes grew fearful. "Say something."

Her voice croaked as she forced herself to speak. "W-when did you know?"

"Know what? That you were my mate, or that I'd found I could no longer live without you?"

Her pulse quickened, and her heart beat faster. "Both, I guess."

"The moment Simon brought you to me at the prison, I knew who you were. Your scent was no longer masked from me." His eyes searched hers as if frantic to read her mind. "And as to the other, it happened so gradually that I don't actually know."

She stood, immobile. Her face was still cupped in his hands. Neither she nor Daniel spoke, the silence drawing out like a taut rubber band, ready to snap.

"I know it's different for Humans, but do you think... do you think you could ever..." Daniel ran a hand through his hair. "What I mean to say is that..."

She cut him off, knowing full well what he wanted to ask.

Her heart was clenched so tightly she could scarcely breathe. She was wrong in thinking he hadn't trusted her. I misinterpreted all the signs. She choked back the tears that threatened to fall again. "I needed to go because my heart has been breaking a little more each day, knowing you were never going to feel for me the way my soul, my entire being, feels for you."

She reached up to cup his face with her hand, all the emotions she held for him reflected in her eyes. "You are as necessary to me as the air I breathe. My heart is yours—it will always be yours."

***

Daniel silenced Parker with a smoldering kiss, pulling her closer to him. As he did so, she winced in pain. Feeling her distress, he pulled back, panicked that he had caused her discomfort.

"Are you sure?" he said. "Because I am never going to let you go."

Parker nodded and gave him a broken smile. Through her bruises and swollen features, the truth shone in her eyes. It was as if he had come home from a long, perilous journey. The fears that had built up inside him had evaporated. In their place was the wonderment that this stunning creature before him was his. His to worship. His to love and cherish for a lifetime. His confidant and best friend, who he had no doubt would fight him tooth and nail every step of the way.

His whole body, mind, and soul belonged to her.

Forever.

The End... for now.