“For Mason, for Robert, for myself,” she corrected. “It wasn’t a sacrifice, Julian. It was a choice—one I’ve never regretted. Being a werewolf has given me a connection to my family, to nature, to myself that I never had as a human.”
I absorbed this information, thinking of the implications. “But Mason said the bite is dangerous. That it doesn’t always… work.”
“It is risky,” she acknowledged. “Not everyone survives the transformation. But the stronger the bond between the wolf and human, the better the chances. Robert and I had been together for years, our bond well-established. And even then, it was a difficult transition.”
“How difficult?” I asked, my voice dropping despite knowing that any werewolf in the vicinity could probably hear us anyway.
“Three days of fever so high they had to pack me in ice. Pain like nothing I’d ever experienced—like being torn apart and put back together wrong. Hallucinations, seizures.” She saw my expression and added quickly, “But then it was over, and I woke up with new eyes, new senses, a new understanding of the world. And it was worth every moment of suffering.”
I swallowed, trying to process this information. “Have you ever regretted it? Even for a moment?”
She considered the question seriously. “Not regretted, no. There have been challenges—learning to control the shift, adapting to enhanced senses, navigating pack dynamics as someone not born to them. But regret? Never.”
We finished the dishes in thoughtful silence, me contemplating her words and what they might mean for my future with Mason. We hadn’t discussed the possibility of me taking the bite—not seriously, anyway—but the idea had been hovering in the background of our relationship from the beginning.
Chapter 10
As we rejoined the others in the living room, I found Mason deep in conversation with his father and Alex, something about property boundaries and running trails. He looked up as I approached, his face lighting up in a way that still made my heart skip.
He held out his hand, and I took it, allowing him to pull me down beside him on the floor. “Everything okay?” he asked quietly. “You look thoughtful.”
“Just had an interesting conversation with your mom,” I replied, equally quiet. “Did you know she wasn’t born a werewolf?”
He nodded. “She took the bite for me, essentially. So I could be born safely.” There was a reverence in his voice when he spoke of it, a deep appreciation for his mother’s choice.
“She said it was worth it,” I murmured. “Despite how difficult the transition was.”
Mason studied my face, understanding dawning in his eyes. “Julian, are you thinking about—”
“Not yet,” I interrupted. “Just… thinking. About possibilities.”
He squeezed my hand, his expression serious. “That’s not something to consider lightly. It’s dangerous, painful, and irreversible.”
“I know,” I assured him. “It’s not a decision for today or even tomorrow. Just something to keep in mind for the future.”
He nodded, bringing my hand to his lips for a brief kiss. “Whatever you decide, whenever you decide it—I’m with you. Human or wolf, you’re my mate either way.”
The simple declaration warmed me more than I could express. Before I could respond, Riley flopped down beside us, breaking the intimate moment.
“Are you two having serious conversations at a pack gathering?” she demanded. “That’s against the rules. Pack time is for fun and food, not existential werewolf discussions.”
Mason rolled his eyes. “There are no such rules, Ri.”
“There are now. I just made them up,” she declared. “And as enforcement, I’m kidnapping your mate for a walk. Jess wants to show him the new trail we found.”
Before I could protest, Riley had grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet with her werewolf strength. Mason made a token noise of objection but didn’t actually try to stop her, knowing his sister well enough to recognize when resistance was futile.
“I’ll bring him back mostly intact,” Riley promised, already dragging me toward the door where Jess waited.
“You’d better,” Mason called after us. “I’m kind of attached to him.”
The fresh air felt good after the warm, enclosed space of the cabin. Riley, Jess, and I set off down a narrow trail that wound behind the cabin and into the forest. The day was perfect for a walk—sunny but cool, with a gentle breeze carrying the scents of pine and wildflowers.
“So,” Riley said once we were a little way from the cabin, “moving in with my brother, huh? Brave move.”
“It feels right,” I said simply. “We practically live together already.”
“You’re good for him,” Jess said, echoing Evelyn’s earlier comment. “He’s less… broody since you came along.”
