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“Perfect. We’ll see you soon, then.” I hung up, taking a deep breath. I wasn't sure how I was going to explain everything that happened, what her reaction might be to finding out I’d been turned into a shifter, but I needed my best friend now more than ever. I needed some sense of normalcy, and a reminder that outside of what we were dealing with, there was joy and friendship. I’d had Evan, Abi, and now Jax, but it wasn’t the same as having my lifelong bestie.
By the time Mason's apartment building came into view, I was practically bouncing on my seat in anticipation. Mason was waiting outside his building for us, a wide smile on his angular face, his eyes bright when Evan came to a stop at the entrance.
A valet approached, opening the door for me, and I stepped out of the car and into Mason’s strong embrace.
“Mariah!” He stepped back and looked me over. “So good to see you. You look great.”
“Hey, watch it,” Evan said, rounding the hood of the car and tossing his keys to the valet. “That’s my mate you’re touching.”
Mason chuckled and stepped back, holding his hands up. “There’s only one girl here I want to get my hands on.” He opened the back door of the car. “This little beauty right here. Look at you, Sofia. So big.”
He scooped Sofia out of her car seat and twirled her around, making her giggle, before he held her tightly to his chest. She grinned at him, seeming to recognize her Uncle Mase.
“I can’t believe how much she’s grown. Come on inside, all of you. Jax, how’s it going, man?”
“Good to see you, Mason.” Jax flashed him a friendly smile, but I noticed he still looked tired, despite the fact he spent a lot of the trip sleeping. Was he still recovering?
“Are you okay?” I whispered to Jax as we made our way inside the building, following behind Evan and Mason, who were catching up on club business.
“Yeah, why?”
“You look like you’re still walking around half-dead. I know you aren’t sleeping enough.”
He chuckled and squeezed my shoulder. “Always the mother hen. Don’t worry about me, Mariah. I promise, I’m fine.” He gave me a wink. “But I do appreciate that you care enough to check in.”
I left it at that as we stepped into the elevator, hoping he really was all right. When we stepped into Mason’s spacious penthouse, I smiled, grateful for the warmth of his welcome not just for us, but for Jax as well.
“Thank you for letting us stay with you, Mason.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He grinned, looking down at Sofia with adoration. "You know you’re always welcome. Plus, I've got to represent the human faction in this crew, right?”
I laughed, the tension in my shoulders relaxing slightly. “Right, we need some balance in our lives.”
“Speaking of,” Mason said while Evan took our bags to the bedroom we’d be using and showed Jax his room. “How are you feeling? How is…everything?”
He gestured at my body, and I could only assume he meant how I was adjusting to being a shifter now. He hadn’t been in Texas when I woke up, nor was I sure how much Evan had told him regarding my dragon puberty. He definitely didn’t know about the baby yet, though, as we planned to surprise him today.
“I sprouted baby wings yesterday,” I grumbled. “I’m an emotional basket case, like going through puberty all over again. Meanwhile, a madman wants my blood. Life is peachy.”
“Well, then. I’m sure Evan is doting on you, at least?” His eyes gleamed. “If not, he can answer to me.”
I glanced down at Sofia, who was babbling happily in Mason's arms. She had no idea what was happening around her, but she was content and surrounded by love. For now, so was I.
“He’s been great, but I really don’t want to talk about everything else. Let’s pretend things are normal. How are you? What have you been up to these past few months?”
Before I could press any further, the door swung open as Analise let herself right in. Her hair fell in dark waves around her shoulders, and as per usual, her boobs were practically popping out of her shirt.
A huge smile broke out on my face at the sight of her, and her eyes lit up as she raced to envelop me in a tight hug. “It's so good to see you!”
“Mariah!” she squealed. “Oh, my God, I've missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you, too, Ana.” I hugged her back, my heart full. All the people I cared about the most were right here under one roof.
As soon as she released me, she snatched Sofia out of Mason’s arms and grinned. “My turn for baby cuddles.”
“Analise,” Evan said, stepping back into the room, with Jax on his heels.
She turned and lifted her head from where she was burrowing her face in Sofia’s squishy cheeks. “Evan. Hi.”
