Love in the Shadows - 5. Chapter 5: Reckless Reveal

Well… that's something I should’ve seen coming. Mom’s the head librarian, and she knows Vinnie. Mason rested a leg on his knee as he pushed the porch swing. Leaning back, he sighed. "How did you know?"

Elaine laughed. "Well, bookworms aren't your type. You tend to bed closeted jocks. It was more of an educated guess. I'm also guessing you haven't told your father. He would’ve been rather excited about this."

"Yeah, he always wanted another son to call his own. I’ll tell him in the morning when he stops by."

"Good!" She sounded chipper with the news. "How did Vincent take it?"

Oh, no. She’s going to kill me! Probably hide my body in the library rafters. "Well, you see—"

"Mason Wilson! Please tell me you haven't kept your destined mate in the dark."

Yep, I'm fucked.

"My gods, Mason! He was reading about shifters earlier today. Vincent’s brilliant, and he’ll put two and two together."

Covering his face in shame, Mason groaned, "I was going to tell him, but he got upset when I talked about the gods."

"Well, I imagine so! He resents the gods for taking his family away. You need to let him know he's not alone in this world. Keeping this a secret from him will result in great mistrust." Elaine's stern voice grew colder. "You mess this up, and he’ll run from you."

"I know, Mom! He can just vanish into thin air whenever he damn well pleases!"

A long silence filled the call. "Mom? You there?"

"What do you mean by that?"

His eyes widened. She didn't know! "You didn't know Vincent’s a shadow mage?"

"He's… He’s one of the rare shadow mages? Mason, do you understand the power your mate possesses?"

He sighed. "Yeah. Saw it first hand when he took down one of the mercs. It was—"

"He was there? Were they after you or him?" The wolf could almost smell the fear coming from his mother.

"Him. He's hunting down his parents' killer. The mage Vinnie’s after sent them. The guy's name’s Stefan Gre—"

"Mason!"

He stopped. Mason hated to be interrupted, but Elaine was one of the few people he allowed to speak over him. What concerned him was her tone. Cold. Ice cold. She must be really worried.

"If you say Gregoro…"

"That's him."

More fingernail clicking came over the line, but louder. "I'm giving you and Vincent this one warning. Even with your mate's abilities, going after that bastard’s suicide."

Mason rose from his seat. "What aren't you telling me, Mom?" I'm the Alpha and my Vinnie’s one of the best mages I've ever seen! Surely this guy isn't that powerful.

"I… I fought him years and years ago. He’s no fucking joke."

Elaine’s words made him shudder. Okay. She's dead serious. Mom never cusses like that. "Mom?"

"That… bastard. Took everything I had just to injure him. The two of us walked away with lacerations and burns but… Oh gods Mason, don't tell me you're going after him."

Furious determination colored the alpha's simple answer. "You're damn right! He hurt my mate and killed his parents in cold blood."

"My son, do you remember when you were a pup and the library closed for several months?"

The memory flashed through the wolf’s mind. Oh, yeah! I was five or six back then. He was disappointed when he couldn't go and listen to story time with the youth leader. "Yeah, why?"

"That was the result of my battle with him. We destroyed a fourth of the building when we clashed."

Mason's heart sank. He finally got what his mother was telling him. If Mom couldn’t take the guy, then this is a real problem. "What do you suggest? Vinnie and I need to bring him down. I won't let him torment my mate. I already intend on calling other alphas for assistance."

"That's a good move, but first tell Vincent you two are mates and build up the trust for one another."

"Gotcha. I'll tell him in the morning. He’s already asleep and he’s had a full day."

"Good." More clicking came from Elaine. "The last thing that needs to be done won't be easy, but I think it would be for the best."

Mason closed his eyes. I already know what she's going to say.

"Vincent needs training."

Yep. Fuckin' knew it! The wolf hated the idea, but it was the only viable option to take Stefan. It has to be him. Vinnie needs to be the one to kill him.

"Bring him by tomorrow while you're talking to the other alphas. And make sure your father’s on those calls!"

He couldn't help growling.

