What does he remind me of?Then it hit me.
Once upon a time there was a book my mom loved. It was calledThe Stepford Wivesand she’d devoured it, even while she’d talked about it and mocked it for its implausibility.
Seeing Mase, I wasn’t so sure it was such an impossible scenario.
“Come here,” I insisted.
Mason came over and knelt at my feet, which had me swallowing down my anger once again. I drew in a deep breath.
“You have to do whatever I tell you, right?”
“Yes, that’s how it works for an Omega.”
“Fine.” I squared my shoulders and looked him in the eye. “From now on, I want you to act likemyMason. My best bud. I don’t wanna see any more of this…roboticMason I don’t know. Because dude? That creeps me the fuck out.”
His eyes widened. “I…I can’t. I’m expected to act this way, and if we’re living back in town, we’dhaveto do it so the elders and my Alpha can see I’m following protocol.”
“But you already told them I’m not part of your group.”
“Pack. It’s called a pack.”
I set my jaw. “I don’t give a fuck if it’s called a Hooptie. I don’t like it and I won’t have it.”
He bared his teeth. “That’s fine for you,” he snapped. “Idon’t have any goddamn choice.”
I smiled. “Nowthatis my Mason. The one who always stood up for himself, for others. Why can’t we show them you’re not a doormat? Why can’t you be the guy I’m seeing now?”
His shoulders sagged. “Because they follow tradition.”
I glared at him. “The hell with tradition. We make our own futures. Maybe it’s time to drag your people into the twenty-first century, so they can see how people really live in the here and now.”
He swallowed hard. “Can I admit something to you?”
Something about his demeanor deflated my irritation. “Of course. You can tell me anything.” I feared what he was about to say, because from his expression I knew it wasn’t going to be good.
Mason knelt there, staring at his clasped hands. “I’m submissive. It’s part of who and what I am. Like you having blue eyes, my submissiveness is the result of my DNA.” I raised a hand, but he plowed on. “I don’t mind it, I promise. I’ve been raised since birth knowing my place and although I rebelled against it while I was growing up, I’m not upset or angry about it.” He raised his chin to look at me. “At least not with you being the dominant partner. Jerome? That was another matter entirely. He wanted me to be submissive to him in all things.Youwon’t do that to me.” He blinked, then fixed me with a pleading stare.“Pleasedon’t do that to me.”
I sighed. The Mason I’d known growing up?
This wasn’t him. He wasn’t the friend who’d helped me pull pranks or play jokes. He was a completely different person, one I would have to get to know, especially if this was going to be our future for now. It was fucked up and I hated it, but I wasn’t about to walk away from my best friend when he needed me most.
He says he can’t change how he is.SoIwould have to adapt to the situation, as screwed up as it was. I was still bound and determined to find a way out of this, one where Mason could run rings around everyone else, laughing while he did it.
I still had questions, however.
“Why do we have to do this?”
He expelled a breath. “Because only a Dominant can help an Omega reach his true potential.”
“But what does thatmean?” He might as well have been talking Swahili for all the sense it made.
Mason regarded me with a steady gaze. “Omegas are like ultra-rare Pokémon cards. There aren’t many in the world. We’re a gift to our pack, or so they say.” He snorted. “Didn’t feel like a gift when they were trying to give me to Jerk-rome.”
“Focus, dude.”
He ducked his head, his cheeks flushed. “Sorry. Bit of asore spot. Anyway, any pack that has an Omega is said to be blessed, because we possess traits no other wolf has. We’re faster so we can escape an enemy, we’re able to climb so we can get away when we’re chased, and we’re….” He mumbled the last words.
My ears perked becauseno waydid he say what I thought he did.
