“Your mom’s friend,” I clarify. “We ran into her at the country club.”
Mason takes the drinks from my hand and, with a subtle nudge, leads us over to a cozy-looking couch by the fireplace. He sets the tray down on the coffee table and gestures for us both tosit, always the practical one. I sink down onto the soft cushions, grateful for a moment to settle the tumult inside me.
Chad follows, though his eyes haven’t left me, still filled with concern. “What did she want with you?” There’s clear confusion in his tone, like he can’t understand why she would even approach me.
Mason sits back, arms resting casually along the back of the couch, but I can feel the tension in his posture. “We think it’s more than that, man. This isn’t just a random run-in,” Mason says, his voice steady and serious.
Chad raises an eyebrow, looking between the two of us. “What do you mean? What did she say?”
I swallow, unsure how to bring it up without sounding paranoid. “It’s more than just what she said,” I start, glancing at Mason, who nods for me to continue. “I think… I think she’s been stalking you.”
His expression falters for a moment, and then he laughs, sharp and disbelieving. “Stalking? Jenny?” He shakes his head, brushing it off with a scoff. “Come on, she’s my mom’s friend. I flirted with her once just to be polite. She’s harmless.”
But Mason leans forward, more serious. “No, Chad, it’s more than that. The way she was talking to Lake—like she’s obsessed with you. She thinks she has some kind of claim.”
Chad frowns, his eyes darting to me. “Claim? She doesn’t even know me. What did she say to you?”
I exhale, recalling her sharp, cutting words. “She basically said I’m not enough for you, that once she’s your alpha, you won’t need me.”
Chad’s eyes widen, then narrow in irritation. “She’s delusional. I don’t need anyone but you. And maybe this alpha, too.” He nods in Mason’s direction with a smile.
Mason cuts in, his tone pointed. “You need to take this seriously, man. She’s been watching you. Lakelyn said she wasacting weird at the country club, and think about the break-in at the shop. Who’s to say she wasn’t behind that?”
Chad scoffs again, brushing it off with a wave of his hand. “Come on, that break-in was probably just some kids messing around. Jenny’s not that crazy.”
I shift uncomfortably, not entirely convinced. “But what if it wasn’t just kids, Chad? What if she’s more obsessed than you think?”
He leans back, running a hand through his hair, frustration etched into his features. “I’m telling you, it’s nothing. Jenny’s just… I don’t know, lonely or something. She’s not some stalker.”
Mason’s jaw tightens, clearly not liking how Chad’s dismissing it. “You can brush it off if you want but don’t underestimate people like her. This kind of obsession can get dangerous.”
I press my lips together, glancing over at Mason. He meets my eyes, and the look he gives me says it all:I’ve got this. I’ll keep him safe.His silent promise settles over me, steady and reassuring, exactly the way an alpha should be with their pack.
I nod subtly, feeling a little more at ease knowing Mason’s not letting this go, even if Chad is.
CHAPTER 37
Dean
Nerves twistin my stomach as I stand where Mason told me to meet him. My fingers drum against the edge of the bar, trying to steady myself. But when the door swings open and Mason walks in, Lakelyn and Chad right behind him, my heart kicks into overdrive, thudding hard in my chest.
Seeing them together—the three of them—makes my pulse race in a way I can’t control.
My pack. Or soon-to-be pack.
Fuck. I might be sick.
I want this. I want this so fucking bad it’s all I can think about, but there’s a part of me that’s scared shitless for what’s coming. What if Chad laughs in my face? What if it’s all been a game to him this whole time? There are so many “what ifs” I could write a damn book with them.
But as soon as Chad’s gaze locks onto mine from across the bar, my brain short-circuits. I can’t read the look on his face, and it drives me crazy. He leans down, says something to Lakelyn, then pulls her in closer, his arm tight around her waist. Her eyes find mine, too, and I can feel the heaviness of her attention even from here.
Everything inside me stills, tension tightening my chest as I wait for the moment to crash over me.
Mason moves first, his broad shoulders cutting through the crowd with ease, his presence alone making space around him. He’s focused, eyes locked on me like he’s been waiting for this moment. Behind him, Lakelyn follows closely, tucked under Chad’s arm, her small frame leaning into his as if they belong that way. And Chad… Chad’s walking with that cocky confidence he always has, the kind that makes it seem like he’s in control of everything. But his eyes stay glued to mine, unwavering, and I swear there’s something more behind them, something I can’t quite put my finger on.
I shift in my seat, suddenly aware of how out of place I feel sitting at this bar, like I’m some kind of outsider waiting for permission to join the circle. But Mason’s stride doesn’t falter as he reaches me, his hand clapping down on my shoulder like he’s been doing it for years—not like this is the first time we’re stepping into something unknown together.
“Dean,” he says, voice casual but with that underlying weight that tells me this is more than just a greeting. “Glad you made it.”
