I set my jaw. “While never once asking for Mason’s opinion on the subject.”
His flinty eyes narrowed. “Now listen here?—”
“No,youlisten.” I stabbed my finger into my chest. “I am Mason’s Dominant, and as such it’smyresponsibility to protect him. Okay, so this is all new to me, but I’d like to think I’m doing a much better job than any ofyoudid.” I glared at him. “Do you know what Jerome put Mason through? He told him he’d be one of four in his harem. Flat out told him he’d be responsible for caring for the four of them.” I snarled. “Mason wasn’t going to be loved, he was going to be a servant. Then, one night last year, while we were still in college, he tried to force Mason to strip off his clothes so Jerome could masturbate. Do you understand me? Heforcedhim to. There was zero consent going on there.” Another glare. “Or does no one in this pack give a shit about consent?”
“As an Omega, he?—”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it. This isn’t fifty years ago, it’stoday. You know, when people have a say in their lives? Sure, you could’ve had Mason marry Jerome, but what good would a brokenhearted Omega have done for your precious pack? How hard do you think he would work for you all if he hated his life?”
“We… I… shit.” He dropped his gaze and scrubbed a hand over his face. “I fucked up.”
His words took a little of the wind out of my sails, but I wasn’t done.
“That’s a big fat yes. In fact, most of you did. You were thrilled you’d get something out of it, but no one gave a damn if Mason did.”
“Except you.”
“Except me,” I agreed. “Even before I knew I was his Dominant, I cared about Mase. If he was having a bad day, I was going to have one with him. I wanted to see him smile. To be happy.”
“Even though you’re straight?”
I reared back. “Excuse me?”
He smirked, clearly having regained his self-control. “Your reputation is quite well-known. So many girls, but oddly not one guy. Care to tell me why that is?”
Shit.
I hadn’t expected to be called out like this.
“And don’t give me a bullshit story, either.” He leaned forward and tapped his nose. “I can tell when you lie. So give me the truth.”
A deep sigh rolled out of me. “Because I couldn’t let Mason go through with this farce. You didn’t see—or maybe you didn’t care—how miserable he was. You didn’t hold him while he cried after Jerome told him to strip, then said he couldn’t wait to take Mason’s cherry. My heart and my brain screamed at me, telling me I had to fix this for my friend.”
“So, even though you’re straight, you kissed Mason to prove a point?”
“Sir, I would have put him on the floor and fucked him in front of everyone to show he was mine, just so he could live a happy life.”
The corner of his mouth quirked up. “Thank you for that visual.”
“And how didyouknow?”
“I know a lot of things.” He grinned. “Since you discovered he was a werewolf, did he discuss with you his ability to have babies?”
Odd segue. “We talked about it, yes.”
He leaned back in his chair. “There are some things you might not know about us. Wolves have a very strong sense of smell. Alphas are far more powerful. I called you in because with you here, I can find out if you’re telling me the truth. We can detect a lie because of the changes in your body. We can tell who’s had sex because the scent of their partner clings to them, even after several showers. In all the times I’ve seen you, I never once detected Mason on you in any significant way.”
“We’re working on it,” I promised. “I want—need—him to get comfortable with me being his Dominant.”
He gave me a pitiful smile. “Kip, I’m grateful you’re doing your best to fit into our world. And I’m even happier that Mason can talk with you about things. You’re good for him, even if you continue on as friends. Now, I can smell Mason on you. I take it things have changed?”
Since it wasn’t as if I had a choice, I decided honesty was the best policy.
“Mason and I never did anything until the night people were watching us, waiting for me to kiss him. I’ll admit, I was freaked out at first, but then I saw his face. His expression tore at me, because I’d upset or disappointed him, and I hated that look. So I kissed him. It was rough, almost brutal, because I was angry about everything that was happening to us. But then Mason surrendered to me, let me be the one in charge, and everything changed for me.”
The Alpha stroked his chin. “So where does that leave us now? Would you rather we separate you and put an end to this sham?”
If he’d asked me several weeks ago, I would have said yes without hesitation, but I’d sworn to Mason I wouldn’t walk away, that I’d be beside him all the way.