"Mason Wilson! You don't growl at me like I'm some omega! You need your father to talk to the older alphas, and you know that."

Frustration caused Mason's nose to twitch. It's my pack, and yet he still has such a large influence over it. "You're right." Having the former Alpha assist in convincing the elders and more traditional assholes would help.

But Mom wants to see Vincent? "What do you want with Vincent?"

"Who else’s going to teach him? He doesn't have time to enroll at Yale for a frost education, now does he? At best, he has a couple weeks, maybe a month before Stefan figures out he's practicing his magic."

Good point. He had forgotten his mother went to Yale, the secret school for the frost affinity. "What about his other powers?"

"I've seen his little clouds all over the library, so I think he's decent at clairvoyance. As far as his shadow magic, Vincent will have to figure that out on his own. To my knowledge, there's no self-proclaimed master of that affinity. I can email the dean at Yale, but I'm not getting my hopes up."

Scowling, Mason wished he could do more, but he acquiesced to his mother's wishes. "Alright, we can stop by after my meeting with Chief Henry."

"Sounds good. I'm going to get off here, we all need some sleep. Good night, Mason. Love you."

"Love ya, Mom." He ended the call and placed the phone on his lap. How did life get so complicated so quickly? Sighing, he crept inside, being careful to make no sound that might disturb his mate’s slumber. Once in his bedroom, Mason heard Vincent, shirtless and sprawled over the bed’s right side, snoring. Hmph. What a bed hog!

Mason curled next to him, wrapping his arms around the man’s body, who subconsciously wriggled to be spooned. Pushing urges aside, Mason slipped his hands down to hold Vincent by the waist. No time to play, must sleep. Satisfied his mate was secure, Mason’s mind drifted to sleep.

***

After gazing upon the crystal-clear waters of the canal, the man looked back at the tablet. He flicked a thin finger across it, reading emails. The bony digit traveled to the loop of the ceramic cup and lifted it from its saucer. Tasting the tea, he was pleased, taking his mind off the small disturbances occurring in his life.

Stefan admired the view. He sat on a cast-iron chair in the Piazza San Marco, right at the edge of the Grand Canal. The mature mage adored this particular city of his home country, even if it was too popular with tourists. They come but go too quickly. These people never stay to appreciate the true beauty of Venice.

As much as he wished to stay and appreciate the sights, business was knocking on the proverbial door. Stefan sent those two lowly thugs to the small, drugged-up town and hadn’t heard back from them. Either they took their up-front payment and ran, or they’ve been disposed of. Little Vinnie, you’ve been growing rather nasty as of late…

The mage leaned back in the sturdy chair. Owensville. That place haunts me. I went to see their fancy library, and that damned clerk recognized me. Stefan’s smile curled. What a minx! She was very strong with her frost, and I felt her presence when I walked in. That was an exhilarating exercise. Shame about those burned books.

The cup clinked on the saucer as Stefan frowned. If I were a betting man, Little Vinnie may have made some allies. Oh, that wouldn’t be good. Interesting, but not good. Stefan stooped and retrieved a notebook and inkwell pen from his satchel. Maybe a little letter would be the play here.

Stefan took several minutes to write his short missive and sealed it in a plain envelope. Putting the finishing touches on, he collected his belongings, and slung the bag over his shoulder. Getting up from the uncomfortable chair, the mage looked for a way to move faster.

Ah, there we are! He scanned the area for wandering eyes. Satisfied he wouldn't be seen, he bent down and grabbed the lip of the canal’s sand-colored concrete, slipping into the shadows along the edge.

***

Mason awoke from a deep sleep, hearing the driveway’s gravel shift. That’s probably Dad. Better get some clothes on. Getting out of bed, the mattress squeaked, and Vincent rolled over. Wide-eyed, Mason regretted moving so fast. Almost forgot he was here! He ambled to the bed’s other side and leaned in to whisper in his mate’s ear.

