The intensity between us hums, vibrating with something primal. His scent—Chad and Lakelyn mixed into it—wraps around me like a tether, pulling me closer to that edge. I don’t need to fight it. Not anymore.
“Alright,” I breathe, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m in.”
Mason’s grin spreads wider, full of satisfaction and triumph. “Good.” He slaps a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it in a way that feels both grounding and possessive. “Then let’s finish this the way we should.”
A small surge of anticipation courses through me. Whatever happens next, I know it’s going to change everything.
Mason pulls back just as the waitress approaches with my coffee. He gives her a quick nod before turning his focus back to me. “See you later, Dean.” His voice carries a promise in it, something that both soothes and ignites my nerves.
I watch him walk back to Dee, their easy conversation picking up as though nothing had shifted, but everything has. I can feel it in my bones.
CHAPTER 35
Chad
As Lakelyn takes a shower,I stand in front of her full-length mirror, staring at my reflection like it's the first time I’ve ever seen myself. My fingers trace the mark Mason left on me, a glowing reminder of last night. It's strange—shiny, almost, like it’s got its own light source. And if I focus, really concentrate, I swear I can feel him through it. This weird buzzing warmth, like he’s right there, even though he’s not.
I’ve never had an alpha’s mark before. The whole thing feels surreal. Especially since I spent so long searching for this before finally telling myself it wasn’t something I wanted. Now here I am, practically willing my heat to come so we can make it permanent. So I cankeepit. The thought makes my stomach twist in this weird, excited way that I’m not sure I’m ready to deal with.
I’m still staring at the mark, lost in it when Lakelyn comes out of the bathroom. She’s got that freshly showered glow, skin warm and dewy, hair damp and sticking to her neck. A towel wrapped around her perfect body. Her eyes soften when they meet mine, and she walks over, wrapping her arms around mywaist from behind. She presses a sweet kiss to my shoulder, smiling into my skin like everything’s perfect.
I catch her hands with mine, holding them against my stomach, her touch grounding me. “I’m sorry he didn’t mark you last night,” I say, my voice a little rougher than I intended. “He should have.”
Lakelyn laughs, light and easy, like it’s no big deal. “Pretty sure I would’ve died trying to take him last night. Even without the knot, I’m not sure I could handle it yet. That’s a whole lot of alpha.”
I smirk, unable to help myself. “He can mark you without sex, you know. It just… hurts less if he does it during.”
Her fingers trace over my bare chest, sending shivers down my spine. “Well then, maybe next time you could be inside me when he bites me,” she says, her voice teasing, low. Then, her lips brush against my skin again. “Or maybe you could…do the claiming.”
That stops me cold. For a split second, everything freezes in place—her suggestion hanging in the air, sending my brain into overdrive. Me? Marking her? That’s… I mean, it’s not impossible, but the idea’s so intimate, so personal. My heart kicks up, adrenaline coursing through me.
Without thinking, I twist in her arms, my hands grabbing her waist as I pull her closer. There’s this electricity sparking between us, and suddenly, I can’t wait. I lean down, my lips crashing against hers, and kiss her senseless. It’s not soft or sweet—it’s messy, needy, like I need to show her just how much she affects me.
Her fingers dig into my back as she kisses me back, just as desperate. Every thought I had about Mason’s mark, about wanting my heat, evaporates like rain on hot pavement. Right now, it’s just Lakelyn, her taste, the feel of her body pressedagainst mine, and the way her lips part like she’s ready to let me consume her whole.
I pull back, breathless, our foreheads resting together. “You don’t know what you’re asking for; once my heat comes, it will be forever,” I whisper, voice rough around the edges. “If you change your mind, it will be way more painful than losing your virginity for it to fade.” But even as I say it, I know deep down that if she asked me again, I wouldn’t be able to refuse.
Not now.
Not ever.
She holds my face in her hands, her eyes locking onto mine like she’s trying to burn her gaze straight into my soul. “I know,” she says softly. “If I’m with anyone, it’s you.” Her thumbs brush gently over my cheeks, her next words barely above a whisper, but they hit me like a tidal wave. “I love you.”
It’s like those words wrap around me, warm and solid, sinking into my bones. I feel them everywhere—steadying me, grounding me. God, I love her too. I’ve never been so sure of anything.
“I love you too,” I manage, my voice thick with everything I can’t say. “More than I could ever put into words.” Sure, I’ve told her that IthoughtI was in love with her, but even then, IknewI was. She’s the one thing I’m absolutely positive about.Mybeta.
Her lips brush my ear as she whispers, “Then let’s do it now. I want to wear your mark.”
Her words send a shiver down my spine, igniting something deep and primal. I pull back just enough to look into her eyes, searching for any hint of hesitation. There’s none. She’s serious—just as sure as I am.
“And I want to wear yours,” I reply, my voice steady with a confidence I didn’t know I had until now. It feels like everything in my life has been leading to this moment. To her.
I’ve never been so sure of anything. Lakelyn is mine. Even if Mason or Dean claim her too, it doesn’t change the fact that she was mine first. And I’m hers, no matter what.
Her fingers trace the line of my jaw before drifting down to the spot where she wants to leave her mark. Her touch’s soft but insistent, her pulse quick beneath her skin. My chest tightens with the need to make this official.
“Are you sure?” I ask, my voice low as I let my hands settle on her waist. I can feel the tremble in her body, but there’s a fire in her gaze. “Once we do this, there’s no going back.” I don’t add without a lot of pain, but she knows.
