“Not after what I did. I should serve myself.”
“No.” I shook my head. “We could serve one another.”
His eyes flickered, and for a moment, I worried I had said the wrong thing. But Mason only gave me a small smile as he offered me his empty plate. Surveying the spread, I let myself unbury my memories of him, recalling how he liked cinnamon—not sugared—French toast, so I loaded that up around the edge, and then there were rolls of crepes filled with banana and strawberries. Cassie reached for a can of whipped cream and made a swirl of that right over the crepe, giggling.
“Thanks, Cassie,” Mason laughed. “You want to help your mom pick my breakfast?”
“I think you should have these.” She jabbed a finger towards the scrambled eggs.
Mason snorted. “Here’s a secret, Cassie. Your mom has the worst taste in those. They taste like liquid goop.”
“They do not!” I cried, finding myself laughing despite myself. For a moment, we all laughed, and the fear from the ifrit fight, and the anger and betrayal—it all slipped away. Cassie’stiny giggles made me happy to hear, and I reached out to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. I finished loading Mason’s plate. His eyes met mine with meaning as I set it down before him.
You know, in some parts of shifter existence, a female member of the pack making the alpha food means that—
“Cassie, I have something to tell you.” Mason’s voice cut over the table, stopping my thoughts. He’d put his fork and knife down. Cassie put on her best serious, listening face, nodding. Tears shone in Mason’s eyes, and my heart rose in hope.
Could it…
Was I allowed to hope?
A second passed where I let myself imagine this: a normal morning in the Warwick-Calloway household, the three of us a small family, maybe as we always should have been. As I’d always wanted.
I tried to breathe deeply, in and out, as Cassie cleared her throat.
“Actually,” she said, very matter-of-fact, “I think I know what you’re going to say. You’re my dad, aren’t you?”
Silence fell over the table. My heart pounded, and I could only look at her, as did Mason.
Cassie continued eating like it was all so normal.
“I felt something ever since you came into the cottage to fight the shadow. It kept getting stronger every day, especially when you came over. But it was like I could always feel when you were near. Right here.” She pushed into her sternum, smiling. “It was strange. I always asked Mommy who my dad was, and I always thought I would know immediately as I saw him, but I didn’t. Not at first, at least.”
“Oh, Cassie,” I murmured.I should have told her. I should have told them both.A wave of selfishness and guilt punched through me so strongly. I couldn’t bear to look at Mason, knowing he’d be thinking the same thing. “I’m sorry.”
Cassie beamed up at me. “The only thing I care about is having Daddy in my life. Now I get to draw the three of us, and he’s a wolf!” Her voice chirped with the eagerness she got as she talked. She sat up straighter in her chair and looked at us both. “I’m right, aren’t I? You’re my mommy and daddy.”
Finally, I looked at Mason, finding his gaze flicking to me. “If your mom agrees, then yes, Cassie. We are.”
He offered me his hand, curling his fingers inwards in a silent invitation. I hesitated, biting my lip. After all these years, I had feared about if he would accept Cassie, if he would accept me, after acting the way he had. Whether that was to fall into line with the pack or because it was his genuine thoughts, it had still hurt more than he would ever know.
Part of me wanted to slam my walls back; the other part of me knew I was drawn to Mason.
I took Mason’s hand, and something in me jolted.
I gasped softly, meeting his gaze.
Mason turned his attention back to our daughter. “You know that tether you feel between us, Cassie?” She nodded. “That was how I found you and your mom in the woods. In a way, you directed me to you when you and your mom needed me most. I think you’re incredibly brave for that, and I want you to know that I’m so proud of you.”
“Mommy has needed you for a very long time,” Cassie said quietly, looking at me. “Right, Mommy?”
“Yeah,” I whispered, holding back my tears. “Yeah, I have.”
“Me too,” Cassie agreed.
“And I’ve needed you,” Mason told her, bringing another smile to her face. His focus turned to me. “Both of you. But, Cassie, I’d love to spend more time with you and get to know you better, if you’re up for it. You and your mom, of course.”
“Really?” Cassie asked excitedly.