“Hey, hot stuff. My dad’s here. Feel free to stay in bed and get some more sleep.” Vincent’s mumbled confirmation made Mason chuckle. He can sleep like no one I’ve ever seen! Light as a feather, Mason moved to the closet and grabbed a t-shirt. He pulled it over his head, conforming the tight garment to his body.

A loud knock drew his attention; he turned to see Vincent raise his head. “It’s okay, Vinnie. Go back to sleep.” Vincent squinted, nodded, and collapsed backward.

Mason walked into the living room and opened the front door for his father. “Hey, Dad. Thanks for stopping by.” He stepped back, allowing the elder Wilson to enter.

“Any time.” Leidolf Wilson moved inside his former home’s living room. “Mace, were you going to tell me about your… guest?”

A short and barely audible growl escaped his throat, and caused his father’s head to turn.

“Hmm? More than a guest? Your mother hinted that you may have found a mate. Congratulations!” Lei grabbed Mason’s arm and pulled him in for a hug. “So, what’s my new son’s name? What’s he like? Does he know about us lycan?”

Mason shushed his father, encouraging him to use a softer tone. “Keep it down. Vincent’s still sleeping. And yes, he knows. I’m still teaching him about our culture though.” He looked at the hardwood floor. “But I haven’t told him of our bond yet.”

Words didn’t need to be said. Mason could feel the palpable rage permeate through the living room. Oh, he’s pissed!

“I’m going to keep this as quiet as I can, but you haven’t told him that you two are destined for each other? Are you barking mad? That’s ‘Alpha Training 101.’ Tell me you’re handling this.”

“Of course! I just had some trouble with the gods' tale. Vincent holds some resentment against them, and I had to defuse that situation.”

Lei simmered down and raised an eyebrow as he took a seat on a couch. “Defuse? Is that what the pups are calling it nowadays?”

Mason pinched his nose. Jeez, when did he start with the dad jokes? “Not what I meant.”

The older alpha did not appear amused. “Alright, alright. So tell me about this… Vincent. What’s he like?”

Thinking about his mate, Mason felt a surge of pride. “He’s a powerful mage who can perform spectacular acts. He spends almost every spare moment in the library, studying, and learning more about the world.”

“So, if I were to place a bet on who covered your truck in ice last night, would Vincent be the correct answer?”

Mason was bewildered; how did his dad know about the ice?

“Yeah, I stopped by old man Richard’s to see the damage. Some of the ice melted, but it looks like it’ll take a couple more days to thaw.” Lei’s laughter filled the room, against his son’s wishes who feared Vincent waking. “Do you know what I just realized, son?”

That you need to take a chill pill? “What’s that?”

“Our mates are incredibly similar.”

Holy crap! He’s right. Mom and Vincent do share the frost affinity and their love of books and knowledge. “Yeah, didn’t connect those dots.”

“Oh, man. That’s…” Lei’s ears twitched. “...a real coincidence. Your mate’s awake.”

Mason’s eyes widened. Bed creak, carpeted movement, clothes being slipped on. Yep, he’s awake. “Let me check on him real fast.”

Lei responded with a nod and moved his hands behind his head. He watched his son get up and make his way to his old master bedroom. Mason opened the door. “Vin, you good?” He saw the bed was empty, and the bathroom was dark. "Vinnie?" His mate wasn’t there. The wolf scanned the room from top to bottom, and froze when he laid eyes on the air vent. Thin black wisps flowed through the grates.

His heart ran cold. No, he couldn’t have. Maybe he went to get something. Possible reasons filled his mind, but none of them seemed feasible. Mason turned and rushed to the front door, praying for a sight of his man. Nothing. He could tell his father was concerned about his behavior, but there wasn’t time to explain.

He probably heard our entire conversation. Damn it! I did it! I scared him away! Mason practically ran through the house to the back door. He opened it frantically, almost tearing the door off the hinges.

Vincent was nowhere to be found. Mason couldn’t understand why. Barely able to question himself, frustration and sadness caused him to sway. No. No no no! He can’t just leave me! Sniffing the air, he searched for Vincent’s trail. It’s faint. But he’s still nearby! Mason swiftly took off his clothes, threw them to the side, and began shifting. Need to find him before he disappears! Seconds later, the silver wolf ran towards the forest, following his mate’s scent.

