A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's….though I wished I owned the rest….*sighs*

Brooklyn moved to Mason's at his insistence as to protect the weakened human. Today she was left alone as Mason had left to tend to some personal business.

The hunter saw her chance.

She started in the dresser and pawed through the stacks of boxers and socks. She used her good arm as her other was sore and inflamed. Mason had not detect any scent of infection but continued to play doctor which Brooklyn had reveled in. The hunter closed the drawer and started sifting through the second one.

Nothing but shirts and a few pairs of board shorts awaited her inquisitive fingers. But Brooklyn wasn't dismayed and started poking around the bottom drawer. She opened the drawer seeing tank tops and a hoodie folded neatly side by side.

"Damn," she pushed the drawer but it was stuck on the track. Brooklyn knelt down and looked at the wooden track. Something was caught on the back of the drawer.

"What's this?"

She slipped her arm in and realized her fingers were curled around a book of some sort. Brooklyn gently tugged on the book and felt it give. Slowly she retracted her arm feeling the wooden frame scrape along the underside of her forearm. A thick swath of rose colored the trail left behind but Brooklyn didn't care. Her interest was on the journal that rested in her lap.

Closing the drawer she hopped on the bed and examined the leather bound journal more closely. It was slightly worn along the pages' edges while a narrow string of leather kept the words within concealed from the outside world.

Brooklyn pinched a loose end and pulled, watching the tight knot unfurl. She didn't have any issue in keeping the book open as it instantly and neatly opened on her lap. Clearly this had been kept open and used on a regular basis. Brooklyn took a deep breath and started to read the first page in Mason's journal.

August 31,

My body is changing. I'm edgy, angry and impatient. I black out sometimes or forget what I say or even do! I'm not myself…..Not since Jimmy's death. What's happening to me? God please someone tell me what is going on! I feel so lost and alone…..

"He started chronicling his transformations…."

Brooklyn closed her eyes but only briefly as she pushed on, determined to learn more. Mason was so lost in the beginning. He must've been so scared when his moods changed and he couldn't control the rage that wasn't there until after his friend died. Brooklyn found herself wishing she had been there for him, to comfort him through such a traumatic time. He had been attentive around her, nothing like the anger he was describing in his writings.

She couldn't but help to wonder if the same would happen to her. Did female werewolves get angry and full of unrestrained rage when they were first turned? Was it only the males who were so emotional? What happened when and if Mason lost control and she was around?

Brooklyn recalled how Mason snapped in an instant when Maddox attacked her a few days ago. But that had been directly solely at the man and no one else. Perhaps he had learned to control such emotions. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities as vampires could control their blood lust so why couldn't werewolves control their emotions?

She settled back against the pillow and read another entry.

September 1,

I found a journal belonging to one of our ancestors: George Lockwood. This is the first time I learned about the Lockwood Curse. Our family has a dirty little secret: We're werewolves. But the curse isn't triggered like the movies portray. No, the curse is triggered when a blood member of the Lockwood Family takes another life: accidental or purposely.

I now realize the night I was driving and Jimmy died was the night the curse awakened in me…

Brooklyn could hear the despair echoing through the words. Her heart was sinking deeper the further she read. She wanted to read about George and how the curse affected his life in 1864 and the lives of his family. The hunter wondered if each generation had suffered the same fate as George had and now Mason was.

The hunter fell back against the pillows but felt something lightly tap her leg.

"What's this?"

She held a between her a flash drive between her nimble fingers. Brooklyn got a curious expression on her face as her hunter's instinct emerged. She hopped off the bed and went straight for the living room.

With the journal securely in her lap, she inserted the stick and opened the file labeled September 16.

The browser pulled up a hazy image that slowly came into focus as Mason appeared from the right. The only item of clothing he wore was a pair of boxer shorts. Two thick cables were bound to his wrists as two hooks were secured in the floor. His eyes flooded with anxiety and fear as he spoke into the camera.

"September 15…..2 hours from the full moon since I first triggered the curse…."

"My god….He taped it," she pressed the play button and let it continue.

"I don't know what's going to happen or what I'll remember so I'm taping everything that happens. The retracting cables should keep me from going anywhere and the garage is far enough away and the door secured enough that I won't break out and hurt anyone…."

His voice wasn't the strong confident volume she had come to know but instead one of dread.

"I read George Lockwood's journal and pray I don't endure the same fate as he did…."

"Huh," Brooklyn said to herself. She watched with bated breath as he grabbed a bottle with what initially looked like water. But immediately he heaved the fluids back up, coughing and wheezing as he started to have the dry heaves.

