His cheeky tone, even when he’s breathless, makes me smile. “Not done ruining you yet,” I growl, my hands gripping his hips harder. The way he melts into me, the way his body responds, pushes me to go slower, deeper, making him feel every inch.
Chad gasps, gripping my thighs beneath him as his body shudders. “God, the way you fuck… it’s like you’re made for this.”
I lean in, brushing my lips against his ear, my breath hot against his skin. “You’re made for me.”
As the words slip from my mouth, Chad's whole body reacts. A full-body shudder ripples through him, his muscles tensing before giving way, soft and pliant in my grip. His head falls forward against my shoulder, and a sharp gasp escapes him, the sound somewhere between a moan and a sigh.
I feel the tremor in his legs, the way his hips instinctively tilt into me, exposing himself even more. It’s like he can’t help it, like the sound of my words has unlocked something deep inside of him. His fingers dig into my shoulders, desperate for grounding, for something to hold onto as he melts under my claim.
“Yeah,” he breathes, his voice shaky, lips parted as if he’s struggling to catch his breath. “Yours, Alpha.”
That single word—Alpha—comes out in a ragged whisper, dripping with submission. It sends a surge of heat through me,and I grip his hips harder, pressing him even closer. A roar of possessiveness locked inside my chest.
“Good boy,” I murmur, my voice low and possessive. I can feel every tremble, every shiver, as his body surrenders completely to mine. And I love every second.
I feellike I’m floating as I finish up the room at the shop, my head still buzzing with everything that’s happened. Supplies line the wall, neatly filling the sleek black cabinet, and I prop my tattoo gun in its holder with a satisfied hum. Whistling along to the music playing over the speakers I set up today, I can’t help but grin to myself.
I left Lakelyn and Chad tangled together, still asleep at her apartment, and the energy flowing through me is impossible to ignore. I’m not due at the dog shelter until after one, so I figured I’d knock out a few things here before heading over. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t get the image of the two of them out of my mind—Lakelyn nuzzled against Chad’s side, fitting perfectly against him like they’ve always belonged that way. Which they do. And somehow, I belong with them, too.
As I adjust the lighting and step back to take in the space, the familiar jingle of the door opening pulls me from my thoughts. I glance over, and sure enough, Dee strolls in with that usual bounce in her step, eyes immediately locking onto me with a knowing grin.
“Well, well, look who’s all smiles today,” she teases, strutting over like she’s got something on me. “What’s going on with you, Mase? You’re in an awfully good mood for a guy who's normally brooding over everything. Does it have anything to do with you not coming home last night?”
I chuckle, shaking my head as I continue tidying up. “Maybe I’m just happy the shop’s coming together, Dee. Ever think about that?”
“You look different,” she says, tilting her head. “Relaxed. Happy.” A pause. “Terrified.”
I chuckle under my breath, leaning back against the workbench. “That obvious?”
She raises an eyebrow, smirking. “You’re practically glowing. So, either you just won the lottery or... your pack is official.”
I exhale, running a hand through my hair. “Yeah. It’s official.”
Dee’s grin stretches wide, and she claps her hands together. “No shit! I knew it! I could feel it coming!”
Her excitement is contagious, but I keep my grin tempered, unsure how much to give away. Dee, of course, doesn’t wait for me to offer details.
“Okay, wait,” she says, holding up a hand like she’s stopping traffic. “Let’s process this. You—Mason freakin’ Cain—are part of a pack. And let me guess: you didn’t exactly plan for it to happen, did you?”
“Not even close,” I admit, rubbing the back of my neck. “It hit me like a freight train.”
She watches me closely, reading every shift in my expression like she always does. “Lakelyn,” she says, her voice softening slightly. “I figured it would be her all along. But now it’s real. You’re in this. With her.”
I nod, the weight of it settling in my chest—but it’s not heavy. It feels solid. Right.
“And Chad,” Dee adds, her voice light but her eyes sharp, watching for my reaction. “Didn’t see that one coming, huh?”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “No. Not at all.”
Dee leans in, nudging me with her elbow. “Bet you thought he was just some pretty face, all fluff, no substance.”
“I did,” I admit. “I was wrong.”
Her grin widens, satisfied. “I told you. There’s more to him. You just needed to look past the show.”
I let out a breath, nodding. “Yeah. He surprised me.”
“Did Dean accept it alright?”
