“Right,” I agreed.
“Come on, let me grab this stuff to show these idiots that they don’t know what they’re talking about.”
Chapter 20 - Mason
The day after the meeting where Bryce announced a portal, I had ordered Freya and June to find out what they could about either closing the leyline for good or at least finding a way to subdue the portal.
Bryce had worked with them through the night, directing them on a map of where to go in the levels beneath the museum, of where to tread.
Freya, a witch who had clearly fascinated Bryce, had cloaked herself and June in protection spells, and the two of them had delved below, with Bryce staying back with me. Had Jackson been there, I’d have sent him and Theo. Instead, I had Theo and Nate go ahead with them, much to all of their grumbling.
But now, I needed my focus back on my family. Approaching Jackson’s house, I noticed his car back in the driveway, the damage fixed. I knocked on the door, right as Bryce opened it with an excited Cassie bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“She said she felt you coming over,” Bryce explained, wincing a smile. She looked exhausted.
“Have you slept at all?” I asked Bryce, stepping in when she moved back, motioning for me to go in.
“Barely.” She groaned and pushed her hair back off her pale face, tying it into a simple ponytail. “With last night, plus the fact that Jackson still hasn’t come back, I couldn’t quite fall asleep.”
I frowned. I hated the fact that Jackson was staying away. Not only from me, and, essentially, the pack, but from his ownsister. Whether it was guilt or worry, I didn’t know. Part of me wanted to hunt him down and force him to talk to me, but the other part only worried the alpha in me would take over and tell him to leave the pack if he truly didn’t want to be there.
But to leave Bryce like this…
I hated it.
I hated that she’d even gone back to Jackson’s house at all when I had made up a room for her, but she had only said she didn’t want Cassie having the wrong idea.
“We’ll figure out what to do about Jackson,” I assured Bryce. “He’ll have to shift back sometime.”
“Can’t you go after him?”
I winced. “I think I’m the last person he wants to see. Plus, if he won’t shift back to speak with me, my wolf will take over, and he’ll be forced to submit and come back. I want him to come back because he’s ready to, not out of force.”
Bryce nodded, frowning as she stroked Cassie's hair. I noticed she did that a lot, as if it was a comfort to remind herself that her daughter was there.
I spoke up again. “Bryce, I know you’re still weary of me and Cassie. You think I’ll let her down the minute I get close to her, but I need you to know I won’t. I want to bond with her, and I would like to today. Let me take her out for a couple of hours while you rest.”
“I don’t know,” she murmured. “I… I’m used to doing it alone, Mason, I—”
“You don’t have to anymore,” I told her, knowing she might not be ready yet to believe me, but I had to try regardless. “Let me spend time with my daughter.”
Hesitating, Bryce took a moment to nod. I wanted her to sleep, but I really did also wanted Cassie with me for a specific purpose today. The woods were part of her DNA—I wanted her to really get into her terrain and start becoming familiar with them.
“I don’t want you to shift around her,” Bryce said. “It’ll come with too many questions.”
“I’d be prepared to answer anything, but if that’s what you want, then I won’t. For what is worth, I wasn’t planning on it.”
“And make sure she eats.”
“Come on, I eat enough for six guys at a time. She can’t not eat with her father.” I tried to grin at her, but it fell short when Bryce only mustered a weak one. But she nodded. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” she sighed. “Mostly because I’m too tired to argue with you on it. But you’re right. You’re her father. You should… You should spend time with her.”
“Cassie,” I said, calling her from where she’d scurried off to the sofa. “You want to hang out with me for the day? Let your mom have some rest?”
“Yeah!” she cried, hurrying to her feet. “What do I need?”
“Just yourself,” I told her, laughing as she raced to put on the small shoes by the front door. She hopped as she tugged on thick boots, child versions of combat boots, and I thoughtshe’s like me already.“All right, let’s go. You ready?”