***

“Hey, hot stuff. My dad’s here. Feel free to stay in bed and get some more sleep.”

Vincent was barely awake when Mason spoke. ‘Kay, I’ll sleep more. He heard Mason shuffle his feet around the room for a few seconds before the mage snuggled against the sleek-feeling pillow.

The knock on the door forced Vincent’s eyes open. He jumped up, feeling like he needed to hide or dive out a window. Mason’s encouragement to continue sleeping sounded good. You don’t have to tell me twice. Vincent curled himself back into the bed, but before he closed his eyes, he stole a peek at Mason pulling his shirt down over those sexy abs. His gaze trailed to the large bulge in the gray sweatpants. If he wasn’t so sleepy, he’d pull the man closer and drag him back into bed.

Mason left the room, closing the door behind him. Vincent made an attempt to go back to sleep. He heard the front door open and his boyfriend greet the guest. The walls weren’t the thinnest, but Vincent could still hear the voices as if they were in the bedroom.

“Any time.”

The new voice was so loud and exuberant, Vincent had no choice but to pay attention. Whoa! Sounds like a jolly brickhouse of a guy.

“Mace, were you going to tell me about your… guest?”

His cheeks turned red. Oh, crap! He knows I’m here! Do I need to come out? Should I stay here? The sound of Mason growling halted all thought.

“Hmm? More than a guest? Your mother hinted that you may have found a mate. Congratulations!”

Mate? Vincent’s mind searched for answers to the questions popping up. I know Mace kept bringing up the word ‘mate’ last night, but he didn’t go into detail. Vincent continued eavesdropping, hoping to get more clues.

He heard Mason make a shushing sound before speaking again. “Dad, quiet! Vincent’s still sleeping. And yes, he knows. I’m still teaching him about lycan culture though. But I haven’t told him of our bond yet.”

The mage’s heart stopped for half a beat. We… have a bond? I mean, I feel pretty close to him, but there’s a bond between us?

Once again, all thought was put on hold, as a warm aura permeated the house, penetrating Vincent’s mind and body, causing him to be still. What is this? I feel like someone’s anger was bottled up and thrown as a smoke grenade.

“I’m going to keep this as quiet as I can, but you haven’t told him that you two are destined for each other? Are you barking mad? That’s…”

Vincent stopped listening. We… I… Mace… We’re… destined… for each other? What the hell does that mean? He recalled the previous night’s tales. Right! Aliz, Dinbe and Yir made an agreement of sorts. Is this the agreement? That random people were chosen to be with certain shifters?

And I was destined for Mace. It all began to make sense, down to every detail since the two men met. He probably realized it when he saw me at work that night. Him picking me up from work, taking me for coffee at Beansies. I just don’t know if he did it because he cares for me, or if he was trying to butter me up. Vincent furrowed his brow.

I thought I knew his intentions, but now… now I don’t even know! Why would he hold something back like that? Just thinking it tore Vincent up. We shared something special last night.

He crept out of the bed and collected the borrowed clothes. Did he mean to do all of this? The stalking, the date… this was planned. He planned this whole thing! I’d bet he wanted to charm my pants off with his alpha-ness and good looks.

“Let me check on him real fast.”

He pulled the hoodie over his head. Fuck! He’s coming! Vincent wanted to stay and handle it like an adult but his heart commanded the decision-making. I need to leave. I need to go! He looked around, searching for an out. Vents. Vincent closed his eyes, confirming his selfish commitment, and dashed over to the air vent on the floor, quickly fading into the dark shadows. Vincent worked his way into the ducts, finding his way onto the roof through the exhaust release.

Since the sun was rising, he walked towards the west side of the house. Good, there’s shadows on the grass. Vincent stopped at the edge of the two-story roof, and jumped. Once his body touched the shadow of the house, he dived right in, becoming ethereal. He pushed himself in the shadows as far as they allowed him, but the sun’s rays reached over the roof, kissing the grass before the forest. He solidified and looked back to the house. Mace will probably come running. I need to get moving before he finds me.

