Page 101 of Poet & Protector

“It will.” Not exactly a lie, but I had very little confidence my strategy would work.

Logan hadn’t liked that I brought up his father, but the way he spoke when I argued with him made it seem like he saw my resistance as an intriguing challenge, not a threat. In Logan’s mind we were playing a game of chess, each moving our pieces, predicting the other’s offensive and defensive moves. But we both knew it was only a matter of time before Logan cornered me and declared checkmate.

“This is the one time where the Keepers’ ‘traditions’ might work in my favor,” I told her.

She frowned at me. “Traditions?”

Unable to hold back my anger any longer, I took my frustration out on my locker. My fist left a dent in the steel.

“It’s a nice way of saying ‘bigotry.’ Until he has more power, Logan is still under the close watch of Efron and the other Keepers. Taking our pack on is like a trial for him—to see if he’s worthy of the post. If I keep reminding him of that, I think I can stop him from…”

A sick wave crashed over me and I couldn’t finish. I couldn’t continue when I didn’t believe it.

“You have to.” Calla was almost frantic. “You can’t⁠—”

“I won’t.” Until there’s no other choice.

But I needed to keep her from panicking before she did something impulsive and foolish.

Meeting her worried gaze, I said, “The Keepers tolerate a variety of tastes, but only in a recreational sense. Logan would never admit to his father or any of the other Keepers that he’s gay.”

Calla bit her lip. “Mason, why didn’t you tell me?”

I felt a twinge of regret. She was clearly hurt by my choice.

“About me and Nev?” I asked.

She looked down as if she was ashamed. “You don’t trust me.”

I rested my hand on her shoulder. “It’s not that, Cal. I do trust you.”

Trust had never been the issue.

Calla lifted her eyes to meet mine.

“But you’re one step away from the Keepers,” I tried to explain. “Who I am, who I love…They’d never accept it. Neither would the elders in the pack, not my parents. No one. It would be the end for me and Nev. And not just for our relationship. It would be the end.”

I needed her to understand how high these stakes were.

“How long can you stall Logan?” she blurted. “How long will you be safe?”

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out.

I had twenty messages from Ansel and one from Nev.

Nev: Whatever you need.

I sent Nev a quick reply.

Me: Our clearing. Leaving school now.

Calla was still waiting for my response.

“What makes you think I’m ever safe, Calla?” It was the most honest answer I’d given her.

“Maybe I could talk to Lumine,” she said.

This was exactly why I was downplaying the severity of my situation. My alpha absolutely could not talk to our mistress about this.