Brooklyn looked down at the journal and quickly discovered why he reacted in such a manner.

I diluted wolfsbane with water to weaken myself but I could barely get it down without puking it back up. It felt like I was drinking battery acid.

"Damn," she whispered and looked away. The image of Mason doubled over and suffering unspeakable pain made her sick to the core. Her own stomach churned at the gagging sounds that echoed from the tiny speakers on her computer. The wet slopping sounds were enough to cause the hunter to almost lose her breakfast. Bile rose against the back of her throat as the hunter forced her eyes back on the screen. Her finger trembled as it hit the play button.

"It's been over an hour and nothing's happened yet….."

Brooklyn could feel him pulling her in with his pleading glances. It was like he knew she was there, watching his drama unfold along with him. Her hand reached out towards the screen and ghosted along the image. God how she wished she was there, comforting him, telling him she was there and everything would be alright. Letting her fingers card through his hair as her whispers of reassurance eased his suffering.

"It's so quiet in here that I can hear my own blood pumping hard through my veins…."

The hunter was perched on the edge of the couch. Her bottom lip caught under the pressure of her teeth as her breath was halted in her chest. She felt her heart hammering against her chest as her eyes followed what happened next.

"Oh my god," she covered her mouth with her hand as Mason convulsed and thrashed across the floor. Sharp short snapping sounds were like nails being raked across a chalkboard to the hunter's ears.

"Oh my god it hurts! Someone please help me! PLEASE!"

Brooklyn gasped as she watched in horror as Mason's body was punished by the violent spastic movements of his first shift. One arm cracked like a dry twig then bent back and over his head before a leg swelled and morphed then returned to normal. A distinct ripping could be heard and the hunter watched as the strong rippling muscles tore and shredded beneath his skin, threatening to tear the surface like paper.

Am I going to share a similar fate? Will my body stretch tear and contort in painful unnatural changes?

"No," she whispered in distress. "I don't want it…."

She dropped her head in her hands as Mason's transformation played out. His pathetic cries haunted her hearing as she rolled onto the couch and broke down. She crushed the pillow over her head but the anguished screams plagued her still. Brooklyn felt her heart slowly crushing inward from the constricting pressure against her chest.

"I can't watch anymore….I can't watch him suffer…."

She extended a hand and slapped the laptop closed without so much as giving the final image of Mason's eyes glowing golden amber a look. Brooklyn couldn't stop crying. The images of the tormented werewolf played through her mind like a twisted horror flick. The burden he had to carry was so great! No one should have such a fate dumped on them like that! Yet Mason showed strength even when he was in blatant pain from the gunshot wound.

Her sobbing carried on for several more minutes before gradually subsiding into soft sobs and hiccups. She breathed in then out before sitting upright and swinging her legs aside. Her hand ran down her face then up and carded through her hair. Mason was due back at any moment but Brooklyn wanted to talk to him about the flash drive and journal.

"Brook," Mason called out and closed the door. "I have something to show you."

"What is it?" She started towards the front part of the apartment. Mason was standing in front of the door with his hands behind his back. A sweet smile danced across his face as he waited for her to come closer.

"What's behind your back?"

"Well…." He started to say, "Close your eyes."

Brooklyn raised an eyebrow but closed her eyes as Mason slipped the item from its box and slid it on her ring finger. She felt the cool weight on her hand and opened her eyes to see the beautiful ring on her hand.

"Mason…." She was breathless.

"It's an heirloom," he explained. "One that I got from my grandma. She said I would know when the time was right and that time is now."

It was made of the purest silver; adorned with a rich flawless cerulean stone with an emblem resting comfortably on top. The design reminded Brooklyn of a medieval piece with the leaf like etchings that ran along and around the stone.

"It's….it's too much," she started pulling at the ring but Mason clamped his hand on hers, stopping her from removing it.

"No, no it isn't," he shook his head in disagreement. "It's perfect. Brook, we're meant to be you know that. This," he maneuvered his hand to show the ring, "is a symbol of that."

"It's just…."

"I know you don't know what to say," he pressed a finger to her lips. "But please….."

Brooklyn shrugged and relented as Mason smiled.

"Now maybe we can," his mouth closed over hers. Brooklyn melted in his mouth and leapt up on his body. Their mouths were twisted in a heated fury for dominance which ignited the need between them. Brooklyn felt the growing bulge against her hips and playfully ground against it. Mason groaned in her mouth at the teasing friction between them. His hands ran up and down her legs, feeling the smooth silk skin along his palms and fingers.

"Bedroom," he growled.

Smut next chap and Mason finds out she found the journal