Vincent sighed and ran toward the trees. The forest ahead was illuminated by the rising sun and darkened by the collection of branches interlocked like embraced fingers. It intimidated him, but he walked past the treeline and found a small patch of shadows that allowed him to travel faster. Light shined high through the green leaves above.

But that didn’t leave a solid line of shadows for Vincent to flow through. He tried traveling by dipping in and out of the shadows, but it exhausted him both physically and mentally. Well this sucks! I can’t move very fast, and there isn’t a better way to travel.

After a few minutes, Vincent gave up on working the shadows. I’m wasting my energy. I’ll just walk. If Mason finds me, he finds me. Then I’ll lay into him! Anger suffused the mage’s mind. He felt his trust had been betrayed. If he would have just talked to me about this, I would have been… okay? Maybe? He ran his fingers through his hair, knocking the hood off his head. Who am I kidding? I’d still freak out, but it'd be better than finding out by eavesdropping.

Destined mate. It almost sounds like he’s my husband or something. The gods dictated that this big, bad wolf is my man for life? Do I not get a say in this?

A snapping sound made Vincent’s blood run cold. He twisted his head in the noise’s direction. Nothing. Vincent waved his arms, three fingers on each hand pointing outward. His eyes shone lavender as sight wards conjured above the fingers. Shoving his hands out, the clouds took to the air, spaced evenly, and circled the area around the mage.

Quickly blinking, he switched between the different views. If someone or something’s here, I’ll find them. He twitched his fingers, pushing the clouds out slowly, and scanning every direction.

A blur ran behind several trees in his southern ward. There! He flung his fingers in that direction, focusing his magic on the target. Vincent closed his right eye, and returned it to normal vision. He thrust his left hand out, summoning a dagger as he turned to face south. Slowly, he stepped over to the nearby tree, plastering his back to it. He hugged the trunk until he could place a foot in the shadow of the large red maple. His mind felt reassured by his failsafe plan.

But something was wrong. Vincent could feel it in his heart.

A growl came from his left. How? Vincent blinked, eliminating his wards, but kept the dagger in his left hand. “Come around so I can see you.” I swear, if a silver wolf—

Vincent’s heart took another nosedive. An auburn-haired wolf stepped out in front of the mage, a little too close for his comfort. Different wolf, but I’d bet it’s a shifter. The wolf’s eyes never strayed from its target.

I can at least climb the tree from the shadows, but I might get stuck up there. The thought scared Vincent. I don’t even know if wolves can climb trees. Ever so slowly, he raised his arms overhead, hoping the wolf would understand his body language. “If you understand me, I mean no harm. Just need you to back up a few steps.”

The wolf never moved. It never even stirred its head. Okay, non-negotiable. “Alright, then. If you’re a shifter, then talk to me. I’m… I’m friends with the local alpha.” The wolf growled. Vincent was about to ascend the tree, but his gut told him to stay. I can convince it.

“If you don’t believe me, then smell my clothes.” Vincent saw the wolf squint. After a moment of hesitation, the wolf put one paw in front of the other and made its way closer to the human. Vincent held his breath as the wolf’s muzzle inched in his direction. Noises came from the animal’s nostrils, ending in a loud snort as it turned and stepped away.

The wolf surprised Vincent when it dipped its head. Well, he’s part of Mason’s pack at least. The animal lifted its head, laid down, and nodded toward the ground. Vincent was perplexed by its behavior. He was startled by a light woof as it stood back up, only to repeat its movements.

Oh, I get it! “You want me to sit down, right?” Another woof came as a confirmation. Okay… what could go wrong? Vincent squatted against the tree, as the wolf got back up and ran off to the right. Did I just get put in time-out or something? Ten or fifteen seconds later, the wolf returned with a backpack in its mouth.

