It doesn’t matter now, though. The pull is too strong, undeniable.
I push through the diner door, the familiar clang of the bell ringing out. The scent of bacon and coffee greets me, but it’s their scents that hit me next, faint but unmistakable—Chad’s sweet and tangy perfume, Lakelyn’s soft, blueberry pie, calming presence.
They’re nearby.
Sliding onto a stool at the counter, I cast a glance around the room. Nothing. No Chad, no Lakelyn. The space is empty, aside from a few random patrons and a waitress I vaguely recognize.
The waitress leans against the counter opposite me and takes my order; I don’t ask about them, though. I should, but I don’t. Instead, I open my mouth and order black coffee and some breakfast I know I’m not going to touch. My focus isn’t on food right now. It’s on the lingering trace ofthem.
Then, I hear Dee’s laugh. A low, husky sound that fills the small diner. I glance to my left, where she’s sitting with Mason in a booth. Her brother says something under his breath, and she bursts out laughing again. I’m about to turn away when Mason shifts slightly in his seat—and that’s when it hits me.
Their scent. On him.
My gut tightens, and my mouth goes dry. The air around him shifts and the gentle breeze from the diner’s vent sends the smell directly at me—Chad and Lakelyn, unmistakably tangled with Mason’s. My chest clenches, a slow burn of jealousy settling in my veins. He’s been with them. Close enough to be soaked in their scent, and that realization makes my inner alpha snarl.
I don’t know whether to be jealous or just... defeated. Sure, Mason told me last night that we’re scent-bound, that we’re a pack. But the rawness of the situation? It stings. My instincts scream to storm over there, to demand details, to know exactly how he’s been with them. But the more rational part of my brain—the one that’s grown used to disappointment—tells me to let it go. Especially when it comes to Chad.
Dee’s eyes flick to me for a second, and then she leans across the table, whispering something to Mason. He shifts again, his gaze sliding to mine. For a heartbeat, we’re locked in a stare, and something pulses in the space between us. An electric charge, like a current that wasn’t there before. His eyes darken, not with anger, but with something else. Something I can’t quite name, but it’s damn near palpable.
He glances back at Dee for a second, like they’re sharing some silent conversation, before sliding out of the booth and making his way toward me. His walk—slow, deliberate—is the kind of stride you only see in someone completely sure of themselves. It’s the walk of an alpha who knows exactly who he is, no questions, no second-guessing.
Even dressed down in ripped jeans, a black tank, and that worn leather jacket like he just stepped off the wrong side of the tracks, Mason carries himself with a confidence I can’t help but envy.
That’s always been him, though—solid, unshakable. The kind of guy who doesn’t flinch, no matter the situation. And here I am, sitting in this diner, wrestling with emotions I can barely keep a lid on. Watching him approach, that self-assurance radiating off him like heat, I feel the familiar pang of wanting to have that same unbreakable certainty. Instead, I’m a damn mess inside. Trying to make sense of what I want, what we are—what I’ve always felt for Chad and now Lakelyn.
Mason slides onto the stool next to me, legs spread wide, his body turned toward mine in that effortless, cocky way he has. There’s an almost playful glint in his eyes, but something deeper lies beneath it. His presence practically hums with authority—the kind of confidence that makes you sit up and take notice. He doesn’t even have to say a word.
“Looking for Lakelyn and Chad?” His voice is casual, but there’s an edge to it, something teasing that runs deeper than just small talk.
I meet his gaze, trying to keep my expression neutral, but I know he can see right through it. “Maybe,” I reply, forcing the word out. It’s not a lie, but it’s not the whole truth either. Not when I can smell them all over him. The scent of their combined perfumes clings to his skin like a second layer, reminding me of everything I missed out on.
Mason leans in slightly, closing the gap between us, his grin widening. “They’re still at Lake’s. Sleeping it off.” He’s toying with me, like a cat with a mouse, but it’s more than just teasing. There’s something possessive in the way he says it, and it sends a rush of heat straight to my core. My body reacts tohim.
He leans in closer, voice dropping low. “Chad? He’s mine now.” His lips barely move, but the words land like a punch. “Next time you see him, he’ll have my mark on his neck.”
My stomach clenches, the primal alpha inside me roaring to life. There’s a flash of jealousy, something dark and raw that surges up before I can bury it. But Mason’s gaze holds mine, steady, challenging. He knows exactly what he’s doing—staking his claim. Telling me that I wasted my chances.
He doesn’t stop there, though. “Doesn’t mean there’s not room for you.” His voice dips even lower, almost a purr. “This pack needs you, too. And I think you know that.”
It’s not just a statement—it’s an invitation. One only a prime alpha would make. My mouth feels dry, my mind struggling to catch up with the sudden shift in the room, in the dynamic between us. It’s not just him claiming Chad—he’s mapping out the future for all of us. Ensuring I don’t screw this up.
“I thought we were going to do it together,” I say, my voice steady despite the heat rolling off him.
Mason’s tongue flicks out, swiping over his lower lip as he leans back slightly, his gaze flicking to the lingering waitress at the end of the counter. Then his eyes slide back to me, dark and knowing. “We kind of did.” He gives a slow, almost smug smile. “You worked them up, and when they got back to Lake’s apartment, well…” He pauses, his voice dropping to a murmur that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “It became something I didn’t expect.”
The way he says it, the casual confidence and underlying heat, sends a jolt through me. I can picture it. And Mason, taking over, claiming what’s his. The image hits me hard, leaving my hands clenching the edge of the counter as I try to focus.
“You should’ve been there.” His words are low, intimate, like he’s sharing a secret only we can understand. “It would’ve been better with you there.”
I meet his gaze, and there’s no mistaking the truth in his eyes. It’s not just about Chad, or Lakelyn, or even him—it’s about all of us. Together. A pack. One I never thought I’d be part of, but here it is, laid out in front of me, waiting for me to step in.
My throat tightens, the pull undeniable. “So where does this leave us?”
Mason smirks, his eyes gleaming. “Where it was always going to leave us. You, me, Chad, and Lake.” His voice softens slightly, losing some of that sharp edge. “You’re not out, Dean. You’re part of this—if you want it.”
His words settle on me, heavy and yet freeing at the same time. There’s no question of if I want it—I do. But stepping into this, letting myself truly be part of something like this, it’s more than just about want. It’s about giving up the control I’ve been so damn afraid to lose.
Mason must see the hesitation in my eyes because he leans in, closer than before, his voice dropping to a rough whisper. “We need you. Don’t fight it.”