It went behind the tree a few yards ahead of Vincent. The sound of bone crunching echoed in the air, causing Vincent to flinch and look away. Silence took over. The mage started to get up, but a zipper’s sound stopped him. Realization hit Vincent. Right. When they shift back to human, they end up naked. Thoughts of Mason at the accident flowed through the mage’s mind. A smile crept on his face, but Vincent squashed it fast. He was still too upset with Mason.

“So, how do you know my alpha?”

Vincent shot his head up at the new voice. Next to the tree stood a familiar face but the name escaped Vincent. The mage looked him over quickly as the shifter pulled his black sweatshirt down to his waist.

“Um, I’m sorry. You were at the intersection last night. You’re an officer, right?”

The bald man squinted, looking confused “Name’s Ingle. And you are?”

Vincent smiled. Yeah, he was one of the two officers who came. “Sorry. I’m Vincent. I was with Mason. I’m his boyfriend… sort of.”

Ingle’s eyes shot open. “You’re the alpha’s boyfriend?” The mixed-race man immediately turned his neck to Vincent. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get a good look at you last night when we got to the scene.”

“Yeah, Mace… Mason kind of hurried me out of there when you guys arrived. If you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing here?”

Ingle smirked. “I could ask you the same. I’m on orders from Mason to patrol his woods. Making sure no more mercs come snooping.” The shifter looked Vincent in the eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be with him?"

Vincent scowled. “Yeah. Supposed to be.” He stood. “Apparently, I’m supposed to be with him for quite a long time. But the big, bad wolf didn’t have the balls to say it to my face. Had to overhear him talking with his dad to find out.”

The shapeshifter’s jaw dropped. Shaking his head, he said, “You’re… you’re the alpha’s mate? His destined mate?”

Vincent winced at the word he disliked more every minute.

The wolf must have noticed his discomfort. “And he didn’t tell you.”

“No. No, he didn’t.”

The shapeshifter sighed. “Big surprise, there. Mason likes to keep stuff to himself. That’s who he is. You’re probably real pissed at him, man. And I get it, but if you two are mates, and destined on top of that, you two are meant for happiness. For y’all humans, it’s like meeting your soulmate, or whatever it's called.”

“Soulmate, huh? Would a soulmate keep that fact from their so-called destined?”

“Put yourself in his shoes, kid.” The shifter pocketed his hands in the hoodie, “Humans can’t tell when they’re meant to be with someone. Mason probably went haywire and concocted one of his plans to ease you into the news.”

Ingle looked past the tree Vincent rested against and noisily inhaled. “And speak of the devil…”

Vincent moved his head to see what Ingle was staring at. There’s nothing there. What is he…

***

Found him! And Ingle, too. Mason sprinted further into the woods, following Vincent’s scent. Ingle didn’t get to see Vincent last night. He muttered a growl in hypothetical anger. He hurts my Vinnie, I’ll skin him alive!

The silver wolf locked his gaze on his pack member and mate, and darted to close the remaining hundred yards between them. I need to make this right. He’s my mate, and I need him! Mason slowed his pace as he approached the two men.

Mason’s wolf trotted up to the scene, glancing at Ingle before turning his attention to Vincent. Gods, he looks nervous and pissed off. He’s practically shaking! Need to change that. He let his tongue out, giving his best impersonation of a panting dog. Vincent snorted, but kept his stance and demeanor. Well, that didn’t work.

He spotted Ingle’s backpack and snatched it with his mouth. Mason moved behind a nearby tree to shift. Several seconds passed before the alpha opened the backpack to find an extra pair of dark blue pants and a hunter green jacket. He grimaced looking at the sizes. One size too small. It’ll have to do. He rushed to put on the clothes, struggling to button the jeans. After sucking in his gut and zipping the jacket halfway, he stepped out to join the conversation.

“Ingle, go ahead and get some sleep. I can take it from here.”

“Yes, Alpha. Thanks.” He grabbed the backpack, leaned his neck, and started walking away.

Mason kept an eye on Ingle for a few more seconds before diverting to his real target. He hasn’t calmed down any. Man, I really fucked this one up! "Vinnie. I need to talk to you." He took one step toward his mate.

Vincent walked backward. "Stop! Just stay right there." His voice cracked as he pressed against the tree.

The wolf sighed and sat on the ground, legs crossing one another. He wanted to make the human as comfortable as possible. "I know I really fucked up, but you have to understand where I'm coming from. If I went up to you and said we were destined to be together, I didn’t know how'd you react. So I took baby steps. I wanted to warm you up to the idea before I—"

"No!" Vincent was seething. Mason smelled the anger oozing from his mate. “You came barreling in my life, offering all this help, just to baby-step your way to this? I had to overhear a conversation between you and your dad about how I'm your… your mate thing! I mean… how many people knew other than me?"

Mason sat motionless and void of emotion. "Just my parents, and Dave. If it helps, my parents figured it out on their own.”

Somehow, Vincent got even angrier. “And I bet Dave went along with your little game too, didn’t he?”

The wolf shook his head. “I instructed him to help me. Don’t be mad at Dave over this. I’m the only one who deserves the blame.”

“You’re damn right you deserve the blame! What do you think was going to happen if you kept this a secret from me?” Vincent locked his eyes onto Mason’s face. “Answer me!”

Mason lifted his head, his eyes showing sadness for the first time in ages. His heart pounding, he gazed into Vincent’s infuriated eyes. “I kept it a secret because I care about you.” The mage shifted his weight to one leg and huffed, which ticked Mason off, but he kept the irritation to himself. “To answer your question, I had no intention of keeping it a secret from you. I wanted to tell you last night.” He saw Vincent opening his mouth, probably to throw another serious tantrum, so Mason added more truth to the fire, in hopes of dousing it, “Before we went to bed.”

Vincent stopped entirely. All of his anger took a pause. Lips shaking, the sentences barely came out. "Y… you were... You were going to tell me?"

"Yes. I needed to tell you before you finished your book. I didn't want you to find out on your own." Mason looked to the ground, letting his eyes droop in self-disappointment. "Not like this. Vincent, I don't know if you'll ever forgive me."

The wolf shot his head up full of newfound determination, staring a hole through his mate. "But I can't live without you. We belong to each other, and I never want to hurt you again!"

Tears poured down both men’s faces. Mason sat helplessly as he waited for a response. Vincent’s eyes darted around, landing frequently on him. He’s at war with himself. For the love of the Seven, don’t run!

Vincent took a step forward. The wolf couldn’t breathe. He’s coming towards me. Did he…?

Mason got up from the ground to meet Vincent halfway. His heart was pounding in anticipation to learn Vincent's decision.

When the two men were mere feet from one another, Vincent halted, prompting Mason to do the same, “You mean that? You were going to tell me last night?”

“Yes.”

He watched the man’s bottom lip tremble. What surprised him was the waterworks. Vincent leapt into Mason's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. He grabbed the larger man's back as he dug his wet face into the hairy chest, “I’m sorry! I… I panicked."

“I understand, and you didn’t panic, Vinnie. I didn’t tell you properly, and your reaction was justified." Mason ran his hand through the back of his mate's hair while the other clung to the waist with intentions of never letting go. He gently pulled Vincent's head back and looked into the hazel eyes. "Are you okay? You know, with this?"

Vincent sniffed. "Yeah. I'm okay." He rubbed his eyes with his sleeve, trying to clear his vision. "Just trying to stop being mad at you. The only thing I might need is for us to keep… dating, I guess. I don't know if us being mates means we’re immediately married or whatever, but I would still like to take time to get to know you as a person."

I can live with that. Makes sense too. All I know about him is that he likes to read, he has kick-ass powers, and can eat Biacci's carbonara for the rest of his days. "That sounds perfect. Now, there’s more to our mating, and I can tell you every detail whenever you are ready. But for now, I guess I can deal with having you as a boyfriend for a while." Mason flashed a grin to let Vincent know he was joking.

Vincent chuckled while hugging Mason again. "Okay, boyfriends then.” He looked sheepishly at the wolf, “There is one thing…”

"Anything."

He looked up at Mason and gave a coy smile. "Could you walk me back to your house? I have no idea where I'm at."

Mason grinned. "Only if I get to hold your hand on the way."

"Deal."

The wolf took his mate's hand and guided him through the woods. On the way, he noticed Vincent looking at the trees and foliage along the way. Is he memorizing the way back?

Several minutes passed before they reached the clearing leading to Mason's backyard. A few yards from the back porch, Mason slowed his pace. "So, my dad might still be there. Just a heads up, he's the former Pack Alpha."

Vincent turned his head in astonishment. "Oh wow! So does the position go with the family line then?"

"Nope. It's a power and strength kind of thing. Anyone who wishes to be Pack Alpha must duel the current one in position. Dad wanted to retire, and I was the only one strong enough to take the spot."

"Oh, okay. Does that mean I need to do that neck thing when I meet him?"

Mason held a hand out and wiggled it. "It's your discretion. It's not necessary, since you're an alpha's mate, but you might score brownie points with him."

Vincent nodded. “Gotcha. Your dad isn’t scary or anything, is he? I felt that big, angry feeling earlier. It almost made me piss myself.”

“He’s only intimidating when he’s in a bad mood. Besides, I think he already likes you.”

The mage turned his head and stared, “How’s that possible? We’ve never met.”

“Yeah, but from what I’ve told him, he’s pretty excited to get to know you.” Mason put a hand on Vincent’s back. “Now c’mon. Let’s go inside, I’m starving!”

“Alright, alright! But I’m not gonna be the first to walk in your house and get eaten by your dad.”

Mason snickered at the idea. That’s really funny. “Relax! Dad won’t eat you.” He stepped up to the porch and opened the door with Vincent following close behind. "Dad, you still here?"

A booming voice came from deeper within the house. "Yup! In the living room!"

The two men walked through the kitchen with Mason holding Vincent's hand for reassurance. When they entered the living room, he saw his dad sitting in the recliner, typing slowly on his phone. Mason's eyes flashed gold as he gave his father an irritated look. That's my chair, asshole! Probably did that on purpose.

Leidolf looked up from his phone, showing his face. His hair was nearly identical to Mason’s, but longer, and the full beard was replaced by a long handlebar mustache. Vincent was obviously caught off guard by his dad’s presence.

"You must be Vincent!" Out of pure reaction, Vincent moved his head almost directly upward to see the humongous shifter. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Mason's dad, Lei.” He rose and shook hands with his son’s mate.

“Hi, Mr. Wilson. I’m Vincent.” The mage leaned his neck to the side, giving the larger man the respect deserved.

“Whoa, whoa! I appreciate the gesture, but that’s not really necessary. I hope you and Mace talked everything out."

Vincent nodded, giving him a smile. "Yes, sir."

Lei snorted. "No calling me sir or Mr. Wilson either."

"Okay, Lei. It's really nice to meet you.”

Lei squinted and grinned. "You have great manners. I can see you were raised proper."

Mason closed his eyes in anxious anticipation. For the love of Gods, don't bring up his parents! "Yeah, Vinnie’s one of the nicest guys I know, Dad." He wrapped his arm around his mate's small frame and whispered in Vincent's ear. "Your parents would be proud of you, I'm sure of it."

The head of messy brown hair rested on his chest. "Thanks, Mace."

Lei nodded toward Mason, showing him he understood the subtle message. "Well, you two must be starving. 'Bout time I get out of here and you two can rustle up some grub."

Mason loved the idea. "Sounds good, Dad. Thanks for dropping off the truck."

Lei dug through his pants pocket, pulled out a long golden key, and tossed it to Mason. "Any time. Vincent, was good to meet ya." He started for the door but turned around as he was halfway there. "And Mace! Don't forget about stopping by later to see your mother."

"Yeah, I got it. See ya, Dad!" Lei closed the door behind him, and Mason returned his attention to Vincent. "So, do you like omelets?"

Vincent’s mood brightened. "Yes! With plenty of cheese."

"Alright. Let's go and fix some." Mason grabbed his mate's hand and they went off to fill their stomachs before tackling the day.